Infamy  

After a long silence, Sengoku finally spoke, "I see... So that is your answer..."

"Yes, that is my answer... I think I know what you're going to say next, but Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I suggest you give up. From the moment I killed those Marines, I never intended to turn back."

"Is there truly no way to change your mind?" There was a hint of pleading in Sengoku's voice.

"No."

"..."

Sengoku's heart ached with sadness, not only for the Marines but also for personal reasons. He had intended to groom Zavia as the next Fleet Admiral.

Yes, the next Fleet Admiral. Originally, Sengoku would have recommended Aokiji, but he saw more potential in Zavia.

Not only had Zavia mastered the Six Powers at such a young age, but he had also flawlessly learned both Armament and Observation Haki within two months under Zephyr's guidance. Moreover, he excelled in academic pursuits. Sengoku had inquired about Zavia's written exams at the academy, and he had scored A's or higher in every subject.

Such an exceptional talent had shifted Sengoku's recommendation from Aokiji to Zavia.

But alas, reality was cruel. Zavia would never become the Fleet Admiral. Not even an Admiral or Vice Admiral.

His promotion to Rear Admiral was entirely due to Valona's influence and a jest that had become reality. In short, becoming a Rear Admiral wasn't Zavia's intention. He had only aimed for the reward rank of Lieutenant Commander for achieving first place.

"There's no need to worry, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. I've thought this through. If you want to issue a bounty for me, go ahead. I don't want to stay in the Marines anymore anyway.

Also, this is my responsibility, it has nothing to do with you. You don't need to worry too much. This matter has nothing to do with you!" Zavia's gentle tone, reserved for those he considered allies, offered some comfort to Sengoku and the others.

"..."

Silence. After Zavia finished speaking, he was met with a deathly silence.

"I understand."

Click~

After seven minutes of silence, Sengoku simply uttered those words and hung up the Den Den Mushi.

"Sengoku, you..." Garp looked at Sengoku, his face etched with worry and anger, but mostly concern for his friend.

He had remained silent throughout, observing Sengoku. He knew that Sengoku must be feeling terrible right now.

"No need to comfort me, Garp. Zephyr, what do you think?" Sengoku took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions, and then turned to Zephyr.

"Hmm, to say I'm not heartbroken would be a lie. Zavia was the most talented student I've ever taught, bar none, even more so than Kuzan and the others.

But Zavia also said he felt lost regarding the Marines' justice. I think I can understand that. Kuzan probably feels the same way."

Zephyr didn't seem overly agitated about Zavia's defection. Instead, his expression was a mix of calmness and sadness.

He said he could understand Zavia's actions because he had experienced the same feeling of disillusionment with the Marines' justice – from the moment the Shichibukai system was proposed and established.

And Zephyr mentioned that Kuzan could also understand because he had witnessed the Ohara Buster Call, an event that made Kuzan question whether the Marines were truly as righteous as he had believed, leading him to feel lost.

Zephyr's words implied that Kuzan must have sought him out afterwards to confide his inner thoughts and feelings.

"Zephyr..."

Hearing Zephyr's words, Sengoku instantly understood that he was angry about the Shichibukai system.

This issue had already caused Zephyr to consider leaving the Marines. If it weren't for Sengoku, Garp, and others persuading him to stay, Zavia's teacher might not have been Zephyr, but someone else.

"I understand. So what should we do? Should we issue a bounty for him as he said?"

"Leave that decision to you, Sengoku. Zavia... He is no longer my student." Zephyr replied, hesitating slightly when mentioning Zavia's name.

"Zephyr... I understand." Sengoku didn't say anything else. Leaving those words behind, he and Garp left Zephyr's office together.

"Zavia..." After the two left, Zephyr looked out the window at the sky, muttering to himself.

…

"Hmph, so they finally made their move?"

Sitting on the bed in a hotel room, Zavia placed the Den Den Mushi back into his spatial bag. He lay down, staring at the ceiling with boredom as he contemplated his next move.

"The location of the Demon Core is confirmed, but I don't want to go there so soon..." Knowing the location of the Demon Core in advance brought Zavia some peace of mind.

He had initially thought he would have to spend five or six years in this pirate world before finding it, but Valona had revealed its location to him.

Well, even with this knowledge, Zavia wouldn't rush to Sabaody Archipelago to coat his ship and head to Fishman Island, and then to Raijin Island in the New World.

As he had mentioned before, strength was one factor, but he also wanted to experience the events and scenes of the pirate world.

