The Great Voyage Begins with the Celestial Dragons

Chapter 139 A Training Opportunity

The next day.

"Professor Zefa, it's been a long time since we last communicated. I heard your elite training camp is doing very well."

Luther leaned back on the sofa, watching Gion sternly direct Hancock to do chores, while chatting casually with Zephyr.

"You never let me have a moment's peace whenever you come back. Thanks to you, the elite training camp has become much more lively."

Hearing Zephat's annoyed voice, Luther's smile widened:

"Professor Zephyr, how old are you? You're already thinking about taking it easy. What about the future of the Navy? What about us Celestial Dragons?"

"There's something off about what you're saying. So, what do you want from me this time?" Zephyr said casually.

Having spent a long time with Luther, and given that he was also a former admiral, he didn't have much reverence for the Celestial Dragons.

And to be honest, he really had to thank Luther.

Not only did they provide him with unconditional assistance in running elite training camps, but they even specially arranged for government personnel to reclaim land from the sea, creating a small island between the Sabaody Archipelago and the main base.

The island isn't large, but it's big enough for the elite training camp. They won't have to share training grounds with Marine Headquarters anymore.

As for Luther's habit of occasionally sending a few people in, he turned a blind eye to it.

He wouldn't teach someone who's truly useless.

However, Zephyr had to admit Luther's eye for talent. Whether it was Lucci, who left him a year earlier, or the few promising talents he had recently sent, their potential was excellent.

Especially the Jack that Sakazuki sent, and Black Maria, whose physical talents alone far surpass those of ordinary people. If they undergo systematic training, they will definitely become near-admiral level combatants.

For Zephyr, being a near-Admiral is already quite good; the Admiral level is something that can only be encountered by chance.

An opportunity like that in Gion is not something everyone can have. Now, with Kakei only at the level of an elite lieutenant general, the gap between the two has widened even further.

In Zephyr's view, talent is only the foundation for cultivating a general-level combatant. Systematic learning is absolutely necessary, and one must also undergo countless life-and-death battles.

Only in this way can one have a high probability of becoming a top-tier expert at the general level.

Otherwise, one has to take the unorthodox path like pirates. Out of a thousand potential admirals, only one might succeed. The others either die along the way or are wasted.

Luther sank into the sofa, chuckled softly, and revealed the purpose of his call:

"It's nothing major, just that there's a ready-made training opportunity, and I wanted to ask Teacher Zefa if the current elite training camp needs it."

"What level? What scale?" Zefa asked the key question directly.

He has no reason to refuse if the situation is right.

"The Sabaody Archipelago has been cleared of 20 islands. About 10 of them are considered lawless zones, with large numbers of pirates that need to be dealt with," Luther casually remarked.

Although he has a share of 30 islands, clearing 20 as part of the initial plan is actually enough.

Even if 20 are built, the other 10 islands will be turned into lawless places for pirates to stay, rather than being developed normally.

This was also the plan that he and Nassuro Sei finally finalized.

The Navy needs pirates to coat themselves through the Sabaody Archipelago and then pass through Fishman Island to reach the New World.

The Celestial Dragons and nobles need a certain degree of stability in the Sabaody Archipelago so that they can enjoy themselves and buy "daily necessities".

As a compromise, and given that Luther happened to want to get involved, the matter fell to him.

Pirates need to spend the money they steal, and nobles are certainly not short of money. How to balance the two and make them both willing to spend money comfortably is a problem that Luther needs to consider.

The Five Elders were not interested in the small profits generated by the Sabaody Archipelago, but rather in the stable environment it provided.

The Sabaody Archipelago is a place the Celestial Dragons frequent, and you never know when a couple of idiots might appear. At worst, they can only kill the idiots, but the Celestial Dragons' reputation can never be made up for.

In Luther's opinion, there are still too many Celestial Dragons.

Some of these are worthless junk; they have no reason to live and only waste resources.

On the other end of the phone, Zephyr didn't ask Luther why he wanted to clear out the Sabaody Archipelago. Instead, he compared the two sides' combat strength and gave the answer directly:

"Theoretically speaking, it is a good trial, but the elite training camp can only clear out one island at a time, so some will inevitably run away, and we have to consider the possibility of them returning."

"It's alright if they run away. Just plant the flags of the World Government, the Navy, and the Donquixote Family on the cleaned-up areas. I'd like to see which pirate dares to touch these places again."

Luther chuckled; he was actually looking forward to this happening.

After all, how can one establish an unapproachable image without demonstrating their authority a few times?

Luther planned to entrust the matter of the Sabaody Archipelago to Dalck.

This CP0 member who had followed him from the beginning was just the right person to handle things like communicating with the Five Elders.

An elite lieutenant general is enough to suppress the Sabaody Archipelago.

"Row!"

