"But Zephyr," Sengoku frowned,
"asking Fleet Admiral Kong for him won't be easy. He's from the West Blue."
Corruption was rampant there.
Garp slammed the table.
"What's wrong with being born in the West Blue?!"
"Look at my son, Dragon! I raised him myself!"
"That's because you threatened to stop chasing Roger," Sengoku snapped.
"Zephyr won't pull that nonsense!"
Garp laughed.
"I just want to chase Roger freely!"
Sengoku exploded.
"YOU'RE GOING TO BE AN ADMIRAL WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!"
"Over my dead body!"
Zephyr rubbed his temple.
"I'll handle it."
Fleet Admiral's Office
Steel Bone Kong reviewed documents when Zephyr entered.
"Speak."
Zephyr saluted.
"I request Gern Reginald Sigma be transferred to Headquarters—to serve as my adjutant."
Kong frowned.
"The 'Heavenly Quake'? His power is unusual—but his behavior…"
"He removed the Marine flag," Kong said coldly.
"An insult to Marine dignity."
Zephyr met his gaze.
"He believed failing civilians made the flag meaningless."
"Rules are not decorations," Kong growled.
Zephyr replied calmly.
"Rules are dead. People are alive."
Silence.
Kong exhaled slowly.
"You rarely insist like this."
Zephyr clenched his fists.
"I was fourteen when my village scraped together travel money to send me here.
Eighteen when I couldn't even aim a rifle.
Twenty-eight before mastering Six Styles.
By then—my peers were already commanders."
His voice trembled.
"My peak is ending.
Garp reached heights I never could—and still grows."
"But Gern…
he shouldn't have to wait as long as I did."
Kong stared at him.
Finally—
"I understand."
Zephyr bowed.
"I'll teach him discipline."
He turned and left.
The storm had begun.