Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The Naval Academy at Marine Headquarters was famed as the cradle of admirals. Its then-chief instructor, a retired admiral known as the Black Arm, Zephyr, had trained generations of exceptional officers, including Sakaski, Borsalino, and Kuzan—names now etched in the annals of the Navy.
On this day, however, Chief Instructor Zephyr faced a different kind of challenge: a headache courtesy of an old friend.
"Hahaha!" Garp's booming laughter echoed through the office.
"Zephyr, this kid's your responsibility!"
"The Roger Pirates have entered the New World, and I don't have time to babysit him, so I'm leaving him in your hands."
With a grin, Garp held out a small packet of tea. "Here—this is new tea from the East China Sea. Go make some and try it with the senbei!"
Zephyr, pen in hand, glanced up from his training plan. The door burst open without warning, and there stood Garp, casually leading a red-haired boy by the shoulder. One hand held the boy firmly; the other clutched the tea.
Zephyr's gaze fell on the small packet. "How am I supposed to have senbei lying around? I'm not a child," he muttered, putting down his pen and folding his arms, a faint smile Pulling at the corners of his mouth.
Then he noticed the boy.
"Huh?!"
Garp handed the tea to the boy and casually pulled a handful of senbei from his pocket, Flinging them into his mouth.
The boy, of course, was Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
After being knocked unconscious by Garp on Ryugin Island, Yoriichi had become, in Garp's words, a "trophy." Upon awakening, he had been taken aboard Garp's ship and whisked away from Ryugin Island.
Through his officers' observations and the boy's appearance, Garp quickly deduced Yoriichi's story: a gifted youth, Stuck in the wild from childhood, who unleashed extraordinary power upon witnessing pirate Cruelties.
Garp had overlooked Strangeness like Yoriichi's exquisite swordsmanship and finely crafted blade. In the vast world of the sea, such talent was rare, but not unknown.
What mattered most: Yoriichi had single-handedly Destroyed a pirate crew with a bounty totaling 11 million berries. In the Navy-controlled East China Sea, before the Age of Exploration led by Roger, few pirate groups commanded such a sum. That day, half the sky had burned red with flames as the boy charged through the pirates with the Grandeur of a Shura warrior—an indelible image etched into Garp's memory.
Moreover, Yoriichi showed no objection to joining the Navy—and had taken Garp's Groundless knockout in stride. In comparison to the benefits Garp could offer, a minor injustice was Minor.
The tea was placed into Yoriichi's hands. He glanced at Garp, then at Zephyr, silently noting the unspoken rules.
Zephyr observed him carefully. "There's boiling water," he said with a smile, pointing to the tea table. Yoriichi, carrying the tray, approached, examining everything in the room with measured eyes.
"And this is the kid from the East China Sea?" Zephyr asked Garp.
The Ryugin Island incident had shaken the Navy: an entire branch wiped out. The official report gave the pirate crew a mere 11 million bounty—not reflecting their true danger. A timely update would have easily exceeded 100 million. Few high-ranking officers knew the truth: the red-haired boy was the one responsible. Zephyr was among them, having spoken with Admiral Sora the night before.
"Ah! That's him. Yoriichi Tsugikuni," Garp said, introducing the boy with a casual wave.
Yoriichi placed two cups of tea on Zephyr's desk, straightened, and bowed. "Hello, Zephyr-sensei. My name is Tsugikuni Yoriichi. I look forward to your guidance."
Now dressed in a standard Marine uniform, his long sword at his waist, Yoriichi's flame-patterned face marked him as no ordinary cadet.
Zephyr took a sip of tea, Reflective. Garp, noticing Yoriichi's hesitation, nudged him. "Hey, kid, speak louder! You can't fly a warship so quietly!"
Yoriichi blinked, then straightened. "Hello, Mr. Zephyr. My name is Tsugikuni Yoriichi," he repeated, voice clear and confident.
Zephyr finally nodded, having made his decision. "From today on, you are my disciple," he said, voice steady. "You officially join the Navy."
"I do not care what you've done before or what you have experienced. From this moment, you are under my guidance. Your goal is to become an outstanding naval officer."
Zephyr studied the boy closely. "How old are you?"
"About thirteen," Yoriichi answered, vaguely aware of his own age.
Zephyr smiled. "Too young for the Naval Academy. Its trainees are mature elites drawn from across the four seas. Our Navy does not send children your age to war."
Yoriichi's eyes widened, surprised that his youth alone barred him from joining the Academy. He had gauged the strength of some officers during his time at Marine Headquarters and considered himself superior in skill. Yet Zephyr's words reminded him that even talent has limits.
"Do not make that expression," Zephyr continued. "No matter how strong you are, you are a child. Until adulthood, you will remain by my side. I will train you personally."
"From today, you are my disciple, Yoriichi."
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(End of Chapter )