"Hu -"
Vlad slowly let out a breath. He had a smile on his face. Although he recalled a bad past, he still smiled. That was because the man had said that it was better to smile when you were sad or confused than to cry. Although Vlad was not a person who would listen to everything, he was still good at taking good advice.
"How is it?"
The corners of Vlad's mouth curled up as he said, "So, it should be happiness right?"
"Happiness?"
Z whispered and felt a sense of comfort in his heart.
"Yes, although lhis ife is not good, but..."
Vlad was extremely certain of this place. "But he must feel that his last life is a happy one!"
Vlad was extremely sure of this. There was no doubt about it. For that man, to be able to spend his last life with his beloved son, even if he died to protect his child, even if that was the case, that man would probably feel extremely happy, right?
Vlad was very sure of this.
"I see!"
Z muttered to himself.
The past that had gradually gone away began to emerge. The memories of that bastard began to gradually become clear. The memories that had been buried deep in his heart finally couldn't be resisted.
The man called Ferdinand Snowden was an orphan. The first time Z saw him was at Marineford. He was very surprised. Why did this kid always have a bitter and deep hatred? He was just a ten-year-old kid, but he always had a murderous look.
Later he found out that the kid's family was killed by the pirates. As the descendant of the martyrs, the kid named Vlad was incorporated into the orphanage of Marineford. He didn't communicate with others and always had a solitary appearance.
The next time they met was several years later. After experiencing the ups and downs of life, Z who had lost his family began to become a Marine instructor. He wanted to nurture a hero. Snowden was his second student.
After many years, the kid had become a young man. But Z still recognized him from the crowd. His temperament had not changed at all. That year, Z was 43 years old and Snowden was 19 years old. The two men who had no family first met.
Snowden always worked hard. No one knew why this guy could only sleep for four hours a day. The rest of the time, except for eating quickly, no one knew the reason. Except Z, he knew.
Z was very clear that there was a lingering sadness in the man's heart. There was a strong hatred. Z could understand that he had similar thoughts when he faced the bodies of his family.
Snowden was not a very outstanding recruit. He was not comparable to the two monsters of last year. He was also very clear about this, but his training still did not stop, even more strict.
Finally, one day, Z punched him hard. The reason was that the man spat out a mouthful of blood in the middle of training.
Z clearly remembered that when he severely criticized the man, the man said: "I can't help it. Teacher Z, besides risking my life, what else can I do?"
At that time, the man showed an expression in front of Z for the first time. He was very confused and had no hope in his life. "What else can I do except to train hard to find pirates to take revenge?"
The man said.
Z felt cold in his heart. He knew that this kid recognized the truth. He really thought that his life was only left with the path of revenge.
So Z gave the boy a hard punch and sent him flying.
For such a bastard kid, fists are often more effective than words.
So some of the students were shocked. Snowden, who was not too outstanding, became an assistant of Teacher Z. This was not envy. The temper of soldiers was generally not good. Z was also the same. Snowden was often beaten by Z because of a small matter.
Z was not good at expressing his feelings. He just wanted to let this bastard know that the so-called fetters can not be formed after losing. The so-called relatives can not be increased after losing. Perhaps this was what Z wanted to tell him.
Time gradually passed. As the training time was running out, the two gradually became familiar. Although Snowden still had a cold face, even when he was beaten up, he gritted his teeth and refused to bow his head.
Finally, it was the day before Snowden graduated.
"Bang!"
"Hahaha! Boy, you are still too tender!"
Z punched Snowden to the ground. Looking at the young man with a bloody nose and a swollen face on the ground, he felt a little emotional.
"Teacher Z, if there is nothing else, I will go first."
Snowden silently got up, bowed to Z and turned to leave.
"Boy, you are going to graduate tomorrow."
Z sat cross-legged on the ground and suddenly said: "Is there anything you want to say to me?"
Snowden's slowly leaving figure suddenly stopped. After a long time, he finally squeezed out a sentence: "Teacher Z, take care of yourself."
"Remember, Snowden."
Z's voice was low. "Remember, don't die."
"... "
Snowden looked back in confusion.
"Don't die,"
Z said. "You have to remember that if you die, there will be people who will be sad for you."
Z's tone was very calm, but his eyes were very sincere.
"'Hu... Hu... Hu..."
These two ordinary words made Snowden's breathing quicken. His expression was no longer the poker face from before. The man was a little confused and asked, "What? Teacher Z? What are you talking about?"
"I mean, be careful, Snowden, your family is still worried about you behind your back!"
Z said.
"Family? Where did my family come from?"
Snowden's tone was very light.
"Idiot!"
A powerful punch landed on Snowden's face, directly blasting Snowden out of the dojo and heavily falling on the road.
Just as Snowden was confused, Z's low voice came from inside: "Boy, am i not considered your family?"
"... "
His gentle words were like a sharp arrow, directly piercing Snowden's heart.
Unable to control it, completely unable to control it. For some reason, the tears completely lost control and fell like rain.
"What is going on?"
Snowden was extremely confused. "Why am I crying?"
"Bastard,"
A somewhat old man walked out. The corners of his eyes were somewhat sparkling, but the corners of his mouth were smiling. "The so-called man is laughing when he wants to cry!"
---------------
Z slowly opened his eyes. The vicissitudes of life flashed in his eyes.
"Is that so?"
Z looked at Vlad who was facing him and smiled. "Looks like that bastard has become a qualified father!"
"No doubt!"
Vlad shrugged.
"Bang!"
In the next moment, the two disappeared at the same time. Then there was a fierce punch. Vlad transformed into a dragon. His right fist wrapped in thick dragon scales and Busoshoku smashed into Z's mechanical arm.
"But kid, this is not the reason why I turn a blind eye to you!"
"Same! Old man, this is not the reason why I don't beat you!"
The two people connected by the same person finally began to fight.