Sengoku and Garp fell silent. No one understood better than they did what such a leap in rank truly meant.
"Kong?!"
Zephyr's expression changed instantly. He shouted on the spot, staring in disbelief at the Fleet Admiral's unexpectedly gentle face.
A face he had known for years suddenly felt unfamiliar.
"Have you lost your mind? You're throwing him straight onto the fire!"
Ignoring Zephyr's accusation, a sharp glint flashed in the Fleet Admiral's eyes. His voice, however, remained calm.
"Mo Wu, do you have any objections?"
Glancing briefly at the warning in Zephyr's eyes, Mo Wu took a deep breath and answered Kong's question with steady composure.
"No, Fleet Admiral."
His voice was firm and clear as he met Kong's gaze without the slightest hesitation.
"My loyalty to the Marines is beyond question. I am willing to accept any assignment."
Damn it.
Zephyr cursed inwardly, his lips twitching as he prepared to speak and persuade Mo Wu not to accept this order.
But Kong had already anticipated his reaction. Before Zephyr could open his mouth, Kong cut him off.
"Vice Admiral Cease War, remember that this appointment comes directly from the World Government. The people above hold you in high regard. Do not disappoint them."
"The Marines also need soldiers with your determination and courage."
What a load of nonsense.
Zephyr's fists tightened as anger simmered within him. He could not accept seeing a promising young man's future crushed by those five individuals.
"Black Arm, you're acting strangely today."
Kong turned toward Zephyr. His voice carried a clear warning—and he even addressed Zephyr by his codename.
Taking a deep breath, Zephyr forced himself to calm down. He knew he couldn't lose control here, even though the political games disgusted him.
"Fleet Admiral Kong… I'm only worried about Major Mo Wu."
"I'm afraid he won't be able to withstand such pressure."
The words slipped out through clenched teeth. Zephyr's tone had softened slightly, but the way he emphasized the rank "Major" revealed just how much resentment he felt.
"Kid, I officially invite you to become my student and join the Elite Training Camp."
Zephyr stared directly at Mo Wu with a serious expression. The concern in his eyes was unmistakably genuine.
Mo Wu was stunned.
He hadn't expected Zephyr to care so much about him.
But…
[Side Mission: The Marines! The Marines!]
Objective: Increase military rank
Reward: 500 Dream Points (Vice Admiral)
Looking at the huge number displayed on the panel, Mo Wu felt a bitter smile rise in his heart.
He knew very well that the so-called Elite Training Camp was simply Zephyr's excuse to protect him.
Unfortunately, the reward offered by the system was just too great.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Zephyr. I still believe I'm better suited to fighting pirates on the seas."
With a reluctant refusal, Mo Wu turned his gaze toward the stern-faced Fleet Admiral seated above.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave, Fleet Admiral Kong."
Kong nodded.
Only after Mo Wu turned and walked out of the meeting room did Kong's rigid expression soften slightly. His voice carried a hint of helplessness.
"Zephyr, you're worrying too much."
"Heh."
Zephyr sneered coldly and answered with silence. The ugly look on his face clearly revealed his agitation.
The atmosphere in the room gradually grew tense. Neither man spoke first.
Seeing the situation deteriorate like this, Sengoku hesitated briefly.
After a moment, he finally broke the silence.
"Zephyr, since Vice Admiral Cease War has already expressed his determination, we should respect his choice."
"Sengoku?!"
"You…"
Zephyr raised his massive hand, ready to slam it down on the table in front of him.
He wanted to demand an explanation from the man before him.
What possible benefit could there be in pushing a talented young man—someone who had even cornered the Golden Lion—to such a dangerous position?
But in the next instant, the fury in Zephyr's eyes suddenly faded.
He looked at the three men seated around him.
Garp pretending to sleep.
Sengoku silent.
Kong wearing that faint, false smile.
At some unknown moment, they had already removed their coats of justice. Each of them now sat in plain clothes.
