“Iire Navy, is there anyone more suitable than you?”

  Ihe Fleet Admiral’s office, Hammons William frowned, his tone exasperated as he addressed the stubborn and unruly Garp, who insisted on reending someone else.

  “Fine, let’s hear it…”

  “Bck Arm Zephyr!”

  Garp spoke without hesitation.

  “He may be a bit youhan us, but he joihe Navy Academy the same year we did. Back then, he was only fourteen, so he didn’t graduate until six years ago, at eighteen. I don’t know if he offehe instructors, but after graduation, he was sent straight to the most dangerous and intense frontli G-5.

  “Five years ago, Admiral Bck Bear saw his potential and took him on as a disciple. Sihen, his strength has improved rapidly. Not only has he mastered the Six Powers, but he’s also skilled in two types of Haki—especially Armament Haki—earning him the niame ‘Bck Arm.’

  “Though he’s currently just a Rear Admiral, his strength is undeniable. I’ll bet most Vice Admirals in Marineford wouldn’t stand a ce against him!”

  At the mention of Zephyr, Garp’s tone carried a hint of resped nostalgia.

  “Zephyr was the type who developed steadily and gradually. These past few years, he’s been growing explosively, like a dormant volo suddeing.”

  “Bck Arm Zephyr?” Hammons William furrowed his brows. “I remember him. I personally approved his promotion to Rear Admiral not long ago. They say he often cshed with instructors at the academy and graduated as a mere seaman recruit without showing any exceptional promise.

  “But it’s true that Admiral Bck Bear admired him greatly. He took Zephyr under his wing five years ago and trained him rigorously.

  “However, I’ve also heard that his personality is far too soft. He hesitates to kill pirates, even those guilty of heinous crimes. Holy, that’s pretty brainless and makes him unsuitable for su important role.”

  It wasn’t that Hammons William failed tnize Zephyr’s talent. Anyone deemed worthy by Admiral Bck Bear and given special attention was clearly exceptional. But he remained hesitant. Would Zephyr truly be able to wield the Ice-Ice Fruit effectively?

  Squandering such a powerful Logia ability would be a tremendous loss. Moreover, if Zephyr underperformed in the uping expedition against the Rocks Pirates, the fleet could be in serious danger.

  “That’s not fair, Fleet Admiral!” Garp immediately retorted. “Zephyr may not have been the most talented among us back then, but he’s defihe hardest-w and the most itted to justice!

  “He’s kied and holds firmly to his sense of justice. That doesn’t mean he’s an inflexible fool. Zephyr has ged a lot!”

  “All right, all right, just leave. I’ll think about it.”

  Hammons William waved Garp off, his patience wearing thin. The Vice Admiral’s refusal to accept the Ice-Ice Fruit and his insisten arguing for Zephyr were testing the Fleet Admiral’s limits.

  “Wait, I’m not finished. You’re judging the old Zephyr.”

  Garp didn’t leave. Instead, his expression turned serious, his voice lower and more somber.

  “Five years ago, during the explosion at Marineford, Zephyr was there. He’s one of the survivors.”

  “What?” Hammons William’s eyes narrowed, and his demeanor shifted. He hadn’t known that Zephyr had bee during that catastrophic event.

  “He wit all firsthand: tless rades and i families, their joyful lives snuffed out in an instant by that explosion. Tens of thousands of lives, gone in the blink of an eye.

  “The experience devastated him, and he fell into a deep depression for a long time. But eventually, he gathered the ce to approach Admiral Bck Bear and begged to be taken as his student.

  “From that moment on, his hatred for pirates grew immensely. His training became more intense, his dedication unwavering. While he doesn’t go out of his way to torture or seek revenge, he no longer hesitates to deal with pirates who resist.”

  Hearing this, Hammons William’s expression softened slightly.

  “Is that so?” he said with a nod of i.

  He hadn’t expected Zephyr to have such a plex personal journey. However, abandoning his overly idealistidset was undoubtedly a step in the right dire.

  “Bring him to me. I want to meet this guy in person,” Hammons William said firmly. He inteo personally evaluate Bck Arm Zephyr before deg whether to entrust him with the Logia-css Ice-Ice Fruit. The strategic importance of this Devil Fruit was immense, and such a decision could not be made lightly.

  “All right, I’ll get him right away. He should be at the training grounds!”

  Garp grinned and immediately dashed off.

  …

  Marineford Training Grounds

  “Bam… Bam…”

  Not far from Marineford Headquarters, in a spacious training field, a young, muscur figure with short purple hair was relentlessly pung a massive sandbag filled with iron sand. Despite the iy of his training, he wasn’t using Armament Haki. His arms, legs, and body were weighed down with heavy restraints.

  “Zephyr!” Garp called out as he approached, waving.

  “Garp, are you here to spar with me?”

  The rugged-looking purple-haired young man paused to wipe the sweat from his brow, turning to face Garp.

  “Hahaha! No way. Fleet Admiral William wants to see you!” Garp replied, ughing.

  “The Fleet Admiral wants to see me?” Zephyr stopped mid-punch, stunned.

  “Yeah, go now. It’s definitely good news!” Garp grabbed Zephyr by the arm and urged him to hurry.

  “Wait! Let me take this off first.”

  Zephyr sighed, unstrapping the heavy weights from his body before sprinting toward Marineford Headquarters.

  “Phew…” Garp wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled knowingly. “Zephyr, don’t bme me for this.”

  He was fully aware of Zephyr’s personality. Even if Zephyr had no desire to bee a Devil Fruit user, once Fleet Admiral William id out the significe of the Ice-Ice Fruit and its importao the Navy, Zephyr would undoubtedly set aside his personal feelings for the sake of justice.

  Refusal would simply not be an option.