Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
On the vast plaza, countless Marines were whispering among themselves.
"Hey, have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"Zephyr-sensei betrayed the Marines and joined the Rainbow Kingdom!"
"Hey, you've got to be joking. How is that possible? Zephyr-sensei would never..."
"I know, but someone saw it with their own eyes. Zephyr-sensei was with Fire Dragon Yemu. News also came from the branch saying Zephyr-sensei really has left the Marines, and he even asked the branch to send over his former Admiral uniform and rank insignia."
"No way. Even Zephyr-sensei? Are the Marines really going to..."
The soldier never finished his sentence before he was sharply scolded, but a gloomy mood had already spread through all of Marine Headquarters.
Inside the Marine Headquarters building.
In Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, the atmosphere was just as heavy.
All the top brass of the Marines had gathered there.
"We still haven't been able to contact Zephyr?"
Even after receiving the report from the branch, Sengoku still could not believe that his old friend had betrayed the Marines.
He would rather believe that Zephyr had been threatened by Fire Dragon Yemu. That was why he was doing everything he could to reach Zephyr.
He wanted to confirm the truth, but more than that, he wanted an answer.
Because this matter was so serious, Vice Admiral Tsuru had personally taken charge of it.
At that moment, Tsuru, now seventy-four years old, stooped in figure, with white hair and brows that made her look like an old woman, spoke with a grave expression.
"I'm sorry. Zephyr has completely cut off contact with the Marines. And according to witnesses at sea, Zephyr didn't look as though he was being forced. On the contrary, he seemed to be speaking quite happily with Fire Dragon Yemu."
"Impossible..."
In an instant, Sengoku slammed his fist down, shattering the desk in front of him.
"How could Zephyr possibly..."
"Calm down, Sengoku. Even if you don't want to accept it, you have no choice now. If he really had been coerced, Zephyr wouldn't have taken those two disciples with him."
Everyone knew that among Zephyr's current disciples, Ain and Binz were the two he favored most.
If Zephyr had truly been in danger, he would have done everything he could to get the two of them away.
"Why... why..."
Sengoku kept muttering the word over and over, unable to accept it and desperate for an answer.
Watching this scene, Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru, Zephyr's three most outstanding disciples and the current Three Admirals of the Marines, all wore solemn expressions and remained silent.
Just then, a voice rang out.
"Maybe Zephyr was just too disappointed in the Marines."
Only Garp would dare say something so blunt at a time like this.
The moment Sengoku heard it, he stood up, his whole body tense. He stared at Garp, who had his head lowered in thought, and nearly lost his temper. In the end, he forced himself to hold it back and slumped into his chair.
If the greatest blow Sengoku had suffered in his life was the Marines' defeat twenty years ago, then this moment was the second.
One was the "failure" of justice. The other was the "betrayal" of a close friend.
In the end, still unwilling to give up, he said,
"No matter what it takes, contact Zephyr. I want him to tell me the answer himself."
"I know. But right now, the most important thing is to reduce the impact of Zephyr's departure. There are already a lot of different voices within the Marines..."
With Zephyr's departure, many Marines, already gripped by deep pessimism, began to consider leaving the Marines and going over to the Rainbow Kingdom.
Especially those in the middle and lower ranks.
Not everyone firmly believed in the Marines' justice.
In the past, they simply had no choice. Across the sea, it was either pirates or the Marines. But now there was another option in the Rainbow Kingdom. With Zephyr setting a precedent, changing sides was no longer impossible.
"Leave that to me. I'll handle it."
The one who spoke was Sakazuki. From his cold tone alone, it was easy to guess what methods he intended to use.
But at that moment, the Marines had no other choice.
As time slowly passed, the news that Zephyr had left the Marines could no longer be hidden and began spreading across the entire sea.
...
Grand Line, Jaya Island, Mock Town.
In a certain tavern, a man named Marshall D. Teach was hiding.
After more than ten days on the run, he had finally escaped from the New World to the first half of the Grand Line.
Once he reached this place, he was more than halfway safe, because this was the territory of one of the Shichibukai, Doflamingo.
Even Whitebeard's forces would not dare march in openly to capture him here.
Aside from avoiding Whitebeard's pursuit, Teach had another reason for staying here. He needed to get used to the power of the Yami Yami no Mi he had just obtained and wait for an opportunity.
And now, as he looked at the newspaper and read the news that former Admiral Zephyr had left the Marines and joined the Rainbow Kingdom, he knew that opportunity had arrived.
Most of the people who could become his crew were unruly by nature. Very few could stay quietly at his side.
Just like now, the only one calmly remaining here was a man named Laffitte. Among Blackbeard's current companions, he was also the only one with a first-rate mind for strategy and schemes, someone capable of advising Teach.
"Zehahahaha! Our chance has come. Call everyone over. We're getting ready to set out!"
Laffittelooked at the newspaper and said thoughtfully,
"So the time has come?"
"Ah. The betrayal of a former Admiral is a massive blow to the Marines' reputation. At a time like this, in order to maintain order and stability, the Marines absolutely won't allow another major upheaval at sea."
"Then have you chosen the target?"
"Of course. For the next part of the plan, becoming a Shichibukai is essential. That means a seat has to open up so we can take it. As for the target..."
Teach pulled out a wanted poster. Written on it was: Crocodile, bounty of 120 million Belly.
Laffitte sounded a little puzzled.
"I thought you would choose that woman."
"Catarina Devon? Don't underestimate her just because she's a woman. The Devil Fruit she has is extremely troublesome. Besides, with the power of my Yami Yami no Mi, a Logia is the best opponent for me. If I catch him off guard, I might be able to end the fight easily..."
Laffitte was convinced.
"How cunning, Captain. Then when do we set out...?"
"Tomorrow. First, we'll find a suitable ship. If all goes smoothly, we should reach Alabasta in three days..."
"Alabasta? Wasn't that one of the original Twenty Nations? Is it really all right for us to just enter like this?"
"It's fine. Did you forget what I said? The tide of this era is about to rise completely. Before we drown in it, we need to gather as many bargaining chips as we can..."
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