No kidding, even Rocks would have to offer me a cigarette.

"Hahaha, then thank you in advance, Uncle Kaido!"

"I have a duel with a samurai this afternoon, so I won't stay here to drink with you any longer."

After saying that, Enel strode away from Kaido's base camp with his head held high.

At this time, Enel was only seven years old, but he was well-nourished by the Beast Pirates' food and rigorous physical training.

He was already about two meters tall, with clearly defined, muscular physique.

And the domineering aura between his brows exudes a unique kingly aura.

It made him look dashing and spirited, just like a young man should.

After Enel's figure disappeared, Kaido withdrew his gaze, waved his hand, and dismissed the ordinary members of the Beasts Pirates.

Only a boy with black wings, a burning flame on the back of his neck, and a somewhat aloof demeanor remained at the scene.

......

PS: Enel was taken down to the Blue Sea before the God Valley War. After the Mary Geoise War, Kaido specifically returned to Hatchinos to take Enel away. Currently, he is known to possess all three types of Haki but not a Devil Fruit ability.

PS: In this setting, Kaido returns to the laboratory where he was previously imprisoned after the war to cause destruction, and due to historical reasons, he encounters Lunaria again.

Chapter 174 Heartbroken

Marine Headquarters, Marineford!

After a long and tiring journey back to the Navy Headquarters, Zephyr immediately went to the hospital morgue and looked forlornly at his wife, whose body was covered with a white sheet and stiff.

On his way back, he had already received a call from Sengoku...

The two didn't say much during their call.

Sengoku simply instructed him to return to headquarters as soon as possible.

A few days later.

Under the auspices of the Navy Headquarters, Zephyr attended the funeral of the officers' families who had suffered, including his own.

He, who is nearing middle age

His career in the navy had basically reached its peak, and with his wife and son around him, he was the epitome of a successful man.

But this sudden murderous intent made him, who was usually always gentle and refined, realize something.

The man who used to wear a smile all the time suddenly became silent and taciturn.

Things were going very well just a few days ago.

His wife and son waved goodbye to him at the door, reminding him, as both father and husband, to be careful of pirates.

In just a few short days, he has become a lonely man, having lost both his wife and son...

The breakdown of his family caused Zhefa, who was originally enthusiastic about the naval cause, to lose his former passion.

I no longer have any interest in these jobs.

Ever since that day on the warship, when he smashed the heads of an entire ship full of pirates and brutally tortured them to death.

Zefa had already developed extremely strong doubts about the justice he had upheld for decades.

As one of the three top admirals of the Navy Headquarters.

Zephyr's own faction believes in justice that does not involve killing.

Even if the most vicious pirates are captured, they are at most imprisoned in the underwater prison, rather than being killed directly.

Zephyr originally thought that his sense of justice would at least influence some pirates.

But at this moment, he was plunged into deep self-blame.

His sense of justice led to the deaths of his wife and son.

night.

Zefa arrived at the crescent-shaped naval port where he often took his children to count stars.

at this time.

Above the sky, countless stars twinkled, shining faintly like jewels set against the black night. Though small, these stars were numerous, densely distributed across the sky, creating a beautiful and magnificent scene.

Some stars twinkle brightly, as if showing off their existence; while others are relatively dim and require careful observation to spot.

In this vast starry sky, the boundless expanse is revealed at all times.

In the past, whenever he looked up at the starry sky with his wife and children, Zefa would feel very peaceful and serene.

In the midst of his busy life at Naval Headquarters, such moments allow him to temporarily forget his troubles and immerse himself in the beauty and wonder of nature.

Perhaps it was the tranquility and beauty of having his wife and son by his side that made Zefa himself develop a fondness for the lonely starry sky.

Now, two of those playful figures are missing from my side...

Even the starry sky seemed a bit dull...

"Honestly... why did I rush into accepting that mission?"

"If I had stayed home and taken the day off... perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way..."

A deep sense of self-reproach lingered in Zefa's heart.

Even though he knew perfectly well that none of this had anything to do with him.

But Zephyr could never overcome his inner struggles.

He has submitted his resignation as admiral to Fleet Admiral Souko.

Overwhelmed with grief, Zephyr has begun to doubt the justice within himself.

Moreover, his wife, Marilin, had mentioned a name named Gehau during a phone call with him a few days earlier...

Zephyr believed that if he remembered correctly, there was not a single pirate named Geho among those with a bounty of around 300 million Berries on the high seas!

This is like a pirate that was created out of thin air...

But without any evidence, he had no way to question the "hand" in the darkness.

The matter is now settled.

Instead of questioning everything, it's better to find a quiet place and spend some time alone...

Ta-ta-ta~

Just as Zefa was gazing blankly at the twinkling stars in the sky...

A steady, powerful sound of leather shoes came from behind him.

"Are you guys here to comfort me too? Don't be ridiculous..."

"I'm...Z!"

"This little bit of pain... I'll handle it all myself... it'll all be fine after a while..."

Zefa didn't turn around, but he could clearly see the figure that appeared behind him.

The two towering Marines who arrived at the port area at this moment were none other than the current Admiral Sengoku, the highest-ranking officer in the Marine Headquarters.

And right behind him was Vice Admiral Garp, the Iron Fist, who also had a furrowed brow.

"I'm not good at comforting words, but before that, I've decided to show you this photo."

The tone of the Warring States period was rather somber.

Then, under Zephyr's questioning gaze, he pulled two photos out of Garp's pocket.

"This is?"

Zefa casually took the photo.

The next moment, his dark pupils shrank rapidly.

These two photos were taken when Gough killed his wife, Marilyn, and son in the family quarters behind Naval Headquarters!

One picture shows his son being strangled to death...

Another picture shows his wife's forehead being punched open with her finger by the so-called pirate, Gehao, leaving a large hole...

"This is the secret technique of the Six Styles of the Navy... the power generation technique of the Finger Pistol..."

Decades ago, he trained diligently from an ordinary marine to his current position as an admiral in the Navy Headquarters.

Zephyr was intimately familiar with the Marine Headquarters; he knew it better than anyone else...

Now let's take a look at it through the photo.

He was able to clearly recognize that it was the finger-gun technique he had once trained his troops!

Even if he were reduced to ashes, he would still recognize this pose!

However, he had never seen the so-called Gehao in the photo on the Navy's wanted list!

Absolutely not!

Among the pirates with bounties of hundreds of millions these days, Zephyr is already very familiar with them!

That is to say...

It's now certain that this Gehao was sent by another faction!

"Although these agents were indeed very secretive, even creating a series of false identities by causing trouble at sea months in advance~"

"But even with these methods, it's not enough to fool the members of our Navy Headquarters' undercover investigation team."

"The only way a mere pirate could storm into the family quarters behind Marine Headquarters is..."

Zhan Guo paused for a moment, then stopped speaking.

However, Zephyr was certainly not a fool.

After seeing the fear in Zhan Guo's eyes, he understood the whole story.