"But what should I do next? Although Sengoku and Zephyr will try their best to suppress the Celestial Dragons and prevent them from dispatching an Admiral to hunt me down, but... hmm..."

Zavia lay in bed, pondering for a long time, before finally reaching a conclusion that left him feeling somewhat helpless.

"I guess I can only become a pirate? Or..."

As he thought, Zavia glanced at Arthur sleeping beside him. The boy's face, which would make even girls envious, and his slightly parted lips, invited all sorts of thoughts.

Seeing Arthur sleeping so soundly, the expression on Zavia's face softened slightly.

"Well, since I'm no longer a Marine, I'll become a pirate. Although I wanted to be a pirate hunter, I doubt the Marines would give me any bounties."

He stroked Arthur's head, causing the sleeping child to twitch slightly before smiling in his sleep.

(What kind of dream is this kid having...)

Zavia couldn't help but wonder.

…

Time flew by, and nearly two weeks had passed since the Sabaody Archipelago incident. During this time, a piece of news spread throughout the North, South, East, and West Blues.

Countless News Coo flew out from somewhere, delivering newspapers to every intelligent creature they encountered.

New World, Dressrosa.

"Fuffuffuffu, this is quite amusing news."

Inside the Dressrosa palace, Doflamingo lounged on a sun chair, holding a glass of juice in one hand and a newspaper in the other.

"Hey, hey, what's up, Doffy?" A slimy middle-aged man approached Doflamingo.

"Too close, Trebol!

Fuffuffuffu, it's nothing. Just that Marine, Zavia, has been issued a bounty by the Marines for insulting a Celestial Dragon and killing fellow Marines." Doflamingo handed the newspaper to Trebol, who had just arrived.

"Let me see... What! A bounty of 380 million Beris?!" Trebol took the newspaper and read it carefully, but his eyes widened in surprise at the content.

"Doffy, is this for real?! This Zavia just got a 380 million bounty right off the bat? You know, bounties are, to some extent, related to strength..."

"Ah, I believe it's true. Fuffuffuffu." Doflamingo remained unfazed by Trebol's surprise.

"This is bad. If he comes to the New World, to Dressrosa..."

"Calm down, Trebol. I won't let that happen." Doflamingo's words instantly calmed Trebol's panic. "But, I want to recruit him. Fuffuffuffu, such a talented individual, we can't miss out on him."

Hearing Doflamingo's words, all the executives present were shocked, their faces filled with astonishment.

…

New World, Whole Cake Island.

"Mamamama, Mamamama, this brat is quite interesting. The children I have with him will definitely be strong!"

In the throne room of the Whole Cake Chateau, a large woman, at least six or seven meters tall with a plump figure, sat on the throne. She stared at the newspaper in her hand, her face filled with a manic expression.

"Mama! You're not planning to have this Zavia guy join us, are you?"

Below the woman, a man with an eccentric outfit, holding a candy cane and with his long tongue hanging out, shouted in surprise.

This man was one of the Four Emperors Big Mom's subordinates and also her eldest son, Perospero.

And the woman before him was, of course, the Four Emperors Big Mom.

"Perospero, remember to keep an eye on this brat's whereabouts. Once he enters the New World, invite him to the Tea Party."

Big Mom ignored Perospero's surprise and threw the newspaper at him, issuing her order.

"But, Mama..."

"Hmm? Do you have any objections?!"

"!! N-No!"

Perospero wanted to say something else, but Big Mom's words forced him to swallow his words.

…

New World, somewhere at sea, Moby Dick.

"Pops, come take a look at the newspaper!" A man with a pineapple-shaped head rushed onto the deck of the Moby Dick, holding a newspaper.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Marco?"

As he reached the deck, a young man with a bare upper body, shorts, a hat, and freckles on his face approached. He had a white crescent-shaped pirate tattoo on his back.

"Take a look at this guy." Marco handed the newspaper to the young man.

The young man, took the newspaper and read it carefully. "Whoa, is this for real? He dared to insult a Celestial Dragon in public and even killed all his subordinates. Seems like a madman."

After reading, the young man's face was filled with astonishment, clearly surprised by the content of the newspaper.

"Right? This notoriety, I can't believe this Zavia guy pulled it off. And a starting bounty of 380 million Beris? If it was just insulting a Celestial Dragon and killing his own subordinates, there's no way he'd have such a high bounty."

"So, what do you mean?" the young man looked at Marco with confusion.

"I don't know, it's just a guess. Anyway, let's show it to Pops first."

"Yeah, that's right."