Pirate: I'm about to do something big!

That night, at Marineford, Marine Headquarters.

Marineford, a town that provides housing for marines' families and marines.

Alyosha's residence is also here, at the northernmost part of the town, near the headquarters building.

It is a two-story courtyard.

The first floor serves as the living room, kitchen, and storage area, while the second floor is for rest and includes a small balcony.

When the weather is nice, Alyosha would have something to eat and drink in the small courtyard on the first floor to relax after returning from the sea.

"So the handover procedures are all complete, right? Will Arlong the Fishman still behave himself?"

"Hmph, this guy was all smiles when he heard you were suspended and transferred to an administrative department. What a nasty character."

"He's just bad-tempered. It's good to put him on our ship and let him be tempered by our marines. I'll leave the training of these bad guys on the ship to you for the next six months, Commodore Doldai."

"Commander Alyosha, please don't address me that way."

In the open space of the small courtyard, Alyosha changed into a loose black casual outfit and held a kitchen knife in his hand.

Concentrating on chopping the onions, mushrooms, and potatoes on the table, he took the kiwi from Tina's hand, chopped it up, and mixed it with the other ingredients to make a spice blend.

As Tina listened to the work reports from Smoker, her subordinate, and Dol, her adjutant who was temporarily acting as her brigadier general, she also opened the two bottles of red wine in Dol's hands.

He poured the prepared ingredients into a wok as wide as his arm. Inside the wok, a piece of beef, its marbling clear and glistening under the streetlights, was soaking in the red wine and ingredients that Alyosha had poured in.

Cover the pot with the lid to seal it, allowing the aroma of the red wine and ingredients to be absorbed by the beef.

The adjutant, Dol, who was being teased by Alyosha, was at a loss for words, which Alyosha found amusing.

"But the fact is, I have indeed been suspended from duty. You are now the commander of the warship, and you will be in charge of our ship's training and sea operations for the next six months. This is an opportunity, isn't it? Smoker, Tina, and you should also adapt to this change in identity?"

"Oh my, I can smell the delicious aroma from this far away, Alyosha! I've come all this way to mooch a meal from you."

A cheerful, peaceful voice came from the doorway.

Alyosha and his companions looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall, robust man with neat purple hair push open the door and enter. Behind him were a man and a woman, both newly promoted third-class marines.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Alyosha revealed a genuinely gentle smile, while Smoker, Tina, and Dol's expressions hardened, they saluted, and shouted, "Instructor Zephyr!"

"I'm no longer your instructor, and you've all become capable naval officers. There's no need to be so nervous."

"Professor Zephyr, you're still so kind."

"Haha, Alyosha, these two are my students whom I recruited in advance. This is Ain, and this is Binz."

They're all users of the Paramecia-type Devil Fruits, the Rewind-Rewind Fruit and the Lush-Lush Fruit. They were hoping to greet you upon your return and have you train on your ship, but it seems they've come at the wrong time. Ain, Binz, come and meet your senior. Alyosha is my favorite and proudest student.

Former Navy Admiral, now a Navy instructor, "Black Arm" Zephyr.

A naval officer who truly embodied the concept of justice for most of his life, he was a contemporary of Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and Kong, the Supreme Commander of the World Government.

Throughout his early life, from Marine to Admiral, Zephyr always led from the front in every battle against pirates, and he believed that even pirates deserved a second chance.

Even the most vicious and bloodthirsty pirates should be convicted and tried by Enies Lobby; the Navy is merely an enforcer.

It can be said to be the last vestige of conscience in the navy.

Even when his wife and children were brutally murdered by pirates he had captured in retaliation, Zephyr did not waver in his commitment to justice.

He simply retired from the position of admiral and became a naval instructor, cultivating batches of outstanding talents for the navy.

Today, Red, Blue, and Yellow, Alyosha, Smoker, Tina, and Dol are all Zephyr's students.

Of all the students, Zefa favored Alyosha the most.

Because Alyosha's style of doing things is most similar to Zefa's.

Similarly, they always took the lead in battle and were always at the forefront.

When it comes to fighting pirates, those who dare to fight back are killed, those who surrender are spared, and those captured are handed over to Enies Lobby for trial and sentencing.

They believed that Alyosha could inherit their sense of justice and become the next admiral.