Zephyr's gaze lowered to the word embroidered on his own cloak—Justice.
The tiny characters had been stitched there by his wife ten years ago, when they married.
In the end, the hand Zephyr had raised slowly lowered.
His fist loosened without making a sound.
"Perhaps you're right, Kong."
Zephyr's voice was low, filled with exhaustion and unwillingness.
"But watching a promising young man get dragged into this kind of vortex… I can't pretend it has nothing to do with me."
"After all, I've served as the Marines' chief instructor for eight years."
Letting out a faint, relieved smile, Zephyr turned without hesitation and walked straight out of the room.
"Zephyr…"
Sengoku looked around the room. One man pretending to sleep, another remaining silent.
He sighed before speaking.
"Kong, if Tsuru were here, she definitely wouldn't agree with this decision."
Yet when he saw that the man above remained silent, Sengoku felt puzzled.
"Haven't you noticed? Over the years, you've been obeying the World Government more and more blindly."
"…."
A complicated expression flashed across Kong's face. Of course he knew Sengoku's words were not baseless.
But…
The scene at God Valley still remained vividly etched in his memory.
How could anyone possibly survive an attack of that magnitude?
He did not want Marineford to end up like God Valley—erased from the world map entirely.
Clenching his fists slightly, Kong let out a bitter smile.
"Sengoku… sometimes I wonder when I'll finally retire and let you take this seat."
Slowly rising from his chair, he walked toward the window.
His gaze passed through the glass and settled on the distant horizon.
"I'm really tired."
For a man known as Steel Bone, his voice now sounded worn and weary.
"Dismissed. Go get some rest."
"I'll go take a look at Shiki."
Without giving Sengoku a chance to respond, Kong glanced briefly at the still-sleeping Garp, shook his head, and left the room.
"Sigh."
"Stop pretending to sleep, idiot."
Sengoku punched Garp squarely on the head, irritation clear in his tone.
"Hiss—!"
Awakened from his nap by the blow, Garp looked around. Only he and Sengoku remained in the meeting room.
"Man…"
"I hate these serious meetings more than anything."
Crossing his legs carelessly, Garp looked at Sengoku.
"That kid looked pretty energetic just now."
"Don't worry. I think he's secretly thrilled."
Seeing straight through Mo Wu's true thoughts, Garp grinned.
"As long as he doesn't get promoted to Admiral, there's still room to maneuver, right?"
"What I'm afraid of," Sengoku said with a sigh, "is that after he executes Roger, those people above will push him into the Admiral position."
Looking at his old friend picking his nose and pretending to be clueless, Sengoku's voice carried deep helplessness.
"That kid doesn't have strength like yours. If he dies by accident, it would be a huge blow to the Marines' prestige."
"Oh? Hahaha, I'll take that as a compliment."
Scratching his head, Garp burst into laughter and somehow produced another bag of rice crackers, munching loudly.
"Hey, Garp!"
"I didn't steal your rice crackers! I dug these out of the ruins."
"…."
"Tell me again about what happened at God Valley."
"How many times have you asked me already?!"
"Three bags of special rice crackers."
"…That was fourteen years ago, in the summer…"
Walking through the ruins while wondering where he would sleep that night, Mo Wu split his attention as he repeatedly scrolled through his personal interface.
The milestone reward for "Slaying a Legendary Pirate" had given him quite a number of valuable items.
"Hey, kid. Stop right there."
A low voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
The man who had caught up with him had somehow avoided Mo Wu's Observation Haki entirely.
Two massive iron-like hands suddenly clamped down on Mo Wu's shoulders, stopping him in his tracks.
Mo Wu's heart jolted in alarm.
At that very moment—
Black and crimson lightning exploded violently around him.
"Conqueror's Haki?!"
"Just who the hell are you?!"
Behind him, the man's eyes widened in shock beneath his sunglasses.
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