Hearing that, Zephyr's eyelid twitched. He could tell right away that this guy did it on purpose. "Got another mission?"
"Yeah."
Kuzan nodded matter-of-factly. "To capture the Devil Child."
Zephyr: "...?"
What the hell?
Zephyr's face twitched. But seeing Kuzan's straight-faced response, he already had a good guess.
"Don't tell me you're using that excuse again to travel on the World Government's dime! No wonder you've been chasing her for years, she's grown up, married, and about to have kids, and you still haven't caught her."
"No, I'm on official duty."
Kuzan said lazily, finishing his wine in one gulp. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
With that brazen attitude, Zephyr could only grumble: "That laziness, you really are just like that old geezer, Garp."
"Yeah, I learned it from Vice-Admiral Garp."
Kuzan nodded seriously, then paused.
"The World Government won't let the Devil Child go. Even with you here keeping them distracted, it's only a matter of time before they find this place."
"... And who knows about this?"
Zephyr blinked, then laughed cheerfully.
"What's it got to do with me? She's not my wife."
"You're not worried that kid might become a pirate?"
"If he ever becomes a pirate... I'll personally go catch him myself!"
Zephyr's eyes flickered slightly, and a meaningful smile appeared on his face as he said, "I hope when that time comes, I'll be able to catch that kid."
Kuzan: "..."
Hearing Zephyr's response, Kuzan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow while looking at him speechlessly before shaking his head helplessly.
"Perhaps."
As he spoke, he stood up, picked up the unopened bottle of green grape wine on the table, and casually stuffed it into his bag right in front of Zephyr.
"Then I'll be leaving. Ah, right, I still have to go hunt down the Devil Child next."
Kuzan shrugged, his voice carrying that same lazy tone. "What a hassle."
With that, he strolled slowly toward the pier.
Behind him, Zephyr watched Kuzan's departing figure helplessly while shaking his head with a wry smile. "He even took my wine with him?"
Then he lifted his head, looking toward a figure walking in his direction. His gaze flickered again, carrying a meaningful smile.
"What path will you choose, I wonder? Justice that recognizes only itself!"
…
The next day, under the morning sunlight, Ian was full of energy again.
Unfortunately, that guy had already left!
It really was a lazy kind of justice!
He had thought they would have a proper fight, but instead the guy had chosen the simplest, most convenient way out.
So, Ian could only plan to settle the score next time.
As for Robin's concern, what else could he say?
He got beaten up, but he still won.
Because of that, Robin, who didn't fully understand what had happened, could only smile helplessly.
Maybe it was because that guy used his Devil Fruit too freely, though it was late autumn in the Sibia River Archipelago, snow suddenly began to fall.
The temperature dropped sharply!
Despite the strange weather, the people at the Sibia River Archipelago carried on with their usual lives. The only difference was that everyone wore a few more clothes.
The arrival of an admiral hadn't brought any real change to the island.
Zephyr, for his part, continued his leisurely recovery, even though Ian felt the old man was already fully healed. Zephyr insisted his vacation wasn't over yet, and Ian let him be.
After all, having the Marines' Chief Instructor around not only reduced suspicion from the World Government and Marine Headquarters, but also helped train the island's children.
Even Binz had been roped into helping teach them.
As for Ain... Since that night of the banquet, Ian hadn't seen her again. He didn't know where she had gone, probably out on a mission.
Ian didn't dwell on it. It wasn't like worrying would help.
And every time he asked Zephyr about her, the old man's answers were always strangely sarcastic: "Why are you asking about my student?"
"Are you worried about Ain?"
"Do you even know what that girl has been through?"
How would he know?
He was just a retired Marine Lieutenant; how could he possibly know what missions she was sent on?
That day, divine doctor Kuma, as the locals called him, visited Ian's house before leaving to give Robin a final check-up.
"You're in excellent health, madam."
After finishing his examination, Kuma adjusted his glasses and gave a warm smile. "But be careful not to overwork yourself, madam."
After receiving Ian and Robin's thanks, Kuma stood up without hesitation, smiling. "Then I'll be on my way."
He gathered his things, turned, and left, without even accepting payment this time.
Seeing this, Ian and Robin exchanged a glance. After a moment's hesitation, Ian followed him, intending to see him off.
Because of the sudden cold, the merchant ships had stayed longer this year than usual, but now they were preparing to depart, and Kuma, who was traveling with them, was ready to move on to the next island.
The two men walked together for a while, though neither knew how far they had gone when Kuma finally stopped.
"Mr. Ian, there's no need to see me off."
Kuma said while turning with a gentle smile.
Ian, who had been deep in thought, was caught off guard by the sudden stop.
Before he could reply, Kuma continued, "Please, spend more time with your wife."
As he said that, his eyes glimmered faintly behind his rimless glasses, filled with regret and complicated emotion.
After adjusting his glasses again, he smiled faintly. "Although I don't know what happened a few days ago, protecting one's family is more important than anything else."
Hearing that, Ian was momentarily surprised, but quickly understood what Kuma meant.
He must've sensed the battle between him and Kuzan a few days earlier.
With such a distinct Devil Fruit ability, Kuma could probably guess who that mysterious opponent was.
Still, Ian hadn't expected Kuma to actually remind him of such a thing.
Although that fight hadn't really been a big deal, Ian couldn't help but sigh with emotion as he looked at the serious yet regretful man before him. "You really are a good person."
"Good person?"
Kuma fell silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "I'm just a coward who once knew despair and regret."
If only, back then, he had had the courage to accept Ginny's feelings, she might never have met such a tragic fate.
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