An unknown amount of time passed before the sun set, plunging the entire sea into darkness.
After defeating the Elephant Pirates, they didn't encounter any other crews and had successfully entered the designated safe zone.
Instantly, all the marines of the 315th Branch cheered.
After all, this had been a truly difficult mission, one no branch of the four seas could ever hope to accomplish. But… Their 315th Branch had accomplished it.
And it was a perfect accomplishment!
Successfully escorting the former Admiral, now the Chief Instructor at the Marine Headquarters, to the safe zone!
This mission... They could brag about it for the rest of their lives!
How could these marines not be delighted?
But after their joy, they were confronted by the cursing Captain Enchi. In a moment, the joy suddenly fell, and murmurs began to fall.
Of course, none of this had anything to do with Ian. After the sun disappeared, his once energetic self suddenly became languid.
At this moment, he was lying on the side of the ship, gazing at the calm sea.
The calmness of the sea even made him wonder about what was happening back home.
It seems he's a family man, too!
"Ian, that's your name, isn't it?"
Just as Ian was thinking about home, Zephyr's voice came from behind him.
Ian, regaining his composure, raised his eyelids, but didn't turn around.
Instead, he simply greeted Zephyr, who had come to his side and was also gazing out at the sea: "Instructor Zephyr."
"Now you call me Zephyr instead of coward, eh?"
Zephyr couldn't help but laugh as he watched Ian, still gazing out at the sea. "I didn't expect you'd already retired. What a shame."
Thinking of this, Zephyr felt like cursing. What was going on at Marine Headquarters?
They even rejected such a promising marine.
"I've heard from Enchi about your situation."
Zephyr, calming down a bit, looked back at Ian while grinning broadly, and said: "Would you like to come to Marine Headquarters with me? I'll teach you whatever you want to learn."
However…
"No thanks."
To Zephyr's surprise, Ian rejected the invitation without a moment's hesitation.
Zephyr was taken aback. "Why? Are you resentful of being rejected so many times by the headquarters? Don't worry, I'll seek justice for you when I get back. You have talent, don't waste it just because you're angry!"
"That's not the case."
Ian shook his head with a warm smile on his face. "I'm already married, I just want to spend more time with my family."
Zephyr, who was about to offer some advice, froze in silence, seemingly unprepared for Ian's response.
"Family? That's quite an answer! On this sea, for the sake of so-called dreams, countless people abandon their families, children, wives, all to chase after their dream. But today, to think I would actually hear someone say they would stop chasing their dream for their family, hahaha!"
Zephyr, regaining his composure, slumped back against the side of the ship and gazed out at the sea before him again.
Although he was laughing, a complex expression crossed his eyes.
"That's right, nothing is more important than family."
Those complex eyes seemed to unconsciously moisten as he murmured: "If only I had understood this sooner."
The atmosphere suddenly grew quieter for some reason. Both men stared silently at the tranquil sea before them, one with a strange expression, the other filled with a complex, melancholic, and sorrowful expression.
Just as Ian was debating whether to ask if he could learn the advanced application of Armament Haki and the Six Styles without going to Marine Headquarters, a voice suddenly rang out from the side: "What do you think of justice?"
The voice was solemn, serious, and full of anticipation.
Although he didn't know why Zephyr asked him this question, and why it sounded so expectant, Ian was still taken aback.
Justice?
That? Not only now, but even when he first joined the Marines, he didn't have it.
But despite this thought, Ian still put on a serious expression, understanding that this might be a test. He planned to trick the old man and get his hands on the gift first.
But before he could speak...
"Enough, you don't need to fool me."
Zephyr seemed to have guessed what he was about to say. He sighed and interrupted Ian's reply.
After a pause, he pulled a book from his chest and handed it to Ian. "This contains my insights, understanding, and training methods for Armament Haki. It also has the training methods for the Six Styles. Perhaps it will help you. Consider it my reward for this mission!"
