"How the hell do I resemble that bastard Borsalino!?"
Sengoku looked genuinely offended, clearly touchy about the subject.
"Whether it's personality, work ethic, or execution—I'm nothing like Borsalino!"
"Go ahead, tell me! In what way do I resemble that guy!?"
Just thinking about Borsalino's smug, half-mocking tone was enough to make Sengoku grind his teeth in fury.
Zephyr thought about it seriously for a moment. Honestly, there really wasn't any resemblance. After a brief pause, he forced an answer.
"You both glow when using your Devil Fruit powers."
Sengoku: "..."
Alright then, this was definitely payback for his earlier teasing.
Watching Sengoku's twitching expression, Zephyr finally smiled with satisfaction, then followed up with another question.
"But Sengoku, if this kid Daren has such a terrible reputation, how did he even get approved to join the Officer Training Camp?"
"Because his talent is simply too overwhelming."
At the mention of business, Sengoku's demeanor shifted into seriousness.
"You've been so focused on teaching, there are some things you're just not up to date on."
"Daren used his connections, influence, and resources in the North Blue to build an incredibly powerful fleet. Combine that with his Jiki Jiki no Mi powers, and he's able to make the entire fleet fly."
"—What!?"
Zephyr's pupils contracted, a shocked expression spreading across his face.
A flying fleet?
As one of the pillars of justice and the youngest Admiral in Marine history, Zephyr instantly grasped the strategic weight of such a capability.
"Exactly. With strategic potential like that, his personal issues become secondary."
Sengoku continued.
"And beyond the Devil Fruit powers, Daren's own talent is at a monster level."
He pulled a dossier from a drawer and handed it over.
"This is intel on Daren's individual combat abilities."
"Monster level?"
Zephyr took the file and began flipping through it, speaking casually.
After all, as the Chief Instructor of the Marine training camp, he'd raised monsters like Sakazuki, Dragon, and Borsalino. The term "monster" didn't impress him much anymore.
No matter how monstrous someone was, could they possibly outclass that smug bastard Borsalino?
"Compared to his Devil Fruit power, 'monster-level' talent doesn't seem that—what!?"
Zephyr's eyes bulged like saucers. He nearly shouted.
"A body comparable to Tekkai, impervious to blades and bullets!?"
"He can launch at Soru-like speeds just using pure leg strength!?"
"Insane healing factor—injuries that would kill a normal man heal in days!?"
"He awakened Armament Haki all on his own!?"
"..."
As he scanned line after line of the report, Zephyr could hardly believe what he was reading.
He couldn't explain why, but from these descriptions alone, his mind conjured up an image of Daren as a horned black demon covered in scales, claws like a beast, towering over ten meters tall.
...It certainly didn't match the photo of the handsome, sharp-eyed black-haired youth clipped to the top of the file.
Seeing Zephyr frozen in disbelief, Sengoku couldn't help laughing smugly.
"Now do you get it?"
"Daren is a monster among monsters."
"And more importantly..."
Sengoku leaned in a little, his voice dropping with a hint of pride.
"That kid's awakened Conqueror's Haki."
The second those words left his mouth, Zephyr's expression changed dramatically.
Conqueror's Haki!
As one of the pillars upholding justice and the Marine Corps, Zephyr knew full well what that meant.
Sure, in the wild, chaotic New World, there were plenty of pirates who'd awakened Conqueror's Haki. All of the legends—Whitebeard, Roger, Shiki, Kaidou, Charlotte Linlin—had mastered it at the highest level.
But among the Marines' elite, those with Conqueror's Haki could be counted on one hand.
Even Zephyr himself, a former Admiral and chief instructor, had never awakened it.
And because of that, during his battles in the New World, he'd often come up short against figures like Roger, Whitebeard, and Shiki—not understanding how to counter the mysterious, long-range killing force of Conqueror's Haki.
His only choice had been to rely on pure, refined Armament Haki to power through.
That experience left a scar—and a mission.
He was determined to raise a new generation of Marines who could wield Conqueror's Haki.
But even with prodigies like Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Dragon under his belt, not a single one of them had managed to awaken it.
That had always been one of Zephyr's biggest regrets.
Now, though... hope had arrived.
A Devil Fruit with immense strategic power. Monster-level talent. The awakening of Conqueror's Haki...
The more Zephyr thought about it, the brighter his eyes gleamed.
He could already see it—the young man named Daren, under his guidance, clashing head-to-head with Whitebeard and Shiki, unleashing Conqueror's Haki that shook the heavens, igniting thunder as the sky and sea split apart.
"Good!!"
Zephyr slammed his palm onto the conference table. His eyes were bloodshot, his breath ragged, but his gaze burned with a fiery determination.
"This kid Daren—he's mine to train! Once he graduates, I'll have him—"
"Hold it!!"
Sengoku's face twitched, alarm bells ringing in his mind.
"Not happening!"
"I've already decided—once Daren graduates, he's going to be my adjutant!"
The moment Zephyr opened his mouth, Sengoku knew what he was up to.
"Bullshit! You already have Borsalino!" Zephyr snapped.
That name alone made Sengoku's face darken.
"You can have him! Anyone can! Hell, I'll transfer him to Fleet Admiral Kong as his assistant if I have to. I just want Daren!"
"...And don't forget, Zephyr—I gave up on Sakazuki back then!"
Zephyr shook his head like a rattle drum.
"No way, Sengoku. Think this through—someone like Daren, a rare gem, will be completely ruined if you take him. Let him follow you, and he'll end up as another Borsalino..."
Sengoku's face instantly turned red with anger.
"Borsalino was always like that—don't pin that on me!"
"And let's not forget—you haven't awakened Conqueror's Haki. If Daren becomes your adjutant... what exactly are you going to teach him!?"
Straight to the weak point.
Zephyr's thick neck flushed red. He slammed his fist on the table.
"Like your Conqueror's Haki is anything special! You, with that timid face of yours—I have no idea how you awakened the will to 'reign supreme' in the first place!"
"Still better than you!"
"Damn it, Sengoku! Looks like it's been too long since you got your ass kicked!"
"You think I'm scared of you? With your tickle-strength Armament Haki?"
"Come on, then! Light up, grow big—today I'm tearing that giant Buddha head of yours off your shoulders!"
The two men were nose to nose, snarling and jabbing fingers, faces scrunched up and twisted with fury.
At that moment, a helpless voice interrupted them.
"I swear... you two—aren't you both a little too old to still be acting like you're back in boot camp?"
A silver-haired but striking figure pushed open the door and stepped in, staring at them both with visible exasperation.
Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters, Chief of Staff—Tsuru.
...
(50 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake