Chapter 37

"Well, it's fate that these children were on the same ship as the one we were looking for. In the future, we will need quite a few loyal hands to take care of our family, so let's raise these children. I am sure at least a few decent ones will come out of the remaining children. Have Giolla take care of the children like our own family and groom them once they are here. And Diamante, once we get the children, I want you to dispose of every last pirate, but make sure to find out what happened to our shipment before you kill them off." Doflamingo crossed his fingers and passed his commands, then started making plans on how he should groom these children, who would very well become part of the inner circle.

"Understood, Doffy. Rest assured, I will take care of everything," Diamante assured, putting down the transponder snail and dispersing like a murder of crows. Doflamingo couldn't help but smirk at the way Diamante was showing off his Logia power of the soot fruit.

As Doflamingo contemplated the situation with the children and the future of their family, his thoughts involuntarily drifted to his brother, Rosinante. Ross had been away from the family for almost three years now, embarking on his own journey for reasons that only he fully understood. Although they kept in touch through the transponder snail from time to time, Doflamingo couldn't help but sigh when thinking about how much his brother was doing for the family, even in his absence.

With a sense of frustration and determination, Doflamingo clenched his fist. If only he had the strength, then his brother wouldn't have to struggle so much for their future. He felt a deep sense of responsibility as the elder brother, a desire to protect and support Ross in any way he could. It pained him to see his brother facing challenges alone, but it also fueled his resolve to become stronger himself.

Standing up from his seat, Doflamingo made his way to the training grounds. He needed to push himself further in mastering Haki, honing his skills and abilities so that he wouldn't be an embarrassment when his brother returned in the future. With each step, he reaffirmed his commitment to his family and his determination to ensure their success and prosperity, no matter the obstacles they faced in the future.

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It had been almost three years since I joined the Marines to train under Garp, and those years had been incredibly rewarding for me. My experiences in the New World had accelerated my growth to an alarming level. Currently, I found myself enthusiastically punching a decommissioned battleship during training, fully immersed in the physical exertion.

Accompanying me in this training session was Vergo, who had seamlessly integrated himself into the Marines since joining. Under Zephyr's tutelage, Vergo had shown steady growth and improvement. Despite our familial connection, we maintained the facade that I only knew him as Zephyr's adopted son.

"So that's where you guys were. You sure are diligent," Kuzan casually remarked as he strolled into our training area. It was a restricted section of the shipyard, accessible only to Garp and a select few of his confidants. Despite the decommissioned status of the ships, they still held value for the Marines due to the sea stone lining underneath most of them, making it an essential resource ground.

Kuzan had been undergoing rigorous training under Zephyr at Garp's recommendation and had recently achieved the rank of Commodore, a remarkable feat accomplished in record time.

I paused my punching routine to acknowledge the future Admiral's presence. "Kuzan-san, congratulations on your promotion. It seems you're the youngest Commodore in Marine history," I quipped, teasing him lightly.

"Look who's speaking, a 12-year-old commander," Kuzan retorted with a smirk. "I think you hold the record for the youngest Marine officer. Even Zephyr-san and your friend Vergo here joined the Marines at a more mature age, but here you are, already a high-ranking officer."

Kuzan's jest reminded me of my recent promotion by the Elders, following their request to nurture me within the Marines. Along with the promotion came a rare gift: a crystal Logia fruit from the Elders' collection. It was one of the most powerful Logia types, akin to the Magma and Glitter fruits. I couldn't decide whether to praise the Elders for their generosity or laugh at their unwitting contribution to empowering their future adversaries.

Vergo, standing by my side, acknowledged Kuzan's presence with a respectful bow, to which Kuzan responded with a curt nod. I couldn't help but admire how well Vergo had assimilated into his role. He was grooming himself to be the epitome of a Marine, and many within Marineford had already taken notice of Zephyr's son, believing him to be a future powerhouse of the Marines, much like his father.

"Seriously, looking at you guys working so hard at such a young age makes me feel ashamed," Kuzan remarked with a hint of jest. Despite occasional differences in opinions between us, Kuzan and I shared a warm friendship. He appreciated my candidness, even if it sometimes challenged the Marine hierarchy. He understood that my intentions were rooted in truth, and he aimed to shape himself to challenge the status quo within the Marines.

"So, tell me, Kuzan-san, what brought you here? I remember Garp-sensei mentioning a meeting for all high-ranking officers, Commodores and above. Has the meeting already concluded?" I inquired. There hadn't been any major change in the past few months within New World since Roger's departure following his clash with Garp.

However, just a day prior, Marine intelligence confirmed that the Roger Pirates were en route to the New World again. An emergency meeting was called to intercept them before they could enter. Garp proposed a plan to trap Roger in the Sabaody Archipelago before they could venture further into the New World.

Kuzan gestured for me to follow him, and I realized he wanted to discuss a sensitive topic away from Vergo's presence. Hastily gathering my things, I bid Vergo farewell and trailed after Kuzan toward the headquarters.

The new HQ was an absolute marvel; it had been fully remodeled into a formidable war fortress. After the devastating attack by the Bloodskull pirates, Kong spared no expense in fortifying the entire island of Marineford. Now, any pirate would think twice before even venturing close to the waters surrounding Marine HQ.

