Zephyr stared at Taro and, following his example, slowly sat down cross-legged.
"How have those old fellows been lately?"
Taro was stunned for a moment before realizing Zephyr was asking about Garp and the others. He nodded and chuckled slightly, "They're all doing well. Vice Admiral Garp has been trying a donut-eating challenge lately."
"Tsuru... uh, I'm not quite sure what Vice Admiral Tsuru is busy with, but she's still in good health."
When he mentioned Vice Admiral Tsuru, Taro inexplicably thought of the scene where he called her "Grandma Tsuru," and he faltered slightly.
"Hmm, that's good then." Zephyr sighed and then looked at Taro again. "I didn't quite understand a lot of what you just said."
Taro was stunned again. I say, old man, your train of thought is a bit scattered. What are you doing?
Seeing Taro's confusion, Zephyr added, "Specifically, what you said about justice being people living and working in peace and contentment, living with dignity—that sentence."
"Can that really be achieved?"
Taro nodded and affirmed, "Of course it can."
"How?" Zephyr pressed.
"Huh?" Taro only then understood what Zephyr meant. Did he want to realize that kind of justice in this world?
Thinking about Zephyr's life, Taro fell silent. This was indeed a choice Zephyr would make.
In the first half of his life, he crusaded against countless pirates but never killed a single enemy.
It wasn't until he was 42, when his family was murdered by pirates, that he began to hate them.
Eight years ago, the recruit ship he led was attacked by pirates. His right arm was cut off, and all the recruits were killed except for Ain and Binz.
And then it led to this: leading Ain and Binz, forming the "Pirate Guerrilla Force," and scouring the seas for pirates.
"You don't know how either?" Seeing Taro's long silence, Zephyr lost his patience, his tone somewhat mocking. "I should have known it was impossible to achieve."
"It can be achieved." Taro couldn't take that tone. He thought for a moment before speaking again. "I have two ideas; I can tell them to you."
"Someone is already working on the first idea. I can try to get in touch with them..."
"Hey, don't worry. I know I'm a Marine. Just listen to me finish."
"Like this..."
Taro explained his ideas in detail. After finishing, he looked at Zephyr. "What do you think?"
"Are you sure those ideas of yours are useful to them? That they can achieve the goal of justice you mentioned?"
Zephyr stared at Taro and asked seriously.
"Of course." Taro said confidently. This has successful experience, okay? Thinking of my Glorious Celestial Empire... Zephyr was noncommittal. "Tell me your other idea."
Taro glanced at Ain and Binz on the distant hill, then leaned closer to Zephyr and whispered, "The second idea is a bit complicated. I'll explain it to you slowly."
"Actually, I just thought of this idea, and it happens to be related to the regret I mentioned."
"It's like this..."
Taro kept talking, and Zephyr nodded occasionally without interrupting.
Ain and Binz on the hill looked at each other in confusion.
"That's the idea for now. What do you think?"
Taro talked incessantly for a long while before finally asking for Zephyr's opinion.
"I think the idea you mentioned is worth a try." Zephyr had actually been thinking along with Taro as he spoke. He extended his right arm, which was fitted with a Sea Stone prosthetic. "Then, starting from now, we are officially partners."
Taro didn't expect Zephyr to agree so readily. For a moment, he was overjoyed. Excitedly, he raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and bumped it against Zephyr's Sea Stone fist.
"To our success!"
"To our success!"
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Ain and Binz also looked at each other, completely baffled.
Zephyr slowly stood up and waved to the two on the hill, signaling them to come over.
Taro stood up immediately after.
"I've decided to teach Taro the Six Powers. You two go back to the base first and tell everyone that the plan has changed. We'll be staying on the island for a while."
Zephyr instructed his two Disciples.
As Zephyr's loyal Disciples and subordinates, Ain and Binz were instantly worried. Ain spoke up urgently:
"Teacher Zephyr, don't trust this man so easily. He has to leave this island before sunset. It's impossible to learn the Six Powers in such a short time."
"Oh?" Zephyr didn't seem to care much; instead, he was even more curious. "You said that?"
Taro scratched his head and gave Ain an embarrassed smile before nodding to Zephyr. "Yes, I don't have my own ship. A Navy Captain brought me here, and I promised her I'd be back before sunset."
Zephyr glanced at the sun, which was gradually sinking in the west. "You seem very confident?"
"Yeah. I only need to see it once." Taro smiled. "I've heard that the Six Powers depend more on individual talent. Those with high talent can even develop more derivative Moves."
"Coincidentally, I believe my talent isn't low!"
Hearing Taro's words, Zephyr would have certainly thought he was talking nonsense if not for their deep conversation earlier. But now that they were partners, he might as well demonstrate it once; it wouldn't take much time. As for how much Taro could learn, as Taro said, it depended on talent.
"Since I got this prosthetic, this body of mine really can't handle much strain. I'll only demonstrate once, so watch closely."
Upon hearing this, Taro immediately stepped back a few paces, concentrated his mind, and activated his Minor Formless Skill to watch Zephyr closely.
"Iron Body"
Zephyr clenched his fists, his blood flow accelerated, his muscle movement quickened, and his body filled with power.
[Iron Body learned successfully]
"Shave"
His feet stomped the ground dozens of times in an instant, and his speed exploded.
[Shave learned successfully]
"Paper Art"
He relaxed his entire body, using the changes in the air currents produced by his opponent's movements to dodge attacks aimed at him.
[Paper Art learned successfully]
"Tempest Kick"
Zephyr kicked rapidly, creating a vacuum to launch a slicing strike.
[Tempest Kick learned successfully]
"Finger Pistol"
He gathered all his strength into his index finger, striking rapidly with his hardened finger.
[Finger Pistol learned successfully]
"Moonwalk"
Zephyr leaped up, kicking continuously in the air. By kicking again each time he fell, he could Move his body left, right, or higher into the sky.
[Moonwalk learned successfully]
Zephyr was a bit out of breath when he landed back on the ground. The Sea Stone arm was, after all, a bit too heavy. He wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and looked at Taro. "How was it?"
Taro bowed happily to Zephyr. "Thank you, Teacher. I've gained a lot."
From start to finish, Ain didn't believe Taro's nonsense. She snorted, "You say you've gained a lot? I'll have to test that."
With that, she lunged at Taro with a dagger.
"Paper Art"
Taro relaxed his entire body and dodged Ain's strike.
Zephyr, Ain, and Binz were instantly petrified, their mouths agape.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.