Chapter 70: Rest (part 1)
Two flowers bloom, each branch tells its own story.
Zephyr also made contact with Headquarters on his side.
“Mm, yes.”
“No personnel casualties. We’re now at the Beasts Pirates’ stronghold.
But this place seems to have just been abandoned. No traces of any pirates were found.”
“Are you sure it’s an abandoned small island?” Sengoku’s voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
“Mm, I sent people to investigate thoroughly, and we did find signs of packing up.
Moreover, they evacuated very thoroughly, even taking away the pirate flag that marked their territory.”
Zephyr naturally ordered his soldiers to conduct a detailed inspection of the Beasts’ garrison on the island.
But the cleared-out daily supplies and weapon equipment all indicated that this island had been abandoned.
“Did you question the townsfolk too?”
“Mm, the townsfolk’s statements match the investigation results. Kaido has probably gone to seize John’s territory, and it’s very likely he succeeded.”
Zephyr let out a long sigh. This expedition of his had yielded absolutely nothing.
“So that means our plan has failed.”
Sengoku’s tone carried a hint of regret.
They had finally waited for an opportunity, and the Navy had come with full momentum hoping to be the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, but they hadn’t even gotten off to a good start.
“Sorry, it’s all my responsibility.” Zephyr’s words carried shame.
“Don’t say that. Encountering such a calamity and still saving the lives of two ships’ worth of soldiers is already impressive.
Compared to the mission, preserving these Navy future sparks is more important.” His old comrade Sengoku comforted him.
“So what now…”
“I’ll report to Fleet Admiral Kong first. You all will probably prepare to return.
Since we’ve already missed the opportunity, there’s no point staying in the New World.
After all, that’s not Navy territory.”
Sengoku’s judgment was correct. Continuing to stay in the New World in Zephyr’s current situation was very dangerous.
Never mind whether the Beasts Pirates might return, if their current state became known to other pirates, some bold ones might take risks to gain fame for “defeating an Admiral.”
Garp and Zephyr might be fine, but losing those elite Navy soldiers would be a huge loss, and a massive blow to the Navy’s prestige.
After a moment of silence, Zephyr’s low voice came through the Den Den Mushi in Sengoku’s hand.
“…Sengoku, when do you think we can liberate the New World?”
“It won’t be too long. Once we clear out all of Rocks’ remnants, the Navy can smoothly advance into the New World.
Then the Navy’s justice will reign over the entire sea, and the pirates in the Four Seas will gradually decrease too.”
“It won’t be too long…”
Zephyr murmured.
“Sengoku, do you know how the residents on these New World islands react when they see the Navy?”
“Zephyr, you…”
Sengoku frowned on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, already guessing what the other meant.
“They react just like seeing pirates, with unconcealed fear in their eyes. They even worry and fear for losing the pirates’ protection.”
Zephyr’s voice was hoarse, and anyone could hear the confusion in his heart at this moment.
“Sometimes I wonder, do we really have the right to bear the name of justice?”
“Zephyr!”
Sensing the hesitation in his old friend’s words, Sengoku immediately said seriously:
“Don’t overthink it. As long as you’re fighting for the people, for peace, you have the right to bear the name of justice!”
“Those towns saved by the Navy, the families saved, the children saved—their existence proves our justice is far from meaningless!”
Looking at Sengoku’s firm gaze on the Den Den Mushi, the gloom in Zephyr’s chest lessened, and his eyes regained their determination.
“I understand.”
“Thank you, Sengoku.”
……
At the warship docking area, soldiers were moving back and forth between the deck and cabin, taking out undamaged supplies to dry outside.
The engineering soldiers were repairing the large hole on the ship’s side and conducting a full inspection of the warship to check for other damage.
Of course, there were also some slacking off nearby, like a certain hero Vice Admiral hiding in the shadow of the ship’s prow eating snacks.
“Yo~ Zephyr, you’re back. Where’s that blonde little girl?”
“I sent her home. I’ve already scouted around this town, no need to trouble her further.”
“I mean, you’re just openly slacking off like this?”
“Leave professional matters to professionals. Me not getting in their way is already helping.”
Garp had a clear understanding of himself.
He could patch a wall or fix a door, but something like a warship should be left to the specialists.
“You guy…” Zephyr was somewhat helpless too.
“How’d it go? Did you learn anything?”
Shoving a bunch of sea beast meat skewers into his mouth, Garp mumbled as he asked.
“Mm, learned some things, like this place was the Beasts Pirates’ garrison a few days ago.”
“Ah?! This is Kaido’s territory?”
“What a coincidence! That kid attacked the G5 branch not long ago and even ran into me.”
Recalling the frustration of being ambushed by Kaido back then, Garp pressed: “Any other clues? Like where that kid Kaido is now?”
“None.
The Beasts Pirates left very cleanly, even taking the flag. Their new stronghold should be far from here.”
“Is that so? That’s a real shame…”
“Catching him would have made the trip worthwhile.
So then? What’s our next arrangement?”
“I found the blacksmith shop in town and ordered some iron rods and iron sheets. Later, we’ll nail the mast.
In the afternoon, we’ll buy more supplies in town, and prepare to return tomorrow morning.”
“Returning empty-handed…” Garp was a bit deflated.
This feeling was just like before, when he discovered traces of the Roger Pirates—always rushing over excitedly, then returning disappointed.
At this time, an officer saw Zephyr return and came forward to report.
“Report! Admiral Zephyr.”
“Speak.”
“Yes! After inspection, the two warships have no issues besides the broken mast and side damage. Repairs excluding the mast are expected to be completed before dinner.”
“Good. Leave the mast to me and Garp. You ensure the other parts are fine.”
“Yes!”
Amid the soldiers and officers bustling back and forth, the sun slowly sank toward the sea surface.
After arranging everyone to return to the restaurant from morning for dinner, Zephyr took a stroll and picked up the iron rods and iron sheets for repairs from the blacksmith shop.
“Garp, lend a hand.”
Zephyr vertically inserted several iron rods into the mast’s broken surface. The several-meter-long iron rods were driven in deeply like nails, the huge force causing the ship to shake.
Then Garp forcefully aligned the other mast section back onto the break, letting these iron rods serve as temporary inner supports, and finally wrapped the break with iron sheets like tape, circling and nailing it secure.
The other warship did the same. Soon, after this bout of forceful, brick-flying Soviet-style repair, the warship barely regained power.
“Good, that’s done. Barring accidents, it should hold until we get back to Marineford.”
The observing soldiers and even officers—except those like Bogard who had always followed the two—were stunned to see Zephyr and Garp complete the repair as casually as handicraft work, their mouths agape.
At this point, they gained a new understanding of the Admirals’ strength and way of handling things.
And some bolder townsfolk gathered around watching the excitement had their eyes bulging out—this was far more exaggerated than the pirate brawls they usually saw.
