Elsewhere, the banquet was still ongoing.
Ian, who had been surrounded by people forcing him to drink, finally managed to catch his breath. He then quietly slipped away to a hidden corner to rest.
As the celebration dragged on, the banquet that was originally supposed to celebrate Ian becoming a father had completely lost its theme; everyone was now just indulging in the banquet itself.
Drink after drink, the entire crowd was locked in endless toasts.
Just as Ian was wondering whether he should sneak away, a shadow fell before him, blocking the lights.
Startled, he looked up, but when he saw who it was, he sighed in relief. "Oh, it's you, Ain."
"Robin's already home."
"Thank you!"
Ain watched him sit down, handed him a cup of hot tea, and said flatly: "Do you want to go back?"
"Of course."
Ian took the tea, sipped it, and nodded. "I've had enough to drink already. If I stay any longer, I'll probably end up drinking till tomorrow!"
He had no doubt that if Village Chief Martin wanted to throw a three-day, three-night feast, these people would happily oblige.
Damn it, they were even more excited than he was!
"I understand."
Ain nodded expressionlessly and pointed to the side. "There are fewer people over there. You can leave from that way. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Before Ian could even reply, Ain turned away and began walking toward Zephyr's table.
Watching her strange behavior, Ian scratched his head in confusion, but since the direction she pointed at was indeed clear, he didn't hesitate.
Calling out a quick thank-you to Ain's back, he quietly slipped away.
Drinking here was nothing compared to being home with his wife!
By the time Ain reached Zephyr's table, Ian had already vanished from the banquet grounds.
"That kid left already?"
Zephyr chuckled. "What a sneaky kid. The banquet isn't even over yet, and he has already run off?"
"Zephyr-sensei, he—"
"Forget it, don't mind him."
Zephyr waved his hand before she could finish, picked up his glass, and took a deep swig, still smiling. "Aren't you coming out yet?"
"...?"
Coming out?
Who?
Just as Ain looked puzzled after hearing those words…
"Ahh, you caught me already? I was hoping to sneak into the banquet and have a few quiet drinks."
A familiar voice came from the side, and a figure casually walked out, sitting right next to Zephyr as if he belonged there.
Seeing who it was, Ain's pupils shrank sharply, but before she could say anything…
"So it was the little mouse hiding up in the tree?"
Kuzan lazily lifted a wine cup from the table, sipping it leisurely. "Didn't think I would run into you here."
"What little mouse? Ain is one of my most important students."
Zephyr downed another big gulp of wine, laughing heartily. "If you want a drink, just join us. The people of the Sibia Village are very hospitable."
"They sure are."
Kuzan said flatly, swirling his drink. "Even the Marines' Chief Instructor has been won over, going so far as to shelter the Devil Child wanted by the World Government."
"I'm not sheltering any kind of child, devil or otherwise. I've got face blindness, can't tell who's who."
Zephyr, unbothered by the accusation, kept drinking with a grin. "And you, aren't you the one who has been slacking off? A marine admiral who can't even catch a little girl. Look at her now, not only grown up, but pregnant too!"
Kuzan: "..."
Damn this face blindness.
Kuzan rolled his eyes speechlessly, took another sip of his drink, whistled softly, and said lazily: "What a coincidence, I'm a little face-blind too. When I turn my head, I wouldn't recognize anyone. Otherwise, I'd have caught the target long ago."
"Hahaha, what a coincidence indeed! So we're all face-blind, huh?"
Zephyr didn't expose the clumsy lie. Instead, he laughed heartily, raised his glass, and said: "Then let's drink to being face blind."
"Cheers!"
Kuzan, not wanting to spoil the mood, raised his glass as well.
Seeing this, Ain, who had been nervous, finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She didn't quite understand what was going on, but it was obvious now that Admiral Aokiji, who was supposed to be hunting the Devil Child, had no intention of arresting anyone.
It seemed Ian and Robin were safe.
"Alright, time to talk business."
Kuzan said, setting down his glass and stretching lazily. "The Marine Headquarters received a report that someone high-ranking has been hiding the fact that their injuries have already healed and is still on vacation, which seriously violates Marine regulations."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku asked me to notify that person that if he's healed, he should return immediately. The New World's situation is shifting, and the Marines need him right now."
As soon as those words fell, the once cheerful Zephyr froze. Then, with an angry slam of his hand on the table, he roared: "Damn it, who's the bastard that reported me?! And my injuries haven't fully healed yet! Besides, that year-and-a-half vacation was approved by Sengoku himself!"
"Someone who just returned."
"That damn mutt!"
"As for the year-and-a-half vacation."
Kuzan continued calmly as Zephyr cursed Garp, clearly unfazed: "The Fleet Admiral asked me to tell you, it's a critical time now. If you're able to return, please do so as soon as possible."
"You can make up for your leave later. Oh, and one more bit of good news: that same guy has been fined a year's salary for misusing Marine Headquarters' special cannon rounds."
"Heh, now that is good news! Serves that old bastard right! Return? I'll go back after I finish my vacation."
Zephyr's mood immediately lifted at Garp's punishment, and he chuckled.
"What's the point of returning now? To watch those so-called legal pirates uphold justice in the Marines' name? Besides, my hand hasn't healed yet. Don't you agree, admiral who's harboring the Devil Child?"
Kuzan: "..."
Kuzan twitched his lips, glanced at Zephyr's already-moving hand, and nodded. "Yes, indeed, it hasn't healed yet."
"Then it's settled. Enough about that."
Zephyr seemed to remember something, grinning as he looked in the direction of Ian's house.
"You went and picked on that man's pregnant wife, didn't you? That boy won't let you off easy!"
"What a coincidence."
Kuzan replied while narrowing his eyes slightly. "I just happen to have something to settle with that kid myself."
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