Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, the air was so thick it felt like it could drip water. Hmm, so thick it could almost form fog.
(Sengoku: Kuzan, get out. Rhett: Hehehe.)
The family resemblance was strong. The author just felt the phrase was very fitting.
"BAM—!"
Zephyr punched a hole through Sengoku's desk. The entire building shook from the impact.
His eyes were bloodshot. Veins bulged on his neck. "Sengoku! What the hell are the Five Elders thinking?! The World Government bows to a pirate and even gives him the status of a member nation?!"
Sengoku sat in his chair, his face dark as iron. The documents in his hands were crushed into shreds. "Zephyr, calm down."
"Calm down?!" Zephyr roared. "How many of my students have died for justice? How many? My family was killed by pirates?! And now you're telling me we're supposed to make peace with that 'Mist Lord' Rhett? The biggest pirate of them all?!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru set down her teacup gently. Her voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority. "Zephyr, the World Government's decision isn't something we can change. Rhett is different from ordinary pirates."
As she spoke, Tsuru let out a self-deprecating laugh. There was a day when she was actually defending a pirate. And not just any pirate — an Emperor of the Sea.
"Hah. Change?" Zephyr sneered. "I think you've all been tamed by the Five Elders long ago."
Garp, unusually, was not eating his rice crackers. He leaned against the window.
"That kid at least won't throw the seas into complete chaos. He's better than those filthy Warlords."
"You too?!" Zephyr spun around and glared at Garp. "I've opposed the Warlord system from the start. And now an Emperor becomes a member nation? What a joke."
Garp just sighed. "Zephyr, anger won't solve anything."
Sengoku stood up. He placed his hands on the desk. His voice was low but powerful. "Listen, Zephyr. Rhett becoming a member nation does not mean the Navy will stop pursuing him. This is just a temporary strategy. The Navy needs time."
"Time?" Zephyr laughed bitterly. "Time will only make that monster stronger!"
Rhett: This guy has taste.
Tsuru slowly stood up. She walked to Zephyr's side and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Zephyr, we understand the threat Rhett poses better than you do. But for now, we need to be patient."
Zephyr shook off her hand and turned toward the door. "Patient? You two can't be that naive. Once this door is opened, pirates won't choose the Navy anymore. They'll choose to become member nations or Warlords when things get tough. You're turning our sacrifices into a joke."
He turned to leave.
"Zephyr!" Sengoku shouted. "Don't do anything stupid!"
Zephyr stopped. He didn't turn around. "Sengoku, what is your principle? 'Absolute Justice'? Or 'Compromised Justice'?"
Zephyr's emotions slowly settled. "Sorry, Sengoku. Too many of my students died on the path to justice. This hits me even harder than the Warlord system. If it were anyone other than Rhett, I'd be punching you right now."
The office fell into dead silence.
Finally, Zephyr pushed open the door and left, leaving behind only one cold sentence. "My training camp students are going out for field exercises. Garp, you're coming with me."
Sengoku slumped back into his chair. He took off his glasses and rubbed his brow. "Troublesome..."
Garp walked to the window and watched Zephyr's departing back. He munched on his rice crackers without a care. "Ah, I'm still this popular. Sengoku, don't assign me any more missions. I'm going on vacation."
Tsuru picked up her teacup again. A hint of concern flickered in her eyes. "If Zephyr acts on his own, it will only make the situation worse."
Sengoku was silent for a moment. Then he suddenly punched the desk. "Damn those Five Elders! They have no idea they're playing with fire!"
Sengoku took a deep breath and steadied his emotions. "That's Zephyr. He won't."
Sengoku took another deep breath. His gaze gradually hardened. "Increase surveillance in the New World. Especially on Rhett's movements. Also..." He looked at Tsuru. "Contact Cipher Pol 9. I want to know the World Government's true intentions."
Tsuru nodded. "I'll arrange it."
Garp suddenly grinned. "Want me to 'visit' Rhett? That bastard took my grandkids somewhere. I don't even know where they are. It makes me so mad. Last time I only tore down a few buildings before you called me back."
Sengoku glared at him. "Don't make things worse!"
Garp laughed heartily. But there was a hint of hidden heaviness beneath his laughter.
Outside the window, storm clouds gathered. As if foreshadowing an even greater tempest about to arrive.
---
Sky Island, on the other hand, was cloudless and clear.
Sky Island, Golden City.
Rhett was lounging on a cloud shell lounger, a newspaper in his hand. Blood mist curled around his fingertips, shredding the Navy news on the page.
"Tch. Old Sengoku is probably so angry his mustache is curling up." He grinned and tossed the shredded paper into the air. "The Five Elders played this move beautifully. I got a free member nation status for nothing, and the Navy has to hold their noses and accept it. Looks like I need to make a statement, hehehe."
Shanks sat nearby, his hat casting a shadow over his smiling eyes. "Big Brother, that was a dirty trick. The Navy is probably cursing you out in their training camps right now."
"Let them curse," Rhett shrugged. "They can't beat me anyway."
Just then, Tesoro and Stella walked over. Tesoro was uncharacteristically nervous. He spun his gold ring around his finger, hesitant to speak.
Rhett raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? The Golden Emperor embarrassed to say something?"
Tesoro took a deep breath. Then he suddenly grabbed Stella's hand. His voice was uncharacteristically stammering. "C-Captain, Stella and I... we..."
Stella smiled gently. She placed a hand on her slightly rounded belly. "Lord Rhett, we're going to have a baby."
"Clatter—"
Rhett's cup fell to the ground.
The blood mist froze mid-air. The entire Sky Island seemed to hit a pause button.
Rhett shot to his feet. "Wait, how long?!"
"Almost six months," Tesoro scratched his head, showing a rare, simple smile. "It was when you went home. We went to Water Seven and..."
Rhett grabbed Tesoro by the shoulders and pressed their foreheads together. "You bastard! You kept this secret well! Why didn't you tell me immediately?!"
Tesoro was dizzy from being shaken. "C-Captain, easy! We wanted to tell you in person."
"Easy?!" Rhett laughed and let go. The blood mist instantly condensed into a giant cradle. "I'm going to be the kid's godfather! Isn't that what they call it in the West Blue? A godfather!"