Smoker and Hina were equally shocked.

  “Teacher Zephyr...”

  her of them expected Zephyr to show up in person.

  Hina, in particur, was stunned. She had been on high alert using Observation Haki, worried that Dofmingo might unch a surprise attack. Yet, despite her vigince, she hadn’t sensed Zephyr’s prese all.

  Zephyr Smoker and Hina, then walked casually over to the sofa, where he sat heavily. His sharp gaze nded on Zean.

  “Zean, I never expected your time in the North Blue to be so... colorful.”

  Zean forced a strained smile, ohat looked worse than g.

  “Teacher Zephyr, you must be joking...” she said, quickly pulling out a pack of fine cigars, them up with both hands before lighting one for him obediently.

  Inwardly, she anig. She had anticipated Zephyr’s arrival but hadn’t expected him to arrive at such a precise moment to overhear the incriminating rec. Now, there was no way to expin her way out of this.

  Still, she g to a sliver of hope. She knew her teacher’s personality well. Zephyr was strict but warmhearted, someone who scolded harshly yet always ed up after his subordinates’ mistakes.

  But her relief was short-lived.

  Before she could catch her breath, aall figure ehe . Zean’s fastantly turned pale.

  “Sakazuki... big brother, why are you here too?”

  Sakazuki’s stern gaze fell on her, his expression unreadable.

  “It’s been a while, Zean,” he said coolly.

  Under his pierg stare, beads of sweat formed on Zean’s forehead. In a fluster, she stammered, “I-I expin!”

  Zean’s e to Sakazuki ran deep. Ba the North Blue, she had served directly under him. Later, when she became a captain and joihe Navy’s elite training program, Sakazuki had been her instructor.

  A signifit portion of Zean’s naval career had been under Sakazuki’s guidance. Her early awakening of abilities was rgely thanks to his meticulous training.

  Sakazuki said nothing further. He approached Zean step by step, f her to retreat until she actally bumped into a table.

  The impact caused the table to shake, and with a soft *thud,* the ill-fated Den Den Mushi fell to the ground.

  “Uh...” Sman cautiously, “Vice Admiral Sakazuki, that Den Den Mushi is an important piece of evidence. I hope you—”

  Before he could finish, Sakazuki stood in front of Zean, his right hand transf into molten va.

  Smoker froze.

  *Wait, is he really going to attack her? That’s... direct.*

  Zean’s eyes welled up with tears. “Sakazuki big brother...”

  But Sakazuki’s molten hand didn’t strike Zean. Instead, he reached doicked up the Den Den Mushi. With a single squeeze, it was reduced to a lump of charred remains.

  Smoker and Hina: “???”

  Den Den Mushi: “...”

  Sakazuki turo Zephyr and bowed deeply.

  “Teacher Zephyr, I vouch for Zean’s character. She would never spire with Dofmingo. If any issues arise, I will take full responsibility.”

  Zephyr didn’t respond immediately. He tinued leafing through Dofmingo’s files with an indifferent expression. Finally, he said gruffly, “The evidence is gone now. What’s the point of this speech? Do you expect me to vict a rear admiral without proof?”

  Then, with a dismissive wave, he added, “Stand up. Sihis is the first time I’ve seen you bow, I’ll give you this one.”

  “Very well. Let’s leave it at that. Smoker, infarp of the resolution.”

  “Yes, sir,” Smoker replied.

  Sakazuki straightened up. “Thank you, Teacher Zephyr.”

  Zean, overwhelmed with emotion, suddenly threw herself at Sakazuki, hugging his waist tightly. Tears streamed down her face.

  “Sakazuki big brother, I knew you’d believe in me!”

  Sakazuki stiffened, his usual stoic expression giving way to an awkward, irritated look.

  After a moment of fumbling, Sakazuki turo Smoker and Hina.

  “Thank you for looking after Zean.”

  Smoker, caught off guard, raised an eyebrow. Wasn’t the infamous “Red Dog” supposed to be a cold, unapproachable figure? Could it be that beh the icy exterior y a warm heart?

  Hina, however, gnced between Zean and Sakazuki and came to a sudden realization.

  Zean, oher hand, bristled at Sakazuki’s ent.

  “Wait a minute! What do you mean by ‘looking after me’? I could’ve handled Dofmingo on my own!”

  Sakazuki shot her a stern look. “Don’t be ridiculous. If it weren’t for them, you’d already be dead.”

  “Uh...” Zean faltered, looking embarrassed. “When did you and Teacher Zephyr arrive?”

  Zephyr, still p over the dots, replied without looking up, “We got here just as yht began...”

  “Had you not been on the brink of death, I wouldn’t have been so le about this i.”

  Smoker frowned slightly. “Teacher Zephyr, if you and Vice Admiral Sakazuki were here, why did you let him escape?”

  Zephyr waved off the . “pared to a small fry like him, it’s far more important to know whether my subordinates are or not.”

  “Fair enough...” Smoker said with a resigned sigh.

  To Zephyr and Sakazuki, Dofmingo might seem like a minor threat. But Smoker knew just how dangerous that man truly was.

  Still, things weren’t all bad.

