Protecting his disciples...
Griffin looked deeply at Zephyr, finding it difficult to speak.
After experiencing the brutal slaughter of his family by pirates, Zephyr began to harbor hatred toward pirates.
Yet constrained by his belief in non-lethality and fearing he might fall into darkness, he chose to retire from the front lines.
He poured immense energy into training new recruits, teaching them to fight for the protection of the weak, imparting all his combat experience, and nurturing many excellent Marines including the two current Admirals.
To the recruits in the training camp, he wasn't just an instructor—he was more like a master.
Even the usually irreverent Kizaru clearly showed respect for Zephyr.
Even someone as detached as Griffin felt gratitude toward this pure-hearted elder.
...
Yet, the world had not been kind to Zephyr.
According to the original timeline, Zephyr was about to face even more cruel events.
He would fail to protect his disciples, watching them die before his eyes while having his own arm severed.
Originally, Griffin couldn't comprehend how anyone could accomplish such a thing against him.
This was Zephyr!
The Admiral who once clashed with great pirates like Whitebeard and Shiki!
He wasn't so old as to be powerless—how could he possibly lose to the new generation!!
...
Later, Griffin gradually understood.
Zephyr hadn't aged—he had fallen ill.
Years of leading from the front had accumulated numerous old injuries, and the traumatic events of his middle age had caused heart problems.
From Griffin's understanding, it was likely a condition called Cardiogenic Asthma.
Asthma triggered by heart failure.
Griffin had considered treating him, but it was impossible.
The Marine Headquarters had world-class doctors and even access to the ultimate intellect Vegapunk, yet none could cure Zephyr.
Physical wounds could be treated, but wounds of the heart were beyond help.
...
...
"That was something I promised long ago—I can't break my word."
Griffin smiled faintly: "Teacher Zephyr, I'm not afraid of others obtaining my abilities."
"When it comes to mastery of the Sharingan, no one can compare to me!"
These eyes of mine... can even see the future.
...
Zephyr remained silent for a moment, then snorted coldly and turned away: "Then get lost quickly! The sight of you irritates me!"
...
"Teacher Zephyr, I assume I'm not included..." Kuzan spoke timidly.
"You too, get lost!"
...
...
Griffin walked some distance with Kizaru before stopping and looking back.
"Teacher Zephyr, while I'm away..."
"Please take care of your health."
...
"Worry about yourself, you brat!"
Zephyr threw back the remark before turning to leave.
Griffin had wanted to say that while he was away, Zephyr shouldn't take recruits for maritime training...
But that would be unreasonable.
The training camp conducted monthly maritime inspections—
after all, these were future elite officers who would shoulder the Marines' future, impossible to train solely within the camp.
Griffin wasn't sure when that incident would occur, or if it might not happen at all due to his presence.
His existence wasn't insignificant to the seas—he had already changed many things.
Not to mention the dead Celestial Dragons, even the future Pirate Supernova Capone had abandoned his plan to unify the West Blue's underworld and entered the Grand Line years ahead of the original timeline, all because of Griffin's influence.
Griffin had been keeping an eye on this guy. Once he obtained the Castle Fruit, it would be time to reap the rewards.
...
As for Zephyr…
He couldn't possibly watch over him every moment just to prevent that incident from happening.
What was meant to happen would happen. You could be a Pirate for a thousand days, but you couldn't guard against Pirates for a thousand days.
Still, he couldn't just do nothing…
"I have something to take care of. Would you two mind waiting for me?"
After leaving the training ground, Griffin turned and headed toward another practice field.
"Will it take long? Maybe Kuzan and I should grab a drink first while we wait."
"It won't."
...
The wind on the training field whipped sand against his face, and the air was thick with the smell of sweat and metal.
Griffin spotted the figure in the center.
Doll's sea-blue training suit was soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to her well-defined physique.
Clang—clang—
She was swinging a massive steel blade at a metal dummy, her movements clean and precise, without a single wasted motion.
Sweat had drenched the sand beneath her, spreading in a wide patch.
Back at the West Sea branch, Smoker had often used Doll's training discipline to lecture Griffin.
Now, at the headquarters training camp, Zephyr's scoldings were even harsher.
Compared to Doll, who pushed herself to her limits every day, Griffin's laziness stood out all the more.
...
Thud—
Doll released the giant blade and threw a punch at the steel dummy. Sensing Griffin's approach, she didn't turn around. "How rare. Did you manage not to get knocked down by Instructor Zephyr today?"
...
"Turn around." Griffin walked right up behind her and spoke calmly.
Doll sounded impatient. "If you want to slack off, go do it yourself. Don't—"
Her voice cut off abruptly as her eyes met the Sharingan.
His pupils emitted a faint crimson glow, the three tomoe slowly rotating as if weaving an inescapable technique.
Doll remained frozen in her half-turned position, three tomoe gradually appearing in her own pupils.
Griffin raised a hand and pressed his fingertip to Doll's forehead, a bloody red hue seeping from it.
An invisible force slowly seeped into the depths of her mind, lying dormant.
After a moment…
Doll snapped out of her daze and looked herself over.
"What did you do to me?! Did I just black out?!"
Her words, combined with her sweat-drenched appearance and hair sticking to her face…
...
...
"I have a fan club here at headquarters. Watch what you say."
Griffin gave her a light push with his fingertip, making her stagger.
Using Nether Entanglement Armament Haki, Griffin had sealed a portion of his Eye Power within Doll's mind and eyes.
When the conditions he set were met, the sealed Eye Power would activate and could be sensed by Griffin.
It was similar to the transcription seal Uchiha Itachi had used on Sasuke, but Griffin couldn't manage such intricate settings.
Only when Doll faced a life-threatening situation would her heightened emotions trigger this Eye Power.
...
In the original timeline, Doll should have joined the training camp a bit later and wouldn't have encountered that incident.
The reason for this assumption was that Doll wasn't among the recruits who followed Zephyr when he later defected from the Marines.
Every surviving recruit from that incident had followed Zephyr without exception.
How could anyone accept it? The Pirates who slaughtered their comrades were welcomed by the World Government as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea…
...
Thinking of this, Griffin spoke seriously.
"I have a bad feeling. If you set out on a mission while I'm not around, be extra careful."
"If anything unusual happens, call my Den Den Mushi immediately. Understood?"
Doll rarely saw Griffin being so serious when giving instructions. Setting aside distracting thoughts, she nodded: "Understood..."
"Are you leaving the training camp?"
Normally, Griffin had long met the graduation standards of the training camp. Even someone like Smoker, who only had half-baked Two-Colored Haki, could graduate, let alone him.
Griffin shook his head: "It's just other matters. I might come less frequently."
Having developed this new power, what he needed now was real combat experience to strengthen it.
Although Zephyr was strong, he couldn't possibly attack Griffin with killing intent.
...
...
When Griffin returned, Kizaru raised his hand and tossed him an orange.
"You took quite a while. I went to the office to get some fruit."
...
Hadn't I only been gone for two minutes...
And the orange...
Griffin shook his head helplessly and looked at Kuzan.
"I know why Admiral Kizaru is looking for me, but Vice Admiral Kuzan, what about you?"
...
Kuzan looked at Griffin for a long while, hesitating before finally choosing to speak.
Since he was already here...
"The higher-ups want me to carry out a long-term mission. There's something I'd like to ask of you..."
"As for the specifics, we'll discuss it after you finish talking with Borsalino."
He couldn't say it in front of Kizaru...
A flicker of understanding passed through Griffin's eyes as he roughly guessed what it was about.
The Devil's Child, perhaps...
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