"I never expected that the Flame Emperor would recruit an old guy like me," Zephyr remarked, his tone a mix of incredulity and wry amusement. "Using the legendary Turtle Fruit - Phantom Beast Species - Black Turtle Form, rumored to rejuvenate the elderly, as a bargaining chip is certainly generous, but..."
Zephyr paused, his gaze piercing as he looked directly at Ace. "Did you misunderstand something? I left the Marines not to seek revenge on the World Government that recruited my archenemy into the Shichibukai. Instead, our goal is to establish a new Marine, using the Dyna-Stones to eradicate the entire New World and bring an end to the era of the great pirates."
He chuckled softly. "Even if you somehow got wind of this through your conversation with that brat Kuzan, why would you naively extend such an invitation to me? Do you truly believe your charisma and shared ideals alone are enough to sway people? My fate may have led me here, but it doesn't mean I'll follow you blindly."
Zephyr's expression turned serious. "There are few in this sea who can call Kuzan 'kid,' but I am one of them. While Garp's influence on Kuzan's growth and journey to becoming a pinnacle figure in this sea is undeniable, it was I who guided him towards the path of righteous Marine duty."
He sighed heavily, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "But Kuzan's trajectory has since diverged from my expectations. First, the Buster Call and the Ohara incident fractured his sense of justice, transforming it into what he now calls 'lazy justice.' Now, he has abandoned the Marines altogether to join Emperor Ace, leader of the strongest pirate fleet in the sea."
Zephyr's gaze hardened. "And he has done so without hesitation, showing no mercy even to his former comrades like Smoker."
He shook his head slightly, a touch of sadness in his eyes. "If Ace had not ordered their survival but demanded Kuzan to eliminate them, I have no doubt he would have extinguished them under the might of his Frozen Fruit abilities."
"I don't know what method this flame Brat used to drive Kuzan to such desperation and join his pirate fleet, but do you think a mere offer of the Turtle Fruit - Phantom Beast Species - Black Turtle Form and my hatred against the World Government can sway me? Is this young man's arrogance boundless?" Zephyr thought grimly
He leveled a steady gaze at Ace. "You've never known failure on your perfect journey, even securing grand victories like the Entei incident. But with Kuzan, Gion, and others by your side, has your perspective changed? Do you believe this is a dream world where all your desires materialize? Not everything bends to your will in this world, Ace."
Zephyr's lips quirked in a small smile. "So, what's your next move? Will you use your invincible strength to eliminate me, as pirates typically do?"
Ain, standing nearby, mirrored Zephyr's tension, prepared for whatever deadly consequences this refusal might bring.
"Well, everything's settled then. Let's prepare for the banquet!" Ace declared cheerfully, his demeanor unaffected by Zephyr's stunned expression.
He turned to Laki and the others with a warm smile. "Welcome, Gion, to our crew. We're going to have a great time!"
With a snap of his fingers, the girls enthusiastically responded, their smiles bright and eager. Laki immediately set about gathering ingredients and wine, disappearing into the kitchen, while the others began tidying up the area.
Ace chuckled as he raised his glass in a toast with Rayleigh. "Hey, Z, join us for a drink! Banquets are all about fun, right? And you've got to try the wine brewed by my world's number one chef."
He looked at Zephyr with a playful glint in his eye, seemingly oblivious to any tension or disbelief in the air.
Zephyr felt a twitch in his face. What was happening here?
He couldn't help but recall how he had mocked this man just moments ago, only to be met with an invitation to a banquet. Despite stepping back from the frontlines, Zephyr knew well the reputation of this young man who, even as a pirate, was hailed as a legend.
Since setting sail, Ace's crew had faced no defeats or casualties—an unparalleled record in the sea. They had taken down Shichibukai, toppled Enies Lobby and CP9, Publicly Executed Celestial Dragons, challenged Naval Headquarters, and defied the World Government time and again.
The Enies Lobby incident, especially, showcased Ace's audacity when CP9 attempted to capture Nico Robin. In response, Ace brought down the full wrath of his crew, annihilating Enies Lobby and leaving CP9 and the Buster call in ruins—a display of dominance that resonated throughout the seas.
Facing such a relentlessly domineering figure, Zephyr couldn't fathom why Ace would brush off his rejection and ridicule so casually, only to extend an invitation to a banquet. Was the world truly upside down?
"Well, Z, where did you hear about Ace's character? Certainly not from Marine or World Government newspapers, right?" Rayleigh quipped, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he watched Zephyr's almost twitching face.
"And really, do you think too highly of yourself? Ace currently commands nine individuals at or above the level of Admiral of Headquarters. You're an old retiree who's lost an arm. Can Ace really be recruiting you for your skills? And using that precious Turtle Fruit - Phantom Beast Species - Black Turtle Form as bait?"
