PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

The vast conference hall of Marineford suddenly turned suffocatingly tense.

Every Marine officer present now wore a murderous expression. If not for the identity of their guest—CP0 agents—many would have already drawn their weapons.

After all, the majority of these officers had been personally trained by none other than Zephyr-sensei.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face darkened to its most ominous shade. He glared at the smug-looking Spandine, his voice erupting like thunder:

"Spandine, shut your damn mouth! This is Navy business and has nothing to do with CP0. Get out of Marineford—now! Or don't blame me for showing no respect to even the Five Elders!"

His roar echoed violently through the chamber, making the tightly shut windows tremble and rattle.

Many present were stunned—it was the first time they had seen Sengoku, usually so composed and focused on the big picture, explode in such fury.

But it also gave them reassurance.

At least on a matter of this magnitude—honor versus subjugation—their Fleet Admiral stood with them.

Spandine, however, remained unfazed. With the air of someone shielded by absolute authority, he sneered:

"Heh… Fleet Admiral Sengoku, your passion is impressive as always. I'm sure the Five Elders would be pleased to see it."

"However, they are concerned. Your delay in handling Zephyr might give him time to escape with a portion of your forces, shaking the balance of power across the seas."

"That's why, on the way here, we used the authority of Marine HQ to summon Zephyr back. He should be arriving right about… now. Let's go greet him, shall we?"

"You bastard!!"

Sengoku's fury erupted again, this time accompanied by a blast of pure Conqueror's Haki.

The explosive pressure cracked every window in the hall.

Spandine's expression twisted slightly, and he instinctively leapt back to brace himself.

Despite Sengoku's usual calm demeanor, anyone who truly knew their history understood—the "Buddha" was never some kindly monk. His rise to Fleet Admiral was forged in blood and unrelenting justice.

Just then, the doors burst open and a Marine officer rushed in, pale-faced and panting:

"Fleet Admiral! Urgent news—Zephyr-sensei is surrounded at the docks by CP0 agents! Conflict has broken out—you must come immediately!"

Everyone's face shifted.

The trap had been sprung.

"Sengoku! Get out here!!"

A deep roar thundered from the direction of the harbor.

Sengoku's expression hardened. He ignored Spandine completely and stormed toward the exit.

"Garp, come with me! No matter what happens today—we must stop Zephyr. If we must knock him out cold, so be it. We cannot let him leave with our forces, or this will spiral out of control!"

"Yeah," Garp replied, his usual smirk replaced by a grim scowl. He threw a final glare at Spandine and followed Sengoku out.

The other Marine officers, exchanging furious looks with CP0, surged out behind them.

They all knew: as long as Zephyr hadn't yet left Marineford, this could still be treated as an internal affair. But if he escaped?

The Five Elders would have a perfect excuse to issue their next command—extermination.

Marineford's Sea Gate—Entrance to the Port.

Over a thousand Marine soldiers had assembled, forming a tense blockade. Around them, hundreds of CP agents watched like wolves, surrounding Zephyr, Binz, and Ain as they stepped ashore.

"Teacher Zephyr… was our plan leaked?" Binz asked quietly.

He was one of the few who had survived Weevil's slaughter and had been personally protected by Zephyr. He was also the first to pledge his life when Zephyr decided to break with the World Government.

But now, to be ambushed so early… something was wrong.

"No," Zephyr said darkly. "Sengoku may be many things, but he doesn't stoop to such tricks."

His once-gentle demeanor was gone.

His hair had been dyed purple and styled into a wild, spiky mane. Black sunglasses now covered his eyes. The kindly old mentor had vanished—what remained was a man of wrath and resolve.

He scanned the area like a hawk and spoke coldly:

"This wasn't Sengoku. This was CP0, masquerading under Marine HQ's name to lure us here."

"CP0?!" Ain and Binz's faces tightened.

The situation had just escalated beyond internal dissent. Now, with CP0 involved, this had become treason. They were staring down the same fate as CP9—hunted, disavowed, and marked for death by both the Navy and the Government.

A voice interrupted from the skies—

"Zephyr! This was indeed a trap laid by CP0. I had nothing to do with it, old friend."

Sengoku landed heavily on the dock, followed closely by Garp and several high-ranking Marines.

Spandine and his CP0 agents made no effort to hide, trailing smugly behind.

Zephyr's expression softened only slightly, but his gaze hardened when it landed on Spandine.

"Sengoku, I know this isn't your doing. If you still see me as an old comrade, then answer me this—"

"Do you choose to let Weevil walk free, or let me leave?"

The Marines fell silent.

They'd all grappled with this question in private. But now Zephyr had forced it into the open.

And with the Five Elders having already confirmed Weevil's appointment to the Seven Warlords, the Navy had little power to oppose.

Even Sengoku's protests had fallen on deaf ears.

Now Zephyr had pinned them against the wall.

And Spandine's smile widened—this was exactly what they'd come for. Push Zephyr into open rebellion, and the Navy's strength would be split once again. The Five Elders would win without lifting a sword.

But then, from the far end of the harbor—came a sudden voice:

"Teacher Zephyr… Weevil isn't going anywhere!"