The Monsters Set Their Sights!
19: Zephyr’s Invitation!
The Monsters Set Their Sights!
Chapter 19: Zephyr’s Invitation!
The Monsters Set Their Sights!
The promotions were over, but the ceremony itself wasn’t finished yet.
Zephyr gathered the newly commissioned officers beneath the Marine flag and led them through their oath—to fight for the World Government, for the Marines, and for justice.
Then came the final part of the ceremony.
Instructor Zephyr would announce where each officer was being assigned.
By tradition, the very best recruits remained at Marine Headquarters, while the others were sent elsewhere.
Only a small number of the poorest performers were assigned to the Four Blues.
Most recruits went to Marine Headquarters branches along the Grand Line—the various G-Series Bases.
The Four Blues were the safest, but promotions came slowly.
Marineford offered plenty of opportunities, but competition was fierce.
The Grand Line bases offered no shortage of military achievements, but they were dangerous, especially those stationed in the New World.
To a large extent, today’s assignments would determine the direction of these young officers’ lives for years to come.
Naturally, everyone was nervous.
Amid that tense atmosphere, Zephyr finally began reading the assignments.
“Locke, Durin, Dina…
G-8 Base.” “Toro, Frank…
East Blue, Loguetown.” “Floto, Beaver…
G-5 Base.” As each name and destination was announced, every possible human reaction appeared across the training field.
Those assigned where they wanted naturally smiled, while those sent somewhere undesirable seemed to physically sag.
The most awkward were those assigned to the Four Blues.
Once they left Headquarters, returning to the Grand Line wouldn’t be easy.
Zephyr eventually turned to the final page of the document.
After clearing his throat, he raised his head.
“Those are all current assignments.” “Everyone except those remaining at Headquarters may pack your belongings once the ceremony ends.
The warships taking you to your posts are already waiting at the harbor.” But the recruits froze.
Three people still hadn’t been assigned anywhere.
Binz blinked in confusion.
Even while standing in formation, he couldn’t suppress his surprise.
“Wait, Instructor Zephyr!
What about us?
You haven’t assigned us yet!” Ain didn’t speak, but confusion was written all over her face.
And naturally, there was one other person.
Nate’s drooping eyelids lifted slightly.
‘What’s going on?’ ‘Didn’t Instructor Zephyr say he’d help me get into G-5 Base?’ Not only had Nate’s name been absent from the G-5 list, he’d apparently been given no assignment at all.
‘Uh-oh.’ ‘Did someone higher up decide to screw me over?’ “Quiet, Binz!” Zephyr frowned.
“Where is your discipline?” “Yes, Instructor Zephyr!” Binz immediately snapped upright.
Only then did Zephyr’s expression soften.
His gaze passed over Ain and Binz before finally settling on Nate.
“I hereby declare the promotion ceremony concluded.
Everyone, return to your quarters and pack.” He paused.
“Nate, Ain, Binz.
The three of you come with me.” Nate raised an eyebrow.
‘So there’s another arrangement.’ Still confused, Ain and Binz followed Zephyr away, while Nate trailed after them with his usual lazy gait.
They soon arrived at Zephyr’s office.
“I’ll get straight to the point.” Zephyr’s voice became serious.
“I’m forming a special operations unit called the Marine Guerrilla Unit.
Its mission will be to pursue pirates throughout the New World.” “What?!” Binz stared at him.
“Instructor Zephyr, you’re not going to be Chief Instructor anymore?” “Those fugitives are still out there.” Zephyr’s expression darkened.
“I intend to bring them to justice with my own hands.” Nate’s mouth twitched.
‘Wow.’ ‘So after all these twists and turns, history somehow circled back to the same place anyway?’ “You three are the finest recruits in this year’s class.” Zephyr’s gaze rested on Nate for a moment.
“I want you to join the Marine Guerrilla Unit and fight beside me.” ‘Fight beside me,’ huh?
Nate couldn’t help feeling slightly impressed.
‘Instructor Zephyr is being surprisingly sincere.’ ‘Is this what they call showing respect to talented subordinates?’ Then he remembered something.
‘Wait.
I’m a Major now.’ “I’m joining!” Binz became so excited he nearly threw his crutch away.
“Instructor Zephyr!
I’ll follow you to the death!” Even the normally composed Ain stepped forward, her voice rising noticeably.
“Instructor Zephyr, I’m joining too!” Zephyr’s prestige among his students needed no explanation.
If Iron Fist Garp was the Marine hero worshipped by countless soldiers, then Black Arm Zephyr was the Marine teacher who raised heroes.
Then all three of them turned toward Nate.
“Hey, Nate!
What are you hesitating for?” Binz immediately urged him on.
“Didn’t you want to go to the New World anyway?
Following Instructor Zephyr has to be better than getting sent to some random branch!” Nate glanced sideways at him.
“Binz.” “Are you teaching me how to make decisions now?” Ain rolled her eyes.
‘Here he goes again.’ Under Zephyr’s slightly expectant gaze, Nate gave a small yawn before smiling lazily.
“Instructor Zephyr, I’m not joining if the benefits are terrible.” “You brat.” Zephyr laughed.
“You’re negotiating terms with me now?” He leaned back slightly.
“You don’t need to worry about that.
The Guerrilla Unit is an independent formation that answers directly to Sengoku.” Zephyr paused meaningfully.
“In other words, under normal circumstances, everything inside the unit is decided by me.” “Instructor Zephyr.” Nate’s sleepy expression instantly became much more serious.
“I look forward to working under you.” Thinking it through, joining the Marine Guerrilla Unit was far better than being stationed at some New World base.
Was Zephyr really going to treat his prized student like an ordinary Major?
