One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Chapter 266: The Dragon's Invitation, the Teacher's Choice

That one word, "teacher."

It contains no falsehood.

It's a term of respect that comes from the core of one's being.

Two words.

Let Zephyr break through the defense directly!

He called me...teacher?

How long has it been?

Since leaving the Navy, how long has it been since anyone called him "teacher" so sincerely?

That was the identity he was most proud of in his life.

Seeing Zefa's stiff reaction, the dragon took a step forward.

He adopted a humble posture and looked sincere, as if waiting for a lost mentor to return to the right path.

The dragon stood before Zephyr.

At this moment, he is simply a former student pleading with his teacher to come out of retirement.

The dragon looked at Zefa.

Looking at that face covered with wrinkles and scars, it was a testament to the cruelty etched by time.

"Join us, Professor Zephyr."

Each word struck the ground with a resounding thud.

Zefa did not respond.

Sunglasses concealed his eyes, but his tightly pursed lips betrayed the turmoil within him.

The dragon is not in a hurry.

He knows this teacher.

A man who values ​​"justice" more than his own life.

Getting him to abandon his decades-long beliefs and join a rebel organization is harder than killing him.

"I know you are unfamiliar with the revolutionary army."

"In your eyes, we may be a mob, thugs who only create chaos, and cowards hiding in the shadows."

Zefa snorted coldly.

This has indeed been his idea all along.

"But, teacher!"

"You know better than anyone that the current world government is still the one you once swore to protect with your life!"

Zefa's breath hitched.

"That government that tries to cover up its crimes and erase history!"

"That government that cut off your arm and slaughtered all your students for the sake of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

"That government that treats ordinary people like dirt and Celestial Dragons like gods!"

With each word the dragon spoke, Zefa's body would tremble uncontrollably.

Every word and sentence was tearing open his wounds.

Our goal is not chaos.

The dragon stepped forward, its eyes flashing with an alarming light.

"Instead, we will establish a new order free from oppression! A world where justice is no longer a fig leaf! A world where heroes like you don't need to shed blood and tears!"

The air was deathly still.

Only the sound of the dragon resonated in everyone's heart.

The dragon stretched out its right hand.

An invitation.

"Come on, teacher!"

The dragon's voice suddenly rose in pitch, carrying the heat of blood.

"Come and lend us a hand! Let's work together to overthrow that corrupt world government!"

Zefa looked at the hand in front of him.

My vision started to wander.

He seemed to see the naval academy from decades ago.

Sunlight bathed the playground.

The young Garp, who always grinned foolishly, also reached out his hand to pull him out of the mire.

The scene then shifts again.

Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru.

Countless young, innocent faces, their eyes shining with a desire for justice, reached out to him seeking his guidance.

"Teacher Zephyr!"

"teacher!"

Countless voices overlapped and exploded in my mind.

Zefa's breathing became heavy.

The horrific scene of family members being brutally murdered by pirates.

The Navy's cold, hard order to kill.

He was once the sword that judged evil.

In the end, however, he stabbed himself in the chest.

betray.

A complete and utter betrayal.

Zefa gritted his teeth.

He raised his intact left hand, which hovered in mid-air, trembling like a leaf falling in the wind.

That was his last vestige of dignity as a "Naval Admiral".

"This old man..."

"I am... a Navy Admiral..."

This was his last act of defiance.

Just then.

A lazy yet sharp voice interrupted.

"He was a former admiral who was betrayed and hunted down by the navy."

Chen Ye.

He leaned back in his chair, toying with his teacup, his eyes filled with a mocking gaze.

This stab hit right in the heart.

Zefa suddenly turned his head and glared at Chenye.

Chen Ye didn't back down at all, still sporting that irritating smile.

"Zeffa, don't forget who saved you."

"And don't forget who threw you away like trash."

"The current Marine Admirals are Kizaru and Akainu. And you, Zephyr, in their eyes, are just a stain that needs to be removed."

Chen Ye's words were devoid of any emotion.

He tore off the last veil of pretense.

Zefa froze.

Yes.

Admiral Zephyr is long dead.

Now, he is nothing more than a vengeful ghost.

Since justice has nowhere to hide.

Since that corrupt system cannot tolerate him.

Then so.

Overthrow it!

Smash it completely!

The conference room was deathly silent.

The confusion in Zephyr's eyes gradually faded.