"So, tell me, Kuzan-san, what is it that you couldn't share in the presence of Vergo? I'm sure he'll get wind of it from his father soon enough," I mentioned, acknowledging Vergo's special status within Marineford.

"Well, the meeting ended abruptly," Kuzan began, his expression darkening at the mention of celestial dragons. "Garp-san wanted to confront Roger before he entered the New World again, but orders from higher-ups came through, forbidding any engagement with the Roger pirates near Sabaody, especially now that a Celestial Dragon is planning to visit the island."

"Ah, so Garp-san and the Fleet Admiral had another argument?" I interjected, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Yes, exactly," Kuzan confirmed. "With the World Nobles and Roger pirates converging on Sabody, Kong-san doesn't want to take any chances. He wants both Sengoku san and Garp san taking point."

"But how did Garp Sensei agree to such a request? You wouldn't have come to me if he hadn't agreed," I pressed, curious about Garp's acquiescence to the mission despite his disdain for the World Nobles.

"Oh, that was simple," Kuzan replied. "Kong-san threatened Garp-sensei with canceling his vacation for the next three years and freezing his snack budget indefinitely if he didn't agree to the mission."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. Threatening Garp's snack benefits was indeed a surefire way to ensure his compliance.

"But then Garp-san came up with a compromise," Kuzan continued. "He suggested that we take over the mission of escorting the World Nobles, and he would only intervene if the Roger pirates attacked. Otherwise, he'll remain at Marine Base in Grove 66 until the World Nobles return to their abode."

It was a typical Garp compromise, finding a way to fulfill his duty while still maintaining his principles.

"So, Garp-san made us the scapegoats, huh?" I couldn't help but chuckle at the so-called compromise. "Garp san becomes really smart when it comes to dealing with World Nobles, trying to find some sort of loophole to avoid interacting with them."

"So when are we to leave, Kuzan-san? I'm sure you're looking forward to your meeting with the World Nobles." I couldn't help but tease Kuzan. Like Garp, Kuzan, who was the apprentice of Garp, had a similar dislike for World Nobles, and having to play escort to them was more like an insult to him.

"Well, we need to leave in three days. The World Nobles will be leaving for Sabody in a week from now," Kuzan shared the schedule for our upcoming escort mission. Since joining the Marines, this was my first time joining a mission related to World Nobles. Because my direct superior, Garp, would always find some sort of reason to redirect such missions.

The next day, early in the morning, I was at the elite training camp. I had a habit of using the facilities because they were top-notch, and one couldn't expect such luxury in training equipment while out on the sea. So, I was making full use of these resources while I was in Marineford.

The clang of the weights echoed through the elite training camp as I pushed through yet another rep, the heavy barbell loaded with an unthinkable amount of weight. Beads of sweat dripped from my forehead, glistening like pearls under the harsh lights of the gym. Despite the early hour, a few other elite recruits had gathered around, their eyes wide with a mix of awe, shock, and perhaps a hint of fear.

Vergo, usually composed and stoic, couldn't hide his astonishment as he watched me effortlessly lift the massive weight. His expression spoke volumes, a silent acknowledgment of the monstrous stamina and strength I possessed. With each repetition, I pushed myself further, my muscles burning with exertion but refusing to yield.

As most of the elite recruits had vacated, the gym now had only a few individuals scattered around, each engrossed in their own training routines. Admiral Zephyr approached where I was pushing myself to carry out a few more reps, patiently waiting by the side as I pushed my limits. It took another five minutes before I finally set the bar back in a safe position, slowly sitting up amidst my drenched state. I was soaked head to toe, resembling someone who had just emerged from a swim rather than a weightlifting session.

After taking a few deep breaths and steadying myself, I stood up to greet the Marine Admiral standing before me. Despite any disagreements I may have had with Zephyr's idealistic approach of treating all lives as equal and refraining from killing pirates, I couldn't deny my respect for the man's strength and unwavering principles. In the canon, he continued to uphold his beliefs even after the loss of his family, a testament to his unyielding resolve. I couldn't help but wonder if I would possess such steadfastness if faced with a similar tragedy.

"Zephyr-san," I acknowledged with a respectful bow, showing my admiration for his leadership and dedication to his ideals.

"Ross, you're destined to become a pillar of the Marines in the future. I wish I had discovered you before Garp did; he never ceases to boast about you," Zephyr remarked with genuine admiration. "Initially, I was puzzled as to why Garp, who was staunchly against taking disciples, accepted you under his wing, especially considering he had just taken Kuzan as his apprentice not long before. But now I understand why. I wouldn't mind giving up an arm to have an apprentice like you."

Zephyr's praise was effusive, especially after witnessing the full extent of my talents. He couldn't help but commend me, having never seen anyone endure Garp's tutelage for so long at such a young age. Even Kuzan, at times, would grumble about the harshness of Garp's training. According to Garp himself, I could handle anything he threw at me, adapting to the grueling regimen instead of complaining.

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Currently updated until Chapter 50.