"In the entire Navy, is there anyone more suitable than you?"
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Hammons William frowned, his tone exasperated as he addressed the stubborn and unruly Garp, who insisted on recommending someone else.
"Fine, let's hear it…"
"Black Arm Zephyr!"
Garp spoke without hesitation.
"He may be a bit younger than us, but he joined the Navy Academy the same year we did. Back then, he was only fourteen, so he didn't graduate until six years ago, at eighteen. I don't know if he offended the instructors, but after graduation, he was sent straight to the most dangerous and intense frontline at G-5.
"Five years ago, Admiral Black Bear saw his potential and took him on as a disciple. Since then, his strength has improved rapidly. Not only has he mastered the Six Powers, but he's also skilled in two types of Haki—especially Armament Haki—earning him the nickname 'Black Arm.'
"Though he's currently just a Rear Admiral, his strength is undeniable. I'll bet most Vice Admirals in Marineford wouldn't stand a chance against him!"
At the mention of Zephyr, Garp's tone carried a hint of respect and nostalgia.
"Zephyr was the type who developed steadily and gradually. These past few years, he's been growing explosively, like a dormant volcano suddenly erupting."
"Black Arm Zephyr?" Hammons William furrowed his brows. "I remember him. I personally approved his promotion to Rear Admiral not long ago. They say he often clashed with instructors at the academy and graduated as a mere seaman recruit without showing any exceptional promise.
"But it's true that Admiral Black Bear admired him greatly. He took Zephyr under his wing five years ago and trained him rigorously.
"However, I've also heard that his personality is far too soft. He hesitates to kill pirates, even those guilty of heinous crimes. Honestly, that's pretty brainless and makes him unsuitable for such an important role."
It wasn't that Hammons William failed to recognize Zephyr's talent. Anyone deemed worthy by Admiral Black Bear and given special attention was clearly exceptional. But he remained hesitant. Would Zephyr truly be able to wield the Ice-Ice Fruit effectively?
Squandering such a powerful Logia ability would be a tremendous loss. Moreover, if Zephyr underperformed in the upcoming expedition against the Rocks Pirates, the fleet could be in serious danger.
"That's not fair, Fleet Admiral!" Garp immediately retorted. "Zephyr may not have been the most talented among us back then, but he's definitely the hardest-working and the most committed to justice!
"He's kind-hearted and holds firmly to his sense of justice. That doesn't mean he's an inflexible fool. Zephyr has changed a lot!"
"All right, all right, just leave. I'll think about it."
Hammons William waved Garp off, his patience wearing thin. The Vice Admiral's refusal to accept the Ice-Ice Fruit and his insistence on arguing for Zephyr were testing the Fleet Admiral's limits.
"Wait, I'm not finished. You're judging the old Zephyr."
Garp didn't leave. Instead, his expression turned serious, his voice lower and more somber.
"Five years ago, during the explosion at Marineford, Zephyr was there. He's one of the survivors."
"What?" Hammons William's eyes narrowed, and his demeanor shifted. He hadn't known that Zephyr had been present during that catastrophic event.
"He witnessed it all firsthand: countless comrades and innocent families, their joyful lives snuffed out in an instant by that explosion. Tens of thousands of lives, gone in the blink of an eye.
"The experience devastated him, and he fell into a deep depression for a long time. But eventually, he gathered the courage to approach Admiral Black Bear and begged to be taken as his student.
"From that moment on, his hatred for pirates grew immensely. His training became more intense, his dedication unwavering. While he doesn't go out of his way to torture or seek revenge, he no longer hesitates to deal with pirates who resist."
Hearing this, Hammons William's expression softened slightly.
"Is that so?" he said with a nod of interest.
He hadn't expected Zephyr to have such a complex personal journey. However, abandoning his overly idealistic mindset was undoubtedly a step in the right direction.
"Bring him to me. I want to meet this guy in person," Hammons William said firmly. He intended to personally evaluate Black Arm Zephyr before deciding whether to entrust him with the Logia-class Ice-Ice Fruit. The strategic importance of this Devil Fruit was immense, and such a decision could not be made lightly.
"All right, I'll get him right away. He should be at the training grounds!"
Garp grinned and immediately dashed off.
…
Marineford Training Grounds
"Bam… Bam…"
Not far from Marineford Headquarters, in a spacious training field, a young, muscular figure with short purple hair was relentlessly punching a massive sandbag filled with iron sand. Despite the intensity of his training, he wasn't using Armament Haki. His arms, legs, and body were weighed down with heavy restraints.
"Zephyr!" Garp called out as he approached, waving.
"Garp, are you here to spar with me?"
The rugged-looking purple-haired young man paused to wipe the sweat from his brow, turning to face Garp.
"Hahaha! No way. Fleet Admiral William wants to see you!" Garp replied, laughing.
"The Fleet Admiral wants to see me?" Zephyr stopped mid-punch, stunned.
"Yeah, go now. It's definitely good news!" Garp grabbed Zephyr by the arm and urged him to hurry.
"Wait! Let me take this off first."
Zephyr sighed, unstrapping the heavy weights from his body before sprinting toward Marineford Headquarters.
"Phew…" Garp wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled knowingly. "Zephyr, don't blame me for this."
He was fully aware of Zephyr's personality. Even if Zephyr had no desire to become a Devil Fruit user, once Fleet Admiral William laid out the significance of the Ice-Ice Fruit and its importance to the Navy, Zephyr would undoubtedly set aside his personal feelings for the sake of justice.
Refusal would simply not be an option.