  Dofmingo had suffered a signifit setbad wouldn’t rise to power as he might have otherwise. Plus, there lenty of leverage to gain from this situation.

  Zean caught on to Zephyr’s implications aated before asking, “Teacher, are you saying...?”

  Zephyr nodded. “Though you did work with Dofmingo, it was merely a case of the underworld dev itself. There’s no crime in that.

  “As for the rec, the deliberate editing is far too obvious to be credible.

  “This matter won’t be held against you, nor will it appear in your record!”

  “Really? That’s amazing!”

  Relief washed over Zean’s face. She quickly bowed deeply to Zephyr. “Thank you, Teacher Zephyr!”

  Theuro Sakazuki, her voiiionally rising. “Thank you, Sakazuki big brother!”

  The room grew quiet.

  Zephyr immersed himself in Dofmingo’s files, his expression shifting subtly. Meanwhile, the others stood silently, waiting.

  After a while, Zephyr let out a heavy sigh.

  “This Dofmingo... Tell me everything you know about him.”

  All eyes turo Zean. Among those present, she was the most familiar with Dofmingo.

  Without hesitation, Zean began reting everything—his personality, fighting style, methods, and past exploits.

  After gathering most of the intelligence about Dofmingo, Smoker decided to leave out one critical detail—his former identity as a Celestial Dragon. Revealing that would raise questions he couldn't answer.

  Zefa rubbed his temples as Smoker finished. "Smoker, you’re right. Letting him go was a mistake!"

  Akainu looked intrigued. "Teacher, what’s wrong?"

  Zefa sighed. "I thought he was just another small-time crook, but he’s much more deeply embedded than I expected."

  "tries, pirates, the underworld... even the gover and navy—he’s infiltrated them all. This level of scheming isn’t typical for pirates."

  Zean nodded. "I agree. He’s incredibly dangerous. If we eliminate him, we should do it quickly."

  Zefa held up the dots. "This situation is bigger than Dofmingo alone. Sihe start of the Great Pirate Era, the dark forces have grown immensely. We've tried to infiltrate them, but our efforts haven’t been very successful.

  "CP seems to have managed, but they hoard their intel and leave us in the dark. It’s a frustrating position to be in. However," Zefa smirked, "this might be the perfect opportunity."

  The others exged puzzled gnces.

  ---

  **That night.** On a quiet, remote isnd to the east, a small, peaceful town y in silence.

  The tranquility shattered as a dog barked wildly ireets, only to whimper and fall silent moments ter.

  Se?or Pink helped the injured Dofmingo stagger along, stepping over the mangled remains of the dog. They stopped in front of the town’s rgest mansion.

  "Young master, this is the tallest building here," Se?or Pied.

  Dofmingo nodded, and the two entered. Screams soon echoed from the mansion, and blood spttered against the windows.

  Eventually, Pid Diamante arrived, following the pre-arranged emergen for the Donquixote Pirates. When separated, they regrouped at the tallest building on the isnd.

  "Young master, are you alright?!" Pica asked, rushing forward.

  Diamante fell to his kears streaming down his face. "This is all my fault! If only I had been stronger..."

  Dofmingo chuckled darkly. "What’s done is done. For the family, I’d sacrifiything. But now, tell me everything that happened while I was away."

  The three reted their battles, though Diamante carefully omitted the details of his earlier blunders.

  Hearing their ats, Dofmingo covered his fa frustration. "So it was my impulsiveness... I not only failed to secure navy support but also pushed Zean to bey enemy. And Trebol..."

  He had saved Diama lost Trebol, along with most of his crew, resources, and assets. In a single night, Dofmingo was left with nothing.

  "Where’s Vergo?" Diamante asked.

  "He’s on a separate mission," Dofmingo replied curtly.

  "So, what’s the pn now?"

  A sinister grin spread across Dofmingo’s face. "Simple. We rebuild. This small setback won’t crush my ambition. We’ll start here, with this town."

  ---

  As dawn broke, early risers iown discovered the mansion’s doors wide open. One curious vilger stepped inside, only to stumble upon a bloodbath. Screaming in horror, they alerted the others.

  Hearing the otion, Pica turo Dofmingo. "Young master..."

  Dofmingo’s voice was cold. "These noisy ants are a nuisance. Silehem."

  Piodded. "As you wish."

  He melded into the walls, and moments ter, the screams outside were cut short, leaving only eerie silehe once-vibrant townspeople were now lifeless remnants.

  As Dofmingo and his group stepped over the age, heading toward the outskirts, they heard faint g.

  "Papa... Mama... What happeo everyone?"

  The sobbing beloo a small green-haired girl carrying a baby on her back. Despite her tears, she desperately tried to pull her panions to safety.

  But the other children, frozen with fear, either vomited, broke down, or pushed her away. Uerred, the girl wiped her tears and resolutely walked toward the forest alohe baby still ging to her back.

  Watg her from a distance, Dofmingo licked his lips. "Se?or, follow that girl."

  "Yes, young master!" Se?or Pink nodded and vanished into the shadows.

  Dofmingo turo Pica. "Deal with the rest."

  "As you and."

  Dofmingo chuckled as he watched Pica vanish. "Children, huh? Perhaps they hold potential. After all... pirates should be groomed from a young age."