Alyosha also respected Zephyr, the veteran naval officer. It was just a pity that he came into this world too late. By the time he joined the navy, Zephyr had just recovered from the pain of his wife and children being killed and had retired from his position as admiral to become a naval instructor.

"I am Private Ain, I am Private Binz, saluting you, Brigadier General Alyosha Ran."

"Don't be so nervous. I've been suspended from duty, I'm no longer a brigadier general, and it's after get off work hours now. You can call me Senior Ran or Senior Brother, whatever makes you comfortable. Professor Zephyr, if you're not in a hurry, you don't have to ask my junior brother and sister to report to my ship yet."

"What, you have ideas?"

"Well, that depends on how Marshal Sengoku arranges my fate."

"I heard about what happened at Oris Square. That's your problem; you have a temper that explodes easily. Beating up that guy Stobelli at this time only made things difficult for yourself and Sengoku as well."

"Zeffa, you don't have to shout so loudly next time."

"Okay, I'll speak more quietly next time."

"Haha, Zephyr, you're here early! You're always the first one here."

"That's what happens when Alyosha and I are neighbors."

Garp's loud voice always got him there first. Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Navy Hero Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru, these three veterans, entered the courtyard.

Marshal Sengoku grunted when he saw Alyosha's completely indifferent attitude towards his suspension.

This caused Zephyr, Garp, and Tsuru, three veterans from the same generation, to burst into laughter.

Upon seeing that Fleet Admiral Sengoku and other members of the naval leadership had come to Alyosha's courtyard, Smoker and his group, along with the two students brought by Zephyr, felt extremely uneasy and wanted to find an excuse to slip away.

"Don't be so nervous. It's rest time, not work time. They're just a few old men who came to freeload. Let them chat, and we'll do our own thing. Otherwise, I can't finish all this food by myself. Ain, Binz, could you please come and give me a hand?"

Alyosha got up and beckoned to Ain and Binz, the youngest members of his family, to help him.

The two stood there dumbfounded, completely bewildered by Alyosha's actions.

Zefa, standing to the side, burst out laughing.

"I've already told you both, he's known as 'Two-Faced' Alyosha Ran by both the Navy and pirates. Now you understand, right? Hurry up and go help your senior."

With Zephyr speaking up, the two young marines, both under twenty, followed Alyosha into the kitchen to get busy. Smoker, Tina, and Dol were already used to Alyosha's style and didn't find anything amiss.

Suddenly, the gathering turned into a tea party for the four old men—Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru—outside, while Alyosha and the other young people busied themselves in the kitchen.

"Oh my, I left work on time, but I didn't expect someone to leave earlier than me. As a marshal, skipping work is not a good thing, Mr. Sengoku, Mr. Garp, and Mr. Zephyr."

"Borsalino, Kuzan, Sakazuki? What, you're here too?"

"Kuzan and I were invited by Alyosha. As for Mr. Sengoku and Sakazuki, I invited him. We're all colleagues, so we can't let things get too awkward, right, Kuzan?"

"His arrival will only make things worse."

Aokiji Kuzan retorted without hesitation. His relationship with Akainu hadn't been good since Ohara, so naturally he wouldn't give Sakazuki a friendly look in this matter.

Sakassky was about to retort when he heard a sound coming from the kitchen.

"Guests are welcome. If you don't mind, come in and lend a hand. With so many people coming, the food won't be ready in time."

"Oh dear, Alyosha, you really know how to order people around."

"This is cooking time, don't order people around."

Borsalino took the lead in helping Alyosha smooth things over and went inside. Aokiji and Akainu disliked each other and knew they couldn't cause trouble on their master's turf, so they reluctantly followed them inside.

An hour later, in Alyosha's courtyard.

Private Binz, a lush man who had eaten the lush fruit, used his ability to quickly grow a tree on Alyosha's lawn.

Then Kizaru cut it with his lightsaber, Aokiji froze the moisture, and Akainu dried it.

A long wooden table that could seat fifteen people was thus completed. Everyone sat down, and delicious food was served.

Red wine braised beef, secret recipe roasted meat, chilled sashimi, grilled fish, tea soup, roasted three-flavor lamb, and golden egg fried rice.

The menu wasn't extensive, but the portions were generous.

Those dining at the table were either high-ranking naval officers or rising stars of the navy.

It's hard to imagine three generations of people sitting together just to eat. Generally speaking, such an occasion would be for discussing how to deal with a notorious pirate who dominates the seas.

