Chapter 151: Chapter 151
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral’s Office
With the fleet dispatched to ’retrieve’ Zephyr, Sengoku finally set aside his paperwork. The office was quiet, leaving him alone with the heavy silence of waiting.
Since the destruction of the first End Point, Marine Headquarters could no longer turn a blind eye to Zephyr’s rampage. Yet, as a friend who had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him for decades, Sengoku clung to the faint hope that Garp and Borsalino could talk him down.
He knew, however, that the odds were impossibly slim.
He had worked alongside Zephyr long enough to know the man’s soul. Unlike Garp, that old scoundrel who played loose with the rules, Zephyr was a Marine of rigid honesty. He never cut corners. He was a man of deep kindness, a trait immortalized by his title: the "Admiral Who Never Kills."
But it was precisely that kind of man who, once set on a path, could not be stopped by anyone.
Sengoku understood the grim reality. Even if the legends were true, that destroying the three End Points would flood the New World with magma, Zephyr wasn’t a fool. He knew that he couldn’t stand against the World Governnt, or even the fleet currently bearing down on him, with his strength alone.
He had likely gone into this prepared to die.
Sengoku sighed heavily, rising from his desk to stand by the window. He gazed out at the waves crashing relentlessly against the fortifications of Marineford.
After a long while, he exhaled, his breath hitching with lancholy. "Counting the ti... if they intercepted him at the second End Point, Garp and Borsalino should be seeing Zephyr off by now."
The mont the words left his lips,
*Purupurupuru... Purupurupuru...*
The Den Den Mushi on his desk rang.
Sengoku snatched the receiver but didn’t speak imdiately. He took a steadying breath before answering in a low, guarded voice. "Hello?"
"It’s ! Sengoku!"
"Garp." Hearing that familiar, carefree voice, Sengoku confird his guess. He paused, steeling himself. "Is it done?"
"All taken care of!"
"Zephyr... Did you bring him back?"
"Nope! Why, you need him for sothing?"
"I see... So that’s how it is."
Hearing Garp’s blunt answer, a surge of sorrow crested in Sengoku’s chest. He removed his round glasses, squeezed his eyes shut, and wiped away the moisture gathering at the corners.
Grief, sharp and sudden, took hold of him. He muttered to himself, his voice trembling, "I knew it... I knew he would make that choice. Zephyr... you stubborn old fool."
He ignored Garp’s question about needing Zephyr. That man had always been tactless. Even with their old friend gone, Garp remained heartlessly casual, though Sengoku knew better. Perhaps Garp was hurting too, masking his grief behind that facade of indifference.
Sengoku didn’t press him. He slid his glasses back onto his face, blinking his red-rimd eyes open. After a heavy silence, he spoke, his tone thick with defeat.
"Please... see Zephyr off for ."
"Huh? You want
to say goodbye for you? Can’t you just tell him yourself?"
"..."
’Tell him myself? Is he telling
to commit suicide?’
Sengoku’s face reddened . He knew Garp was dense, but this was a new low, even for him.
Before Sengoku could lash out, the Garp-faced Den Den Mushi (Garp-Mushi) pursed its lips impatiently. "Fine, fine, I’ll pass on the ssage! Zephyr’s right across from , anyway. But listen here! When we get back, I’m doubling my rice crackers allowance!"
Sengoku stood there, dumbfounded, trying to process the demand for rice crackers. anwhile, the Den Den Mushi turned its head, looking away from Sengoku, and shouted joyfully toward soone in the background.
"Oi, Zephyr! Sengoku says hi! You hear that?"
Sengoku froze.
His mind filled with static. He stared blankly at the snail in his hand, which seed to mimic Garp waving at soone in the distance.
"What is going on?" Sengoku stamred, the gears in his head grinding. "Wait. You said you didn’t bring him back." His voice dropped, sudden realization warring with confusion. "Zephyr... isn’t dead?"
