Seeing Kizaru sitting so casually on the sofa, Zephyr's expression stiffened.
His worldview took a hit.
Borsalino looked far too comfortable here, like Peach Garden was somewhere he came often.
That made no sense.
Kizaru was a Marine Admiral.
Rolan ruled pirate territory.
By all logic, those two should have been enemies.
Yet here they were.
Even Kizaru was genuinely surprised.
He knew why Zephyr had left the Marines.
It had never been because he hated the Marines themselves.
He hated what they had become.
And he hated pirates even more.
That was why seeing Zephyr in Peach Garden felt almost absurd.
The old teacher and the former student looked at each other, both caught off guard.
Rolan merely nodded.
Only the upper ranks of the Marines knew of their quiet cooperation with Peach Garden.
To the world, nothing had changed.
To the lower ranks, this alliance did not even exist.
"Sit down, Zephyr."
Zephyr took a seat, though his eyes remained fixed on Rolan.
Questions filled his gaze.
Kizaru, after his momentary shock, returned to his usual lazy composure.
As if strange things happened around Rolan every day.
He glanced toward Zephyr.
"What brings you to Peach Garden, Teacher?"
Though he had a guess.
Zephyr was silent for a while.
The room carried the weight of old wounds.
His past was something none of them needed explained.
A pirate had slaughtered his men.
Taken his arm.
Destroyed nearly everything he had built.
And then the World Government rewarded that same monster with a Shichibukai title.
Justice had become a joke.
That was when Zephyr lost faith.
He left.
Built the NEO Navy.
Tried to wage his own war.
But the sea had too many pirates.
One fleet could not purge an ocean.
Then came Marineford.
And a pirate named Rolan saying things no pirate should have said.
Words that had unsettled him.
At first Zephyr thought it was ambition disguised as righteousness.
Another conqueror talking pretty.
But over time he had watched.
Listened.
Heard what ordinary people said.
The world cursed Rolan.
But some praised him.
Quietly.
Honestly.
And those voices carried weight.
That curiosity brought him here.
Zephyr looked directly at Rolan.
"What do you think of this world?"
A test.
Plain as day.
Rolan understood.
He leaned back.
"This world doesn't belong to everyone."
His voice was indifferent.
"It belongs to a few people who call themselves gods."
His eyes sharpened.
"That kind of world deserves to be overturned."
Zephyr studied him.
"And what do you intend to do?"
Rolan answered without hesitation.
"Drag those gods down."
Silence.
Even hearing it again, Zephyr felt the weight of those words.
He exhaled.
"You speak boldly. But those people are not simple enemies."
His gaze darkened.
"Even I can't see through them."
Rolan looked unconcerned.
"That's why allies exist."
Then his eyes met Zephyr's.
"So, will you join us?"
Zephyr did not answer immediately.
Instead he looked at Kizaru.
"If I'm understanding this right…"
His voice lowered.
"The Marines are already part of this?"
Rolan only smirked.
Kizaru answered instead.
"Only a Marine that serves the people deserves to be called the Marines."
That was enough.
Zephyr got his answer.
And it shook him.
The Revolutionary Army was already aligned with Peach Garden.
Now the Marines too.
If both stood behind Rolan…
Then this alliance had already grown into something monstrous.
Maybe even capable of challenging the World Government outright.
For a long while Zephyr said nothing.
He was cautious.
Too many betrayals sat in his past.
He would not step blindly again.
Rolan didn't press.
He simply said,
"No need to decide immediately."
Then he shrugged.
"Your NEO Navy has nowhere urgent to be. Stay in Peach Garden for a while."
Zephyr frowned.
He did have unfinished plans.
Powerful explosives had been discovered.
Weapons capable of wiping out islands.
Enough destructive force to cleanse the New World by fire.
He had once intended to use them.
If all else failed, maybe he still would.
But after seeing Peach Garden…
Seeing what had been built here…
He wanted to believe another road existed.
He thought for a long time.
Then finally rose.
He extended his left hand.
"A pleasure working with you."
Rolan looked at the offered hand.
Then clasped it.
Firm.
Direct.
No theatrics.
Kizaru watched with narrowed eyes.
Even he understood what this meant.
The NEO Navy had just entered the board.
===
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