Chapter 174: Volume 2 – Chapter 76: Is That a Secret?

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Fleet Admiral's Office.

The air in the office was so heavy it felt like even the potted plants in the corners were holding their breath.

"Fleet Admiral Kong, here's the situation... Kaidou of the Beasts suddenly stormed the battlefield, disrupted our operation to encircle and take down Douglas Bullet, and captured Commodore Rogers Daren."

Sakazuki bit down on a lit cigar, his face pale and grim.

He wore a large Marine cloak, and underneath it, his bare upper body was tightly wrapped in blood-soaked bandages.

"Daren was my adjutant on this mission. That he was captured by pirates under my command is a failure in my leadership..."

His voice was cold as ice.

"I am willing to take full responsibility for this incident."

With the exception of Garp, still in the New World chasing Roger, nearly every high-ranking officer of Marine Headquarters was present.

As Sakazuki gave his report, Sengoku's expression darkened to an unbearable degree.

It had been his idea to pull Daren out of the training camp temporarily and assign him to Sakazuki's mission.

And now Daren had been taken by Kaidou...

Even if Kaidou's sudden appearance wasn't a miscalculation on his part, he couldn't justify it—especially not to Zephyr.

He knew all too well the expectations Zephyr had placed on Daren.

The strongest top graduate in the history of the training camp!

"I understand, Sakazuki,"

A low, rumbling voice finally came from Kong, seated at the head of the room.

His arms were crossed, and the powerful bronze muscles on his body looked like they had been carved from stone—clearly defined and brimming with strength.

Kong's stern gaze swept across the room before settling on Sakazuki.

"You didn't make a mistake in this operation. The responsibility doesn't fall on you."

"It was a chaotic situation—no one could've predicted that lunatic Kaidou would suddenly crash the battlefield."

Sakazuki's injuries alone made the severity of the fight obvious.

He'd already gone through a fierce battle with Douglas Bullet. With his condition deteriorating and stamina drained, it made sense he couldn't take on Kaidou as well.

"As for Zephyr... it's best we don't inform him just yet."

Kong pinched the bridge of his nose, hesitated, then continued slowly.

As both Zephyr's superior and former mentor, he understood the man well—especially his fierce protectiveness toward his students.

Zephyr had poured everything into his cadets, and with the training camp in a critical phase, learning of this now would only destabilize things.

It would be better to tell him after the rescue was carried out.

But just then—

"Damn it!! Out of my way!! Move, or don't blame me for what happens next!!"

An angry roar exploded from outside the Fleet Admiral's office.

"Sengoku!! You bastard!! Get out here!! I trusted you with my student, and this is how you take care of him!?"

The moment that familiar voice rang out, Sengoku's face fell completely.

Damn it!

Who the hell told Zephyr about this!?

His expression twisted. Teeth clenched, his face went through a storm of emotions before something clicked in his mind.

Wait a minute... before the meeting started, didn't Borsalino say he was going out for a walk?

Sengoku's head snapped toward him, eyes locking onto Borsalino—who was now sitting there lazily, calmly picking at his nails.

"Borsalino!! What the hell did you do!?"

The moment those words were shouted, everyone in the room winced.

Borsalino casually raised both hands in a surrender gesture, feigning innocence.

"Sorry, sorry. I ran into Zephyr-sensei while I was out for a walk. He asked how Daren was doing, so I told him..."

He paused, scratched his head, then gave a wide, sheepish grin.

"I didn't know that was something I wasn't supposed to say..."

Everyone: "..."

Sengoku clutched his chest in agony.

Staring at Borsalino's infuriatingly smug face, he felt an uncontrollable urge to smash those damn toad-shaped sunglasses into pieces.

He needs to be replaced.

I have to replace him as my adjutant!

At that moment, Sengoku's internal monologue was screaming. He trembled from sheer frustration.

Boom!

The office door was suddenly kicked clean off its hinges, exploding into splinters midair.

"SENGOKU!!"

Zephyr stormed in, purple hair bristling, sunglasses in place, with furious energy radiating from him. The guards behind him had clearly failed to stop his advance.

His eyes swept the room until they landed on Sengoku—who had instinctively tried to hide behind the others.

Zephyr gritted his teeth and roared,

"I want an explanation!"

Sengoku opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"You bastard... Daren is my student! The top of this year's training camp!"

When Sengoku stayed silent, Zephyr could no longer contain his rage. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing bulging muscles, and stomped forward.

"Zephyr-sensei, please don't..."

"Zephyr-san, calm down..."

"Zephyr-sensei..."

Guards and a few Vice Admirals rushed forward, latching onto Zephyr's arms and legs, trying to hold him back.

"Let go of me! I've had enough of this guy!!"

Zephyr struggled furiously, face turning red.

"'Strategic Genius' my ass! He's a damn moron!!"

"Today I'm smashing those damn glasses of his—hell, roast his stupid goat too! Let's split it and have a feast!!"

Hearing that, Sengoku's temper finally snapped.

Sakazuki's report had made one thing clear—his decision wasn't wrong.

Sending Daren, who could counter Bullet's Devil Fruit, had been the right call.

If it hadn't been for Kaidou's sudden interference, the mission would've been a complete success.

No one could've predicted that twist.

Rage surged. Sengoku rolled up his sleeves and growled,

"Let him go!"

"If he's not thinking straight, I'll knock some sense into him myself!"

The officers trying to hold them back looked ready to cry.

Zephyr: "Bring it! Who's scared of you!?"

Sengoku: "With that soft Haki of yours?"

Zephyr: "Hope you don't end up bawling!"

Sengoku: "Don't make me smack you in front of your student!"

The two old veterans were red in the face, hurling insults as they shoved away anyone who tried to break them apart.

"—Enough!!"

A thunderous slap shook the room as Kong brought his massive palm down on the desk. Stationery flew into the air, and the entire desk shattered with a loud crack, breaking into pieces across the floor.

"This is the Fleet Admiral's office! Not your damn old training yard for brawling!"

His booming voice echoed through the entire building, knocking dust loose from the ceiling. The walls shook, and black-red lightning crackled in the air, stirring up violent gusts that sent papers flying everywhere.

"You two want a fight that badly!? Then come fight me!"

...

(70 Chapters Ahead)

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