New World, deserted island.
In front of the Japanese-style manor, an open clearing had been carved out of the tropical rainforest.
A bonfire crackled in the center, roasting a half-man-tall fish that slowly turned over the flames.
Freshly picked fruit lay scattered across the ground around it.
"Do you think Darren can really find the right doctor for Zephyr-sensei?"
Dalmatian sat on a rock, turning the spit in his hands. His unshaven face couldn't hide the worry etched between his brows.
"If even he can't find one, I doubt there's anyone left on this sea who could," Yamakaji said.
Leaning against a tree with a lit cigar between his fingers, his tired eyes were veined with red.
"For all his posturing and pretending to be cool, Darren believes in and respects Zephyr-sensei more than anyone."
"Even if he has to turn the whole world upside down, he won't let anything happen to him."
Not far away, Tokikake took a deep drag on his cigarette and growled through clenched teeth:
"Well, if something really does happen to Zephyr-sensei, I'll never forgive that bastard Darren."
Everyone's mouths twitched.
None of them had the heart to point out he couldn't beat Darren anyway.
"So what exactly are you going to do to me?"
A deep voice cut in out of nowhere.
Tokikake's face went dark.
The others froze, then turned in unison.
From the dense greenery of the rainforest, a tall, broad-shouldered figure stepped out, walking toward the clearing. Floating behind him, a strange metal box hovered in the air, following like a shadow.
"Darren!"
"You're back!"
"How's Zephyr-sensei?!"
"Did you find a doctor?"
"..."
Yamakaji and the others dropped what they were doing one after another, voices overlapping in surprise.
"Relax. Zephyr-sensei's out of danger," Darren said with a smile. "From here on, he just needs rest. He'll be back to bouncing around soon enough."
He flicked his hand.
Behind him, the metal box slowly unfolded, revealing Zephyr inside.
"Damn it! Darren, you little brat! Didn't I tell you I was fine?!"
The moment the restraints released, Zephyr started cursing, glaring daggers at Darren.
"It's not like you're the only one who can fly! I'm a Devil Fruit user now too!"
Darren rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, and I'm the one who gave you that Float-Float Fruit, remember?"
"Besides, any Devil Fruit takes stamina to use. Dr. Crocus specifically told me you needed more rest if you want to recover faster."
Seeing Zephyr's usual bad temper back in full force, everyone finally exhaled. The stone that had been weighing on their hearts for days quietly dropped away.
"Take Zephyr-sensei inside to rest."
Without the slightest shame, Darren reached into Tokikake's pocket, snatched a crumpled pack of cigarettes, and issued his instructions.
Yamakaji and the others moved at once, hurrying forward to support Zephyr and guide him into the manor.
With Zephyr safely returned, their moods lifted at once. The oppressive tension eased, and the atmosphere grew lighter.
Night fell.
The bonfire burned hotter and brighter.
They clustered around the flames, eating roasted meat, passing wine, and talking freely.
"Hahahaha, so it's all true, Darren… you really fought the Gorosei?"
Dalmatian's eyes shone with barely contained curiosity as he held his cup, staring at Darren.
The Gorosei—the World Government's highest authority. Even to these hardened mid-to-high-ranking Marines, they were distant, untouchable figures.
Most of them had never even seen the Gorosei's faces.
And now, someone their own age, a peer who'd risen through the Marines alongside them, was rumored to have "torn the Gorosei apart with his bare hands."
They'd already been burning with curiosity over the newspaper reports. Now that they knew Zephyr-sensei was safe, their restraint collapsed. They crowded in around Darren, peppering him with questions.
The former Marine Vice Admiral smiled faintly and took a light sip of wine. In the flickering firelight, his sharply cut features alternated between light and shadow, and his eyes seemed deep and unreadable.
"Here's how it went," he said quietly. "It all started on Felsek Island…"
As Darren calmly recounted everything,
gasps of shock, roars of anger, shivers of fear, and cries of disbelief rippled through the circle around the fire.
"...Anyway, that's how it ended," Darren concluded. "I declared the North Blue independent, cut it out of the World Government's system of member nations. That's the limit of what I can do."
His gaze was steady, his tone light.
"And I went from a Marine to the most infamous criminal in the world."
When he finished, Yamakaji and the others were left speechless.
In every one of their eyes burned a shock they couldn't begin to put into words.
Until now, they'd thought that what they had done—mustering every ounce of courage they possessed to stand up, hold fast to their own justice, defy the World Government's orders, and fight CP agents—was already an earthshaking act.
They'd believed that was the limit of what they could endure.
Compared to what Darren had gone through—the sheer scale of the pressure and danger he'd faced—their own struggle suddenly felt pitifully small.
"You did well, Darren."
A hoarse, low voice sounded suddenly.
They all jerked their heads toward it.
"Zephyr-sensei?"
"You're up?"
"You should be resting…"
"..."
Zephyr's steps were clearly unsteady, but he waved a dismissive hand, signaling that he was fine.
"I've been lying down long enough. Time to move around a bit."
He brushed off Gion's attempt to help him and strode over to the fire, dropping down in a casual seat.
"I figured you'd tear into me," Darren said with a crooked smile, tossing him a bottle of beer.
Zephyr caught it, twisted the cap off, took a sip, and slowly shook his head.
"You brat never did like listening to my lectures, did you?" he said. "You were like that the day you walked into the academy."
"And this time… you didn't do anything wrong."
"Darren, you're a lot braver than I am."
The firelight flickered as Zephyr smiled, open and honest.
But in the others' eyes, whether from his injuries or something else, there was a faint loneliness in his face that they couldn't ignore.
Silence descended. Their expressions darkened with quiet grief.
After everything that had happened, they all knew the truth behind what had occurred years ago at Marineford—the tragedy of Zephyr-sensei's wife and child.
None of them could truly imagine how this stubborn, iron-willed old man had survived all those years.
"No."
Darren's voice cut through the silence.
Everyone stared at him, startled.
Under their gazes, Darren's expression turned serious.
"I've never thought what I did was bravery, Zephyr-sensei."
"Anyone can work up the nerve to smash the jar once it's already broken."
"Real courage is seeing how cruel the world truly is… and still gritting your teeth and holding on to your convictions. Continuing forward for the sake of a higher ideal…"
"That's what makes a true hero."
"Zephyr-sensei, I think there's something I've owed you for a long time now."
He lifted his bottle high.
"Thank you for your guidance."
To be continued...