Cudius had an excelleionship with the Marines, and his status was exceptionally high. The people gathered around Zephyr's ward were all Marine officers of siderable rank—ordinary soldiers weren't allowed to visit. Those present were individuals who had a close rapport with Cudius.

  As soon as they heard Spandine's voinoung Cudius's arrival, they instinctively stepped aside, clearing a path.

  Cudius strode in, his tall figure exuding urgency as he moved through the crowd toward Zephyr. The moment he saw the meical prosthetic arm attached to Zephyr, a hint ret fshed across his face.

  "Already? That fast?" Cudius asked in surprise.

  He hadn't expected that in the short time since Zephyr lost his arm, the rept would already be in pce.

  Zephyr was momentarily taken aback. What does he mean by 'fast'…?

  But when he saw the genuine in Cudius's expression, he felt warmed. Despite having stepped back from the front lines years ago and no longer being of much help to Cudius, it was clear that this youial Dragon still held deep respect for him.

  Colleg his thoughts, Cudius asked with , "Teacher Zephyr, how do you feel? Is the injury healing well?"

  Zephyr flexed his new meical arm, then smiled and replied, "It's nothing serious. Thanks to Garp arriving in time to protearine recruits, the damage was kept to a minimum. Losing an arm isn't much of a price to pay."

  Due to Garp's swift intervention and Zephyr's own efforts to buy time, Marine's recruits had suffered minimal losses. A few had died, but Zephyr, as a seasoned Marieran, uood the brutal reality of bat at sea. He wouldn't allow himself to drown in grief over casualties.

  Cudius could tell that Zephyr truly didn't care about losing his arm. His priority had always been his students. Seeing this, Cudius felt a deep sense of admiration.

  He really is a remarkable teacher. No wonder so many Marine officers respect him so much.

  Nearby, Garp chimed in with a few boastful remarks, but Cudius paid him no attention. Instead, he eyed the massive meical arm with curiosity and said, "It's pretty cool, Teacher Zephyr."

  "Hahaha! I guess you could say I fulfilled my childhood dream. When I was a kid, I used to strap wooden stakes to my arms and pretend to be a cyb. hought it'd actually happen," Zephyr said with a chuckle, his tone ced with nostalgia.

  Cudius ughed along before enting, "I don't know if I should gratute you or not, but… isn't this arm a little too big? It looks impressive, but doesn't it get in the way? Don't they have a smaller version?"

  As he spoke, Cudius turned his gaze toward the stist standing beside Zephyr. The man, clearly nervous to be addressed by such a high-rankiial Dragon, stammered, "S-Saint Cudius, I… I didn't design it! I only installed it!"

  Cudius waved a hand reassuringly. "Rex, I'm not bming you. I'm just curious."

  The stist exhaled in relief before expining, "Well… this meical arm wasn't inally designed for Zephyr."

  "Huh? What do you mean?" Cudius asked, intrigued.

  "It was actually meant for individuals over six meters tall," the stist crified.

  "Six meters?" Cudius repeated, his gaze shifting to Zephyr. The former Admiral stood at just over three meters, half the intended size. If the design was meant for someohat rge, then…

  Bartholomew Kuma?

  Cudius quickly put the pieces together. So Marine's sce division has started w on the Pacifista project?

  It was being clear that the stage of Marine development would involve mass-produg modified cyb soldiers, powerful ons of war. This meical arm was likely an offshoot of that research.

  Marine's funding must be substantial if they afford to push the Pacifista project forward so aggressively.

  Cudius was certainly ied ieology, but he had no iion of developing it himself. Why gh all that trouble when Marine was already doing it for him? Once he had Marine fully under his trol, all their advas would be his to and.

  After discussing the meical arm for a bit longer, Cudius's expression darkened slightly. A cold glint fshed in his eyes as he said, "Zephyr, don't worry—I'll personally ehat Edward Weevil pays for what he's done. CP-X has already deployed a vast work to track him down. The moment we find him, I'll personally lead the charge to cut him to pieces."

  Zephyr was visibly moved by Cudius's determination, but he quickly shook his head and cautioned, "Yhness, don't be too reckless. This isn't something that should be rushed."

  Before Cudius could respond, another voice spoke from the doorway.

  "Zephyr is right, Yhness. This isn't something we handle impulsively, we need a long-term strategy," said Sengoku as he stepped into the room.

  Zephyr had been in the hospital for several days now, and Sengoku had visited multiple times. Upon hearing about the meical arm instaltion, he had finished his work early to e observe.

  Surveying the room, Sengoku saw that many high-ranking Marines had gathered. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed them. "You've all seen what you came to see. Get back to work."

  Among the departing officers, Yamakaji muttered something about heading to the Calm Belt for another ore transport mission. He bid farewell to Zephyr before leaving.

  Soon, the room felt much emptier.

  At the moment, none of the three Admirals were present, likely occupied with important assigs. Only Garp remained, seated fortably with no iion of leaving.

  Spandine, ever the sycophant, took the hint aed. Sengoku couldn't very well expect Cudius or Zephyr to pour tea, and Zephyr's new meical arm had likely ended his tea-serving days food. As for Cudius—he was their guest now, and even Sengoku didn't have the o make a Celestial Dragon serve tea.

  After gring at Garp, who remained oblivious, Sengoku sighed and poured himself a cup of tea.

  Meanwhile, Garp walked up to Cudius and said, "Cudius, since CP-X has eyes everywhere, I need a favor."

  "Ah, don't worry. I'll do my best to track down Edward Weevil," Cudius replied.

  Garp waved his hand. "No, it's not about that. I want you to help me find Red-Haired Shanks."

  At that, Cudius blinked in surprise. "What do you need him for? Do you two have bad blood?"

  "It's not just bad blood, it's a grudge as deep as the o! I 't wait to smash that despicable bastard into the ground. Listen to me—he's doing this on purpose. This is all revenge against me!" Garp fumed before ung into a rant about how Shanks had ruined his life.

  When Cudius heard that Shanks still had both arms and had still mao steer Luffy toiracy, he nearly burst out ughing. But one g Garp's seething expression made him hold it in.

  Once Garp finished venting, Cudius, barely suppressing his amusement, patted the old Marine on the shoulder and said, "Alright, alright. I'll see what I do."

  Garp narrowed his eyes. "Are y not to ugh?"

  Cudius immediately adopted a serious expression and replied, "How could I? Am I the type to kieone while they're down?"