After a few more glasses of wine, Rayleigh chuckled and continued, teasingly, "Besides... do you really think you deserve it?"
Zephyr's face turned nearly green at Rayleigh's words. It was a blunt reminder that, among the Entei Pirates' crew, except for the musician and the mascot, the other members seemed more formidable than him.
How had this happened? During the Entei Incident, these cadres' strength hadn't been nearly this impressive.
Zephyr and Ain exchanged glances, cold sweat forming on their foreheads. Nine people under Ace's command with Admiral-level combat power? Even after the Entei incident, both Naval Headquarters and the World Government had assessed the combat power of the current strongest pirate group. Besides Ace, three others possessed combat power surpassing that of an Admiral: 'Dark King' Silver Rayleigh, 'Dark Ranger' Fujitora, and 'Little Thief Cat' Nami. Now with Kuzan and Momousagi joining, that number grew to five.
Seeing Zephyr's curiosity, Rayleigh elaborated, "Let me introduce them to you. Vivi, Laki, Hancock, and Kaya—all of them are now Admiral-level combatants. And Nami's combat prowess now surpasses that of Kuzan and me; she's the strongest combatant under Ace."
Zephyr's shock was palpable. "Stronger than Aokiji... Kuzan? Are you kidding?" Ain interjected, incredulously.
Nami, who was preparing for the banquet, turned her head sharply, her eyes crackling with purple-black lightning. The intensity of her presence, coupled with her Thunder Fruit powers and Conqueror's Haki, caused even Zephyr to falter.
"That's right, the combined power of the Thunder Fruit and Conqueror's Haki—it's truly formidable," Rayleigh affirmed with a knowing smile.
Zephyr sat back, reflecting on the terrifying combat power displayed by the Entei Pirates' crew. It was clear that if Naval Headquarters faced them today, they would be decimated. Perhaps Ace had no real need for someone like him, yet he had used the precious Turtle Fruit to entice him.
"Because you're Kuzan's teacher," Ace explained simply.
"What?!" Zephyr was taken aback.
"Of course, Kuzan would kill you on my orders, but that doesn't mean he has no heart or feelings. Your death would affect him," Ace continued, his tone firm yet understanding. "Kuzan is my subordinate."
Zephyr was momentarily silenced. "But I can't let you roam free, intent on finding explosive rocks to destroy the New World. If you won't join us, my Princess Mononoke here will have to confine you," Ace added, gesturing towards Perona.
"What?! Who's your Princess Mononoke?" Perona blushed, flustered.
Gion looked at Ace, her gaze softening as she bit her red lips.
"Although I've seen Ace like this many times in the past few days with the Entei Pirates, every time I see him, I can't help but admire his ultimate charisma," she thought to herself. "He's worthy of the loyalty that Kuzan and even Fujitora show him, swearing to follow him to the end."
Rayleigh's smile grew more intense at the corner of his mouth.
"Ace's charisma seems even stronger than yours, Roger," he mused quietly, observing the scene unfold.
Zephyr's expression became increasingly complicated as he processed the contrast between Ace's genuine care for his subordinates and the way the World Government treated him—a veteran who had dedicated his life to training Marines for the future. It was ironic to him that the pirate who had killed his students were now Navy allies as Shichibukai.
Lowering his head for a moment, Zephyr couldn't hide his conflicted emotions. Then, without a word, he stood up and walked towards Ace.
Ain watched Zephyr with concern, but Zephyr abruptly broke the tension by downing a glass of wine in one go and bursting into laughter.
"Cheers to happiness, whether I join your pirate crew or not!" Zephyr exclaimed jovially, trying to dispel the weight of his thoughts on accepting Ace's Offer.
Ace chuckled and patted Zephyr on the shoulder, encouraging him to drink more. The mood lightened further as Ace's Conqueror's Haki seemed to playfully envelop Ain, who reacted with surprise after drinking a glass of strong wine.
"Haha, what control of Conqueror's Haki! Truly deserving of being the most Haki-endowed man in this sea," Zephyr remarked, amused.
As the night wore on, glasses of wine continued to flow freely, and the atmosphere of the banquet grew increasingly lively. Despite the complexities of their pasts and allegiances, they found camaraderie in this moment of celebration.
"Cheers!" Ace raised his glass enthusiastically.
"Cheers!" Gion echoed with a warm smile, feeling a sense of belonging among these unconventional companions.
"Cheers!" Everyone joined in, lifting their glasses in unison.
The banquet to welcome Gion lasted for several days, a testament to the bonds forged amidst the chaos of the seas and the unity found in shared aspirations and respect.