Capítulo 119: Chapter 119: Zephyr's Persuasion
Lin Yan watched Kuzan intently, his interest clearly piqued. There was no denying it—this man was growing more intriguing by the moment. Kuzan not only possessed formidable strength but also a nearly unshakable will, the hallmark of a true warrior. Despite Lin Yan playing the Ohara card, Kuzan remained unswayed. But wasn't that what made it all the more interesting? As Lin Yan had previously mentioned, his ship had no place for the weak or the indecisive. Now, with Kuzan in a state of confusion, if he could bring him under his command, it would be a tremendous asset, both for himself and the Whitebeard Pirates.
With that thought, Lin Yan's demeanor turned earnest. His eyes fixed intently on Kuzan, revealing a deep admiration for the man's potential.
Kuzan, however, remained unmoved. Though Lin Yan's words had clearly made an impact, Kuzan, who had just left the Navy, was not about to make a hasty decision. Unless the man before him could show him something truly compelling, Kuzan would never agree!
"Let me think about it," Kuzan's response was nonchalant as he cast a fleeting glance at Lin Yan, then turned his attention to Zephyr. "Teacher Zephyr, it's been a while, hasn't it?" Kuzan's gaze softened as he looked at Zephyr, a mix of emotions clouding his expression. Zephyr was his mentor, yet also a traitor to the Navy—a man who had now joined the Whitebeard Pirates, standing completely opposed to the Navy. Although Kuzan knew the reasons behind Zephyr's choices, facing his mentor now brought forth a complex mixture of feelings.
"Yes, it's been a long time, Kuzan." Zephyr sighed as he looked at his former student. The once-close bond between teacher and student had now turned into something far more complicated. Who would have thought that when they met again, one would be a pirate and the other a former admiral? They had once been the Navy's most loyal soldiers. Fate certainly had a strange way of playing out. Their gazes locked, heavy with unspoken emotions, and a silence fell between them.
Finally, Zephyr broke the silence. "Kuzan, even though I'm no longer your teacher, there's something I need to say." Zephyr's voice was calm, but his words carried weight. "Lin is someone worth following. Take a good look; this might be the most important decision of your life." Zephyr's tone was serious, his words spoken with the utmost sincerity.
"Teacher Zephyr, are you serious?" Kuzan was visibly taken aback by Zephyr's declaration, a hint of surprise flickering across his usually composed face. He could hardly believe it. That this legendary figure of the Navy would speak so highly of Lin Yan was something he hadn't expected. For a moment, Kuzan was stunned. But Zephyr offered no further explanation. He was immensely grateful for his decision to follow Lin Yan and wanted Kuzan to see what he had come to understand. Otherwise, Zephyr would never have tried to persuade Kuzan like this.
Kuzan understood this as well. His brow furrowed as he hesitated for a moment, then looked seriously at Lin Yan for the first time. "I stand by what I said. Unless you can prove that you can lead me to what I seek, I won't follow you." Kuzan's voice was firm. For him, this was already a significant concession. Even with his former teacher's persuasion, he still couldn't see himself joining the Whitebeard Pirates.
"That's fair. A reasonable deal, isn't it?" Lin Yan wasn't surprised by Kuzan's stance; he simply smiled and nodded. If it were easy to recruit someone of Kuzan's caliber, it would have been surprising. But then, Lin Yan's tone shifted. "That being said, you still need to give me a way to prove it, don't you? We both know you're not someone who can be swayed by mere words, Kuzan." Lin Yan chuckled and shrugged. Like Zephyr beside him, Kuzan wasn't someone who could be convinced with words alone. He needed to see action!
"You're right." Kuzan agreed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Then, to Lin Yan's surprise, he mimicked his shrug. "But sorry, even I don't know what you could do to convince me." It sounded like a joke, but Kuzan's serious expression and tone made it clear he wasn't joking. Having just left the Navy and uncertain about his future, Kuzan was still in a state of confusion. How could he possibly suggest a way for Lin Yan to win him over? Lin Yan understood this too.
"What a troublesome guy..." Lin Yan sighed, looking at the serious Kuzan. "The feeling is mutual." Kuzan laughed. Though no further words were exchanged, the atmosphere between the three noticeably relaxed after Kuzan's remark. Even Zephyr couldn't help but smile.
...
Holy Land, Mariejois.
"Sakazuki, from today, you are the Fleet Admiral of the Navy, representing the World Government. We formally bestow this authority upon you." "Yes!" Akainu knelt on one knee as one of the Five Elders placed the ceremonial sword on his shoulder. His face radiated fervor. After half a month, the coronation ceremony of the new Fleet Admiral finally came to an end. In this time, Akainu had successfully silenced all opposition and consolidated his power within the Navy. Now, he had the official endorsement of the Five Elders. From this moment on, he was the true Fleet Admiral!
Though recent events, including his crackdown and Kuzan's departure, had caused unrest within the Navy, Akainu couldn't care less. He would crush all opposition with an iron fist! Reputation was of no concern to him. As long as he had the power to enforce justice, nothing else mattered!
With trembling hands, he accepted the token symbolizing his new position, his face alight with excitement. "I, Sakazuki, will serve with all my might, until death!"
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