Chapter 141: Sinner
The surviving navy personnel finally transferred to the Sea Lion and brought over all the medical supplies from the shaky, half-destroyed remains of their warship.
There were only a few dozen navy recruits who had survived the massacre, and the massive sea lion was certainly capable of carrying them without strain. The creature's broad back provided ample space for the wounded and their equipment.
But the other naval soldiers who had lost their lives could only sink into the dark depths of the sea with their destroyed ship, their bodies becoming one with the ocean's abyss.
While the injured disciples tended to their wounds with whatever medical supplies they could salvage, Zephyr gritted his teeth and felt tears welling in his eyes. Until just a few hours ago, these young men had respectfully called him Teacher Zephyr, their voices filled with admiration and hope. They were supposed to represent the future backbone of the navy, the next generation of justice.
But now, because of the twisted ambition of a deranged pirate and his manipulative mother, they could only sink into the dark and cold depths of the sea, their bodies destined to become food for fish and sea creatures.
Pirates!! Those damned, bloodthirsty pirates!
This was the second time in his long career that Zephyr found himself seriously doubting whether his fundamental ideals were misguided.
His policy of not killing captured pirates, of treating them with a degree of mercy—was this really the correct approach? Had his compassion led to more suffering in the long run?
Zephyr felt genuinely confused and lost, his core beliefs shaken to their foundation.
"Mr. Zephyr, don't be lost in thought,"
While Zephyr was still wrestling with his dark doubts, Brett smiled casually and called out, "Where should we take you? If I remember correctly, the G-5 base is somewhere nearby in these waters."
Not only was the G-5 base located in this region—the place where Brett had first made his reputation—but Punk Hazard was also in the sea not far from their current position. However, he had no intention of visiting that particular island and asking for unnecessary trouble.
"Of course, if you feel uncomfortable staying with us for too long, I could also transport you to Prodence Kingdom. After all, it's a World Government member nation," Brett continued with an accommodating tone. "Although you showed complete indifference to the civil war taking place there, King Elizabello II probably wouldn't dare ignore you. After all, everyone across the seas knows that the navy represents the true power on the oceans."
"You bastard!"
Zephyr suddenly whirled around, his remaining eye blazing with fury at the pointed reference to his failure to intervene in the recent conflict.
Of course he knew about the devastating wars between several kingdoms in this sea region recently. The reports had crossed his desk multiple times.
However, according to strict naval protocol, in conflicts between World Government member nations, the navy could not intervene without explicit government authorization and orders.
"Hey, hey, Mr. Zephyr, is this really the proper way to look at your benefactor?" Tesoro interjected with his own mocking smile, clearly enjoying the tension.
"Make your decision quickly, Mr. Zephyr," Brett gestured toward the navy soldiers, most of whom were seriously wounded and pale from blood loss. "Their injuries cannot afford any delays in receiving proper medical treatment."
Zephyr really should express gratitude toward Brett for his intervention, despite his personal feelings.
After all, in the original timeline, only two members of this entire group would have survived Weibull's massacre, a tragedy that nearly drove Zephyr to complete mental collapse and abandonment of his principles.
Brett pretended not to pay special attention as he glanced briefly at one particular girl among the navy recruits.
Her mid-length, wavy sea-blue hair was spread loosely around her shoulders. She was covering a roughly bandaged wound on her left arm with her other hand, and there was still a haunted look of panic and trauma on her young face.
This was one of the two recruits who would ultimately survive in the original timeline, and this girl possessed truly extraordinary abilities that would manifest in time.
The power to manipulate temporal flow—the ability to make objects revert to their previous states by reversing time itself.
Brett wondered if she had already consumed her Devil Fruit, or if her powers remained dormant.
Brett observed her for only a brief moment before returning his attention to Zephyr, not wanting to draw suspicion.
"..."
Zephyr remained silent for several long seconds, clearly wrestling with conflicting emotions.
No matter what his personal feelings toward Brett might be, it was an undeniable fact that this fish-man had saved their lives when death seemed certain.
"Take us to G-5 base," Zephyr finally spoke, his voice heavy with reluctant acceptance.
Prodence Kingdom was significantly closer to their current position and would require much less travel time.
But the idea of a former Marine Headquarters Admiral appearing before a World Government member nation in such a battered, humiliated condition—what dignity would the Navy have left after such a display of weakness?
It would be far better to retreat to their own military installation.
"Understood."
Brett immediately directed the sea lion to change course, the massive creature responding to his mental commands.
Although they hadn't brought the fleet for safety reasons, Brett had ensured they carried proper navigation equipment—both the Log Pose and detailed charts—so there was no concern about finding the correct direction through the Grand Line's chaotic magnetic fields.
The sea lion moved forward through the choppy waters with smooth, powerful strokes, carrying its passengers toward their destination. On its back, only the sounds of quiet conversation between Tesoro and Brett broke the otherwise tense silence.
"It's really unfortunate that we didn't film what just happened," Tesoro complained with genuine regret. "That incredible display of power would have made for amazing footage if we could have included it in the movie!"
Although there were various special effects techniques available in this world that could simulate such spectacular combat, authentic footage of real battles was always far more impactful and convincing.
