"You?"
Zephyr was stunned after hearing Ian and Garp's explanation, then he looked at Ian with a touch of emotion. "You defeated Crocodile? I didn't expect your strength to reach this level. It seems I underestimated you!"
"That guy's spirit has been broken by Whitebeard, and his strength seems to have declined significantly."
"Hahaha, is that so? But no matter what, you defeated a great pirate. What a shame, I'm a day late."
Zephyr laughed, then said with a sigh: "I was right. In the future, your fame will surely spread throughout the sea. It's probably already spread throughout the sea by now."
"Fame spread throughout the sea?"
Ian looked at the newspaper in his hand and shook his head helplessly.
"If it were before, I would still be interested, but now I'm not."
"That's right. For you, fame at sea isn't a good thing!"
Hearing Ian's words, Zephyr couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Then, his eyes seemed to grow hazy, and he muttered to himself: "You're right. Family is most important. If only I had understood that sooner!"
Ian, observing Zephyr's unexplained lament, said nothing, simply raising his glass and sipping slowly.
The banquet finally took place!
Luckily, the wine sold well; otherwise, with their frequency of banquets, the villagers would have starved to death!
At this point, Zephyr recovered from his lamentation and smiled at Ian.
"That Crocodile isn't here to steal your wife, as that old bastard, Garp, said!"
"Well, it seems he's hiding something!"
Seeing Ian's strange expression, Zephyr didn't pursue the matter further.
He laughed heartily and said, "Forget it, I'm not that curious."
As if remembering something, he shook his head. "Let's drink!"
"Cheers."
Seeing Zephyr suddenly showing a complex expression, with anger faintly hidden in his eyes, Ian raised his glass and took a big gulp before speaking: "Seems a lot happened after you went back this time!"
"A lot has indeed happened, and quite unpleasant things."
Hearing Ian's words, Zephyr came back to his senses, shook his head with a wry smile, and was silent for a moment before looking at Ian seriously again: "Ian, if those two children, Ain and Binz, are ever in danger, please help them. Take it as my only request!"
…
"Zephyr-sensei, here's water."
"Hahaha, thank you, Ain."
Back in Sibia Village, Zephyr, still lying in his original position, cheerfully accepted the water Ain offered him.
After taking a sip, he rubbed his forehead and complained: "That guy, Garp, kept drinking with me last night, making it impossible for me to rest! That old guy still hasn't woken up yet, has he?!"
"Vice-Admiral Garp hasn't woken up yet, and..."
Binz, also leisurely nearby, winked at Zephyr.
"Didn't I see you drinking so hard last night, Zephyr-sensei? You even danced with Vice-Admiral Garp, arms around his shoulders!"
"You talk too much!"
Hearing Binz's words, Zephyr glared at the clueless fellow, then took another sip of water and said: "You're not as sensible as Ain!"
"I clearly tried to stop you last night, but you pushed me away! Okay, okay, I'll shut up!"
Seeing the glare from his teacher, Binz immediately gave in, not daring to expose Zephyr's awful behavior from last night.
But it had to be said that after arriving here, Zephyr seemed much more relaxed, which made him and Ain breathe a sigh of relief.
After approaching Zephyr, Binz changed the subject and spoke in a puzzled tone: "Zephyr-sensei, why didn't you invite Ian last night? Didn't you say you were planning to invite him aboard?"
As soon as those words fell, in response to Binz's question, Zephyr, holding his cup of water, fell silent.
After a moment, he sighed and shook his head.
"It's better not to disturb that kid's peaceful life."
He didn't know how long that peaceful life would last for that kid, but he didn't want the tragedies of his own past experience to repeat around him.
"Since he chose family, then let him accompany his family properly! Hahaha!"
As he spoke, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, but it was filled with melancholy and sadness, causing Binz and Ain, who were nearby, to fall silent.
After a while, Binz scratched his head and said, "I thought that guy could go to sea with us! What a pity! If he were there, our fleet would be much stronger."
However, after Binz finished speaking, Zephyr fell silent again, his eyes seeming to hold a hint of hesitation.
Looking at Binz, who was scratching his head, and Ain, who was sitting quietly, he finally said: "Actually... You don't have to follow me. You have your own justice. There's no need to follow me into a dead end."
"I will always follow you, teacher!"
"Ain is right."
Binz said firmly as well: "No matter what your justice is, teacher, I will carry it out to the death!"
"Hahaha, you two are as stubborn as I am!"
Hearing their words, Zephyr, who had been hesitant, laughed heartily again, his eyes becoming more determined. "In that case, let us carry out my justice."
"Is that old guy, Sengoku, thinking we can't do anything if he doesn't approve my funding? And to hell with the justice at the Marine Headquarters! I still don't believe a little money can stop me!"
However, as he finished his words, Ain and Binz looked at their teacher with determination in their eyes.
"As for money, I do have a business I'd like to partner with you on."
Suddenly, a voice rang out, and Zephyr and the other two looked up at Ian, who had already gotten up and was walking towards them.
"Why are you here, kid? Going to train?"
Zephyr asked in surprise.
Then he glanced up and down at Ian. "Didn't Garp say you've been spending your time with your wife lately?"
Ian: "..."
Why is that old man so gossipy?
Ian was speechless for a moment, but then he sat down beside him, looked at Zephyr, and said: "What do you think of what I just said?"
"This..."
After hearing Ian's words, Zephyr came back to his senses and frowned in thought. He didn't immediately respond.