"Dead?" The Garp-Mushi looked back at him, confused. "Why are you cursing Zephyr to death all of a sudden? Let
tell you right now, the rice crackers in your private cabinet are mine! Otherwise, I’m telling Zephyr you were trying to bury him!"
"Shut up!" Sengoku roared. "Look at the ti! Look at the situation! Is this really the mont to talk about snacks?!"
Sengoku frowned his expression turning grave as a terrible possibility occurred to him. "Garp... did you let Zephyr escape?"
Had the second End Point been destroyed? If Zephyr was alive and not in custody, that was the only logical conclusion.
"Huh? Escaped? Nope!" Garp remained infuriatingly cheerful. "Didn’t I just tell you? Zephyr is preparing to retire!"
’What? Retire?’
Sengoku gripped the receiver tight enough to crack the plastic. "When did you ’ever’ say that?!"
"Oh, did I miss that part? Bwahahaha! You called so suddenly, I must have forgot!" Garp’s laughter bood through the speaker, utterly unbothered by the Fleet Admiral’s rising blood pressure. "Well, it’s the sa difference. Zephyr says he’s resigning. In fact, I’ve got his resignation letter right here. He told
to slap it on your desk when I get back!"
"..."
He’s resigning? He wrote a letter?
Wasn’t he trying to destroy the New World and eradicate piracy via volcanic apocalypse just an hour ago? What did he an, resigning?
Sengoku’s mouth twitched. He recalled his earlier tears, his mont of mourning. His face turned a shade darker. "Is Zephyr with you right now?"
"He’s catching the sea breeze on the bow of the ship opposite us. Why?"
"He’s... in the mood to enjoy the breeze?"
Sengoku was stunned into silence. Finally, he asked, his voice low and serious, "What exactly happened out there? Zephyr wouldn’t just retire in the middle of this."
"I don’t know the details! Maybe seeing his once-proud disciple co to pick him up changed his mind." Garp picked his nose absentmindedly. "Zephyr’s already been whisked away by his student. Said he wants to leave this sad place, prep for retirent, and follow the kid back to the East Blue!"
"His student? East Blue?" Sengoku frowned, searching his mory. "Dante?"
"Bwahahaha! That’s the one! The brat ca all the way out here just to fetch him!"
"So... that’s it?" Sengoku pressed, needing absolute clarity. "Garp, answer
seriously. Is Zephyr really retiring?"
At this, the normally playful expression on the Den Den Mushi vanished. Garp’s voice dropped, losing its manic energy.
"Is the reason important right now, Sengoku?"
Sengoku fell silent. He understood.
’No matter the reason, Zephyr retiring... is the best possible outco for us.’
"Fine," Sengoku sighed, the fight draining out of him. "Hand
his resignation letter when you return. And you better explain everything clearly then."
He didn’t wait for Garp to start laughing again. He slamd the receiver down, cutting the connection. He stared at the sleeping snail and cursed under his breath.
"That bastard... He really knows how to give
a heart attack."
But relief was short-lived. Would the World Governnt allow a man who tried to destroy the New World to simply... quit?
Thinking of the political storm brewing, Sengoku’s headache returned with a vengeance. He rubbed his temples, groaning.
*Purupurupuru... Purupurupuru...*
The phone rang again.
Sengoku snatched it up, his patience frayed. "What is it now?!"
A low, commanding voice echoed from the speaker.
"Co here. Imdiately."
The Gorosei (Five Elders).
Sengoku froze. He looked at the Den Den Mushi, confird the signal origin, and snapped to attention. "Yes, sir."
*Clack.* The line went dead.
Sengoku stared at the hung-up receiver, rubbing his forehead with even more distress than before.
"As expected... Here it cos."
===============
Dear Readers and Fans,
For those eager to dive into next Chapters earlier before others, I invite you to join us on Patreon. By becoming our Patron, you not only gain access to exclusive advanced Chapters but also help us continue this endeavour and expand it further.
spat reon/8Ashes8
(no space)
You can read upto 7 Chapters in advance.
Reviews
All reviews (0)