Unlike the underlings who only knew Ian was strong, as a renowned Bounty Hunter in the West Blue, he could truly sense just how terrifying Ian was.
Now he understood why Gini was so confident that Ian could deal with the Capone Mafia Family.
But why would such a powerful fighter remain in West Blue? He should have entered the Grand Line and journeyed to the legendary world of the powerful, the New World!
Gini himself was also shocked. He knew Ian was strong, but never this strong.
As for why he was confident the boss could handle the Capone Mafia Family?
Come on, the Marine Headquarters Chief Instructor was on this island. The Capone Mafia Family would have to be blind to provoke them.
He originally thought that the negotiation might require invoking the Zephyr's reputation. Never did he expect that the boss had no intention of negotiating from the beginning, settling everything with a single strike.
"What are you still standing there for?"
Ian, with the axe on his shoulder, looked at Gini and said, "Handle the rest yourself."
"Y-yes, boss! I definitely won't let you down!"
Gini snapped back to his senses, spoke excitedly, then hesitated. "Boss, what about the Capone Mafia Family's boss...?"
"If he's unlucky, he sank to the bottom of the sea. If he's lucky, he might drift somewhere else, run into a doctor, and survive."
Ian rubbed his chin while looking at the ship already completely swallowed by the sea. "Either way is fine. You deal with it."
"I understand, please rest assured! I'll take care of it!"
Gini nodded firmly.
Even though the boss didn't say it directly, Gini understood.
The Capone Mafia Family was... Finished!
Suddenly, a thought struck Gini. He slapped his thigh hard and wailed in frustration. "What a huge loss!"
Ian: "...?"
Ian looked at Gini, confused, before he could speak…
"Since the boss could take out their leader directly, why didn't you say so earlier?"
Gini howled while slapping his thigh. "I could have prepared sooner! Investigated their assets! Moved quietly! Now it's too late. By the time we act, the Capone Mafia Family's assets will already be divided up by other mafias!"
"That's it? Don't worry about it."
Ian raised an eyebrow and said casually, "I already made arrangements. You just need to go take over. But remember, don't take everything. You..."
He rubbed his forehead. "Pick what's useful!"
"Boss already arranged everything?"
Gini froze, then quickly rubbed his hands together and asked cautiously: "May I ask how the boss handled it? I'm just worried I might do something wrong and ruin your plan."
"There's nothing to hide."
Ian's eyes gleamed. "The West Blue Marines are about to launch a major anti-crime sweep."
Gini: "...?"
As those words fell, Gini stood there dumbfounded again, but before he could ask, Ian turned around and said, "Just handle it."
Then he walked away, leaving Gini frowning and scratching his head in confusion.
"Anti-crime sweep? Since when? Will they sweep us, too?"
His voice trembled slightly. "We may be a security company on paper, but we know what we do..."
A miserable mutter slipped out. "Boss, why not explain clearly!"
...
When the sun was about to set over the Sibia River Archipelago.
"You're back?"
Zephyr, enjoying the snowy scenery with a drink in hand, noticed Ian approaching and smiled cheerfully. "All done?"
"All done."
"You kid really knows how to give this old man trouble!"
Zephyr shook his head helplessly. "Forget it. Consider it repayment for taking care of me lately."
"You're leaving?"
Ian brushed off the snow and sat down beside him. "Didn't you say you had a year and a half of vacation? It hasn't even been a year yet."
"It's time to leave. Sengoku keeps urging me. The situation in the New World has changed drastically. How could I stay here on vacation?"
Zephyr's face still held a smile, but a trace of melancholy seemed to flash through his eyes before swiftly disappearing.
Then he continued with a grin: "Besides, causing such a big incident in the West Blue, if I keep staying here, that guy, Sengoku, might personally come and arrest me. This is something that could disrupt the balance of the West Blue! Kid, don't forget you owe this old man a favor."
Hearing Zephyr's words, Ian understood the situation.
As for the so-called big incident, he treated it as nothing more than words.
The Marines' Chief Instructor conducted an anti-crime exercise in the West Blue... How was that a big deal?
The only group targeted was the Capone Mafia Family, and their boss had already sunk to the bottom of the sea.
To every faction in the West Blue, the Capone Mafia Family was now a delicious cake wide open for carving. Even without Zephyr's orders, the local branches would never give up such a chance.
Before Ian could say anything, Zephyr turned his head to the falling snow and said with a deeper tone.
"Kid, don't disappoint this old man's expectations. Otherwise, I'll personally arrest you."
Is justice supreme?
Truth be told, he really wanted to see how this justice would shine in the Marine Headquarters.
Ian didn't respond; he simply put down his one-handed axe and continued to drink at his own pace.
After who knew how long, once the snow began falling even harder, Ian lazily asked: "When are you leaving?"
"In a few days! The weather's a bit cold lately."
Zephyr grinned, as if he had never said those earlier words, and laughed cheerfully. "Even if they urge me to hurry back, I still have to pick a nice day for sailing!"
"Do whatever you want."
Ian shrugged carelessly. "Village Chief Martin will probably give you a farewell banquet. Oh, right, where's Ain? She hasn't been training recently?"
The moment those words fell, Zephyr, who was all smiles a second ago, suddenly glared at him with flared nostrils. "Why are you asking, kid?! If she didn't train, she didn't train! You dare ask where Ain went? You dare to only ask now?"
A single question earned a barrage of scolding, leaving Ian with a face full of dark lines.
Does he want him to ask, or does he not want him to ask?
He cursed inwardly: "What a lunatic!"
He simply patted his butt, ignored Zephyr, who was cursing behind him, and carried his one-handed axe, ready to go home to be with his wife.