"They wiped out a Yonko crew just to celebrate their teacher's birthday?"
Yamakaji, Smoker, Hina and the others were all shocked like never before after hearing this.
"I don't understand."
"I don't need such a birthday gift."
"I just want him to come back safe and sound."
Upon learning that Rosen had chosen to fight the Ochoku Pirates on his birthday, Zephyr was deeply shaken. He vaguely felt that he had grasped something key, but he was still missing a clue and couldn't connect the whole story.
"Just shut up."
Upon hearing this, Borsalino's face turned cold, and he shouted at Zephyr.
In the past, although he and Zephyr had conflicts and their relationship was so bad that they were practically sworn enemies, and he even drew the Kusanagi Sword quite often, he never said a harsh word to Zephyr.
I have always adhered to the etiquette that students should show to their teachers, and have never overstepped it.
But now, in front of everyone, he gave Zephyr a cold shout.
"Teacher Zephyr."
"Anyone here can't explain it clearly, and doesn't need to, except you."
"If you say these words, it will be a trampling and insult to your junior, and it will also make all his efforts over the past seven months meaningless."
Borsalino stared coldly at Zephyr.
He personally witnessed how Rosen, in order to track down the murderers of the Zephyr family, risked his own life to lure the Five Elders into a trap.
The burdens they bear are beyond the comprehension of outsiders.
Even if it was his most respected teacher, he wouldn't allow the other party to trample on Rosen's efforts.
"Seven months of effort?"
Upon hearing this, Zephyr realized that there were so many things he didn't know.
"Zephyr, as a Marine Admiral, you are truly unfortunate."
"At just over thirty years old, which is the peak of combat power for any admiral, you have to choose to retire early due to irreversible injuries and say goodbye to your admiral career."
"As a husband and father, you are truly pathetic."
"He dedicated half his life to upholding justice by not killing, but his family was slaughtered by pirates."
"but."
Just as Zephyr's expression changed repeatedly, and the color drained from his face, Borsalino suddenly changed the subject, uttering words that moved Zephyr, Sengoku, and all the Marines present.
"As a teacher, you are very competent, lucky, and even blessed."
"Although you had to retire in disappointment at the height of your career, you trained the strongest naval officer in a thousand years."
"Although you lost all your loved ones overnight, there are people who always keep you in their hearts."
"Your student, from the day he graduated early and stepped out of the military academy gates, has been trying to find out who the pirates who killed your family were."
"He sought out the World Government; he subdued the Shichibukai; he exhausted every means and method. A large part of the reason he did all this was to prevent you from living in pain and regret for the rest of your life."
Every syllable of Borsalino's was like a laser beam, piercing Zephyr's heart time and time again, and shaking every Marine present.
Especially those students who were also taught by Zephyr, all of them blushed and lowered their heads.
"Rosen."
Sengoku murmured to himself, his expression no less moved than Zephyr's.
Because, like Zephyr, he also holds the title of Teacher Rosen.
If Rosen can treat Zephyr this way, even if he can't treat him the same way, he probably won't treat him too badly.
Always.
Sengoku felt that among the three admirals, Kuzan was the most warm-hearted and the most benevolent. If he were to become the Fleet Admiral, the Marine Headquarters would not become a cold machine of justice. Therefore, before Rosen appeared out of nowhere, he preferred Kuzan to Sakazuki and hoped that the other party could become the Fleet Admiral.
But it wasn't until this moment that he realized that the most compassionate and benevolent person was not Kuzan.
It was Rosen.
Why does it have to be Ochoku?
"It's because you, Teacher Zephyr, stopped him from taking the Tremor-Tremor Fruit during the battle at God Valley that he harbored resentment towards you and, together with Buckingham , who also died early because of you, killed your family."
Why did it have to be today?
He believed that the head of the Four Emperors was the best birthday gift he, as a student, could give to his teacher.
Every syllable of Borsalino's was like a bolt of Conqueror's Haki, striking Zephyr one after another.
"I."
"Rosen."
"You idiot!"
Zephyr was struck dumb, staggering back several steps before finally regaining his balance with the help of Sengoku.
In the past, every time he thought about his family being murdered and not even knowing who the murderer was, he would feel heart-wrenching pain and overwhelming regret.
Now, Borsalino has ripped open his old wounds in front of everyone, but he doesn't feel pain, regret, or sadness; instead, he feels an unprecedented sense of emotion and relief.
"yes!"
"I also think the junior is an idiot."
"Otherwise, why would he be on Beehive Island?"
Borsalino turned to look at Rosen on the screen:
"Why not just pretend nothing happened, pretend you know nothing, and become a Marine Admiral, and then a Marine Fleet Admiral?"
"Hehehehe."
"Let me guess, you'll answer like this: Some things just have to be done by someone."
"Is that so, junior?"
Borsalino murmured.
This moment.
In the military academy square, all the Marine personnel turned their heads to look at the large screen standing in front of them.
She stared intently at the man in the picture.
Especially the word "Justice" on the back of the Marine coat the other person was wearing, as if the figure was seamlessly superimposed on it.
"Rosen."
"Not just Borsalino, but also Sakazuki."
"Is this why even they are willing to submit to you?"
Behind a large tree at the edge of the military academy square.
Kuzan leaned against the tree trunk, seemingly trying to hide his presence, but with his Observation Haki, he had seen everything that had just happened in the military academy square.
"Kuzan."
"Do you still want to compete with him for the position of Fleet Admiral?"
suddenly.
A voice reached Kuzan's ears from not far away.
"Ah la la la la! It's Victor Seiji!"
"From what you're saying, it seems you're already prepared to follow him."
"Is that so?"
Kuzan looked up at the dark horse Victor Seiji standing in front of him.
"My eyes have been on him ever since he took his first step out of Marineford."
"It hasn't moved for a single moment."
"I wouldn't say I know everything Rosen has done over the past seven months, but at least I'm not kept in the dark like Professor Zephyr."
Upon hearing this, Victor Seiji did not directly answer Kuzan's question, but instead spoke to himself;
"He is really good, he did a very good job."
"He gave all the coldness and cruelty to the pirates, and all the warmth and kindness to his teachers, colleagues, and civilians."
"So, if you still harbor the idea of competing with him for the position of Fleet Admiral, then the first person you'll have to face isn't Rosen, but me."
"I will make him king."
Victor Seiji stared intently at Kuzan, his voice carrying a chilling aura.
"Will he become king?"
Kuzan pondered Victor Seiji's words for a moment, then turned to look at Rosen on the screen:
"Ah la la la la".
"A man like that."
"I also find it hard to find a reason not to make him king!"
Upon hearing Kuzan's words...
Although Victor Seiji's face remained expressionless, a hint of a smile flickered in his eyes behind his sunglasses.
He knew Kuzan well.
Since they've said that, it means they've given up on becoming Fleet Admiral, or rather, on competing with Rosen for the position.
In other words, from this moment on...
Kizaru, Borsalino.
Akainu, Sakazuki.
Aokiji, Kuzan.
The three admirals of the Marine, all loyal to Rosen, unanimously chose him as their king.
...
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