After a while.
Zephyr came back to his senses and said with a bitter smile:
"Alright, you've convinced me..."
Sakazuki and Morris exchanged a smile.
Morris suddenly cleared his throat:
"Ahem."
With his arms crossed:
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Sakazuki."
"I, Zephyr, will not be convinced by you."
Zephyr was a little helpless:
"You guy..."
Sakazuki said with a laugh:
"I'll call those two back then."
As he spoke, a burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him, pressing toward the back mountain.
...
Marine Headquarters.
Enel was the first to sense the Conqueror's Haki:
"So it's settled, huh."
"Let's go, Skarn."
"To the office."
The purple-haired youth Skarn's eyes lit up:
"Really!"
Enel smirked:
"Of course, come."
"Let's see who gets there first."
Zzzzt—
In an instant, he turned into lightning and disappeared.
Skarn was a bit helpless:
"That's cheating!!"
Whoosh—
Using Soru, a purple streak swept across the ground and vanished.
...
Marine Academy, Principal's Office.
Zzzzt—
A bolt of lightning came in through the window, stopping in front of the sofa.
Enel solidified his form, fell back onto the sofa, and sat next to Sakazuki.
A few seconds later, Skarn also appeared in the office.
But he came in through the door...
Enel teased:
"You lost, Skarn."
Skarn looked helpless:
"You're too much of a cheater."
"Father, Principal Morris, Admiral Sakazuki."
Zephyr smiled and nodded. Morris also nodded and said:
"No need to be so formal, Skarn."
"Look at Enel, does he look serious at all?"
"Zephyr, you see? You should keep your kid in check."
Skarn smiled awkwardly, Zephyr snorted in defiance, but deep down, he began to reflect...
Sakazuki laughed:
"That's right, no need to be so stiff."
"Relax when it's off-duty."
"Here, eat this Devil Fruit. Your father has agreed."
"After two more years of training, you can head out to sea."
Skarn looked gratefully at Sakazuki, then turned to Zephyr.
Zephyr nodded with a smile:
"Eat."
Skarn was a little emotional:
"Yes, sir!"
Without hesitation, he picked up the fruit and ate it. Finally... he could set sail!
He swallowed most of the Devil Fruit in one bite, barely chewing, and gulped it down.
One had to admit, this child, raised under Zephyr's strict training, had unusual toughness.
Even with the infamous taste of a Devil Fruit, he barely furrowed his brows, his expression unmoved.
After forcing it down, his tense brows relaxed a little:
"Whew—"
"This taste really is..."
"Hard to swallow."
Enel looked full of admiration, his own painful memories surfacing, giving a thumbs-up—Strong!!!!
"Try out your new power."
Skarn nodded. As he focused, it felt as if it had been part of him all along.
His whole body floated into the air, moving left and right effortlessly, almost in disbelief.
It felt like even the clothes on his body could be controlled.
And if he wanted... he could move several times faster.
As Zephyr's son, having grown up hearing his father's stories, he guessed what this power was:
"This... this is!!!"
Sakazuki smiled:
"The Float-Float Fruit. Its previous user was Golden Lion."
"Also your father's old rival."
Skarn bowed deeply to Sakazuki, full of excitement:
"Thank you, Admiral Sakazuki."
Sakazuki said:
"No need for formality. Stand up."
"The people who understand Golden Lion best are his enemies—and those enemies are all here at Marine Headquarters."
"For developing your fruit powers, you can take shortcuts early on."
"Sengoku, your father, Vice Admiral Morris—all of them stationed here."
"They are among those who know Golden Lion best."
"Here at Headquarters, you can consult them anytime."
"Grow as fast as possible, and you can head out to sea."
"By then, you can apply to form an aerial fleet under your command."
"In these two years, there's a lot for you to learn."
Skarn took a deep breath and said seriously:
"Yes, sir!"
Sakazuki smiled and stood up:
"Alright, Zephyr will handle the rest of your training."
"I won't interfere."
He headed outside.
