Damon, with his sharp eyes, naturally noticed the changes in Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately.
He sat casually opposite the Fleet Admiral, showing no signs of being a prisoner being interrogated, but rather appearing as relaxed as ever.
"Reporting to the Fleet Admiral: I led the Bladepoint Squad to destroy Doflamingo's key human trafficking base in Water 7, and I also killed Spandam, the CP9 commander who was Doflamingo'sprotector. What crime have I committed?"
A hint of appreciation flashed in the eyes behind the round glasses. Fleet Admiral Sengoku listened to Damon's rebuttal with a sense of satisfaction. If Damon were a reckless brute like Garp, perhaps Sengoku would have to consider a different approach.
The Fleet Admiral pulled out a wanted list, slammed it on the table, and said:
"After extensive consultations, the World Government is willing to give you a chance to redeem yourself."
"Arrest Doflamingo, and the World Government will wipe the slate clean regarding your previous actions."
Navy Headquarters.
A figure knelt outside Akainu's office door for an entire night.
Wherever there are people, there will be a world of its own. The Navy brings together some of the world's most capable and battle-hardened individuals, and due to differences in background and experience, it naturally divides into factions.
Jonathan and Sakazuki Akainu are from the same hometown and were soldiers who enlisted in the same batch. No matter how much Jonathan denies it, in the eyes of others, he is inevitably branded as a member of Akainu's faction.
The office door slowly opened. Sakazuki, the "Red Dog," sat expressionlessly on a tatami mat. In the candlelight, with his back to Jonathan, he said:
"It's late now. You should go home."
Jonathan banged his head on the ground and said in a deep voice:
"Please, for the sake of our past friendship, put in a good word for the World Government and have Captain Damon's mission to capture the Heavenly Yaksha rescinded!"
"Captain Damon is still young. Capturing the Heavenly Yaksha is simply an impossible task for him!"
A man's knees are worth gold, and his tears are not easily shed. But for Damon, whom he had only known for two months, Jonathan was willing to give up his dignity.
Sakazuki Akainu knew Jonathan's personality well. The fact that Jonathan preferred to remain unknown at the bottom of the Navy for years rather than use his connections was a testament to his fierce nature. Having heard that Garp had trained an outstanding disciple, Akainu hadn't paid much attention at first, but now he memorized the boy's name.
"Doflamingo is a Celestial Dragon."
Akainu's cold, hard voice came from inside the room. His face flickered between the light and the shadows of the candle.
"Jonathan, you're a smart man. You should know that things are very complicated here. You can't handle it."
Jonathan's body trembled. Doflamingo's true identity is no secret to those in power, but it is a little-known secret to the outside world. At that moment, Jonathan recalled the strange behavior of Chief Instructor Zephyr during the voyage. Behind the destruction of the human trafficking base, there were unseen dangers lurking.
The World Government, the Navy, and Doflamingo are engaged in a power struggle. Whether by design or not, Captain Damon became the pawn that shifted the balance.
"There are people among the Celestial Dragons who don't want Doflamingo to come back."
A bead of cold sweat seeped from Jonathan's forehead. When the Celestial Dragons are involved—some of the most powerful people in the world—no one can remain indifferent.
Spring passed and summer arrived. On the Naval Academy's parade ground, cadets carried 500-pound tortoise shells on their backs, struggling through frog jump training.
More than three months had passed since Damon returned to Headquarters. The injuries from his battle with Rob Lucci had healed. He had regained his freedom after accepting the mission to capture Doflamingo. Of course, the Navy would not send him to an inevitable death; Garp and Zephyrwouldn't allow it. Amidst the squabbles of the higher-ups, Damon was returned to the academy for further training.
Whoosh!
Damon exhaled a breath of stale air. The Flame Breathing and the Gourmet Cells were constantly in operation. His internal organs—the heart, lungs, and stomach—were slightly trembling, permeating his limbs with vital energy.
His Kryptonian cells and Gourmet Cells flowed through his veins, strengthening his body at a cellular level. Under the control of his Dragon Bloodline, these abilities constructed a biological system of extreme complexity. If a surgeon were to dissect Damon, they would find an internal structure more astonishing than a Zoan user—a mystery worthy of professional journals.
Despite the 500-pound shell, Damon remained composed, easily completing a hundred laps. Other trainees felt their muscles spasm, yet they watched in amazement as Damon casually lifted a thousand-pound dumbbell during breaks.
"I've heard that the Four Emperors, Big Mom and Kaido, possessed superhuman physiques when they were young. Could the Captain become a terrifying being like them?"
The cadets gasped. Though the elite squad had disbanded, they still addressed him as "Captain."
Zephyr watched the others standing dumbfounded and cursed in exasperation: "You bunch of brats are the worst class I've ever taught! Get training!"
Zephyr then beckoned to Damon and said solemnly:
"Damon, are you sure you want to graduate early? You know that once you graduate, you must carry out the mission to capture the Heavenly Demon, Doflamingo."
Damon put down the dumbbells. He realized his growth in a peaceful environment had hit a bottleneck. He walked up to Zephyr. After months of training, Damon had grown much taller, now reaching Zephyr's chest, with well-defined muscles beneath olive-colored skin.
"Professor Zephyr, this is a decision I have made after careful consideration."
Veins bulged on Zephyr's forehead. "You brat! Do you know how much effort I put in to keep you here? I even ruffled the Commander-in-Chief's beard!"
"I know."
Damon's calm tone made Zephyr feel like he was punching cotton. Zephyr took a breath and looked Damon in the eye.
"Graduating early is possible, but I'm warning you: your graduation exam will be ten times harder than normal! Are you willing?"
"I am!"
"Very good! You've got guts!" Zephyr grinned. "The more I look at you, the more you resemble that old bastard Garp. In that case, you will go to Impel Down! If you've got the guts, break into Level 6 of the Great Prison for me!"
The crowd erupted. Impel Down is the world's largest prison, located in the Calm Belt. It is an "impregnable fortress" housing the most vicious criminals in the world.
"Captain, give up! Stay for six months and graduate normally!"
"Impel Down is a dead end even for an Admiral!"
Everyone, especially Smoker and the group of five, tried to dissuade him. Zephyr curled his lip, thinking, You little rascal, you must be scared now.
But Damon looked at the vibrant young people around him.
"Sometimes, I've wondered what the meaning of life really is."
"The purpose of life is not to exist, but to burn. Only by burning can we create light, even if it is only for a moment."
Damon raised his hand high, his fingers spread as if he could touch the blazing sun.