After chatting for a short while, food was ready, and Cudius invited Zephyr Admiral to join him for dinner. Zephyr didn't hesitate to accept the offer.

  Typically, Cudius dined with Nia. At first, Nia had found it difficult to rex during these meals, but over time she had grown aced to the routine. However, whes were present, she reverted to her more formal duties, standing behind Cudius and assisting him as needed p drinks or attending to minor tasks.

  Cudius didn't pay much attention to Nia's formalities, instead tinuing his versation with Zephyr.

  "From what I see, the situation on the seas will only worsehe couple of years. Zephyr, is it really a good time for you to step down? The Marines will be down two Admirals. Doesn't that leave the Navy vulnerable?" Cudius asked casually between bites of food.

  Zephyr didn't hold back. He knew Cudius well by now, and their retionship was close enough that formalities were unnecessary.

  After swallowing a mouthful of food, Zephyr chuckled. "As expected, the food here is top-notch."

  He paused for a moment before tinuing. "You're right, Yhness. The situation is definitely growing worse, especially with the pirates in the New World being more restless. Ohey start moving, it stirs up every sdrel across the seas. Take that attaarineford, for example. I've been in the Marines for decades, and it was the first time I'd ever seen pirates dare to attack our base directly."

  Cudius ughed quietly. It was something he could never have predicted either, despite his knowledge of the future.

  Zephyr then added, "But while things are deteriorating, my stepping dow necessarily affect me. As for the Admiral vacies, I was anxious about it at first, but the more I think about it, the less it matters. There's always Garp, even if he refuses the Admiral title no one would dare look down on him. And just because I'm no longer an Admiral doesn't mean I 't still fight when Marine needs me. It's just a title."

  Cudius uood that, despite Zephyr's nont attitude, losing an Admiral would still affect the Navy's presen the seas, particurly during the ing Great Pirate Era. The Mari full strength might have deterred some of the rising pirate captains. But then again, the truly dangerous ones wouldn't be stopped by mere titles.

  Cudius shrugged inwardly. If Zephyr wao step down, it wasn't his pce tue.

  "Since you're stepping down, it won't be proper to call you Admiral anymore. From now on, how about I call you Teacher Zephyr?" Cudius said with a smile.

  Zephyr smiled warmly iurn. "It would be an honor to be called Teacher by someone as remarkable as you, Yhness."

  "Haha, then I offer my gratutions, Teacher Zephyr. May you enjoy your retirement from the frontlines, and may you tio shape the geion of Marines," Cudius said, raising his gss in a toast.

  The two ked gsses and drank, their versation shifting to lighter topics about the state of the sea and its ever-shifting tides.

  "ht," Zephyr suddenly remembered. "You once asked me to keep a for some up-and-ing figures on the seas, didn't you? Well, I've retly e across one of them."

  Cudius leaned in, intrigued. "Who?"

  "A young swordsman by the name of Dracule Mihawk. I believe that's one of the names you mentioned?"

  Cudius's eyes lit up with i. "That's the one. Where is he now?"

  Zephyr shook his head with a wry smile. "That, I don't know. His movements are hard to track. He's taken up the pirate mantle, but oddly enough, he roams alone."

  Most pirates gathered crews to bolster their influence, even if they didn't rely heavily on them. Even the legendary Roger Pirates had a small but elite crew. But Mihawk was different. He sailed the seas solo, rarely causing trouble or following any clear purpose. It was as if he was simply drifting wherever the wind carried him.

  Because of this, Mihawk was notoriously difficult to locate.

  "A lone wolf, huh? That makes it a real challeo track him down," Cudius muttered, shaking his head. He had eve people to searihawk on Kuraigana Isnd but had e up empty-hahe swordsman was elusive.

  "Well, he's been challenging swordsmen wherever he goes. Don't be too surprised if he ends up challenging you one of these days," Zephyr said with a chuckle.

  Cudius ughed at the thought. "Me? I'm no swordsman, Zephyr. I don't pn on relying on a bde for the rest of my life."

  "That may be," Zephyr said with a knowing grin, "but word on the sea is that you've earned a reputation among swordsmen, whether you like it or not."

  Cudius raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about, teacher?"

  "You may not realize it, but after yht with Shiki, you left quite an impression. Shiki may be a notorious pirate, but among swordsmen, he's also highly respected. The fact that you gave him that scar has spread. Now, many young swordsmen know of you, and they see you as a formidable oppo. If Mihawk's going around challenging the best swordsmen, don't be surprised if he shows up at your doorstep one day."

  Cudius blinked in surprise. "All that from just a sirike? I never expected to be beled as a swordsman after that."

  He had only sshed Shiki in a moment of desperation, using whatever was avaible. He hought it would earn him a p the swordsmen's hall of fame. Then again, the truth of that battle wasn't widely known. Few had wit, and those who did had little reason to broadcast the details. It wasn't as though Shiki would go around bragging about a loss.

  "So now I'm a famous swordsman, huh? If Mihawk really does e looking for a fight, at least it'll save me the trouble of hunting him down," Cudius said with a ugh.

  Zephyr nodded. "Just don't uimate him. He's been taking down some well-known swordsmen tely."

  "Hah! If someone like me be mistaken for a swordsman, it's no wonder Mihawk's been able to carve his way through the ranks," Cudius joked, but there was a serious uoo his words. "Don't worry, I won't uimate him."

  Satisfied with Cudius's uanding, Zephyr said no more on the subject. "As long as you're prepared."

  The versation drifted back to other topics. Zephyr eventually mentioned, "As for the other people you asked me to watch out for, I haven't heard any news yet. Maybe they haven't appeared yet, or maybe they're keeping a low profile."

  Cudius shrugged. "No rush. We'll see them eventually."

  Initially, Cudius had po ask Zephyr about the Navy's Sce Division, but now that Zephyr was stepping down, he didn't want to burden him with work-reted questions. He could always ask Sengoku or anh-ranking officer ter.

  After chatting for a while longer, Zephyr brought up another subject. "I heard you're quite ied in Sky Isnd, is that true?"

  Cudius blinked in surprise. "Yes, I am. From what I've gathered, the Wover has a way to reach Sky Isnd, don't they?"

  In his memories, Sky Isnd was typically reached by catg the uable Knock-Up Stream, but Cudius khere had to be other methods.

  Zephyr nodded. "Yes, there's an upward weather current in the West Blue that leads to Sky Isnd. However, it's extremely dangerous. Out of a hundred people who try, maybe a handful make it. That's why we rarely use that route."

  Cudius nodded in uanding. "So, there's still a way. But judging from your to sounds like you have more to say?"

  Zephyr smiled. "Ihere is more. Vice Admiral Tsuru will soon be leading a Marine warship to Sky Isnd. This would be her fourth trip. If you're truly determio visit, I figured this might be a safer option for you than braving the s currents."

  Cudius grinned. "Teacher, you really do know me well. If I had made up my mind, I'd go even if it meant riding the currents. But I appreciate the suggestion. I think I'll take you up on it."

  Zephyr chuckled. "I thought as much."