Before Ian could speak, Zephyr said first: "Still tempering that weapon? You're doing a fine job. From afar, it looks like I'm watching a little sun."
"It's a shame Ain isn't back from training yet. If she saw how much you cherish the weapon she exchanged with a precious Devil Fruit, she would be so happy."
Ian ignored that familiar line again, patted the dust off his clothes, stood up, and rested the axe on his shoulder.
"Alright, what did you come here for?"
"I did come to talk to you about something!"
Zephyr said cheerfully, unconcerned with Ian's bluntness. "I'm leaving!"
"Leaving?"
Ian's face flickered with surprise at Zephyr's response, then he glanced at him up and down.
"Have you finished familiarizing yourself with your Devil Fruit ability?"
"More or less. As for the rest, I'll master it on the battlefield. There's no better training than real combat!"
Zephyr laughed heartily, then looked back at Ian, grinning, and said, "I have to say, this Devil Fruit truly suits me! Now, even without new warships, I can recruit more personnel, and..."
Like an old mischievous child, he blinked: "I have even created a training ground within my body so new recruits can train within it, fight alongside me within it, and familiarize themselves with the battlefield beforehand."
But as he spoke, he seemed to recall something, and his eyes grew a little melancholic. "If I had this Devil Fruit back then, those children..."
Ian: "..."
Seeing Zephyr fall into sorrow again, Ian didn't interrupt. He knew Zephyr was thinking about what happened last time.
After a moment, Zephyr snapped out of it, as if nothing had happened, and returned to his cheerful self.
"Now, I alone can become an entire fleet, no, multiple fleets. Not only will movement be more covert and convenient, but my firepower has greatly increased, too."
"Just like a moving fortress that acts on its own."
Ian nodded.
A fleet led by a former Marine Admiral... Just imagining it was terrifying.
By the time the enemy noticed Zephyr, he'd probably already led his fleet behind enemy lines.
And since Zephyr was the Marine Headquarters' Chief Instructor... Under his command, maybe in the near future... He could really train a powerful elite force.
Ian also understood that the Castle-Castle Fruit could really turn him into a massive fortress, so long as he stocked his body with weapons and provisions.
One man could represent a fully supplied, heavily armed military force.
It might mean little on a battlefield of top-tier fighters, but in war... Zephyr was a terrifying war machine.
"Hahaha! A moving fortress, huh?"
Zephyr laughed loudly again. "That is quite fitting!"
"Alright, you still haven't said why you came to me. Don't tell me you want the Sibia River Archipelago to hold a farewell banquet for you, too?"
"No need for a banquet. I'm not like that old geezer, Garp, constantly wanting banquets!"
"Then wine? I already called the brewery."
"No, no. I know the situation with the brewery as well."
Zephyr shook his head again with a smile, then winked at Ian and said, "I heard you have an arms factory..."
"What arms factory? No, we don't touch that kind of shady business."
Hearing Zephyr's words, Ian shook his head, his eyelids raised, and said, "My workshop is just a private weapon workshop. I only make weapons for self-defense and against pirates. I don't sell them!"
"I know, I know. Don't worry. Even if you did, what's the big deal? You've already married the Devil Child and have children. What's the big deal if a mere weapons factory is discovered?"
Zephyr waved his hand nonchalantly and said with a smile, "Can you get me some weapons?"
That's true, but some things shouldn't be said unless they can be.
Just like the Warlord next door, he still doesn't dare to easily expose his weapons factory, being extremely cautious about incoming and outgoing goods, and even giving himself the codename Joker.
Although everyone in the underworld knew that the Joker was Donquixote Doflamingo, they were still being secretive, weren't they?
"The weapons from that handmade private workshop aren't very good."
Ian said while looking at Zephyr beside him. "They can't compare to the weapons provided by Marine Headquarters. Do you really want them?"
"Isn't that nonsense? If any weapons factory could easily produce the weapons provided by Marine Headquarters, Sengoku would be terrified."
Zephyr smiled and shook his head. "It's good enough to be usable. It's better than having no weapons at all."
Looking at Ian, he said, "If you won't give me this wine, at least give me the weapons!"
"We're not short of weapons. When the Capone Mafia Family fell, there was still a large amount of weapons that couldn't be sold and were piled up in the warehouse."
Hearing Zephyr's words, Ian no longer cared and said casually. "However many you want, just ask Gini for them. But I have to say, those weapons are pretty lousy. After all, they were originally only used to supply the West Blue's underworld."
"Those guys... Even if I gave them good weapons, would they know how to use them? They're probably still inferior to what Doflamingo's weapons factory produces!"
"Hahaha, that's a deal. I'll ask Gini for whatever I want myself!"
After receiving Ian's promise, Zephyr laughed heartily. Then, looking at the old wooden house, he said with a smile, "Calculating the time, Robin should be due soon, right?"
"I think it should be about..."
Ian nodded.
However, before he could finish his words, a mouth suddenly popped out from the huge rock beneath him and said, "Dear, I think I'm giving birth!"
Ian: "...?"
Zephyr: "...?"
With that, the familiar mouth vanished, leaving only the two men standing there in a daze.
A moment later.
"Hiss!"
Zephyr was the first to react and slap Ian's shoulder. "You little kid, what are you still standing there for? Go get help!"
"Call help, yes, yes, go get help!"
And so, the two men began frantically calling for help.
And the entire Sibia Village was once again bustling with activity.
Finally, with everyone's help, the mother and daughter were safe, and Ian and Robin welcomed their baby girl.
And then, before Ian could happily embrace the child and accompany Robin, the Sibia Village held a banquet.
It wasn't only to celebrate the baby's birth, but it was also a farewell banquet for Zephyr.
After the baby was born, Zephyr played with her for a while.
Seeing new life brought warmth back to his heart... But he still chose to set sail as planned.
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