I am the Bandit King of the East Sea.

Clearly, Zephyr has developed a so-called empathy because of Higuma's experience.

Thinking of this, Sengoku took out a small Den Den Mushi from his pocket and handed it to Zephyr.

"This is a small Den Den Mushi for listening in. Keep it with you, and I'll listen to your conversations."

"If you can't determine Higuma's identity, then I'll step in."

This is what was said during the Warring States period.

After exchanging a few words, the two of them could already see Sig's villa in the distance.

........

Inside Sig’s house.

Sig looked at Ain with a sense of relief.

"Aien, you must guard against arrogance and impatience, and continue to work hard to develop your Devil Fruit ability. The power of the Rewind Fruit has great potential."

Sieg said earnestly:

"For example, you can try to precisely control the power of the retrograde fire, changing the 12-year regression to a 10-year regression, a 5-year regression, a 1-year regression... or even down to the month or day."

"Or, we could continue to increase the duration of each single rewind."

Sieg tried to help Ian broaden his thinking.

Ain is still too young. She has hardly used the power of the Rewind-Rewind Fruit, it is undeveloped, and it can only be used once, at most rewinding 12 years.

In the future, 12 years from now, Ain's Devil Fruit ability seems to have no limit on the number of times it can be used. She can completely erase a person's existence by repeatedly touching them... Even a centenarian can be erased after only eight or nine touches.

Listening to Sieg's words, Ain nodded seriously, as if she really intended to keep these words in mind.

"What a wonderful child... Suddenly I feel a little reluctant to hand her over to Zephyr."

The idea suddenly popped into Sieg's mind.

In the future, Ayn will be Zephyr's prized apprentice and right-hand woman, and they will have a very good relationship.

Thinking that he would soon be personally sending Ain into the Navy, Sieg suddenly felt like an old father watching his daughter about to be married off to a distant land...

Thinking of this, Sieg blurted out:

"Aien, come be my daughter. And when you become strong, you must remember to protect your old man..."

"Huh??"

Ain stared blankly at Sieg, seemingly stunned by Sieg's sudden remark.

The atmosphere suddenly became strange.

At that moment, a long laugh came from outside.

"Hahaha... Don't worry, Higuma. Ain is just joining the Navy. It's not like we're going to have any life-or-death separation."

Sieg looked up and saw only the gate, where Zephyr stood alone, smiling at him.

"Admiral Zephyr, he's come in person?"

Sieg was also a little surprised.

Ain is just a little girl in her early teens. There is no need for a Marine Admiral to come in person for such an orphan to enlist.

"So it really is because of... the influence of my online forum gossip? Because I single-handedly created the Devil Fruit rankings, and Ain's Devil Fruit became the tenth in the world, so Zephyr also took it very seriously and came here in person?"

"If Zephyr values ​​Ain so much, things should go more smoothly for her after she joins the Navy, right?"

With that thought in mind, Sieg put on a polite smile and went out to greet them.

After a few simple pleasantries, Zephyr got straight to the point:

"Higuma, Ain's enlistment application has been approved. If she's willing, she can come with me to the Navy Headquarters tomorrow."

"Rather than Ain... Sunbear, I'd like to have a serious talk with you about your identity."

"Warrant Officer Hikuma."

Ze spoke in a low voice.

Seeing this, Sieg smiled helplessly:

"It seems the Navy Headquarters' intelligence system is still as powerful as ever... Have they already traced me back to me?"

"Warrant officer? I haven't been one for a long time."

While he was speaking, he was secretly delighted.

It seems that Stussy's plan has succeeded.

The reason why Sieg arranged for him to have the identity of a "former naval warrant officer whose wife and daughter died" was, frankly speaking, to curry favor with the navy.

Or rather, clinging to Zefa's coattails.

After changing his appearance and losing his original reputation as the bandit king, Sig also felt the negative impact of being unknown.

Now, even the smallest fry dare to attack him, unlike before when he could intimidate many people simply by virtue of his title as the King of the Sea. This has caused Sig a lot of trouble.

