I am the Bandit King of the East Sea.

Zephyr smiled beside him, but the look in his eyes as he looked at Sieg had subtly changed.

Now that it's confirmed the person before them, Higuma, is not Sig, and there are no flaws in his records, coupled with Sig's previously impeccable answers...

So, the man in front of us, Higuma, really is a former naval warrant officer with a tragic past, whose wife, daughters, and colleagues all died tragically.

"Higuma, we still have military duties to attend to, so we won't bother you any longer." Sengoku was already thinking of slipping away.

He felt awkward staying there any longer.

He, known for his wisdom, actually made such a big mistake.

Sengoku stood up, trying to pull Zefa away quickly, but he couldn't budge him.

“Sunbear…” Zephyr glanced at Ain, then at Sig:

“Aien can officially enlist now. I will send someone to pick her up tomorrow.”

"However, as your adoptive father... have you ever considered rejoining the Navy?"

At this point, Zephyr's eyes dimmed slightly:

"You wouldn't refuse to witness your child grow up in the Navy, would you? Some people long for that, but they don't have the chance."

Upon hearing this, Ain was taken aback. She didn't urge him, but instead looked at Sieg with a hint of expectation in her eyes.

"Foster father? Navy?"

Sieg was completely bewildered by Zephyr's words.

Joining the Navy? Isn't that just infiltrating the enemy's headquarters? Isn't that even more exciting than having CP0's Stussy by your side back then?

Sieg's expression immediately turned serious, and he said righteously:

"I regret to decline."

"I am no longer the naval warrant officer I once was."

"To be honest, there are too many restrictions in the Navy, and the Navy's philosophy is fundamentally at odds with mine."

At this point, Sieg's heart stirred, and he continued casually:

"What I want to be... is a hero who protects the world in my own way, not a navy hero."

Chapter 364 The Path of Justice

hero?

After hearing what Sieg had to say, Zephyr and Sengoku reacted differently.

Zephyr was visibly taken aback, gave Sieg a deep look, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Seeing the hibiscus in front of him, he felt as if he were seeing his former self.

The Warring States period remained calm, though he secretly shook his head inwardly.

“Since our ideologies differ, Zephyr, there’s no need for us to force Higuma to return to the military,” Sengoku said.

He didn't really want this naval warrant officer, whom he had "bullied," to rejoin the navy; otherwise, it would be very awkward if they ran into each other in the future.

Zefa pondered for a moment, then spoke:

"Higuma, you don't need to refuse so quickly."

"The Navy is currently in dire need of personnel and has just launched a large-scale recruitment campaign. For someone as talented as you, we will offer you a very attractive salary."

"With your record of capturing the human trafficking group and assisting me in arresting the Origami Pirates... when you return to the Navy, you will at least have the rank of captain, instead of being a junior officer."

“As for the philosophy... that can be worked out gradually.” When he spoke of the philosophy, Zephyr’s eyes became profound.

“I will think about it carefully.” Sig nodded solemnly.

He was unconvinced: "Even if I die, I would never join the navy. It's such a dangerous place. If my identity is exposed, I'm finished!"

"By the way, Higuma, you'd better not go out unnecessarily lately. Something bad might happen in the Sabaody Archipelago recently."

Having said that, Zephyr and Sengoku prepared to take their leave.

This last sentence caused Sieg's expression to change slightly, dispelling his idea of ​​sneaking away immediately.

"Is something big happening in the Sabaody Archipelago? Is it related to Tesoro's Angel-Angel Fruit, or to the appearance of Mihawk?"

Sieg fell into deep thought.

.........

On the other hand, after leaving Sig's house.

Zephyr and Sengoku walked along a path, and Zephyr was lost in memories.

hero...

"Sengoku, what made you decide to join the Navy in the first place?" Zephyr suddenly asked.

"Why are you suddenly asking this?" Sengoku asked, a little puzzled, but seeing Zephyr's serious expression, he replied:

"Of course, it's to end this era of rampant piracy and bring justice and order to the sea."

At this point, Zhan Guo also became serious, his eyes behind his round spectacles shining brightly—the light of his ideals.

"My path to justice is one of supreme righteousness!"

Zephyr narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly:

"A justice that reigns supreme? No wonder he's the only man in the Navy with Conqueror's Haki."

"Hehe...and what about you, Zephyr?" Sengoku chuckled and asked in return.

"I?"

Zefa didn't answer immediately; his eyes darted around.

He reminisced about his childhood.

“At first, I just wanted to be a righteous hero,” Zephyr laughed.

But beneath the laughter lurked a hint of doubt.

He once believed in the Navy's justice more than anyone else.

But after so many years in the Navy, Zephyr has experienced too much and increasingly feels out of step with the current naval ideology.

For example, above the Navy is the World Government, and above the World Government are the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons...

For example, the Seven Warlords of the Sea system...

This admiral, known for his "no-kill" policy, is actually an anomaly in the navy.

In the time it takes to exchange a few words, they have already reached the encirclement set up by the navy.

"The situation has changed, so retreat with me." Sengoku waved his hand.

"Come back to Naval Headquarters with me."

The fact that Higuma was suspected to be Higuma was an absolute secret, and Sengoku did not inform his subordinates about it.

.........

Upon returning to headquarters, Zephyr and Sengoku immediately went to the Marshal's office and recounted everything that had just happened.

"Is Sun Bear really not Sig?" Sora was also somewhat taken aback.

However, the Conqueror's Haki of the Warring States period cannot be faked.

“This is a good thing, it means Sig is really dead.” Kong nodded.

After he finished reporting, he saw that Zefa was still standing in the same spot.

"Is there anything else?"

"Marshal Kong, I have an idea," Zephyr said solemnly.

"The world is becoming increasingly chaotic, and the navy's strength is stretched thin. I hope to establish a completely new and independent naval force and recruit new soldiers worldwide..."

As he listened, Kong's expression gradually became serious.

"Your idea is quite audacious... but even as the Fleet Admiral, I cannot approve such a thing."

Kong patted Zefa on the shoulder, with a touch of emotion:

"It is unlikely to be an independent staff."

"But if it's a slightly special new branch, the World Government might still have a chance to agree."

............

That afternoon, at Sieg's home.

A floating panel appeared in front of him, and Sieg glanced at it, his eyes widening in surprise.

KING's compatibility increased from 83% to 87%.

Not only KING, but also the card synergy of Nobita Card and Gian Card has been slightly improved.

"Could it be that my way of playing this role is the right way?"

The thought popped into Sieg's mind.

Come to think of it, Sig's current appearance is that of King, and his lines and ideas are also very similar to King's. You could even say that he is now playing King in the One Piece world.

Not only that...

The original Sig was a wanted criminal with a billion-dollar bounty, representing the forces of evil, and the king of the sea bandits.

No matter how righteous their actions are or how much they save the city, their reputation will never be good, and they will never become a hero with a positive image.

However, this problem can be solved by changing its appearance.

Thinking about this, Sig suddenly felt... being a navy officer didn't seem so bad.

After thinking for a while, Sieg's gaze fell on the newspaper on the table again.

Zhan Guo did not take the tabloid with him, but left it there.

"Speaking of which, I was just one step away from completing that system mission to earn a billion Berries..."

"I want to become stronger, I need more cards..."