Inside Zephyr's training camp:
"Water 7."
In the dormitory, Roy murmured the name to himself. He had just finished another day of training and was recalling the information he had received from Shinryu not long ago.
The Devil Fruit he needed, as well as the unexpected discovery of Vegapunk's laboratory… all of this made him decide that he had to make a trip to Water 7.
But the problem was... how to get there?
"Should I let Youji (Rooster) and Shinryu go? But that's not a good idea. The repercussions from their recent affairs haven't died down yet."
"Cutting another clone isn't appropriate either. The tri-forces martial exercise is approaching, and security around Headquarters is extremely tight. Even if a Slice Clone could fly, it would be difficult to leave."
"And Water 7 is basically CP-9's old nest. There are eyes everywhere, and it's close to Judicial Island. If anything goes wrong, it'll be really bad."
Roy pondered silently.
In the end, he came to a decision.
The best choice was for him to go personally. CP-9's informants wouldn't be on guard against the Marines, so there was little risk of exposure. Once he obtained the Devil Fruit he wanted, everything afterward would become much easier.
"Roy!"
Just as he was thinking this, Binz's voice made him shudder slightly.
He then took a deep breath. "Binz, I know... it's time to prepare for training."
His voice sounded heavy.
Although Roy possessed the determination and perseverance to grow stronger, he had to admit that the daily training of plunging into the deep sea and confronting the currents directly was excessive.
Even Roy, after a month of continuous training, was starting to feel overwhelmed.
"No, that's not it."
To his surprise, Binz said, "Zephyr-sensei went to the SSG today to test the 'Smash Machine.' He won't be back for a few days."
Hearing this, Roy was stunned.
He naturally knew what the Smash Machine was.
After Zephyr lost an arm to a pirate, the SSG began researching ways to restore the former admiral's combat strength.
The "Smash Machine" was created for that very purpose.
It was a gigantic steel arm constructed from a special alloy called "Z Alloy" and inlaid with Seastone to counter Devil Fruit users.
According to the SSG's estimates, thanks to its unique structure and power system, the arm would have the strength to smash anything.
Once the arm was reattached to Zephyr, he would supposedly return to his peak.
Naturally, now that Roy had a deep understanding of Zephyr's true strength, he knew very well that such an estimate was nothing more than a joke.
Zephyr's "Black Body Flow" required the tempering and control of every part of the body. No matter what, a mechanical arm could never replace his original limb.
Still, Roy didn't say much. He merely looked at Binz with some confusion.
"Then you came to get me because…?"
"Oh, it's your two subordinates. Uh, the ones named Fal and Hans, they came looking for you."
Binz scratched his head. "They said their leave is over. Vice Admiral Biros gave them a mission and asked if you wanted to join them."
As he said this, he looked at Roy.
He still remembered the "ambition" Roy had once spoken of with Zephyr.
"I will stay in the Marine Detention Unit forever, and I will change it, it is an indispensable part of justice."
To Binz, those words were utterly thunderous. Now, the entire Marine Headquarters had heard the news:
The former Marine admiral and legendary figure known as "Black Arm Zephyr" had officially taken Roy as his disciple.
It could be said that if Roy were willing now, he could join the direct force of any Vice Admiral, or even an Admiral's subordinates, at any time, and would certainly hold an important position in the future.
This made Binz very curious.
Could the current Roy still adhere to his original conviction?
Then, without hesitation, he heard Roy's reply.
"Naturally!"
His voice was clear and resolute.
"Of course I'm going!"
At that moment, Binz was deeply moved.
Roy Amos... what a righteous and loyal man! But clearly, Roy's thoughts were not quite so noble at that moment.
"What perfect timing, when you're sleepy, someone hands you a pillow. Hans, Fal, and Old Man Biros, you've done well!"
Roy had been worrying about finding a proper reason to leave Marine Headquarters. Wasn't this opportunity delivered straight to his doorstep?
Soon after, Roy returned to the familiar port of the Marine Detention Unit.
Then...
"Boss!" ×2
He heard two excited shouts and saw two familiar figures.
"I told you the boss would definitely come!"
"Hey, Hans! What do you mean by that? Are you saying I don't trust the boss? I just said that Admiral Zephyr's training is extremely strict and that maybe he wouldn't allow the boss to come!"
No further explanation was needed.
The two clowns, Fal and Hans, were the ones speaking.
Besides them... the other Marines of the Marine Detention Unit under Roy's command were standing nearby, cheering loudly.
"How are you, boss?"
"Life's pretty comfortable without the senior officer, but it just doesn't feel right unless Senior Officer Roy is here!"
Clearly, Binz was far from the only one who felt this way.
Watching this scene, Roy smiled.
It was same as always.
He didn't really feel a sense of belonging to the Marines.
As for these Marines, though, with whom he had spent eight years, he didn't dislike them at all.
Just then, however, Hans and Fal came over again.
"Oh, by the way, boss, we've also prepared a surprise for you!"
Hans looked excited, while Fal's expression was a bit complicated.
"A surprise?" Roy raised an eyebrow naturally.
"Yep!" Hans nodded proudly and pointed at himself. "I proposed 'Hans, Petty Officer First Class,' and then everyone worked together to prepare it! It's your favorite thing!"
"Oh!?"
Hearing that, Roy became interested.
Surely it wasn't a Devil Fruit, right?
Anticipating what it could be, Roy followed Hans and Fal toward the harbor berth.
From a distance, he saw the distinctive ship docked there.
"... "
Roy fell silent.
A battleship with smooth lines but an extremely bizarre design was floating quietly at the berth. The outline of the former DT-31 battleship was still visible, but the entire hull had clearly been refurbished.
From bow to stern, it curved in an arc. Combined with the black color scheme, the unique, bottle cap–like prow, and the straw-shaped mast, it looked exactly like...no! It was a bottle of cola!
The sail hanging from the mainmast made Roy doubt his own eyes.
Written boldly on it was a name:
"[Roy Amos]"
"Well? What do you think, boss?" Hans said proudly. "Satisfied? I told you you'd like it!"
As mentioned before... after being promoted to lieutenant junior grade, Roy was entitled to his own battleship. He had the authority to carry out basic modifications and refurbishments and officially became the ship's "captain."
That was exactly why Hans was so smug.
After Roy became Zephyr's disciple, he was incredibly busy and basically unreachable.
Fortunately, though, Hans still remembered something Roy had once said.
"You said that if you ever had your own ship, you'd definitely make it look like your favorite thing. Hahaha!"
"You're still laughing?!"
Roy immediately punched the guy in the head.
Gritting his teeth, he rubbed his face. "How could my favorite thing possibly be cola? Well, even if it were, I was clearly joking back then..."
But halfway through his complaint, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahahahahaha!" ×N
All the Marines of the Marine Detention Unit, except for Hans, who had just been punched, burst into laughter as well.
And so...
"All right." A moment later, Roy stopped dwelling on it.
After all, all kinds of strange ships sailed these seas, and one more wouldn't make a difference.
Besides, he really didn't dislike this ship.
He strode onto the battleship with firm steps, using Earth Walk, and looked down at the Marines below.
"Little ones. Prepare to set sail!"
His order was answered at once, of course.
"Aye, Captain!"
(Yes, Captain!)
(Actually, "Aya, Captain" seems to be something pirates say more often in reality, but I think it sounds pretty cool, so I used it here.)
(End of Chapter)
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