Zephyr looked at his two old friends, his expression blank.
"Are you two serious? By the time that brat Luffy becomes Fleet Admiral, we'll all be old… or dead. There's at least one more generation to step up before that happens."
Sengoku smirked, leaning back in his chair. "That's just you. I plan to live past a hundred."
Zephyr groaned and slammed his hand on the table. "Will you stop it, Sengoku?! Even if, hypothetically, that kid becomes Fleet Admiral, how can you guarantee he'll lead the Marines properly? That troublemaker has a history, and let's not forget his colorful subordinates."
"What's wrong with his subordinates?" Sengoku asked, genuinely puzzled. "Aside from the fact that he has a few… extra female crew members, everything seems fine to me."
Zephyr and Sengoku both turned toward Tsuru as she sighed, crossing her arms.
"You two have clearly forgotten something important," she said, her tone sharp. "Among his crew, there's not only a Shichibukai but also the daughter of Kaido, one of the Four Emperors.
"And that's not all," Tsuru added, her expression darkening. "That curly-browed kid… his identity has been uncovered. He's the prince of the Germa Kingdom, declared dead by Judge years ago."
Tsuru expected her revelation to shock them. But to her dismay, Sengoku and Zephyr's reactions were maddeningly indifferent.
Sengoku lazily flicked a piece of lint off his sleeve and replied, "Oh," in the calmest tone imaginable.
Zephyr took a slow sip of tea and, after a long pause, muttered, "Makes sense."
Tsuru's eyebrow twitched. "Are you two serious?!"
"What's the big deal?" Sengoku shrugged. "So he's a prince. Honestly, I wouldn't even be surprised if Luffy brought a Celestial Dragon onboard someday."
Zephyr nodded sagely. "Yeah. Compared to that, Boa Hancock—soon to be the ruler of a government-affiliated nation—is far more significant. And don't get me started on Kaido's daughter. What was Luffy thinking, bringing someone so dangerous onto his ship?"
Sengoku chuckled. "He's your disciple, after all, Zephyr. It's no surprise he'd do something reckless."
Zephyr's expression darkened. "Excuse me?! Don't forget, you're the one who brought Hancock into the picture! If anything, this mess is your fault!"
Sengoku slammed his hand on the desk, his voice rising. "I'm the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, Zephyr! Watch your tone!"
Zephyr stood, his voice equally loud. "Fleet Admiral or not, you're still the same fool who—"
Tsuru let out a long, exasperated sigh as the two men bickered. Taking a deep breath, she rose from her seat and strode toward the door.
"Tsuru, where are you going?" Sengoku called after her.
Tsuru paused at the doorway, turning back with a cold smile. "I'm going to call my future grandson-in-law and tell him to prepare to take your place. It's clear the Marine's future is doomed with you two idiots in charge."
With that, she left the room, slamming the door behind her.
Zephyr and Sengoku stared at the closed door, stunned.
"She's joking… right?" Zephyr murmured.
Sengoku frowned, his tone uncertain. "Maybe? Probably…?"
The two exchanged a glance before Sengoku suddenly leapt from his seat. He shoved Zephyr aside, rummaged through the papers on his desk, and snatched up the Den Den Mushi.
Luffy, who was in the middle of a heated sparring match with Kalifa and Olivia, answered the call with mild annoyance.
"Yeah?"
"Luffy!" Sengoku barked. "I order you to head to Wano immediately! You're now the Vice Admiral Base Commander of the G-66 Branch! Effective immediately!
"And remember, until I personally call you back, you're not allowed to return to Marineford! Is that clear?!"
Before Luffy could respond, Sengoku slammed the receiver down with a satisfied grin.
Zephyr, slumped on the sofa, let out a heavy sigh and pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
"When did you start smoking?" Sengoku asked, his brow furrowing. "You know you've got asthma."
Zephyr lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, coughing violently before managing to reply. "It's from that brat Luffy. Says it's some kind of special herbal blend that's good for my health. Smoking a few a day apparently helps."
Sengoku raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
Zephyr leaned back, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he stared at the ceiling. "You know… it's crazy how fast time flies. In the blink of an eye, that kid's already a Vice Admiral. When I was his age, I was still a clueless fool.
"As much as I hate to admit it… that boy might just be the future of the Marines."
For once, Sengoku didn't argue. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting to the scroll on the wall that read The Justice of the World.
"Maybe," Sengoku said quietly. "Just maybe."
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