Chapter 20

"Your excellency Admiral Zephyr…" Called out King Beer, as Zephyr came down from the last step. "It's an honour to have you here at our kingdom."

"Your majesty…" Zephyr responded with courtesy. After all, even if the man in front was frail as a snail, he is a king. "I'm just an instructor now. And I feel ashamed for having you come all the way to welcome me… please accept my apologies…"

"No, No… I did this with my own intention, Admiral Zephyr. Please don't be humble. I came here to invite you for a sumptuous dinner tonight at the palace…" The king spoke modestly while shaking Zephyr's hand.

"I'd be delighted, your majesty." Zephyr accepted the invitation. Before he came, he had checked the reports of this king, and was pleased. The people here love him, and they were living a good life under his rule, which made Zephyr's subconscious rate him positively.

After exchanging some pleasantries, the king walked to the carriage and left immediately. His purpose was to invite Zephyr for dinner, which in turn was his way of having some long discussions, deepening the relationship with the marines, and discussing exchanges regarding the future of his kingdom.

Zephyr walked next to the man in line, "Captain Leonas…"

"Sir!" replied Leonas immediately with a standard marine salute.

Zephyr's eyes then followed the boy who stood a foot shorter than him. His eyes observed the boy as if he was inspecting a rare piece of gold. "Victor?"

"Un-Uncle…" Victor stammered. Of course, he was acting.

"Are you really Von's boy?" he asked in an uncertain tone. "You look nothing like him."

"Father used to say that… that I took everything from my mother, and only his name" Victor responded.

He was nervous, of course, this was the final test, which he could do little about. But fortunately for him, Zephyr hadn't met Jacob, or his mother Selene.

There wasn't even a picture left after Victor incinerated anything that could doubt his identity. And the icing on the cake was, that Von Doom did in fact mention in the diary, telling Zephyr exactly the same words. "He has all of Selen's looks, and only my name."

Victor just wasn't sure if Zephyr remembered about it, and if so, this whole thing could be safely wrapped up.

"Hahaha, yes Von did say that… he used to sulk because you looked nothing like him." Zephyr laughed, while his eyes became a little dewy.

Suddenly, with a *THUMP*, Zephyr embraced Victor in a hug, "We're all we've got left now… I'm sorry Victor, for everything…" He whispered softly.

Victor's face became a little complicated. Yes, he was acting sentimentally all this time, but, when you hear a grown-ass man, a powerhouse of a grown-ass man say those words, with utmost sincerity, it would surely hit a person's soft spot.

Victor clenched his fist thinking, "This old man genuinely cares…"

Staying in Zephyr's embrace, he recalled some of the scenes of 'Film Z.'

"This man is strong, but at the same time has the biggest heart. The incredible love for his family, and the gentlest heart of justice…. What a sad ending for such a great man.

Old man," Victor's eyes became conclusive. "I will try my best, to sincerely think of you as my uncle… And who knows… In my previous life, I had loved my foster parents like they were my blood, so, I don't see why I can't feel the same towards you."

Victor resolutely made up his mind to care for Zephyr as a real uncle. "I promise to take care of you from today… I won't let any more tragedies that fate has planned for you, become reality. In this world, you are my family, as long as you feel I'm yours!" Victor thought carefully and decided in his mind.

"Haha…" Sensing the sudden change in Victor's manner, Zephyr let out an emotional laugh.

Zephyr was not aware, but his fate had changed from that moment onwards.

Gently letting go of the embrace, "Don't be nervous, son. We're family." Zephyr showed a high smile with all teeth displayed up to the canine.

"Hey Jaya, do that thing I told you last night…" Victor gave a command in his mind.

[Executing…]

[Stimulating the lacrimal glands…]

Following Jaya's voice, Victor's eyes began turning a little misty, then a teardrop accumulated in the corners of his eyes.

*Sigh* "I'm going to hell…" He thought, and with a stuttering voice, "t-Thank you… Uncle…" he mumbled, acting all emotional.

Lowering his head, Victor used the arm sleeves to wipe out the 'tears,' before raising his head again.

"Let's go inside, we've a lot to talk about…" Zephyr said before walking forward, occasionally giving salutes to the row of marines who stood in attention position.

Victor however did not move, not until Zephyr had moved far enough. He let out a long breath before following, feeling accomplished and somewhat impatient for what was to come.

Zephyr spent three days at Roshwan Island, one evening with the king and his family, one day inspecting the marine branch, and the next two days just chatting with Victor.

Victor was nervous at first, but after an exchange of few memories, he felt like it all went better than expected. Fortunately, he found content for all of Zephyr's queries in the journal.

A part of him even enjoyed, at the same time reminisced about everyone back on earth, his foster parents, colleagues, and friends.

The past two days for Victor felt like the most normal out of all, ever since he had crossed into this complicated universe.

On the fourth day, Zephyr and his warship, along with Victor, sailed off, back to where it came, to where Victor's journey, and his ambition would ultimately take root in this world, or even, in this universe.