Zefa readily agreed; he had no intention of missing such a training opportunity that was so close at hand.

Moreover, since the target was a pirate, he had no psychological burden whatsoever.

"Do those people you left here need to come along?" Zefa asked.

"Who do you think is the most talented among them?" Luther asked, seemingly out of the blue.

“Maria and Jack, they both have excellent physical talent and are very young. If they are properly trained, they have the potential to become general-level combatants,” Zephyr said without hesitation.

He wasn't just talking nonsense; systematic training is completely different from growing up wildly like a pirate.

While pirates may teach each other, those who end up on the same ship are mostly at the same level.

As for those large fleets, those who are weaker usually don't even qualify for the main ship, let alone be trained.

By the time you become strong enough, you've already missed the golden period for growth.

“I think it’s Yamato,” Luther said with a smile.

In the future, these individuals will undoubtedly be the strongest in Yamato.

But if these kids were to train with Zephyr from a young age, it's hard to say who would be the strongest in the future.

"Hmph, you bastard Luther, don't doubt my ability to teach physical skills!"

The Den Den Mushi broadcast Zephyr's cursing, which only made Luther's smile widen:

"What's the use of just talking, Professor Zephyr? Of all the physical training students you've personally trained, are there any who are stronger than me?"

"Humph!"

All that came from Zefa's side was a disgruntled snort.

He was fairly familiar with Luther's abilities; among the students he taught, there was truly no one stronger in physical combat than Luther.

Of course, Sakazuki, a physical powerhouse whose strength lies mostly in his Devil Fruit powers, doesn't count. Besides, Zephyr has his pride, so he really didn't teach Sakazuki much.

"Haha, alright, Professor Zephyr, with their talent, they shouldn't miss this opportunity. Let them go. Even the most unremarkable Robin and Hiyori might surprise you."

Luther smiled and gestured for Zephyr to go ahead and do it.

None of the children he brought from Wano Country were easy to deal with.

Hiyori is, after all, a descendant of the Kozuki clan. Even if her talent is lacking, it won't be too bad. With proper training in swordsmanship from a young age, she might very well become a great swordsman.

"I understand. Then let me take a good look at the potential of those little guys."

Zefa's voice was filled with hearty laughter. He felt a sense of accomplishment as a teacher for being able to cultivate outstanding students.

Of course, Luther, Gion, and Kizaru are an exception; they're all traitors!

Zefa also understood from Luther's words that he should feel at ease and train Luther boldly.

With the addition of the Asura Child and the Cat-belly Serpent that Luther lent him, he was able to accomplish the goals set by Luther even without requesting support from headquarters.

Chapter 140 Teacher Zephyr, you probably never imagined…

"kill!"

The once peaceful Sabaody Archipelago was suddenly filled with countless shouts of killing.

The civilians consciously hid inside their houses, reinforced their doors and windows, and only dared to peek out through the cracks.

Most of them were delighted when they saw the navy cracking down on the pirates.

The people living in the Sabaody Archipelago come into contact with all sorts of pirates every day.

It's undeniable that some pirates will pay for things and spend money lavishly.

But most of the time, they eat without paying, take the food and run. If you say anything to them, they'll turn around and stab you.

Faced with these pirates, most of the civilians of the Sabaody Archipelago dared not speak out against them.

In other words, the same group of pirates would not stay for too long, mostly treating this place as a transit point. In addition, with the presence of the Navy, most pirates would also restrain themselves, which is why they maintained a peaceful coexistence on the surface.

Even more than pirates, ordinary people would rather encounter Celestial Dragons.

If you encounter a Celestial Dragon, kneel down and don't say anything, and everything will be fine. If you don't go out of your way to offend them, no Celestial Dragon will bother ordinary people like you.

After all, the Celestial Dragons consider themselves to be a different race from ordinary people, so they wouldn't just casually crush a couple of ants for fun.

But pirates are different; if they happen to fall for their wives or daughters, that's the beginning of tragedy.

This operation was commanded by Zefa, with Ashura Doji and Nekomamushi leading separate teams. One team cleared island 1 to island 10, and the other team cleared island 70 to island 79.

In the Sabaody Archipelago, the naval branch and government entrances are located on islands 60-69, the southernmost islands of the archipelago.

To the north lies islands 1-10, primarily a lawless area encompassing human auction venues and illegal zones.

To the west, near islands 70-79, lies mainly a hotel district and areas inhabited by ordinary people.

路德挑选的20座岛屿，便是1-10号以及70-79号岛屿。

"laugh!"

Yamato, wielding a Habakiri blade, slashed a fleeing pirate to death with a single blow, his face showing boredom.

"Hey, these pirates are way too weak."

Having been born in the New World, this was the weakest pirate she had ever seen.

"That's because Yamato-neechan is too strong."