Therefore, having a false identity that is close to the Navy, especially to Zephyr, can help Sieg resolve a lot of trouble.

As Zefa spoke, a floating panel quietly unfolded.

Higuma used up one of the Luffy King's cards and switched to the fictional identity he had prepared beforehand: "Former Navy Warrant Officer whose wife and daughter have all died."

Suddenly, a string of fabricated memories flooded Sieg's mind.

Unbeknownst to him, Sieg's originally calm expression began to waver, and a hint of sadness and melancholy appeared deep in his eyes.

Those things are in the past.

Sieg ruffled Ain's hair and slowly closed his eyes:

"Right now, all I want is for Ain to join the Navy, so that the Navy can protect this child and help her grow up safely."

Sieg didn't say anything sentimental, but simply let his heart gradually sink into these emotions.

With the fictional memories of Luffy's card attached to him, Sigurd's acting skills have reached a new level.

A true movie star doesn't need heart-wrenching lines or ferocious roars to express their inner grief.

Sieg's restrained emotional fluctuations and involuntary micro-expression changes appear all the more natural.

as predicted.

Zephyr's gaze towards Sieg softened slightly.

Chapter 361 The True Colors Are Revealed

Next, Zephyr used the false identity information obtained by the Navy to try to probe Sigurd with words.

This included inquiring about matters related to the G-71 branch, life within the naval branch, and the well-being of colleagues, etc.

Because the branch had been destroyed, Zephyr didn't know the details of these events, but based on his years of experience in the Navy, he could roughly determine the truth of the matter.

But to his surprise, Sieg answered fluently, and all his responses seemed flawless.

This deepened Zephyr's doubts, and he decided to probe further.

"If I remember correctly, if your deceased daughter were still alive, she would be about the same age as Ain, right?"

Ain, who had been listening quietly without saying a word, suddenly looked up at Sieg and blinked, as if she wanted to say something.

She recalled the question Sieg had asked her before Zephat arrived.

"Come be my daughter..."

..........

When the topic of his deceased daughter came up, Sieg's expression darkened even further.

Seeing this, Zephyr seemed to realize his mistake. He apologized and extended his right hand, as if to pat Sieg on the shoulder to comfort him.

While making the patting gesture on the shoulder, Zephyr kept a close eye on Sieg, observing the most subtle changes in his expression.

But he found that Sieg didn't suspect anything and wasn't on guard.

When Zefa's hand patted his shoulder, it suddenly accelerated, and a sea stone handcuff slid out from Zefa's sleeve and was caught by Zefa's hand!

With a click.

By the time Sieg reacted, his right wrist was already handcuffed with Zephyr's seastone handcuffs.

"General Zephyr, what is this?" Sig was shocked and blurted out.

This unfolded differently than he had planned!

Seeing Sig's reaction, Zephyr was also stunned and somewhat bewildered.

"That's it?"

Logically speaking, Higuma, the pirate king of the sea, is undoubtedly a Devil Fruit user. His ability is strange, and he may be a user of the Face-Face Fruit or the Roasted Gluten Fruit.

Even the strongest ability users will react to Seastone to some extent.

This means losing one's abilities, feeling weak all over, and so on. Weak ability users can't even stand up straight.

Once Zephyr discovers that Sig is an ability user, he will seize the opportunity to capture Sig and have Sengoku, who is lying in wait outside, subdue Sig and interrogate him in detail.

But Sieg's reaction was simply surprise?

"He's not a Devil Fruit user? Could it be that I guessed right, Higuma really isn't Sigurd?"

Zefa was shocked; this was beyond what he and Sengoku had originally expected.

The scene became somewhat awkward for a moment.

The two men stared at the sea stone handcuffs on Sieg's wrists, unsure of what to say.

Meanwhile, Ian, standing next to her, covered her mouth with her hand, also stunned.

After a long pause, Zefa chuckled and scratched the back of his head, attempting to explain:

"Here's what happened."

"Recently, a pirate has appeared. He is a user of the Imitation Fruit and has been impersonating officials of the Navy and the World Government."

"It seems that you are not that pirate in disguise, Higuma."