Although Garp wasn't as busy as Sengoku, who had a mountain of affairs to deal with every day, as a Vice Admiral, he still had to drop by his office every day. More importantly, there was an important meeting today, so after Kairo D. Arashi had rendered him speechless, Garp could only leave dejectedly!
Kairo D. Arashi would naturally keep his word and meet Sengoku eventually.
The reason he wasn't going to meet him right now was entirely because he'd just arrived at Marine Headquarters, and Garp and Sengoku had immediately been eager to discuss some troublesome matter with him, which had left him slightly annoyed!
So he needed to let Garp cool his head first and make Sengoku wait a little longer! It wasn't that he was deliberately putting on airs. He simply knew exactly why Sengoku was so eager to see him! He obviously wanted to find some way to arrange an easy position for him!
Kairo D. Arashi naturally wouldn't accept it!
Because even if Sengoku could give him privileges that no ordinary Marine could possibly possess, those privileges would still be limited to the Marines.
The moment he took an easy position in the Marines, it would mean that he had become a member of the World Government! And even if he enjoyed the Marines' privileges, he would still be subject to the World Government's constraints.
Therefore, joining the Marines was completely out of the question for him! Of course, he had even less interest in becoming a pirate. Simply living freely as an unfettered traveler was the most carefree life imaginable, wasn't it!
"Mr. Kairo D. Arashi, this is a children's amusement park!"
After bringing Kairo D. Arashi to the entrance of an amusement park, Tashigi looked up at all the attractions inside, her eyes filled with memories. "When I was little, my aunt often brought me here to play. But I don't like coming here anymore! Because I've grown up! What I want to do most now is leave Marineford and go see the scenery outside! Oh, and I've never left Marineford in my entire life!"
"Grown up?"
Kairo D. Arashi tilted his head and looked Tashigi up and down before shaking his head with a smile. "You've grown taller, perhaps, but you're still a long way from actually growing up!"
"Wow, Mr. Kairo D. Arashi, why do you sound exactly like my aunt?"
Tashigi puffed out her cheeks and said adorably, "But I really have grown up! Mr. Kairo D. Arashi, when you leave here, could you take me traveling with you?"
"No!"
Kairo D. Arashi flatly refused. "If you want to sail with me, that's fine, but not now! Traveling isn't as wonderful as you imagine, especially traveling through the Grand Line. You need to have enough strength to protect yourself first!"
"Oh, I see!"
Tashigi blinked her big eyes, then suddenly jumped in front of Kairo D. Arashi and excitedly said, "How about you take me as your disciple, Mr. Kairo D. Arashi? I want to learn swordsmanship from you!"
"Isn't your aunt already an expert swordswoman? What, she hasn't taught you?"
"She has!"
Tashigi giggled and said, "But I feel like Auntie isn't as good as you, Mr. Kairo D. Arashi!"
"You've got a good eye."
Kairo D. Arashi smiled and lightly tapped Tashigi on the nose before continuing, "All right. While I'm at Marine Headquarters, I can teach you swordsmanship. After I leave, how much you can comprehend will depend entirely on your talent and effort!"
Tashigi had never expected Kairo D. Arashi to agree so readily. She immediately jumped for joy. "Mr. Kairo D. Arashi, is… is that really true? That's wonderful! I'll definitely work hard!"
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared from the other side of the amusement park and quickly ran toward Kairo D. Arashi, calling out excitedly, "Mr. Kairo D. Arashi!"
Seeing Ain running over in a Marine uniform, looking heroic and spirited, Kairo D. Arashi froze for a moment before saying in surprise, "Ain?"
Because Ain wasn't wearing her blue cloak, Kairo D. Arashi hadn't recognized her at first glance. However, compared to the Ain from the original story, who appeared wearing that blue cloak, Kairo D. Arashi actually preferred the Ain who was wearing a Marine uniform now. In the original story, Ain seemed almost soulless when she appeared. She was beautiful, but somehow felt like she was missing something!
"That's wonderful!"
Seeing that Kairo D. Arashi had recognized her, Ain smiled slightly and said, "When I heard yesterday that Mr. Kairo D. Arashi had come to Marine Headquarters, Teacher Zephyr didn't believe it either! Um… Mr. Kairo D. Arashi, Teacher Zephyr would like to meet you. He wanted to come personally, but because of his injury, he couldn't come himself…"
"Old Man Zephyr's injury still hasn't healed?"
Kairo D. Arashi couldn't help but freeze in surprise. "It's been so long already. What happened?!… Well, since I'm here in Marineford, I should naturally go see Old Man Zephyr!"
Marine Headquarters, Medical Building!
With Ain leading the way, Kairo D. Arashi had just entered the infirmary when Zephyr, who had been lying on the hospital bed moments earlier, sat up and burst into hearty laughter. "Kairo D. Arashi, I never thought you'd really come to Marine Headquarters! What a surprise, what a surprise! Hahahaha…"
"Old man, what happened to you? Why hasn't the injury to your arm healed after all this time?"
Kairo D. Arashi slowly walked to the bedside, his gaze immediately falling on Zephyr's right arm. When he saw that Zephyr's right arm had already been fitted with a metal frame, he immediately understood. Clearly, the Marine scientists were preparing to give Zephyr a prosthetic arm!
However, judging from the metal framework attached to his severed arm, Kairo D. Arashi could tell that this was merely an ordinary prosthetic support. The mechanical arm equipped with Seastone that appeared in the original story would probably have to wait a few more years!
Seeing that the first thing Kairo D. Arashi did upon entering the infirmary was ask about his arm, Zephyr was deeply touched. He shook his head and smiled. "It's not that it hasn't healed. They're preparing to fit me with a prosthetic arm! That's why I couldn't go see you. Don't be angry, brat!"
"You know what? I really am a little angry!"
Kairo D. Arashi shook his head with a smile before continuing, "You look like you're in good spirits. Hurry up and get that prosthetic arm fitted. Let's have a spar!"
"Sure. I heard all about what happened last night. Looks like Garp wasn't exaggerating at all. You really are strong! You actually managed to take a direct hit from Kaido!"
"That was because Kaido had already been injured while being surrounded by the Three Admirals, Old Man Garp, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Otherwise, I might really not have been able to take one of his attacks head-on. Well, circumstances forced my hand at the time. Otherwise, I wouldn't have wanted to fight a monster like that in the first place!"
As soon as Kairo D. Arashi finished speaking, Tashigi immediately stepped forward and said timidly, "Um… hello, Teacher Zephyr… Mr. Kairo D. Arashi only stepped in because he was trying to save me!"
Looking at Tashigi standing beside Kairo D. Arashi, Zephyr smiled and nodded. "Your name is Tashigi, right? I've often heard Gion and Garp mention you. Not bad. You're a smart child with a strong sense of responsibility. From now on, follow Mr. Kairo D. Arashi and learn from him properly!"
Hearing this, Tashigi immediately lifted her head proudly. "Hehe, Mr. Kairo D. Arashi has already agreed to teach me!"
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