Ian paused, about to say something.
"This is simply repayment for saving my life before."
Ain, standing quietly beside Zephyr, seemed to be in a good mood after hearing Ian's words.
The corner of his mouth curled up slightly, and she shook her head. "You don't have to thank me!"
"Enough, let's stop this here! If you want to thank someone, go find them later. Why would you do it here?"
Before Ian could speak, Garp beside him said cheerfully, as if he were already impatient. "It's banquet time!"
"Wasn't there a banquet yesterday?"
"Yesterday was yesterday. Today, we welcome Zephyr, Ain, and Binz. And since I'm leaving soon, shouldn't we have a banquet to send me off?"
You said that yesterday too...
Ian was speechless and was about to say something.
"We'll talk about the banquet later!"
Zephyr's face suddenly grew serious. "Did you know about a big event yesterday?"
Garp: "...?"
Ian: "...?"
"Didn't you read this morning's newspaper? Not to mention Ian, as a marine, you didn't read it either, Garp?"
Zephyr looked at the two silent men with a helpless expression.
He then ignored Garp, who was happily picking his nose, and put on a serious expression again. "A big event happened in the West Blue yesterday."
"One of the Warlords arrived in the West Blue and was defeated by an unknown, powerful fighter... Hey, what's with those expressions? This is a major incident!"
…
"A warlord was defeated? Who? Crocodile? What was that guy doing in the West Blue? Who defeated him?"
At this moment, inside the Marine Headquarters, Sengoku, who had also received the information, also looked serious.
However, unlike the vague information Zephyr had obtained from the newspaper, it seemed he had heard something from the Den Den Mushi, and his face was stunned. "Ian? Why does that name sound so familiar?"
"No! Isn't this the guy Kuzan and Zephyr mentioned?"
Then, as if remembering something, a complex expression crossed Sengoku's serious face. "I see. How's Crocodile? He should be fine? What do you mean by should? Find out properly, you fools!"
Beep! Beep! Beep!
After hanging up, Sengoku sat down with a headache and massaged his temples. Then he pulled out a file, sent from the West Blue's 315th Branch, and his eyes showed a complicated emotion.
"It seems... I really underestimated this kid."
How could he actually defeat Crocodile?
Crocodile was no ordinary pirate; he was a powerhouse who escaped from the New World and had once challenged Whitebeard back then.
Anyone chosen by the World Government to be a warlord of the sea was never simple.
Yet now he was defeated by a retired Lieutenant from the West Blue?
Honestly, Sengoku didn't care if Crocodile was defeated or even killed.
They could always choose another pirate to take his place.
But why now?!
The four emperors had just been recognized in the New World, and the warlords were created to counterbalance them.
Regardless of their actual strength, the warlords were highly influential on the seas.
Being defeated now was a slap to the World Government's face.
Beaten by a mere retired marine from a West Blue, how were the warlords supposed to intimidate the sea?
He could already imagine the mockery.
Sengoku sighed deeply, brows furrowing as he tapped the desk.
"But what was Crocodile doing in the West Blue? And why would he fight a retired Lieutenant?"
But now it seems that whatever plan Crocodile had has probably been foiled by that kid.
Now he understood why Zephyr and Kuzan were drawn to that kid!
"He's certainly a talented guy, but he's a bit stubborn. He actually thinks the justice of Marine Headquarters is a shit."
Sengoku smiled helplessly, then looked at the files on the table and pondered for a moment.
"But maybe we can actually get Zephyr to invite this kid into Marine Headquarters."
But after mentioning Zephyr's name, Sengoku rubbed his forehead with a headache again. "That old guy is also a bit stubborn! It's all in the past now, what's the point in dwelling on it?"
As Sengoku spoke, he seemed to grow angrier and angrier. He slammed the table angrily and started cursing. "You two old bastards, Garp and Zephyr, where do you think the justice of the Marines is? You come and go as you please!"
He roared to the outside: "From now on, stop all funding for Chief Instructor Zephyr! If he wants to hunt pirates on his own, let's see how he does it without headquarters' support!"
"Also, investigate who the personnel were who reviewed the branch Marines' applications for training at Marine Headquarters in the past years! Hand them all to a military court and make them return every last belly they embezzled! Not a single one of them is reliable!"
…
Meanwhile, in the New World, inside Dressrosa's Royal Palace.
"Fufufufu."
Donquixote Doflamingo, who had also read the newspaper, burst into laughter, his eyes seeming to deepen beneath his sunglasses. "I didn't expect that Crocodile would be defeated by some no-name punk at West Blue!"
"Behehehe."
Overhearing Doflamingo's words, Trebol also let out his own unique laugh. "Doffy is the one destined to rule the world!"
"Ruler of the world?"
Doflamingo tossed the newspaper behind him, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he spread his arms wide.
"I just want to turn this sea upside down, and make those high-and-mighty bastards understand how terrifying I am!"
Hearing their young master's words, the surrounding Donquixote Family members all smiled while looking at their young master with a look of loyalty and admiration.
As expected of their young master!
Does he want to change the entire sea?!
What a lofty dream!
However, at this moment…
"Doffy!"
Diamante, sitting next to him on the diamond throne, also put down the newspaper in his hand and looked at Doflamingo seriously. "The West Blue and that unknown, powerful figure..."
"Don't worry, Diamante, I know what you mean."
As these words fell, Doflamingo's smile faded, his expression darkening. "No matter who it is, if they dare to harm my family, I won't let them go! Fufufu…!"
He then let out another unique laugh, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. "This news agency really likes to keep things in suspense! Since we're investigating it ourselves, how about Sibia Green Grape Wine? Send someone over there to investigate and find out who killed our precious family member!"
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