As soon as he said this…
"Zephyr-sensei."
Ain approached, glanced at Ian, and whispered.
"Thank you."
Before Ian could react, she addressed Zephyr with respect: "Marine Headquarters has sent someone to pick you up. It's Vice-Admiral Garp, the Hero of the Marines!"
"Garp came? I see."
Zephyr nodded, then smiled at Ian. "Then we'll meet again next time, if fate allows, talented boy."
The bright smile on his face made it seem as if nothing had happened.
Without pausing, he turned around. But just as he was about to leave, a calm voice echoed.
"My justice is justice!"
"I will chop down anyone who dares to stand in my way. If you can't even protect your family and the people you care about, how can you talk about justice?"
These seemingly casual words made Zephyr stop in his tracks, his face frozen in surprise, as if he hadn't expected this kid to answer like that.
"My justice is justice?"
What about the World Government's justice?
What about the Marine Headquarters' justice?
"Extreme justice?"
No, this is my own, exclusive justice!
Could it be that he had just handed his most important training experience to some unreasonable brat?
But after hearing Ian's next words, Zephyr recalled his own experiences over the years. He couldn't help but sigh and said to Ain, who was frowning beside him: "Let's go!"
Only after Zephyr left the warship and boarded the warship next to them did Ian lower his head to look at the book in his hands.
Then he shook his head and muttered: "What's the point of talking about justice out of nowhere?"
From the beginning, he had disdained so-called justice; otherwise, he wouldn't have thought of just running away.
Justice?
Those guys up there make people slaves, play with women, issue legal plundering certificates to pirates, and even pretend to be pirates to destroy other countries. Yet, they talked about justice to the people below them?
What a joke!
At least have some shame with that double standard!
The so-called justice was nothing but rules made to restrain those below.
Besides, he's retired, so what's the point of talking about justice?
Ian put away the book, looked at the warship parked nearby, and stretched.
"I got what I wanted. Now it's time to go home!"
Elsewhere, Zephyr, who had just jumped onto another warship, heard a familiar laugh. "Hahaha, I heard your arm was cut off by a pirate. I didn't expect it to be true. I was thinking of coming to comfort you, but now it seems I don't have to."
"Do I need your comfort, you bastard?"
Looking at Garp, who had slung an arm around his shoulder, Zephyr couldn't help but smile.
"Aren't you on vacation? Why are you here?"
"That guy, Sengoku, threatened me that if I didn't come, my salary would be docked."
Garp picked his nose, his tone full of complaints, and he said with a pout: "So, here I am! Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's get back to headquarters!"
Then, while grinning with a feral smile, he added: "I'm gonna eat all the snacks that bastard has been hiding!"
With that, he waved his hand. "Back to Marine Headquarters!"
Zephyr: "..."
Watching Garp grumble and curse, overflowing with resentment, Zephyr's face was filled with helplessness. He turned to gaze at the warship across from him, his eyes full of complexity and regret.
"Zephyr-sensei."
Seeing this, Ain hesitated and said: "Zephyr-sensei, do you think highly of him?"
"He's a good kid indeed. If he could join Marine Headquarters, perhaps he could become the next Admiral."
Zephyr did not hide it and smiled as he nodded. "What a pity. But perhaps we will meet again next time."
As soon as he finished speaking...
"That kid? Who? He's supposed to be an admiral? Why not invite him to Marine Headquarters?"
Garp leaned over, seemingly holding something. "Forget it, let's not talk about this. I'm just a Vice-Admiral. What's the point of talking about this? And what did you bring this back for?"
He shook the thing in his hand. "Is it still useful after all this time? Are you planning on keeping it as a souvenir for yourself?"
Zephyr: "..."
Looking at Garp dangling his severed hand, Zephyr's face, filled with emotion and regret, darkened.
Especially when he saw Garp trying to open the plastic bag, he roared loudly: "Stop shaking my severed hand around, you bastard!"
What the hell did this idiot even come here for?