The pain and struggle receded like the tide.

Instead, there was an unprecedented determination.

That was the look in "Black Arm" Zephyr's eyes when he truly returned.

He suddenly stretched out his left hand.

He grasped the dragon's hand firmly.

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound.

Their hands were clasped tightly together.

Zefa stared at the dragon, his eyes behind his sunglasses bloodshot.

He grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth.

"I'll stay too!"

The sound was like thunder, causing dust to fall from above.

The domineering head instructor is back.

"dragon!"

Zefa shouted loudly.

"Since you call me teacher, then don't disappoint this old man!"

He gripped the dragon's hand tightly, leaning forward with an imposing aura.

"I'm entrusting these old bones of mine to you!"

"but!"

Zefa's tone suddenly shifted, becoming menacing.

"If you dare to betray justice, dare to be as corrupt as the World Government..."

"I'll be the first to destroy your base! And crush your head!"

This is a threat.

It is also the deepest expectation.

Despite the excruciating pain in his hand, Long looked at the elderly man who had regained his energy and spirit.

He smiled.

The revolutionary leader, who always carried the weight of the entire world on his shoulders, was now smiling like a child who had received candy.

"It's a deal!"

The dragon responded loudly.

"Teacher Zephyr!"

They gripped each other tightly again.

He turned around, looking at Chen Ye sitting there, and then at Qingzhi in the corner.

The dragon straightened its back.

She exuded an aura of power.

That was the kind of regal bearing that truly gathered heroes from all over the world through personal charisma.

"With the addition of Zephyr and Aokiji..."

Long looked around at everyone, his voice filled with pride.

"The power of our revolutionary army has grown once again!"

"This is a historic moment."

"From now on, we will no longer be ghosts that can only roam in the shadows."

"We will have the confidence to confront the Navy Headquarters head-on!"

Two generals-level combatants.

In addition, there were the original members of the revolutionary army.

This power was enough to give those five old men in Mary Geoise nightmares.

Aokiji pulled up his blindfold, looked at the excited dragon, and then at the arrogant Zephyr.

"Oh dear, looks like I'll be busy from now on."

He said it was troublesome, but a smile curled up at the corner of his mouth.

This feeling doesn't seem so bad.

Chen Ye picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

Everything is going according to plan.

Zefa, that arrogant old man, needs someone like Long, who values ​​relationships, to handle him.

but.

This is not enough.

Trust requires a price to be paid.

Especially for Zephyr and Aokiji, who have just joined.

We need to reassure them.

Dragon also thought of this.

He calmed himself down.

Now that we're family, there's no need to hide anything.

The smile on the dragon's face vanished, replaced by an air of profound mystery.

He glanced at the doorway to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

Then he gestured for everyone to come closer.

"Everyone."

Long lowered his voice.

"To show the sincerity of our revolutionary army."

"Also to put the three of you at ease."

Long paused, his gaze sweeping over the three faces.

"I have some top-secret information to tell you three."

"This is a top-secret information of the Revolutionary Army; no one knows it except me."

Zephyr raised an eyebrow.

What kind of information is so mysterious?

Aokiji also removed his blindfold and sat up straight.

Information that makes Dragon take it so seriously must be extraordinary.

Chen Ye's expression was ambiguous, neither smiling nor frowning.

He probably knew what the dragon was going to say.

But he still cooperated by making a curious expression.

Watching a play is a pleasure, isn't it?

Especially seeing the expressions on Zephyr and Aokiji's faces when their worldviews collapse.

Seeing the curiosity that had been piqued in everyone, Long nodded.

"Our revolutionary army has planted the deepest thorn in the navy."

"He is our comrade."

"They are also our eyes at the highest levels of the Navy."

Zefa frowned.

An undercover agent at the highest levels of the Navy?

Which lieutenant general?

Aokiji was also somewhat puzzled.

Having been in the Navy for so many years, who was the mole? How come he didn't notice anything amiss?

"You all know this person."

The dragon's voice carried a hint of amusement.

"In fact, we are very familiar with each other."

Zephyr and Aokiji exchanged a glance.

Garp? Sengoku? Tsuru?

I can't guess.

The dragon stopped keeping him in suspense.

He pulled out a photo.

The photo was folded very well, clearly something he treasured.

The dragon slowly unfolded the photograph.

then.

"Snapped!"

He slammed the photo heavily onto the rough stone table.