Zephyr's expression turned grave as he spoke, then shook his head and patted Enel on the shoulder with a smile. "This time, we owe it to you, kid. Without you, things wouldn't have been resolved so quickly."
"So boring."
Hearing Zephyr's words, Enel, who was sitting on the ship's railing, raised an eyebrow, then said arrogantly and provocatively: "Looks like the so-called strong ones of the sea aren't that impressive after all."
"Don't underestimate anyone, or don't complain to me when you get beaten again."
"Yeah, yeah, you old geezer, you're such a pain."
Enel impatiently picked his ear at Zephyr's serious lecture, blew on his little finger, then casually looked ahead. "Are those marines going back, too?"
"How could they head back that soon? With such a huge incident happening in the Kingdom of Dressrosa, it'll probably take them a day or two before they can leave."
"Then why are they following us?"
"Following us?"
Zephyr froze for a moment, then immediately raised his head. Sure enough, behind them, several marine warships were closely tailing them.
His face turned puzzled. "Huh? They really are following us? Maybe it's because I've been away from headquarters too long, and these kids are missing their old teacher?"
As he spoke, a pleased smile appeared on his face. He walked to the stern of the ship, leaned on the railing, waved toward the approaching warships, and shouted loudly: "Hahaha! No need to see me off, you brats! Make sure you all—"
But before Zephyr could finish his cheerful greeting to his former students, the response that came from the opposite side was…
Boom!!
A cannonball was fired straight toward him.
Kuma's expression changed, and he immediately jumped up, stretching out his hand to slap the cannonball away from the ship.
With a loud bang, a massive splash of water erupted on the left side of the ship.
Zephyr: "...?"
Zephyr stared in disbelief at the splash, then turned his stunned gaze toward the warship whose cannons were pointed at him. "Have they gone insane?"
"Continue firing."
Tsuru, who was standing on the opposite warship, stared ahead. She had clearly noticed the furious Zephyr, yet her expression remained serious as she kept issuing commands. "No matter the cost, permission is granted to sink the enemy vessel."
Although no one fully understood what had happened, the moment the first cannon was fired, everything was already sealed.
Of course, the opponents were no weaklings. Even with precise aim, the cannonballs were still deflected away by those aboard Zephyr's ship.
"Fufufufu… Trying to sink them with cannons won't be that easy."
Doflamingo, watching the marines turn their guns on each other, was in a particularly good mood. "That's the guy who defeated me. Didn't you know? Or is this intentional?"
"Shut your mouth! Either sit quietly and watch, or I'll have you locked back in a cell. My command doesn't need your commentary."
"Alright, alright! I'll be quiet. Just don't throw me back into that dark, damp cell."
Tsuru looked speechlessly at the sarcastic Doflamingo, then took off the lollipop from her mouth and turned toward Garp, who had been silently watching since the beginning. "You're planning to just keep standing there and watching?"
"No, no."
Garp chuckled in response. "You all can handle it. There's no way I would raise my hand against Zephyr. He's my dear old comrade, after all!"
"... Is that so? Fine then."
Perhaps understanding the pain of striking a comrade, Tsuru fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "But if you don't act, Sengoku will definitely nag your ear off again when we return."
"Sengoku's nagging?"
Hearing that, Garp's cheerful face suddenly froze. He immediately took off his justice cloak, rolled up his sleeves, and turned to the nearby marines with a serious expression. "What are you all standing around for? Bring me my cannonballs! Don't let that old geezer, Zephyr, escape!"
"...?"
"What in the world are these guys doing?"
Zephyr, who had leapt into the air and punched away another cannonball, now had a grim look on his face. "Have they lost their minds? They're firing at me!"
He might have been away from headquarters for a while, but he was still the Marine Headquarters' Chief Instructor!
"Could this be because of the Dressrosa incident? No, that can't be right!"
"Mr. Zephyr, you should probably stop thinking about it."
Ace, who was helping protect the ship, pressed down his hat helplessly and said, "Looks like Gramps has decided to make his move."
Zephyr: "...?!"
Hearing Ace's words, Zephyr suddenly looked up, staring incredulously toward the central warship.
Sure enough, there was Garp, sleeves rolled up, holding a cannonball. "That old bastard... He's actually attacking me, too?"
Although his tone was full of disbelief, what he said was true: Garp was really going to attack them.
"Meteor Fist!"
With Garp's rowdy voice echoing out, a cannonball shot forward like a meteor, hurtling toward them at high speed.
Furious, Zephyr leaped again, smashed the cannonball aside with a punch, and roared: "You bastard! What the hell are you doing?"
"Don't try to play innocent with me! I don't associate with fugitives wanted by the World Government."
Garp laughed heartily as he replied, "What are you waiting for? Get moving! Fleet Admiral Sengoku has already given the order: Arrest them no matter the cost! Their Life or death situation doesn't matter!"
Zephyr: "...?!"
Zephyr's eyes widened in shock while staring at Garp holding another cannonball not far away, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. His eyes were filled with disbelief.
Sengoku... Gave the order?
Why?
Was it because he had privately formed a marine fleet?
At this moment, hearing Garp's words, Zephyr also understood why the marines would attack him. However, before he could figure out why Sengoku would do such a thing…
Boom!
While speaking, Garp was frantically throwing cannonballs.
"Meteor Fist!"
Those cannonballs, falling like meteors, made Zephyr's face turn green.
He quickly came back to his senses while staring at the oncoming cannonballs and shouted loudly to the people behind him: "Forget it, stop the cannonballs first!"
...
"You old fool..."
On the other side, Tsuru, who overheard the earlier conversation, looked at Garp speechlessly.
But she only shook her head, saying no more. Watching the meteor shower that, though fierce, was being blocked one after another, she pondered for a moment and said: "It seems impossible to take down the other side in a short time. Keep speeding up and get closer to their ship!"
"Impossible? Tsuru, are you underestimating me?"
Garp grinned as the last of his cannonballs were gone. "With me here, why would we need to approach the ship? Bogard, bring me my big cannonball!"