In the control room, the atmosphere was dense with the hum of machinery and the low, gravelly voices of men who had seen a thousand wars. The teachers and senior officers were taking their time, meticulously preparing their equipment. They knew that a newly emerged island would act as a beacon for every power-hungry force on the Blue Star.
Zephyr stood at the helm, his mechanical arm whirring softly as he adjusted the course. Aizawa, tucked into his signature orange sleeping bag and leaning against a bulkhead, blinked tiredly. "Zephyr... where are we heading first? The silence in this belt is grating."
Zephyr didn't look back, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "We're making a stop at Dressrosa. We need to pick someone up before we commit to the final leg of the journey."
"Dressrosa?" All Might's voice boomed, a nostalgic smile tugging at his lips. "Ah, the land of passion and gladiators... how nostalgic. I wonder how the Colosseum fares these days."
Akainu let out a sharp, derisive snort, his arms crossed over his chest. "If I hadn't maintained a presence there, that island would have been overrun by pirates years ago. Order is the only thing keeping those flowers blooming."
"My, my... look at who's been working so hard," Borsalino drawled, focused entirely on trimming his unending fingernails. "So much dedication to the cause."
Garp let out a sudden, thunderous laugh, slapping the control console. "Bwahahaha! Those pirates think they can do whatever they want just because the sea is wide. They forget whose backyard they're playing in!"
Ivankov, carefully pouring hot water into a coffee filter, shook his head so hard his hair swayed like a purple cloud. "Well, what do you expect, Garp-boy? Unlike the original pirates who roamed this star to hunt sea beasts and trade between islands, today's lot only know how to flaunt their power like they're showing off for the world... Hmph! No style!"
Aokiji, slouching in a chair with his sleep mask pushed up, exhaled a frosty breath. "Then you'd better thank the Old Guard for maintaining the balance. Especially the old man, Whitebeard. He's reaching his limits... but he's held the line longer than anyone."
Garp's laughter died down into a somber smirk. He shook his head slowly. "Newgate... I'll have to meet him one last time before the curtain falls."
"Oh! I'd like to see him too!" All Might added, his eyes bright. "I want to see how many children he's saved this time. What a truly great man."
Sir Nighteye pushed his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose, his expression clinical and cold. "I want to read his future," he stated flatly. "The so-called 'Strongest Man of the Blue Star'... I want to see if his path leads to the end of an era."
Fisher Tiger and Jinbe shared a respectful glance. "If you're looking for Old Pops, you've got a long journey ahead," Tiger said. Ashura Doji and Denjiro both nodded in solemn agreement. "A great man," Denjiro whispered. "The only brother our Daimyo ever truly acknowledged."
While Pell and Chaka sat quietly in the corner, sipping their coffee and watching the titans of the previous era talk, Fujitora tilted his head toward the conversation. "I, too, wish to meet him. I've heard he wields a blade with the strength of the earth itself."
"Such fight freaks, all of you," Aizawa muttered from inside his cocoon, closing his eyes again. "Can't anyone just enjoy the quiet?"
Aokiji shifted his gaze back to Zephyr. "So, we're picking someone up. Is it one of those gladiators? Kyros, perhaps?"
Zephyr let out a short, rough laugh. "Hahaha! No. Just another kid."
"A kid?" Akainu's eyes narrowed, his tone sharpening. "What's the reason for bringing another brat onto this ship?"
Zephyr's expression turned uncharacteristically serious as he stared at the navigation charts. "They have their reasons... just like Nico Robin and the others. They belong to this story."
"Oho... how scary," Borsalino whispered, finally putting his nail clippers away. "These ancient families... they're popping up everywhere."
Nighteye adjusted his glasses again, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the empty sea ahead. "A mission," he whispered. "The weight of the past is finally catching up to the present."
Well.we also need to do some refilling !
"Refilling the hold is a priority," Zephyr continued, his gaze shifting to the inventory manifests. "Zeff is already complaining that his spice racks are thinning, and the meat locker won't last another week with the appetites of those brats. But more importantly..." He paused, his mechanical arm clicking as he tightened his grip. "This bunch needs some real combat. The silence of the Calm Belt has made them soft."
Garp let out a thunderous, barking laugh that echoed off the metallic walls of the control room. "Bwahahaha! So that's the play, Zephyr? Are you planning on letting them tangle with every pirate crew we cross along the way to Dressrosa?"
All Might stood tall, his heroic shadow stretching across the floor. He nodded, a firm, knowing smile on his face. "Experience is the greatest teacher, after all! A little friction against the rougher elements of the sea will sharpen their spirits. It's one thing to spar on a training deck; it's another to stand your ground when the black flag is raised against you."
"Tch," Akainu muttered, his hand glowing with a faint, smoldering heat. "If they can't handle a few sea-rats, they have no business heading toward a place like the new island. Let the pirates come. It'll save us the trouble of hunting them down later."
Borsalino looked out the reinforced window, his eyes trailing a distant sea bird. "Oooooh, a live-fire exercise... how very 'passionate' of you, Zephyr. I wonder if the students will be as excited as Garp-san is."
Down on the main deck, the boys were still arguing over their fishing bets, completely unaware that the teachers were already charting a course through the most dangerous pirate territories in the New World.
"Hey, Luffy!" Ace called out, looking at the way the currents were shifting as they neared the edge of the Calm Belt. "The wind is picking up. We're about to leave the silence behind."
Luffy grinned, slamming his fist into his palm. "Good! I'm bored of the quiet! I want to see something big!"
He had no idea that Zephyr was about to give him exactly what he asked for.
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To be continued