This time, Admiral Zephyr had left Marineford with three large Navy warships. One of them was fully staffed, while the other two carried only a skeleton crew, meant to transport newly recruited Marines back. They had traversed most of the first half of the Grand Line, but the results of their recruitment mission were discouraging.
The reason was simple: pirates were everywhere now, and far more vicious than before. Life at sea had become dangerous, making the Navy a far less appealing option for most civilians. Only those desperate or consumed by a personal vendetta against pirates would even consider the job.
Even people living in poverty tended to avoid the Navy, opting instead for the more lucrative—or at least freer—lives of pirates or bounty hunters. Both paths carried mortal risk, but pirates offered wealth far beyond the meager Navy salary, while bounty hunters received handsome rewards and the freedom to work on their own terms.
As a result, Zephyr's recruitment effort had been far from ideal. His standards were high; anyone intending to coast through life in the Navy without a shred of justice or resolve was automatically rejected. Consequently, the two underfilled ships barely had enough recruits to justify their presence, falling far short of the quotas Admiral Kong had set.
One accompanying Vice Admiral had subtly suggested lowering standards to avoid failing the mission, warning that failure would bring punishment upon them. Zephyr, however, refused to compromise, displaying an unyielding determination.
"I was ready to resign before. It was only because I was persuaded to stay that I continued to train new Marines. If the Fleet Admiral isn't satisfied, he can find someone else. I wasn't interested in this work before, so why fear punishment now? If the recruits are all lazy cowards with no sense of justice, why should I bother teaching them?"
Hearing this, the Vice Admiral sighed in frustration. He knew that bonuses and promotions for the year were likely out of reach, and that he himself would bear the brunt of any criticism. Zephyr, a full admiral and a hero of the Navy, had authority and influence; the Vice Admiral had neither.
Just as the Vice Admiral prepared to argue further, a hurried soldier came running onto the deck.
"Report, Admiral Zephyr, Vice Admiral Kadar! Red Leaf Island's port has spotted a pirate ship. Judging by the flag, it appears to be the rookie South Sea pirate crew, the Iron Arm Pirates. Their captain is Cook, a wanted pirate with a bounty of 20 million Berries from Marine Headquarters."
Zephyr and Kadar froze at the news. Though they had been navigating the first half of the Grand Line for several days, they had not yet encountered any pirate crews. The report instantly drew their attention.
The lack of encounters was not due to a scarcity of pirates; most fled at the sight of three massive Navy warships. These were not vessels that any mid-level officer could command—only admirals or similarly ranked officers could helm such ships. The pirate crews in this section of the Grand Line were mostly rookies. Seeing Zephyr's fleet, they wisely chose flight over confrontation.
Zephyr's mission was recruitment, not hunting pirates. Any engagement with pirates was symbolic: a few warning shots to discourage resistance, and only pursuing them if they posed a direct threat.
"The Iron Arm Pirates? Never heard of them, but a 20-million-Berry bounty in this part of the Grand Line makes them noteworthy. Prepare the crew for battle. Not a single pirate is to escape. Red Leaf Island is slated to become a Navy base, and the local redwood trees are an important resource. Ensure the safety of the residents at all costs."
Even as admirals, Zephyr and Kadar didn't remember every pirate with a 20-million-Berry bounty—only the exceptionally notorious stuck in memory. Yet any pirate, no matter their fame, represented a significant threat to civilians.
Receiving reports on the Iron Arm Pirates' past atrocities—massacres, cruelty, even targeting children—ignited a dangerous intensity in Zephyr. Dark memories stirred; his expression hardened with a predatory focus.
"Admiral Zephyr, the priority is to eliminate the pirates at Red Leaf Island. Please issue your orders immediately," urged Kadar, witnessing a side of Zephyr he had never seen before. Normally gentle as a mentor, Zephyr's fury was terrifying.
"Leave part of the crew to guard the ships and the new recruits. Another group will burn the pirates' vessel in the port. The rest—come with me to the island. Deliver my orders to all ships within one minute. Every second wasted could cost an innocent islander their life at the hands of these damned pirates."
With that, Zephyr, ignoring Kadar's astonished gaze, leapt from the deck, propelling himself toward Red Leaf Island using the Moonwalk technique, leading the charge himself.