"The night sky in this world is even deeper than the previous one!"
"The stars are even brighter!"
Just as Yoriichi Tsugikuni was gazing at the night sky with awe, Zephyr wasn't at home.
Tonight, he had a meeting to attend, a meeting that was important to both him and Yoriichi!
In the Fleet Admiral's office.
Fleet Admiral Kong sat behind his desk, two stacks of documents piled in front of him. Fleet Admiral Kong was intently reviewing the documents in his hands.
Not only Fleet Admiral Kong himself, but Vice Admiral Tsuru and Admiral Sengoku of the Marine Headquarters were standing on either side of Fleet Admiral Kong, also reviewing the documents on the desk.
"Knock knock knock!"
Suddenly, a knock sounded on the office door. Fleet Admiral Kong, who was behind the desk, raised his head and shouted in a strong voice, "Come in!"
The office door opened, and Zephyr, wearing a "Justice" cloak, strode into the office. After entering, he casually closed the office door and walked quickly to Fleet Admiral Kong's desk. He asked with a serious expression,
"How's the investigation going?"
"Any problems?"
Fleet Admiral Kong did not answer Zephyr's question directly. He lowered his head again and began to look through the documents in his hands. Seeing Kong's state, Zephyr's pupils contracted slightly. He took a deep breath, about to speak, when Tsuru, not far away, raised a hand to stop him, saying,
"Don't rush, sit down on the sofa."
"From what I've seen so far, there are some suspicious points, but nothing too serious."
Hearing this, Zephyr walked to the sofa and plopped down, asking in a deep voice, "What suspicious points?"
Just as Tsuru was about to explain, Sengoku chimed in
, "Yoriichi Tsugikuni's real age should be 12."
"According to the survivors of Ryugin Island rescued by Garp, Yoriichi Tsugikuni has indeed always lived on Ryugin Island."
"His parents arrived on Ryugin Island twenty years ago, but their origins are unknown."
"When Yoriichi Tsugikuni was two years old, his father passed away, and his mother also died of illness when he was eight."
"He grew up relying on the neighbors' charity, then suddenly disappeared two years ago. The townspeople didn't see him again until recently, when he was helping Garp eliminate the pirates."
Zephyr, who had been listening to Sengoku with a frown, said with slight dissatisfaction,
"Hey! Sengoku, after all that, what exactly are the points of suspicion you're pointing out?!"
"Isn't his life trajectory quite clear? He disappeared two years ago, most likely getting lost in the forest. Dragon's Roar Island has many large and ferocious beasts; the townspeople probably thought he was dead."
"Didn't Garp find the cave where he lived in the center of the island?"
"His sword was probably passed down to him by his parents. His swordsmanship is a combination of talent and his parents' guidance."
"The world is so big; it's not surprising to find someone like him!"
"Surviving in the wild, growing up relying on his outstanding talent, until Garp discovered him and brought him back to the Marines—isn't that clear enough?"
"So, Sengoku, what exactly is the suspicious point?!"
Zephyr's words were full of protectiveness towards Yoriichi. He greatly admired this incredibly talented child, and the maturity Yoriichi had inadvertently displayed during their time together today pained him. For
a child of this age to be so mature, he must have experienced a major upheaval.
Of course, in a way, Zephyr's guess was correct.
"Well, don't rush me."
"Let me finish, Zephyr."
Sengoku smiled and waved his hand, understanding Zephyr's current emotions. On this matter, Sengoku felt he had a lot to say.
Four years ago...
Sengoku, who had no children of his own, adopted a child named Rosinante. At the time, Sengoku was unaware of Rosinante's true identity and simply adopted him as his stepson. When he brought Rosinante back to the Navy for a routine background check, he discovered that Rosinante was actually a Celestial Dragon from the Donquixote Family.
However, this didn't cause much of a stir within the Navy, not for any other reason than Sengoku's influence in keeping the news under wraps. Only the few people in the office at the moment knew, along with one other insider: Garp, who was already at sea.
After the death of his family, Zephyr devoted himself to the Navy's development, showing great care for the younger generation of Navy personnel.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who had just joined his side, was clearly already considered a member of the Marines by Zephyr. In fact, Yoriichi even moved into Zephyr's home—a treatment no marine cadet had ever received before.
Zephyr, like Sengoku in his youth, had succumbed to his soft heart. "Speak!" Zephyr snorted, crossing his arms.
"The suspicious points are his weapon, and also, Garp said he's awakened Conqueror's Haki!"
Sengoku paused, his gaze falling on Zephyr.
Reminded by Sengoku, Zephyr's expression turned cold. Seeing Zephyr's expression, Sengoku continued,
"I think you've also noticed that the sword in Yoriichi's hand is of exceptional quality!"
"However, it's not one of the Supreme Grade Swords."
"The person who could forge such a weapon couldn't possibly be an ordinary person, right?"
"As for Conqueror's Haki, heh, the aptitude of a king! You wouldn't believe it if I said it didn't have some background, would you?"
Just as Sengoku finished speaking, Zephyr seemed to have figured something out, shook his head, and continued, "I hate arguments like that the most!"
"Yoriichi is Yoriichi, and that has no necessary connection to his background!"
"I only know that he has lived in the East Blue since birth, and he hasn't committed any wrongdoings during that time!"
"He's just a child whose parents died young, and he just happens to have some talent. Is that a sin?!"
"Suspicious points? Nonsense!"
With that, Zephyr suddenly stood up. He already had a general understanding of Yoriichi's situation; that was enough!
Zephyr walked towards the front door, but at that moment, Kong, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up:
"Zephyr!"
"You're right, in the end, he's just a child whose parents died young." "
However, precisely because he's a child, he needs to be properly guided, don't you think?"
"I won't allow him to leave Marineford for the next five years!"
"Furthermore, I won't allow you to reveal any Marine secrets, whether it's intelligence, Haki, or even the Six Powers!"
"Young people are prone to being overly ambitious. For a child of this age, laying a solid foundation and shaping correct values is more important than anything else."
"Before he comes of age, focus on physical training and learning necessary knowledge."
Zephyr paused at the office door, and upon hearing this, turned his head and coldly snorted:
"I know this without you telling me!"
"Bang!" Then, Zephyr walked out of the office, slamming the door shut behind him.
Sengoku watched Zephyr leave, casually tossing the documents in his hand onto the table, and said, "There's probably nothing more for me here. I'm going back now. That kid Rosinante is still waiting for me."
Then, Sengoku also left the office.
After the two left, Kong looked at Tsuru and asked in a deep voice, "What do you think?"
Tsuru was the brain of the Marines, and even Kong valued her opinion highly.
"A very clear background, nothing to worry about."
"A child is like a blank sheet of paper. I believe Zephyr will teach that child well."
"Zephyr isn't like Garp; he's reliable."
Speaking of Garp, Kong couldn't help but rub his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
Garp was a Vice Admiral in the Marine, and his son, Monkey D. Dragon, was also a Marine officer. However, recently Dragon had repeatedly disobeyed orders, and his actions had become unpredictable.
This gave Kong a vague sense of foreboding.