Although Smoker was a friend he acknowledged, Kuzan had once believed he would become one of the Marine pillars, at least at the level of a Vice Admiral.
Thinking carefully, it was not strange that such a man would leave the Marines.
That friend of his had always been stubborn and unyielding. He was a genuine Marine who fought for the justice in his heart.
What had happened during the Marineford War was unbearable for him.
He simply had not expected Smoker to actually intend to go take a look at Cross Guild.
'That question… the Celestial Dragons?'
Kuzan thought of the first two questions. They had seemed like two questions, but in truth, they were clearly one and the same.
A question called "Who is justice?"
That question was far too heavy. Even Zephyr-sensei, who was equally disappointed, could not break free from the cage of his own thinking.
After a soft sigh, Kuzan left the corridor. He was heading to a certain place.
He was going to see a teacher who was about to leave.
That was the true reason he could not sleep.
He crossed the Marine plaza and found the man before the collapsed ruins of justice.
The aged Marine sat cross-legged before the ruins, holding a bottle of pear wine in his hand as he stared blankly ahead.
"Zephyr-sensei."
Kuzan stopped behind Zephyr. After a moment of hesitation, he still said, "You too…"
"Yeah. I'm leaving. Together with justice."
Zephyr did not turn around. He merely gazed at the ruins of justice.
"Did Sengoku send you here?
"That guy clearly took the blame already, yet he still has the mind to think about these things. He really was born to worry himself to death."
"No. I just wanted to ask."
Kuzan sat down beside him.
"This is my own intention, Sensei."
"Then there is nothing to ask. It is merely a matter of each person's choice."
Zephyr handed over the pear wine, his tone calm.
"Just like Garp. That old bastard seems to be planning to retire.
"How nice. Once he sheds his responsibilities, there is no pressure left at all. His grandson was saved too.
"Sometimes, I really do envy that heartless old bastard."
"…Then what about you?"
Kuzan took the wine and gulped down a mouthful. Then, with a complicated expression, he said, "It's already spreading inside… no, it's been confirmed that many Marines will leave with you, Sensei."
"Hahaha, this old man doesn't have Garp's carefree nature."
Zephyr said softly, "I have no family left. They all died at the hands of pirates. That is why I will fight evil to the very end.
"But Marine Headquarters' justice is not the justice I seek. In that case, I will open a new path myself.
"A new Marine force that accepts no compromise and slaughters evil to the last."
At this point, he turned to look at Kuzan.
"This is this old man's final effort. Even death will not change it."
"…"
Kuzan said nothing. He poured the wine down his throat, then stood up.
"Sensei, Smoker came to see me earlier. He thinks your path is meaningless.
"What I want to ask is this: what can you change? What can you actually accomplish?
"At the end of this road—perhaps nothing will have changed at all."
Perhaps in the past, Kuzan would have approved of what Zephyr was doing.
But after talking more with Ren, he found that his own thoughts had changed greatly.
What Zephyr was doing was establishing a Marine force that aligned with the justice in their hearts, under circumstances where the original Marines could no longer be changed.
But… it was meaningless. It could not truly change the world.
The Celestial Dragons would still be the Celestial Dragons. The World Government would still be the World Government. The fundamental logic by which everything operated would remain unchanged.
At most, the outward appearance would shift because of it. But as long as a blow came, or as long as Zephyr died, everything would instantly return to zero.
"That will be a matter for you young people."
Zephyr laughed loudly, turning to look at his student for the first time.
"You are different now, Kuzan. That may be good, or it may be bad.
"An old man like me has nothing left to teach you. What I am doing now is only so that I do not betray the justice in our hearts.
"Right or wrong, even if it has no meaning, it still needs to be done.
"At the very least, it is far better than doing nothing.
"If you have something better, then go and do it. If you can die without regret, then you will have succeeded."
"I understand."
Kuzan's eyes shifted slightly. He seemed to understand his teacher's thoughts.
Perhaps Zephyr truly could not change anything, but at least his appearance represented a trend.
When the environment was fixed and impossible to change, life would naturally seek a way out.
This might not be a perfectly fitting analogy, but the essence was the same.
'The difference between 0 and 1, huh?'
Ren attacking the Celestial Dragons seemed to carry the same kind of thinking.
But compared to Zephyr-sensei's choice, Ren's methods were far more—terrifying, and enough to make one's heart tremble.
As soon as he thought of this, Kuzan could not help thinking of another aspect.
If it was Ren, he would surely have anticipated the situation that was about to unfold.
Then would Zephyr encounter just the right resistance?
For some reason, such a thought suddenly surfaced in Kuzan's mind, only to be immediately suppressed.
Terrifying.
Truly terrifying.
