Kapitel 132: Chapter 132: Zephyr's Dismissal
Marine Headquarters.
Garp was having tea with Aokiji.
"Tsk tsk, that guy Kuke is really ruthless. This time he really did a number on Sakazuki," Garp said, slapping his thigh in disbelief.
He never imagined that Kuke would pull such a move.
No pirate had ever done something like this before. And even if they did, it usually didn't have much effect.
"Akainu just returned with a dark expression on his face. Kuzan, looks like you don't need to take that step anymore," Garp said, looking at Aokiji.
In his heart, he believed Aokiji was the best choice to become the next Fleet Admiral.
But he knew that it wasn't his decision to make. He also knew Aokiji's intentions.
"I fear the Five Elders won't be willing to make me the Fleet Admiral," Aokiji said with a bitter smile.
He knew his personality wasn't exactly what the Five Elders or the World Government favored.
"Doesn't matter, as long as Sakazuki doesn't become the Fleet Admiral," Aokiji said.
Aokiji wasn't after power. Competing with Akainu was more about opposing Akainu's extremist ways; he couldn't bear to see the Marines follow Akainu's harsh ideology in the future. He was willing to do whatever it took to stop that.
Now that Akainu couldn't become Fleet Admiral, Aokiji didn't feel the same desperation to fight for the position.
"A pirate becoming the key to deciding the Fleet Admiral of the Marines. Who would've thought?" Aokiji sighed.
It was something he had never imagined in his lifetime. "Even Whitebeard couldn't have had this kind of impact, right?"
"Well, Kuke did kill Sengoku, and Sakazuki has been humiliated by him several times. The Five Elders hate Kuke to the bone, and that's why they're swayed," Garp analyzed, sighing deeply. "A pirate achieving what Kuke has... truly one of a kind."
...
Meanwhile, Admiral Kizaru, who always kept a calm demeanor, had no interest in becoming the Fleet Admiral. He didn't care who took on the role. He was content with sipping tea and enjoying his laid-back life.
But suddenly, he received the news.
"Pffft!"
The tea in his mouth sprayed everywhere as he stared at his subordinate, who was now covered in tea. "Something like that actually happened?"
The subordinate silently wiped his face and replied, "It's already spread everywhere."
Kizaru's eye twitched.
"Looks like Kuke really is something else. Better not mess with him. From now on, I won't take part in any mission related to him, no matter what. I just want to quietly do my job." Kizaru made up his mind.
Even if he had to pretend to be sick, he wouldn't get involved.
If Kuke could cause Akainu to spit blood all the way in the New World, who would dare provoke him?
...
At the Marine Headquarters Training Camp.
Ever since Sengoku's death and learning that Kuke was still alive, Zephyr's expression had been grim.
The trainees in his class, including Ain, were terrified.
They were scared of their instructor, Zephyr.
"Hmm? Did Instructor Zephyr just smile?" Ain and the others noticed that Zephyr's expression seemed less frightening, almost like there was a hint of a smile.
Zephyr was giving them a lecture, but his mind was elsewhere.
Before arriving at the training camp today, he had heard that the appointment of the new Fleet Admiral would be finalized soon. With Akainu leaving early in the morning, Zephyr was certain that Akainu would be the next Fleet Admiral.
His student.
All three Admirals currently serving were Zephyr's students. That was his only remaining pride.
Among the three, he was least satisfied with Kizaru. He used to favor Aokiji the most, but now he supported Akainu.
"With Akainu's hardline approach, once he becomes Fleet Admiral, he will do whatever it takes to capture Kuke."
If Kuke could be captured, Zephyr would fully support Akainu's appointment.
"His days of peace are numbered."
At that thought, Zephyr couldn't help but smile.
Suddenly...
The classroom door was pushed open, and a tall figure blocked the doorway, casting a shadow over the entire room.
"Kong-san, what brings you here?"
Zephyr was surprised to see Kong.
He was his former superior. Back when Zephyr was an Admiral, Kong had been his boss—the Fleet Admiral.
"Zephyr," Kong said, looking at him with a pained expression.
It was all your doing.
You dismissed Kuke, and now the Marines and the World Government had suffered great losses.
Recalling the Five Elders' orders, Kong put aside their past relationship and delivered the news without room for negotiation, "Zephyr, the World Government and the Fleet Admiral have decided... you will no longer serve as the chief instructor of the training camp."
"What?"
Zephyr stared at Kong in disbelief.
He had been the chief instructor of the Marine Headquarters Training Camp for decades.
It had become his only purpose.
In his dreams, he always imagined himself growing old in the training camp, dedicating his life to nurturing the next generation of Marines.
"Why?" Zephyr demanded angrily, his eyes wide open. "What did I do wrong?"
"Zephyr, this is the decision of the World Government," Kong said with a frown.
Did he still think he wasn't at fault?
The blame for Kuke's situation lay mostly on him.
"Hahaha..." Zephyr laughed bitterly in anger.
"I've trained countless recruits for the Marines. Most of today's Admirals and Vice-Admirals were my students. I've given everything for the Marines, and now you're kicking me out? Hahaha..."
Tears welled up in Zephyr's eyes.
"Zephyr, why not enjoy retirement? Wouldn't that be better?" Kong tried to persuade him.
He didn't want to make a scene.
He wanted Zephyr to leave with some dignity.
"Ridiculous." Zephyr's face hardened, pointing at the silent trainees, including Ain. He asked, "Ask them if they need me. I'm not clinging to my position here at the training camp for the power; I want to train the next generation for the Marines. I want to do something for justice."
"Zephyr, enough." Kong's tone grew stern.
This was the order of the Five Elders.
He couldn't disobey it.
"What will happen to them without me?" Zephyr pleaded, looking at Ain and the others, his final hope. "Tell him, do you need me or not?"
The entire class of trainees.
Lowered their heads.
They remained silent.
Zephyr stared blankly at his students.
From hope to disappointment, then to utter rage.
His eyes widened, as if he had lost his soul.
Seeing this, Kong suddenly felt that it might be best for Zephyr to leave the training camp.
The students had no affection for him at all. Could a teacher like that really train good Marines?
"Zephyr, you have disappointed me," Kong sighed, his voice like a knife to Zephyr's already fragile soul.
Slumped over, Zephyr walked towards the door, broken.
His back was hunched as he approached the exit.
"Continue with your lessons. The new chief instructor will be here soon," Kong said, giving the recruits one last glance before turning to leave.
He was temporarily filling in as Fleet Admiral.
There were still many issues awaiting his attention.
Once the important figures had left, Ain and the other new recruits finally snapped out of their daze, and the classroom erupted with noise.
"Were we too harsh? After all, Instructor Zephyr was our teacher."
"But Instructor Zephyr really was scary. If we made even the slightest mistake, we'd face the strictest punishment. He always had such a grim face, scolding us."
"He kept telling us that we had to kill Kuke, that if we didn't, we weren't worthy of being his students."
"We've just joined. We just want a normal teacher to guide us."
A heartbroken Zephyr aimlessly wandered the Marine Headquarters.
He had lost the last thing that gave his life value.
He bumped into a frustrated Akainu.
The two locked eyes...
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