A massive, rusted anchor slowly rose from the water, chains clinking as it broke the surface, sending ripples across the sea.
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, it cast a long, stretched shadow of the warship across the waves.
After a heated tug-of-war with Zephyr, Sengoku finally managed to win "custody" of Daren.
He had Daren placed in the cabin of his own warship and instructed the accompanying military doctor to treat his injuries. Then he turned toward Garp, who was casually sitting on the dog-headed ship munching on a doughnut.
"Hey, Garp! You sure you're not heading back to headquarters?"
Garp waved him off with a wide grin.
"Nah. I just got word—Daren and Sakazuki's previous mission target… that brat Douglas Bullet has joined the Roger Pirates. I've gotta go after him."
"Can't let that Roger guy keep getting stronger, can we?"
Sengoku blinked, momentarily surprised.
He had almost forgotten about that.
Douglas Bullet had been captured alongside Daren by Kaidou, but after they returned, Bullet was nowhere to be found. He'd definitely have to question that brat Daren about what happened.
"Well, take care out there."
Sengoku didn't bother trying to talk him out of it.
They'd been comrades for years—he knew better than anyone that once Garp made up his mind, no one could stop him.
Besides, when it came to Roger's strength… Garp really was the only one in the Marines who could keep him in check.
Sengoku himself was still a bit lacking. As for old man Kong, his Haki was solid, no doubt. But age was catching up with him, and for safety reasons, they usually didn't let him take frontline missions anymore.
Watching the uniquely designed dog-headed warship slowly vanish into the sunset, leaving long trails across the sea, Sengoku let out a weary breath.
"Set course for Marine Headquarters."
He gave the order offhandedly to his adjutant, then turned around with an annoyed expression.
"I mean, Zephyr, don't you have your own damn ship? What are you always doing on mine?"
Arms crossed, Zephyr glared at Sengoku with suspicion and scoffed.
"I'm not falling for your tricks. You just want to send me off so you can get close to Daren."
Sengoku twitched with irritation.
"That's because my ship has a military doctor on board! And the cabin is more spacious and comfortable!"
Zephyr sneered with mockery.
"Right, right. We all know admirals get the deluxe warships. What are you showing off for?"
Sengoku: …
You were a Marine Admiral too! You're the one who resigned, so your ship got downgraded—how is that my fault!?
A few veins popped on his forehead.
One retires, another slacks off… in the end, all the crap ends up on my plate!
When things go well, I'm 'The Resourceful General.' When something goes wrong, I'm suddenly the 'Idiot in Charge'...
Sengoku felt emotionally drained.
Seriously… maybe the world should just blow up already.
He couldn't be bothered with Zephyr, who was clearly starting to pick up Garp's annoying habits after hanging around him too much. Huffing, he stormed into the ship's cabin.
Zephyr quickly followed.
"Doctor, how's Daren doing?"
Inside, Sengoku looked at the young Marine, now fast asleep with an IV drip hooked up, then glanced at the kimono-clad girl sitting faithfully at his side. Finally, his gaze landed on the military doctor, and he asked with concern.
"Commodore Daren's physical condition is unlike anything I've seen in all my decades of medical practice," said the middle-aged doctor wearing rimless glasses, clearly amazed.
"Roughly every ten minutes, his injuries show clear signs of improvement… It's almost unbelievable."
He looked at Daren as if he were observing a priceless and rare artifact.
"Admiral Sengoku, please rest assured. At this pace, Commodore Daren should make a full recovery within a day or two."
Only then did Sengoku and Zephyr both let out a long sigh of relief.
First, he was imprisoned and tortured by Kaidou for an extended period. Then, despite being gravely injured, he managed to escape from the Beasts Pirates' siege...
And not long after breaking free, he went toe-to-toe with Whitebeard—the "Strongest Man in the World"—and nearly killed his sworn brother.
In less than ten days, Daren had gone through more danger, chaos, and dramatic twists than most people would face in a lifetime.
Even though they had faith in his strength, Sengoku and Zephyr were still worried that facing so many top-level powerhouses in a row might leave him with some lasting damage.
"So what's going on with him now?"
