Although Taro had asked Reiju to detail the contents of their cooperation,
However, Reiju finished in just a few sentences.
After listening, Taro frowned, scanning Reiju with a scrutinizing gaze before glancing at Ichiji and the other brothers.
"That's it?"
Reiju also understood what Taro was thinking and hurriedly said,
"That's all! I'm not hiding anything!"
Taro still didn't quite believe her,
"You didn't understand Blackbeard's entire plan at all, yet you dared to agree to cooperate?"
"Do you take me for a fool? Do you think I'll believe you?"
Judge, who was unconscious on the ground, moved at this moment, his face buried in the rubble.
"I indeed agreed to it without asking for the full details!"
Judge's voice sounded somewhat aged and low, faintly carrying a sob,
"300 years ago, the Germa Kingdom dominated the North Blue. If there's even a shred of hope to restore its former glory, I must seize it!"
Taro was stunned for a moment, and only then did he believe it a bit more.
Fine, another fellow driven by obsession!
This really fits the characteristics of the Pirate world!
As long as there's a bit of a 'dream', what does a little risk matter?
Abandoning wives and children, or letting ten thousand people be buried with them—they wouldn't hesitate!
They're all sick! What a damn world this is!
Taro gave a cold snort. "This afternoon, you attacked my teacher, Zephyr..."
"No, there was no attack, only forcing him back!"
Reiju interrupted Taro to explain,
"We lost over a thousand soldiers and only destroyed two pacifists; we absolutely did not harm Zephyr!"
Taro swept a cold glance over her,
"Whether Teacher Zephyr was injured, I will verify for myself later. If I find out you're lying to fool me... hmph!"
Pausing for a moment, Taro added,
"As for tonight's events, I don't need to teach you how to report them to the outside world, do I?"
Reiju pondered for a moment upon hearing this and said tentatively,
"The Germa Kingdom suffered a pirate invasion, and a Marine happened to pass by, assisting the Vinsmoke Family in annihilating the pirates?"
Quite sensible, Reiju!
"Then, what about this destroyed castle?" Taro asked with a smile at the corner of his mouth.
Reiju immediately followed up, "The pirates were extremely vicious and caused wanton destruction in the Germa Kingdom...!"
"Hahahaha!" Taro laughed out loud. "Very good, that is exactly the truth!"
As he spoke, his Internal Energy surged out, transforming into a Falcon,
"The Vinsmoke Family still has some smart people. Stay honestly in the North Blue from now on. You have no right and are not fit to set foot in other seas!"
"This is advice, and also a warning!"
With that, he soared into the sky.
After circling once in the air, Taro flew toward the southwest.
On the sea between Hien Island and the Germa Kingdom, a fleet cut through the waves, rapidly approaching.
Zephyr stood proudly at the bow, looking at the sea ahead.
The intense flash in the night sky earlier was clearly visible even from dozens of kilometers away.
However, there was no movement at all now, which was very strange!
That kind of spectacle must have been the work of a top-tier expert!
In the four seas, when has there ever been such an expert?
Zephyr was truly concerned in his heart!
"Fleet Admiral, that direction seems to be the Germa Kingdom. Could it be that those pirates got into a conflict with Germa?"
The Sergeant Major appeared behind Zephyr and voiced his guess.
Zephyr shook his head without any hesitation,
"Among those pirates, the strongest, Vasco Shot, was personally thrown into Impel Down by this old man back then. His strength hasn't reached that level!"
"What's more, that old woman and..."
As Zephyr was speaking, he suddenly looked up at the sky.
The Sergeant Major was stunned for a moment and followed his gaze.
Under the Moonlight, a black dot burst through the clouds!
The Sergeant Major's heart tightened, and he was about to call the Marine Soldiers to alert, but he heard Zephyr laugh heartily,
"This kid, he surprises this old man every time!"
Taro retracted his transformation mid-air and landed straight on the deck.
He sized up Zephyr carefully, and after confirming he wasn't injured, he revealed a smile and called out,
"Teacher Zephyr, long time no see. How is your health?"
Zephyr also had a face full of smiles,
"This old man's health is quite good. That commotion just now was caused by you, wasn't it?"
Taro stepped forward quickly, grabbed Zephyr's arm, and laughed,
"Hehe, just a small scene!"
Zephyr rolled his eyes and playfully pulled his arm away with a look of feigned disdain,
"You kid, your tone is getting bigger and bigger! This old man saw it from dozens of kilometers away, and it's still a small scene?"
How could Taro let him pull his arm away? He held on even tighter,
"Just a few minor pirates, I didn't want to waste time with them, so the commotion got a bit loud. Actually, there wasn't much of a fight!"
Zephyr's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this. "Resolved?"
Taro nodded. "Yes, resolved! Completely!"
Zephyr naturally understood what Taro meant by "completely." He fell silent for a moment, recalling that stormy evening seven years ago.
He had clutched his severed arm, looking at the corpses of the new recruits all over the ship, weeping helplessly!
"Taro, this old man is withering away, yet taking you as a student is truly the greatest fortune of my life!"
Zephyr's voice was somewhat low and sentimental.
Taro understood that Zephyr was remembering the past, and his heart was touched,
"Teacher, I should have long ago..."
Zephyr's Sea Stone right arm swung slightly, making a creaking sound, interrupting Taro's words,
"Some things took this old man almost a lifetime to realize. You're only 20, you've already done very well!"
Zephyr was talking about the shift in his attitude toward pirates throughout his life.
Taro caught the meaning in his teacher's words, and his mood became heavy as well.
He didn't know how to persuade someone with a deep obsession, nor did he know how to comfort someone whose beliefs had shattered.
For a moment, both fell silent.
"Cough, cough, cough~"
After a long while, Zephyr's suppressed emotions triggered an asthma attack, and he began to cough violently.
Taro immediately panicked. "Teacher, the medicine, where is the medicine?"
Zephyr coughed for a while longer and shook his head,
"Don't be nervous, it's an old problem!"
As he spoke, he reached into his robe and fumbled for a while, pulling out an inhaler and taking a puff to stop the coughing.
Then, he laughed out loud with delight,
"Hahahaha, come, let's go have a drink, teacher and student!"
With the pent-up frustration of many years suddenly cleared, Zephyr was in high spirits. He drank quickly, clinking glasses with Taro repeatedly.
Taro hadn't had a drink in a while either, so he naturally accepted all comers.
Although the taste of sherry wine was mellow, drinking it quickly could still make one drunk.
Before long, Taro was already feeling a bit tipsy.
He pulled his chair closer to Zephyr and spoke with a thick tongue,
"Teacher, while we're happy today, I'll tell you another piece of good news!"
Zephyr raised his glass for another toast from afar,
"What good news?"
Taro raised his glass and drained it in one gulp, chuckling,
"Teacher, I'm preparing to get engaged!"
Zephyr was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded,
"Well, you are now a Navy Grand Staff Officer, which counts as a successful career. It's time to get married. Is it with Hina...?"
Taro put down his glass and waved his hand. "No, it's not!"
"It's Vivi, Nefertari Vivi, the Princess of Alabasta!"
Zephyr's movement of tilting his head back to drink stopped, and he turned his head to look at Taro!
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