An independent command meant they weren’t constrained by the usual Headquarters structure.
Even if Zephyr couldn’t casually promote Nate, deciding what responsibilities Nate held inside the unit was entirely within his authority.
‘Having connections really is comfortable.’ And the Guerrilla Unit’s main mission was specifically to hunt Luna’s group.
‘Could there possibly be a better assignment?’ “Good!” Zephyr nodded with satisfaction.
“Then go pack.
We’re leaving for the New World immediately.
The Marine Guerrilla Unit will assemble at G-1 Base.” “Those fugitives are probably close to entering the New World already.
If we don’t move quickly and they disappear deeper into those waters, finding them will become much harder.” Nate’s expression became strange.
The logic made sense.
But if he remembered correctly…
‘Haven’t we only been back from the New World for two days?’ He sucked in a quiet breath.
‘These past couple of days really have been ridiculously packed.’ Regardless, Nate, Ain, and Binz packed their belongings and departed with Zephyr for Red Port.
From there, they crossed Mary Geoise once again and headed straight for the New World.
While they were rushing across the Red Line, the World Economy News Paper delivered a shocking piece of news across the globe.
For the first time in thirteen years, someone had escaped Impel Down after the legendary pirate Golden Lion.
But this time, more than a hundred prisoners had escaped.
It was an unprecedented mass breakout.
The paper gave detailed introductions to the major criminals formerly imprisoned on Level Six, emphasizing how dangerous they were and even including their newly issued wanted posters.
The entire world erupted into discussion.
“Byrnndi World?
Who the hell is that?
Never heard of him!” “I remember that name!
He was a huge pirate more than twenty years ago—the World Destroyer, Byrnndi World!” “He’s still alive?
That guy once attacked the Celestial Dragons!
I thought the Marines executed him after capturing him!” “Not only did he survive, he apparently masterminded this entire breakout.
What kind of monster refuses to die like that?” “Attacked the Celestial Dragons?
No wonder his bounty is the highest—one billion Berries!” “Usurper General Anthony and Swift Sword Solt are monsters too.
Both of them have bounties of six hundred million!” “Who’s this Edward Weevil?
His bounty is even higher than theirs—seven hundred million Berries!” “‘Whitebeard Jr.’?
Isn’t that nickname implying something?
Doesn’t he look kind of like Whitebeard?” “And who’s this woman?
Five hundred million Berries?
What’s a Lunarian?” “Lunarian?
There are actually survivors of that race?” While ordinary people across the world argued over the news, the monsters dwelling in the New World read the same newspaper.
…
Deep in the New World, a whale-shaped ship sailed calmly across the sea.
The Moby Dick.
On the deck of the Whitebeard Pirates’ flagship, First Division Commander Marco the Phoenix stared at one particular wanted poster, then glanced uncertainly toward the man he respected most.
“This…” Marco hesitated.
“Pops, this Edward Weevil guy…” ‘Did Pops actually have a biological son?’ That didn’t seem right.
Marco had followed Whitebeard alongside his own father for almost thirty years, yet he’d never heard anything about a son like this.
Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, sat in his enormous chair with the newspaper in hand.
His gaze rested on the deeply wrinkled face of Miss Bakkin.
‘Why does she look familiar?’ ‘She kind of resembles Stussy.’ But that couldn’t be right.
Stussy was alive and well and had already become a famous power in the New World’s underworld.
Whitebeard shook his head.
“Just some strange people.” “Ignore them.” “Is that so?” Marco nodded.
Still, he looked at Weevil’s wanted poster again.
‘He really does resemble Pops.’ ‘He just looks…
really stupid.’ …
Wano Country.
Onigashima.
“Wororororo!” A massive man built like a primordial beast sat cross-legged on a cushion, drinking from a gourd while laughing loudly.
“King!
So there are actually other Lunarian survivors besides you!” Below him stood one of the Beasts Pirates’ All-Stars.
King the Conflagration wore black leather from head to toe, his face hidden behind a black mask.
Black wings extended from his back, while flames burned behind his head.
He gripped a newspaper and stared intensely at the white-haired woman pictured there.
“I never imagined it either.” King’s eyes were complicated.
He had always believed he was the last Lunarian alive.
Yet apparently…
‘There’s still another one of my people.’ “Wororororo!” Kaido of the Beasts, the World’s Strongest Creature, grinned broadly.
“That old hag Linlin is going to lose her mind over this.” He took another drink.
“King, think we should go help your fellow Lunarian?” King remained silent for a moment before answering calmly.
“We may share the same race, but she’s still a stranger, Kaido-san.” “There’s no reason to clash with Big Mom over her.” “A stranger?” Kaido’s lips curled into a crafty smile.
“If we turn her into one of us, she won’t be a stranger anymore.” He chuckled.
“King, what do you think about waiting until Linlin drives them into a corner…
and then stepping in to help?” King paused.
Then he gave a slight nod.
“I understand, Kaido-san.” It made sense.
The Lunarian woman’s companions were clearly powerful as well.
If they could be brought into the Beasts Pirates, Kaido’s forces would grow substantially stronger.
…
Totto Land.
Whole Cake Island.
“A LUNARIAN!” “MAMAMAMA!” Charlotte Linlin, the World’s Strongest Woman, no longer possessed the beauty she’d had in her youth.
Now she looked every bit like an enormous old woman as she lounged in a massive chair, eating cake while laughing wildly over the newspaper in her hand.
“Besides King, there’s actually another Lunarian alive in this world!” She slammed a hand down excitedly.
“Katakuri!” “You go personally!” “Bring that woman before me!” “Yes, Mama.” Indeed.
Junior Kaido really did understand Senior Linlin far too well.