Of course, Zephyr still happily attended the farewell and welcome banquets, constantly hugging Ian and saying things like: "You're right, family is most important!"
He even cried.
Ian, after drinking a few cups, left to accompany his wife and daughter.
Now, holding his newborn child beside the bed, Ian couldn't stop smiling.
He had arrived here unexpectedly at age ten, joined the Marines at eleven, originally planning to defeat emperors and admirals within two and a half years... But he ended up staying in a local Branch Base for fifteen long years, then retiring home.
And now... He had a wife and child of his own.
Looking at the child in his arms, he couldn't help but be filled with emotion while muttering something to himself nonstop.
Robin, beside him, looked a little helpless, but after being teased by Ian, the complexity and worries she originally felt had faded a lot.
With the cry of a newborn baby, Robin snapped back to reality as she looked at the somewhat flustered Ian.
She smiled helplessly and said, "Dear, the baby must be hungry. Give her to me."
"Hungry?"
Ian hurriedly handed the child to Robin, then sat down beside them and watched his wife and daughter with a smile. "You've worked hard, Robin!"
"No, I should be the one to say that."
Holding the baby in her arms, Robin blinked playfully at Ian and said, "Thank you, dear."
Truthfully, she never expected to stay here this long. She even felt it was unreal before... But now that the child was born, she finally felt something real.
She truly had a family now.
But not long after, while the two were smiling at each other, Robin suddenly remembered something and casually said, "Is Ain leaving tomorrow?"
Ian: "...?"
Why bring that up?
Ian still nodded and said, "Zephyr has decided to leave tomorrow. So Ain is also getting ready to leave, planning to hunt pirates in other sea areas."
"Are you going to see them off tomorrow?"
Robin didn't seem to hear the second half of what Ian said.
Still smiling, she continued: "We also have to thank Ain properly for taking care of me today. Dear, remember to thank her for me tomorrow!"
Soon, it was the next day.
Zephyr was scheduled to leave today.
Ian went to the docks early in the morning, seeing Zephyr and others already fully prepared. He walked toward them.
Then a loud, familiar laugh echoed. "You kid actually woke up this early today?"
Ian glanced helplessly at Zephyr, who was teasing him, then said, "Have you packed everything?"
"Not much to pack. As for weapons, hahaha."
Zephyr laughed heartily. "You promised me I could get them from Gini!"
"I promised. Don't worry, I won't forget my promise!"
"Alright, that's it. It's getting late, time to leave. I'm leaving, so you can be with your family."
Zephyr waved his hand, smiling casually. "I have to say, this Devil Fruit is really convenient!"
With that, without a moment's hesitation, he turned and boarded the boat, slowly sailing away from the dock.
But just then, Ian, who had been silent for a moment, seemed to remember something and shouted towards the warship: "Nothing is unsolvable. Instructor Zephyr, if you really encounter a problem, don't be impulsive. Think about the students around you, or come to me for a consultation. And Ain... Robin asked me to say thank you."
"Hmph!"
"Got it, kid!"
Zephyr, standing on the warship, scolded Ian on the dock with a smile. "Becoming a father… really made this kid much more mature! It's just..."
Then he looked at Ain beside him, who was smirking. "Before leaving, this kid even snatched my precious student away from me!"
"Zephyr-sensei!!!"
"Hahaha!"
…
"What are they laughing about?"
Hearing the hearty laughter coming from the ship, Ian couldn't help but laugh too, though he didn't know what they were laughing about.
He said nothing more, quietly watching the warship depart with everyone else.
Only after the warship vanished from sight did Ian stretch lazily and gaze up at the rising sun.
With a determined look in his eyes, he muttered to himself: "Time to get some exercise."
…
With the departure of Garp and Zephyr, life in the Sibia Village returned to normal, and even the banquet was no longer held.
After Robin recuperated, Ian gradually resumed his training in the mountains behind.
"Congratulations on becoming a father."
Just as Ian was splitting the mountain, a long voice rang out.
After turning around, Ian saw Kuzan, who had appeared behind him out of nowhere, sitting cross-legged on the ground.
Kuzan, like he was meeting a friend, rested his right hand on his knee, supporting his head.
After a quick greeting, he said leisurely, "Boy or girl?"
"Girl."
Ian paused his training, walked to the side, picked up the water he had brought, took a swig, and said: "Don't you want to go and see?"
"No, I'm an admiral, you know!"
Hearing Ian's words, Kuzan couldn't help but sigh. "You've really done something big! If the World Government knew that the Devil Child's blood had been continued, they would definitely issue a Buster Call, eliminating anyone and anything connected to it!"
Having witnessed darkness before and questioned his own sense of justice, he wanted to see just how far Ohara's sole survivor would go and what changes she would bring to this sea.
But he never expected to see... The continuation of Ohara's blood.
Kuzan raised his head again and looked at Ian before him.
With a calm tone, he said, "I had thought you would keep a low profile with the Devil Child, but I didn't expect you to be so reckless! You actually dared to defeat a Warlord at this time?"
"I can't help it. The other party has already come knocking on my door."
Ian shrugged, unconcerned with Kuzan's words. "I can't just watch him take my wife and child away!"
Kuzan: "..."
"Okay, that does make sense."
Kuzan was speechless for a moment at Ian's answer, then shook his head helplessly. "It's a good thing you didn't kill Crocodile. Otherwise, things would be very troublesome."
"Killing the Warlord for no reason... Either you inherit the title or become a wanted man by the World Government. Either way, it would attract the attention of Marine Headquarters."
"The changes in the West Blue's underworld forces, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and Zephyr-sensei's affairs have already drawn the attention of the World Government and Marine Headquarters. So..."
At this point, Kuzan sat up, a serious expression on his face. "As a father, are you prepared for disaster?"
"...?!"