"Sorry, boss."
Seeing Zephyr finally leave, Gini breathed a sigh of relief. Then, looking at Ian with a look of shame, he said: "It's all because of me. If I hadn't been discovered, boss, you wouldn't have to..."
"I agreed to it myself."
Before Gini could finish, Ian waved his hand. "It has nothing to do with you. Besides, since that guy has already agreed to advertise for us."
His eyes narrowed slightly, and with a meaningful tone, he said: "You must use it wisely!"
"Of course! Boss, don't worry."
Hearing Ian's words, Gini shuddered and said seriously: "I will definitely use it wisely."
After all, he was a gangster; he would make sure to squeeze every last bit of advertisement value out of that old man!
"If there's nothing else, that's all for now."
Seeing Gini's serious expression, Ian nodded in satisfaction and said: "And remember to tell Village Chief Martin about the advertisement later."
"Understood!"
Gini answered seriously, then, as if remembering something, added: "By the way, boss, the Capone Mafia Family seems to have noticed the changes in the Baiscaiborg Island and discovered Victor's death."
"The Capone Mafia Family?"
Ian frowned at Gini's words. "They only noticed the changes in Baiscaiborg Island? Did they do anything else?"
"Not really, but they seem to be investigating your identity, boss."
Gini thought for a moment, then shook his head and said: "They seem wary of something and were afraid to act rashly. They even sent someone to ask if I wanted to join the Capone Mafia Family, but I followed your advice, boss, and flatly declined."
"Wary about what? Did they discover the Chief Instructor of Marine Headquarters is here?"
Ian rubbed his chin thoughtfully, as if realizing something.
The Castle-Castle Fruit was in his hand. If Devil Fruits truly could consciously choose their owners, then it wasn't surprising that the Capone Mafia Family had set their eyes on him.
So… Ian raised his head and looked at Gini, saying: "Do you want to eat a Devil Fruit?"
Once someone eats it, let's see how it chooses its master then.
"Devil Fruit? The treasure of the sea?"
Gini was stunned.
After Ian left, he had specifically researched the treasure of the sea.
This was a treasure worth at least a hundred million belly. Who would have thought the boss would actually let him eat it?
And it was rumored that consuming the treasure of the sea would grant incredible abilities, though the side effect was that one would become a landlubber.
Thinking of this, Gini smirked. "Boss, I don't want to be a landlubber."
"With your swimming ability, it doesn't matter whether you have it or not. You think you will be fighting underwater? Keep dreaming."
Ian glanced at Gini and said: "The Castle-Castle Fruit's ability isn't bad. It allows your body's interior to become like a fortress; you can shrink anything, like your subordinates, cannons, even horses, and store them inside your body, then launch attacks from within."
"So amazing?"
Even Gini, who had been prepared, was taken aback by Ian's words.
Then, rubbing his hands awkwardly, he said: "Boss, is there a Devil Fruit that makes you invisible? When I was a kid, I had this dream, boss, what's with that look? It really was just a childhood dream!"
Ian: "..."
As a man, do you really think I don't get it?
Ian stared speechlessly at Gini, who was rubbing his hands together, and said unhappily: "Yes, but..."
He paused for a moment: "I don't know where it is, and whether it has been eaten."
"Boss, if you don't know, that means maybe it hasn't been eaten yet!"
Gini clapped his hands excitedly: "I've decided. I'm going to eat that Devil Fruit and fulfill my childhood dream!"
"... As you wish! Keep an eye on the Capone Mafia Family. If I'm not here and you need to report something, you can talk to Robin."
Honestly, Gini wasn't really suited for it; his body was too weak. Even if he ate it, he probably couldn't hold many people inside.
He wondered if giving that Devil Fruit to a giant would make an even bigger fortress?
A mobile war fortress?
"Understood!"
"And remember to develop Baiscaiborg Island well. If there's nothing else, you may go."
"Don't worry, boss, I'll definitely develop Baiscaiborg Island well! I'll be leaving now, boss."
Ian waved his hand, then looked at Gini's departing figure, shook his head with emotion, and glanced back at the mountain behind.
Then, without hesitation, he turned and headed home, ready to rest for the day and be with his wife!
Although he didn't know what Zephyr was up to, he had only one goal: to keep moving forward and become stronger.
Especially since... He might even have children of his own.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Zephyr had just returned to his house, and a hint of emotion appeared on his face when…
"Purururu"
The Den Den Mushi on him began to ring.