At some unknown point, Ren had left him with such an impression.
As long as something fell within the range where the other party might make a move, no matter what action one took, there was a possibility that Ren would counter it.
And to think he was actually placing expectation on an enemy.
But for some reason, deep down, Kuzan still felt a little anticipation.
New World, Whitebeard's homeland.
Ace disembarked from the three-masted ship and set foot on this land that belonged to Pops.
In front of him, a red-haired, one-armed man sat cross-legged beneath a windmill and looked over.
The other members of the Red-Haired Pirates were scattered around, all casting scrutinizing and curious gazes at him.
"Go on."
Marco pressed one hand on Ace's shoulder.
"This is Pops' homeland. To Pops, this is the place he cares about the most.
"If this place gets destroyed, then don't come back to see us. You can get lost and go be an orphan.
"But as long as you protect this place, then whatever happens will be fine."
"…Yeah."
Ace nodded heavily.
Although he was somewhat worried about what was happening on Pops' side—after all, Pops had spoken very seriously, and everyone had looked solemn too.
They had done something of that scale. Being targeted by the World Government was only natural.
However, after Marco comforted him with things like, "During the Marineford War, some of us thought we might never come back, but didn't we all return? Trust Pops," he gained a little more confidence in Pops.
No matter what, matters here in the homeland had to be settled properly. He also needed to meet Red Hair.
Ace moved forward and arrived before Shanks.
"Long time no see, Ace."
Shanks raised his head and said warmly, "This is the second time we've met."
"Yes, Shanks… sir."
Ace hesitated for a moment, but still added the honorific.
"Back then, I went to thank you for looking after Luffy, but I never expected that you were actually…"
He stopped mid-sentence, seemingly not knowing how to mention that name.
"Roger. My captain. Your father."
Shanks said, "You shouldn't be ashamed to mention him. In my eyes, he was a very great man."
"Even if everyone in the world hates him?"
Ace could not help clenching his fists.
"They never even met your father. Isn't what the World Government does obvious enough? Just like this Marineford War—what does it look like in their mouths?"
"…They pushed the blame onto Sengoku."
"The Great Pirate Era is the same. Without enough factors behind it, a single Pirate King could never call the whole world to action.
"Dreams are a lighthouse in the darkness, drawing people forward. But the true reason people move forward is because of—the darkness that exists everywhere."
Red Hair said this quietly.
"…Marco said you were a very casual person."
Ace's gaze changed, because the side Shanks was showing him was different from what Marco had mentioned.
"People have many sides. The side you can see now is because of my captain."
Shanks stood up and patted Ace's shoulder firmly.
"Leave what comes next to me.
"Although it sounds strange to say it, I still have a little face with the World Government.
"You hand over Saint Shalria. I will guarantee that the terms of the exchange are carried out."
At this point, Shanks's expression turned cold.
"If anyone dares to violate them, I will absolutely make them pay!"
A domineering pressure surged around him. Black-red lightning displayed his attitude.
"I understand."
Ace nodded, not questioning this man who had personally gone to Marineford and joined the war.
He beckoned behind him, and the plump-looking Blamenco walked over.
"She's stored here."
Blamenco patted his chin.
"I'm a user of the Pocket-Pocket Fruit. That person is inside here.
"But I must personally witness the process, Shanks. That is Pops' order."
"Fine."
Shanks nodded, and the atmosphere at the scene eased.
Ace began speaking with Shanks. He wanted to know about his father's past and his stories.
Whitebeard would not tell him these things, because Ace had always been unwilling to bring it up.
Only now, only after Shanks said those words, did he realize that perhaps some matters could not be viewed from a single perspective.
Marco watched all of this and nodded before boarding the ship and leaving this land.
Compared to Ace's mission, his own mission was far more severe.
He had to join forces with others to intercept an Admiral. The pressure was still immense.
Next, he might also need to coordinate with people he had never met before, to avoid being unable to work together when necessary.
As preparations on this side were completed, the time of battle drew closer and closer.
"I wonder when it will be."
Just as the departing Marco was still thinking, the sound of a Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
He took it out and saw that it was a special modified Den Den Mushi.
This was a special Den Den Mushi from Ren. It was not any type of Den Den Mushi currently circulating on the market.
Or rather, it was a very unique radio-wave communication technology.
At the same time, it was also the communication guarantee for the grand plan to come, ensuring that there was absolutely no possibility of eavesdropping.
Buru Buru~ Buru Buru~
Amid the Den Den Mushi's ringing, Marco answered the call.
At the same time—
In other places, his brothers and sisters also began making arrangements.
However, most of them were preparing to deal with ordinary Marines rather than Admirals.
(End of Chapter)