Chapter 268: Hesitant Zephyr
After leaving Doctor Kokoilo's office, two figures, one tall and one short, walked along a quiet path.
The path was narrow, and there were only the two of them.
Zephyr stopped and stared at Axel's back.
"You did that on purpose just now, didn't you?"
"You mean purposely exposing the problems in the records?"
Axel also stopped and turned around.
"Yes. It was intentional."
Zephyr was not surprised by the answer.
"Last time, you only pointed out the errors after we returned. This time, you said it directly in front of him. Why?"
Axel turned back and continued walking forward.
Zephyr followed behind him.
"Because I saw that he was hiding something," Axel said as he walked. "And what he was hiding was related to the treatment, so I deliberately pressured him into saying it."
"But what if he hadn't said anything?" Zephyr asked.
"He would."
Axel's tone was flat, but it carried a clear certainty.
"From his behavior, it is obvious that he is a shrewd man. Without another proposal to offer, he could only reveal the hidden information."
"So that's how it is."
Zephyr looked at him.
"But weren't you very resistant to the examination? Because you were worried about changing back. That would be equivalent to your current self disappearing."
He paused.
"So why are you actively cooperating with me?"
"Because... I don't know either."
Axel's voice remained calm.
"The criteria for all my actions is simply to live. But I do not understand why I should live."
"Instead, I think death might be better."
"Without emotions, I do not know the meaning of existence."
"But I was brought into being because of the desire to live, so I thought maybe he would know why."
His small body looked just like his newly born rationality.
Ignorant of the world.
Yet such a person was thinking about death.
Death was a terrifying word.
Many people who called themselves warriors boasted of their courage in front of others, only to shrink back when they truly faced it.
But Zephyr could feel that the current Axel was genuinely indifferent.
He had no fear of death at all.
That flatness, that detachment, that seeming lack of care for anything, gave him a lonely and sorrowful feeling.
For a moment, Zephyr even had the thought that since this side of Axel had been born, perhaps it had its own reason to exist.
Perhaps he should simply let him continue like this.
Then Axel continued, "Compared to me, don't you think you're the strange one?"
"Me?"
Zephyr was taken aback.
"What's strange about me?"
Axel stopped, turned his head, and cast a sharp glance at him.
"Are you afraid of Tsuru?"
"Cough, cough..."
Zephyr choked.
"What nonsense are you talking about? How could I be afraid of Tsuru?"
"As I thought."
Axel turned back.
From earlier, Zephyr had been casually bringing up irrelevant matters.
More than anything else, he seemed to have fallen into hesitation.
And the reason for that hesitation was undoubtedly the news they had just received.
"Tell me the reason for your fear."
"Cough..."
A series of heavy coughs followed.
Zephyr pursed his lips.
"How could I be afraid of Tsuru? And don't you lack emotions? Why are you concerned about such things?"
"I am trying to find emotions."
Axel's voice did not change.
"Based on the data obtained before, the original me would definitely have said that, so I learned to say it."
He paused briefly.
"But even if you don't say it, I can probably guess the reason."
When Zephyr had enlisted, he possessed a clear chuunibyou temperament, dreaming of becoming a hero.
Tsuru, on the other hand, had always been a cold and strategic soldier.
Undoubtedly, the two were incompatible.
Yet they had happened to be in the same Marine class.
Zephyr did not have Garp's thick, shameless hide.
Although his relationship with Tsuru was deep, he also felt a certain fear toward her.
Moreover, Axel could also be considered one of Tsuru's students.
But because Zephyr had brought him back, an abnormality had occurred.
To be honest, the place Zephyr least wanted to go right now was Tsuru's.
If only Tsuru were out on a mission.
Unfortunately, things were just that unlucky.
When they learned that Tsuru's ability might be useful in this way, she happened to be staying at Marineford because of a mission.
Zephyr sighed with some emotion.
"It's better if you don't learn from him."
"Your personality was already bad enough before, and now this change has happened."
He looked troubled.
"If Tsuru blames both of those things on me when we see her, that would be bad."
Axel nodded indifferently.
If it had been his former self, he would probably have nodded insincerely and then caused trouble the moment they reached Tsuru's place.
But at this moment, he had no such intention.
Because it was boring.
At the port.
After asking around, they arrived at the warship where Tsuru was stationed.
It was a warship no different from any other.
If one had to point out a difference, then the large character for "Tsuru" in the middle of the flag was the biggest distinction.
After seeing this warship, Axel, who was supposed to have no emotions, felt a sense of familiarity surge within him.
"Is this emotion?" Axel murmured.
"What did you say?" Zephyr asked.
"Nothing."
"Tsuru's warship is right up there. You should still remember it, right?"
Axel nodded in response.
"Then whatever you do, don't speak recklessly."
Zephyr warned him seriously.
"Tsuru is hard to deal with. If you're careless, I might get dragged into it with you."
In Zephyr's understanding, Tsuru was not the type to show mercy.
He did not want to be hung on a clothesline by Tsuru at his age.
Everyone here was a Marine.
Being hung up like that would be extremely embarrassing.
"I know," Axel replied.
"Remember. You definitely have to remember."
After warning him several more times, Zephyr finally led Axel over and walked onto the warship through the gangplank.
Not long after they stepped onto the ship, a series of surprised voices rang out.
"Isn't that Little Axel?"
"Really?"
"It's Little Axel! I haven't seen him in a while. He's become even cuter."
The female Marines on the ship instantly felt their maternal instincts surge at Axel's appearance.
Axel greeted them flatly.
"Hello."
"Even his cold look is so cute."
"He gives off such a cool feeling. I really hope my future child looks like this."
"..."
Zephyr stood silently to the side.
A man of his size had actually been ignored.
Normally, shouldn't they ask why he was here first?
Women truly were strange creatures.
"Cough, cough..."
Zephyr coughed lightly.
He had coughed more times today than he had in the past year combined.
"Instructor Zephyr...?"
One woman finally exclaimed.
Finally noticed.
Zephyr sighed inwardly.
The students he had taught were not only men, but women too.
Many of Tsuru's subordinates were his former students, so it was not surprising that they recognized him.
"I'm here to see Vice Admiral Tsuru," Zephyr said.
"No need to look. I'm here."
Tsuru walked out of the cabin step by step.
The moment she appeared, the originally noisy environment fell silent.
"I know why you've come to see me."
She looked at Zephyr and Axel.
"Honestly... you really don't give me a moment of peace."
.....
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