Zephyr's eyelid twitched, and he immediately answered the call.
Instantly, a familiar voice echoed from the Den Den Mushi.
"Hahaha, Zephyr, what's up?"
The Den Den Mushi, now looking like Garp, said cheerfully. "Already on your way? Sengoku's been nagging me since morning. I'm on vacation, but he just won't stop, it's so damn annoying."
"You have the nerve to say that?"
Hearing Garp's words, Zephyr's previously cheerful face darkened, and he shouted: "I'm a patient, a patient! Do you understand that, you bastard? And you still dumped the mission on me?"
"It's just one arm gone, nothing serious. Don't mind it."
"Don't mind it?! You're the one not minding it!"
Zephyr's mouth twitched as he glared at the Den Den Mushi, which looked oblivious to the fact that its comrade had become a cripple.
"Can't you show a little concern for an injured man?"
"I'm concerned! You're my best buddy in the Marines, of course, I care!"
"If you hadn't been picking your nose when you said that, I might have believed it!"
"Huh? How did you know I was picking my nose? Never mind, let's not talk about that."
Garp said cheerfully and immediately changed the subject. "I'll let Sengoku know when you're leaving. Don't worry, it's not a dangerous mission."
"Just investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the G-5's base commander and the cause of the Pirate crew's attack, and then review the situation with Rear-Admiral Vergo, who's acting as the G-5 base commander."
"I've already done some research for you. Rear-Admiral Vergo is quite a nice guy. He will definitely treat you well."
"Is that so? Then I'm relieved. I've handed the mission over to someone else!"
Garp: "...?"
I gave it to you, and you gave it to someone else?
"Don't worry, I've handed it over to my students."
Zephyr said with a grin while watching the confused-looking Garp Den Den Mushi. "I trust they will handle it well."
"Your two students? Fine!"
Hearing Zephyr's words, Garp scratched his head and said nonchalantly: "I don't think there will be any danger. As long as we don't get discovered by Sengoku, he's been really annoying lately. That's all. If nothing else, I'm hanging up!"
"Wait a minute, Garp. I promised a kid I would teach him your Armament Haki training method!"
"Kid? The kid who saved you earlier? Sure, go ahead. Anything else?"
"One more thing."
Zephyr said with a vacant look in his eyes. "I'll send you a few barrels of wine!"
"Send a few barrels of wine? How embarrassing!"
Garp's Den Den Mushi was stunned for a moment, but within a second, he smiled and said: "When will it be sent?"
"In a few days!"
"Then I'm hanging up. I'm looking forward to your wine!"
"Wait, there's one more thing!"
Sensing that Garp was about to hang up, Zephyr quickly stopped him.
Seeing Garp's confused look, Zephyr hesitated for a moment, then seemed to make up his mind.
In a serious tone, he asked: "Garp, let me ask you something."
"Why so serious?"
Garp's Den Den Mushi blinked. "What is it?"
"I have a friend who's a wanted criminal of the World Government. Do you think it's possible for the government to revoke the bounty?"
"A wanted criminal? What kind?"
"For example..."
Zephyr hesitated again, then said: "Like the Pirate King's son back then, if he just wanted a peaceful life, could the World Government withdraw the bounty?"
Garp: "..."
"Garp?"
"I was just wondering the same thing myself."
Zephyr: "...?"
"Hahaha, never mind, forget it!"
Before Zephyr could ask, Garp laughed and changed the subject, cheerfully saying: "Why are you asking that, Zephyr? You didn't do anything wrong, did you? Don't worry, old man, if you ever get publicly executed, I'll be there watching over you! I won't let anyone rescue you!"
"Get lost!"
Hearing Garp's words, Zephyr hung up the Den Den Mushi. "Damn bastard!"
Then, with a complex, melancholy sigh, he shook his head and muttered to himself: "Really... Impossible, huh?"
…
"How could it be possible..."
On the other end, Garp, his smiling face now carries a hint of melancholy as he rubs his chin.
"What's that old guy, Zephyr, up to? Don't tell me he has grown dissatisfied with the World Government after what happened last time..."
He sighed, then looked up at the black-haired, freckled boy running ahead. He shook his head while grinning and muttered to himself: "A simple life? Impossible!"
How could the World Government ever let someone carrying the bloodline of the Devil go free?