Everyone stood up. Morris said:
"Not staying a while longer?"
Sakazuki waved his hand:
"Can't sit still."
"I'll go take a stroll."
"Enel, you keep Vice Admiral Morris company."
Enel grunted in acknowledgment, and Sakazuki left.
Only after Sakazuki's figure disappeared did Skarn withdraw his gaze and turn to Zephyr.
Zephyr looked at his son, dazed, then shook his head:
"Let's go home."
...
Nighttime, Zephyr's home.
Skarn was cramming knowledge on combat command.
All materials were found by Zephyr for him, along with Zephyr's own experiences.
Though he had studied command before, it was never his main focus.
Previously, improving his own strength had been the priority. Now, there was a plan.
And with a plan came the need to study properly.
Knock, knock, knock—
A knocking sound came from the door.
Zephyr's voice came from outside:
"Dinner's ready, Skarn."
Skarn came back to his senses from the sea of books and called out:
"Coming, Father."
Downstairs, Zephyr was already seated at the table, waiting for him.
Once Skarn sat down, the two picked up their chopsticks and began eating.
Clink, clink... The sound of bowls and chopsticks echoed, but no words were spoken.
It felt like being in a military camp.
This strange father-son dynamic had gone on for twenty years.
On one hand, Zephyr's guilt toward his late wife, unable to express himself properly, so he raised his son the only way he knew how.
On the other, Skarn, losing his mother young, became extremely sensible, but since no one taught him how to connect emotionally, he simply copied Zephyr.
Father and son, yet after twenty years, more like officer and soldier.
Zephyr watched his son eat, mind drifting back to Morris and Sakazuki's words earlier. Maybe... he really had done it wrong.
Clack—
He put down his chopsticks, looking at Skarn, unsure how to speak.
Skarn noticed the unusual sound, looked up at his father who had put down his chopsticks, and asked:
"What is it, Father?"
Zephyr opened his mouth, his voice dry, asking the question he never dared before:
"Skarn... have you ever..."
"Resented me?"
Skarn froze, then suddenly smiled:
"Never, Father."
"You have always been my and Mother's pride."
"I..."
"I've always been proud."
Hearing his son's words, Zephyr couldn't hold back anymore.
His eyes welled up as he covered his face with one hand, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Tears slid from the corners of his eyes, falling onto the table.
Clink—
The sound of chopsticks hitting the bowl rang out.
Skarn placed food into Zephyr's bowl:
"Father, this is your favorite."
Zephyr lowered his hand, revealing reddened eyes, and picked up his chopsticks.
His voice trembling yet relieved:
"Alright... alright..."
He picked up the food from his bowl.
The barrier that had never truly existed... vanished.
...
Several days later.
Under the escort of the Marine patrol fleet, representatives of all nations arrived safely at the Red Line.
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
In a hall guarded by countless armored soldiers, the massive doors stood open.
Inside was a huge round table with fifty seats in a circle, the center marked with the World Government's emblem.
The representatives of various nations entered together.
This meeting, deciding the world's direction for the next four years, would last seven full days.
Each session's chair would rotate among the kings.
"Whose turn is it this time?"
"Mine."
"Kelson, huh? Then we'll count on you."
"No need to worry about long speeches."
"Hahahahaha."
King Kelson stood up and said:
"Then, fellow kings."
"Regarding the development of this beautiful world..."
"Let's discuss thoroughly once again."
Clang—
Outside the hall, the massive doors closed... sealing everything away.
Until the final results came out, no one knew what those fifty kings would discuss...
...
Mary Geoise, Hall of Authority.
The sword-wielding Elder lifted his cup, gently blowing on the steam:
"The conference has begun."
The curly-haired Elder said:
"Turbulence is coming. Let them enjoy this last moment of peace."
The tall, thin Elder said:
"After all, the world can't stay balanced forever."
"When the time comes..."
The sword-wielding Elder gazed into the distance:
"Great! Purge!"
-----------
The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg. 414 chapters in total