Zephyr frowned as he looked at Daren's gaunt, skeletal face.
Sengoku's expression was equally tense.
The doctor replied slowly,
"This is a sign of extreme physical and mental exhaustion."
He pushed up the bridge of his glasses and continued with a thoughtful tone.
"I've already administered nutrient injections. With a few days of proper rest, he should be fine."
…Physical and mental exhaustion?
Sengoku and Zephyr exchanged a look, a flicker of doubt in their eyes.
"That doesn't sound right. Doctor, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Zephyr frowned.
"No one knows Daren's physical endurance better than I do. He can drag a warship by hand, run ten kilometers with a ton on his back without breaking a sweat… His stamina and resilience are beyond what any human should be capable of. There's no way he'd burn out that easily."
Sengoku nodded in agreement.
Forget just training.
Back in the North Blue, he had personally witnessed Daren's absurd stamina. He entertained nobles, attended endless social functions, partied and drank day and night—yet still acted like it was nothing. Cigarette in one hand, alcohol in the other.
If you told Sengoku Daren had run out of energy, he'd be the first to call it nonsense.
"Could it be the aftereffects of the previous battles or the torture in prison? Maybe some hidden injuries?" he asked.
"Well…"
The doctor hesitated, then said slowly,
"Generally speaking, a state like Commodore Daren's wouldn't be caused by combat."
"Then what did cause it?"
Zephyr pressed.
The doctor paused again, visibly uncomfortable, and then muttered under his breath:
"…Excessive indulgence."
Sengoku: …
Zephyr: …
Realization seemed to hit both of them at the same time—they turned their heads simultaneously toward the young woman in the kimono sitting quietly by the bed.
Amatsuki Toki blinked in surprise at their stares. Then, as if something clicked, her face turned scarlet and she jumped to her feet in a panic.
"It wasn't me!"
"I didn't—"
"No! I didn't do anything with Daren-san—"
…Her voice trailed off until it was barely louder than a whisper.
But inside, she was frantic—there was no way she could explain this clearly...
Watching her flustered attempts to deny it, the doctor calmly adjusted his glasses without saying a word, but his confident expression said everything.
Zephyr's mouth twitched.
He glanced at the beautiful Amatsuki Toki, then at the shriveled, energy-drained Daren, and after a long pause, finally grunted,
"Ahem… Young people should learn some restraint."
Amatsuki Toki's face instantly flushed to the base of her neck, her eyes welling up like she might burst into tears.
…Such a pure and gentle girl, and she ended up getting dragged into this by that damn brat!
Seeing her like this, Sengoku sighed and rubbed his forehead.
He forced a kind smile, walked over, and said gently,
"It's alright. I'll make sure that brat treats you properly. Come back to headquarters with us, alright?"
"Exactly!!"
Zephyr chimed in, patting his chest and growling,
"If that bastard dares to let you down, I'll be the first one to beat him senseless!"
There was no explaining it now. And with such high-ranking officers saying things like this, Amatsuki Toki could only nod with a crimson face, softly replying with a "Mm."
Beast!!
Looking at her shy and obedient demeanor, a surge of fatherly instinct erupted from deep within Sengoku and Zephyr.
One a lifelong bachelor, the other having lost family... combined with their Marine sense of duty, it was no surprise that they naturally wanted to protect a girl like Toki.
And as much as they hated to admit it, Daren—while undeniably talented—was still a damn scoundrel!
That only made them feel even more protective toward her.
Thinking back on Daren's "colorful" romantic past, Sengoku and Zephyr even felt their eyes redden. They seriously wanted to drag him out of bed and beat him half to death!
"Hmph!"
After "comforting" Amatsuki Toki, Sengoku suddenly remembered something. He turned to the Marines standing guard in the cabin and barked,
"Everything you heard here—keep it to yourselves! If I hear even a word of this getting out, I'll make you regret it! That's an order!"
The Marines, who had been silently spectating, shivered and nodded frantically like chickens pecking rice.
"Especially you, Borsalino!!"
Sengoku shouted in another direction.
Borsalino raised both hands with a grin.
"Got it~"