"Don't be ridiculous," Brett replied without turning around, maintaining his relaxed smile as he gazed out over the ocean. "Why would the World Government ever allow you to broadcast footage showing the navy in such a humiliated state?"
When Tesoro thought about it more carefully, he realized this was absolutely correct. If the government decided to block or censor the film, all his carefully crafted work would be unable to reach theaters and audiences.
"You're feeling quite proud, aren't you, Fish-man Brett!"
Seemingly provoked by Brett's casual words, Zephyr spoke from behind them in a low, bitter whisper. "The navy that once made you live in constant fear has lost face in front of you, and now even requires your assistance to survive!"
Brett couldn't help but chuckle at the accusation.
Tesoro burst into outright laughter at Zephyr's misdirected anger.
This was clearly rage that had nowhere else to go, desperately seeking an outlet for frustration.
Brett turned around to face the wounded admiral directly. "Living in constant fear? Have you fundamentally misunderstood something, Mr. Zephyr? While it's true that I was once classified as a pirate, ever since Brother Jinbei received his official pardon from the World Government, why exactly should I still fear the navy?"
Zephyr gritted his teeth in frustration, annoyed that Brett still refused to acknowledge his alleged crimes.
"On the contrary, it's you who disappoints me," Brett continued with an exaggerated sigh. "I never imagined that the legendary Black Arm Zephyr was such a petty and ungrateful person, capable of speaking so rudely to someone who just saved his life."
Tesoro laughed even harder at this verbal exchange.
This was absolutely refreshing to witness.
For him personally, the navy represented nothing more than the primary enforcers and lapdogs of the World Nobles he despised.
Zephyr's expression grew even colder. "How could I possibly thank a criminal? Fish-man Brett, it's already tremendous mercy that I'm not attempting to arrest you immediately."
"No need for mercy, no need for any restraint," Tesoro said, clearly relishing the chaos as he patted Brett on the shoulder encouragingly. "Just pretend that act of kindness never happened. Go ahead and arrest this guy right now, Zephyr, and throw him in prison where you think he belongs."
Brett shot his companion a sideways glare of mild annoyance.
"..."
Zephyr gritted his teeth in helpless fury.
Of course he wanted to make that arrest, but the political reality made it impossible.
The World Government was actively protecting this individual through official channels.
"A criminal?" Brett sighed deeply, as if genuinely hurt by the accusation. "Not only now, but even in the past, I have never once considered myself a criminal in any sense."
"If pirates aren't criminals, then why doesn't Fish-man Island open its borders to welcome them with open arms?" Zephyr sneered, attempting to expose what he saw as Brett's obvious double standards and hypocrisy.
"Pirates have never been a unified group with shared goals or methods," Brett replied, glancing at Zephyr with a more serious expression. "After all, let me ask you this—why exactly did I go to sea with Brother Tiger and become classified as a pirate in the first place?"
"Was it because Brother Tiger had committed some terrible crime that deserved punishment?"
Tesoro's laughter died away and his expression became solemn as he recognized where this conversation was heading.
"Mr. Zephyr, please tell me," Brett continued with growing intensity, "what crime did Brother Tiger actually commit?"
"He simply rescued slaves who were being systematically abused by the Celestial Dragons and set them free. What kind of crime is that supposed to be? Liberating the oppressed and saving innocent lives—what sort of criminal act does that represent? Preventing the World Nobles from continuing to abuse human beings as property—what is criminal about that?"
Zephyr opened his mouth but found himself with nothing to say in response.
As a former Marine Admiral, he had visited MaryGeoise countless times over the years, so he certainly knew exactly what the Celestial Dragons were like and how they treated their slaves.
"But for such a completely absurd reason, we were forced to abandon our homes and accept relentless pursuit by your navy across the seas," Brett asked in a deeper, more challenging voice. "Yet even during all those years when we were classified as pirates, you couldn't possibly have been unaware of our activities, could you? As a senior naval officer, you must have known—have we ever harmed any innocent person?"
Brother Tiger had strictly forbidden his compatriots from killing anyone, even when facing genuinely hostile pirates or corrupt marines.
He had been a true idealist who refused to abandon his principles even under extreme pressure.
Zephyr found himself completely speechless, unable to formulate any counter-argument.
The Sun Pirates were indeed a completely unique pirate crew, unlike any other criminal organization on the seas.
"Mr. Zephyr, we were never guilty of anything in the first place, so how exactly can we be considered criminals?" Brett asked with a knowing half-smile. "Who are the real guilty parties in this situation?"
Zephyr suddenly felt a chill of horror run down his spine, and he responded angrily, "You're lying! The deaths of naval officers at your hands represents a crime that you can never erase, no matter what justifications you offer!"
" I don't know anything about killing any marines" Brett replied with that same enigmatic smile. "But it doesn't really matter at this point."
It would be unrealistic to expect to shake Zephyr's decades of ingrained beliefs with just a few pointed questions.
"Anyway, Mr. Zephyr, just wait patiently," Brett concluded. "Sooner or later, you will come to understand who the real sinners are in this world."
Zephyr stopped speaking and simply stared at Brett with cold, suspicious eyes, but said nothing more.