"I never expected Ran-senpai's cooking skills to be so good. It's such a blessing to be able to eat Ran-senpai's food!"

The busy work in the kitchen eased the previous unease of the youngest privates, Ain and Binz. After enjoying Alyosha's cooking, they praised it highly and shed tears of happiness.

"Otherwise, why would I have brought you two little ones here to find Alyosha? You can learn a lot from Alyosha."

"Alyosha, you really shouldn't have done that during the day!"

After a hearty meal and drinks, the old stories of the Warring States period were brought up again, and the tone of his voice, filled with anger at their lack of ambition, made several elderly people present frown.

Why bring up such a serious topic when it's after get off work hours and there are younger colleagues around?

"Mr. Sengoku, if Stobelli had merely disobeyed orders, I wouldn't be so angry. I could even tolerate him drawing his sword against me. But he actually pointed his cannons at my warship and led his men to confront my marines. This is absolutely unacceptable. If I don't teach Stobelli a lesson, what will my men think? What will Stobelli's men think? And what will headquarters think if word gets out? Have you considered this?"

"Mr. Sengoku, this time I agree with Alyosha. That guy, Stobelli, really went too far. Although my sense of justice differs from Alyosha's, I agree with his attitude towards pirates. Let's leave it at that, Mr. Sengoku."

"I feel like something's not quite right that you agree with me so much, Sakazuki."

Alyosha felt uncomfortable all over when he looked at Akainu who had spoken up for him.

This guy's sense of justice is double-standard; he's the most ruthless when it comes to beating people. Sometimes Alyosha even wonders if Akainu's hatred for pirates, stemming from the fact that his family was killed by pirates when he was a child, has distorted his judgment of justice.

"So what are your thoughts now? Should I find a reason to reinstate you tomorrow?"

"No need for that. You just suspended me in front of so many marines at Oris Plaza during the day. There's no need for that. Besides, I can take this opportunity to slack off and train that fishman Arlong I brought with me, so I can deal with the Sun Pirates."

Alyosha waved his hand and lay back in the chair, enjoying the night view.

Seeing that Sengoku had met with a rebuff, the old men at the table, including Garp, burst into laughter again.

"If we can defeat the pirates, I can demand that Stoberry apologize to you. Your strength is indispensable to eliminating the pirates, Alyosha."

"That's why I can't agree with your sense of justice, Sakazuki. Indiscriminate killing can't completely eradicate pirates. But, it's not like I can only fight pirates if I'm reinstated."

Alyosha didn't argue with Sakazuki about how to wipe out the pirates. He knew Akainu well enough that he would resort to violence if he couldn't win an argument, and he couldn't afford to play games.

"So what do you want to do? It seems like there's nothing in the administrative department that can accommodate someone as important as you."

"The Great Buddha is sitting right in front of me, Mr. Sengoku. Oh, I've got it, Professor Zephyr, it seems the fourth round of admissions is about to begin, right?"

"Hmm, I wonder what promising talents will emerge this time, Alyosha. Do you want to help me?"

"Yes," Alyosha said directly, expressing his thoughts to Zephyr before turning to Sengoku, who was sitting in the main seat. "Mr. Sengoku, why don't I take charge of the fourth enrollment for the Naval Academy this year? You asked me to report to the publicity department during the day, and they can help me out."

"Being an admissions director? That's a waste of Alyosha's talents."

"Ha, eradicating pirates is a long and arduous task. We can't rely on the Navy alone. Besides, it's not just the Navy that's fighting pirates on the high seas, is it? I have a somewhat immature recruitment plan. Please allow me one night to think about it. Tomorrow I will go to Mr. Sengoku's Fleet Admiral's office to explain it in detail. I think even someone like Sakazuki would agree to my plan."

What do you mean, "even someone like me"?

Akainu was very unhappy, and Aokiji couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Garp, who was having a snack after his meal, paused in his actions. Looking at Alyosha, who had suddenly come up with such a mischievous idea, a mischievous idea also popped into his head.

"Professor Zephyr, may I borrow these two of your students?"

"I brought them here hoping you could help mentor them and help us with enrollment so it won't interfere with this year's admissions."

"It won't cause any delays."

Alyosha looked at the naval high-ranking officers who were interested in his idea, his face still bearing that harmless smile.

He was secretly delighted; his plan to use someone else's resources to his advantage had officially begun.