Rolan stared at Zephyr for a moment, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes, yet he made no move to shake his hand immediately.
Instead, he spoke in a steady tone, "Zephyr, think this through carefully. This ship of ours is a pirate ship. Once you step on board, leaving will not be simple."
Zephyr paused briefly, then burst into loud laughter. "Hahahaha, I may not know much about your Ion Pirates, and I have only met you once, but I am willing to trust you and take that risk."
Hearing that, Rolan's lips curved faintly. He rose to his feet and reached out, clasping Zephyr's hand firmly. "Then, happy cooperation."
Zephyr's arrival at Peach Garden had not been part of Rolan's expectations.
He had never even considered the involvement of the NEO Navy.
Rolan knew very well that if Zephyr had not come here, or if he had left without a satisfying answer, things would have taken a far darker turn. Just like in the original course of events, Zephyr would have resorted to extreme measures, stealing the explosive rocks and attempting to wipe out every pirate in the New World, even if it meant destroying the entire region.
His hatred for pirates ran deep. His family, his students, his subordinates, countless lives had been lost to them.
If Zephyr truly walked that path, Peach Garden would have had no choice but to intervene. After all, nearly all of the New World now fell under Rolan's control.
There was no way he would allow anyone to destroy it.
That would have inevitably made them enemies.
Rolan did not want that outcome.
He respected Zephyr. The man had upheld justice his entire life. Even after everything he had endured, that belief had not completely faded. The conflict within him had only grown more extreme because of the Shichibukai system.
But deep down, Zephyr still sought justice.
Rolan had no intention of letting someone like that fall completely into darkness.
So he chose to bring him over instead.
Nearby, Kizaru had watched everything unfold without interrupting.
He slowly stood up, adjusting his posture before extending his hand with a faint smile. "Didn't expect we would end up on the same side again, Teacher Zephyr."
Zephyr looked at him, his expression complicated. The situation felt strange even to him.
He clearly remembered the harsh words he had once spoken, calling the Marines and the World Government rotten to the core, saying he was ashamed to stand among them.
Yet now, here they were.
Standing together again.
"I didn't think Marines like you would actually dare to oppose the World Government," Zephyr said bluntly. "Seems Kuzan wasn't as stubborn as I thought."
Kizaru clicked his tongue lightly. "Teacher Zephyr, your words are still as sharp as ever."
Zephyr let out another laugh. "At least you've finally found a decent Fleet Admiral."
He extended his hand again and grasped Kizaru's firmly. "Happy cooperation, Borsalino."
Their hands locked together without hesitation.
Rolan watched the scene with a quiet chuckle. "There is still plenty to deal with. We can celebrate after the war ends."
Kizaru and Zephyr both laughed in agreement.
…
Far from Peach Garden, within the waters of the New World, a fleet of Marine ships cut through the sea, advancing steadily toward their destination.
At the front sailed a massive warship, its deck covered in dense greenery, trees and vines spreading across its surface like a living forest.
Standing at the front was a tall Marine with dark green hair, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon where a faint black dot could be seen.
A Vice Admiral approached him and saluted. "Admiral Ryokugyu, are we truly going to attack Peach Garden?"
The man did not turn around.
His voice carried clearly across the deck. "As Marines, it is our duty to subjugate pirates. Peach Garden belongs to the Ion Pirates. What reason do we have not to strike?"
This fleet was led by Aramaki, the newly appointed Admiral.
Their target was clear.
Peach Garden.
The Vice Admiral hesitated. "But… Rolan is considered the strongest in the world. And the Ion Pirates are filled with monsters. With our current numbers, can we really…"
He did not finish, but the meaning was obvious.
The surrounding Marines shared the same fear.
They had seen what Rolan and his crew were capable of during the Marineford War. That level of power was not something an ordinary force could challenge.
Right now, they only had one Admiral and a handful of high ranking officers.
Even reaching Peach Garden was uncertain.
Facing the Ion Pirates directly felt like certain death.
Aramaki finally turned his head, a faint smile forming at the corner of his lips.
Without warning, he raised his hand.
A vine shot out from the deck, moving faster than the eye could follow, and pierced straight through the Vice Admiral's back.
A wet sound echoed.
The Vice Admiral's body trembled as his life force was rapidly drained. His skin shriveled, his voice breaking as he struggled to speak. "Ad… Admiral… why…"
Within seconds, his vision faded.
His body collapsed into a lifeless husk.
Silence fell over the ship.
The other Marines stared in shock.
"Admiral… why did you kill Vice Admiral Jingkong?"
Aramaki retracted the vine, letting it disappear as if it had never existed.
The corpse dropped onto the deck with a dull thud.
"We carry the justice of the entire world," Aramaki said calmly. "We exist to fight pirates. Anyone who thinks of running when faced with a strong enemy is unworthy of being a Marine. Trash like that has no place here."
The sunlight shone down, but shadows covered his eyes, making his expression impossible to read.
No one spoke.
It felt as if an invisible pressure gripped their throats.
Aramaki slowly scanned the crew. "If you are afraid, you might as well sink to the bottom of the sea and live with the fish."
There was no warmth in his voice.
Despite the clear sky, the atmosphere felt freezing.
"Fleet Admiral Renn once said," Aramaki continued, his tone firm, "on the path of absolute justice, we do not need cowards. We do not need deserters."
The Marines stiffened.
No one dared to show fear anymore.
They had no choice.
Behind them were their families, their homes.
All they could do was move forward and hope to survive.
On another ship within the fleet, a Vice Admiral who had heard Aramaki's words clenched his fists, his expression filled with emotion.
"So someone has inherited Fleet Admiral Renn's will…"
"My path is not alone."
"My path is not alone!"
Aramaki raised his voice, addressing the entire fleet. "If anyone does not wish to face Rolan, step forward now."
No one moved.
Not a single step.
Seeing their forced resolve, Aramaki nodded slightly. "Good. Then we proceed."
At that moment, the sound of a Den Den Mushi echoed across the deck.
Buruburu…
Buruburu…
Buruburu…