SWNOVELXO Chapter 155: Chapter 157
For more chapters (10+) or if you want to support me, visit https://www.patreon.com/FFAddict. Thank you!
Three minutes later, Darren put on a clean military uniform and knocked on the door of the Chief Instructor's office. "Teacher Zephyr, are you looking for me?" Darren greeted as he walked into the office and noticed Sengoku sitting on the sofa, looking at him with a confident smile. "Admiral Sengoku." Darren was surprised but swiftly reacted, raising his hand in a military salute.
Zephyr has stepped down from his position as Admiral of Headquarters, and in the training camp, he has more of a master-apprentice relationship with Darren, without an explicit superior-subordinate dynamic. However, Sengoku is different, as he is the current Admiral of Naval Headquarters and Darren's superior, thus requiring respect for the formal hierarchy.
"Well, Darren, how's your practice going lately? Are there any questions?" Zephyr asked with a smile, his eyes showing satisfaction and appreciation. Darren shook his head and smiled, "Not yet. The knowledge taught by Teacher Zephyr is very rich and profound. It will take some time to digest and absorb it." Zephyr's smile grew stronger, and he raised his eyebrows provocatively towards Sengoku, which seemed to say that Darren is making the right choices under his guidance. Sengoku rolled his eyes in disdain.
Darren then turned to Sengoku and said, "I haven't seen you for many days, but Admiral Sengoku's style remains the same." Sengoku's face lit up in a smile, "Well, you're a good boy." Zephyr: "... Ahem..." Sengoku quickly suppressed his smile, coughed twice, and looked at Darren seriously. "Darren, this time I came to the training camp specifically to see you. I have an urgent mission."
Darren frowned at the mention of going on a mission. During this period, the training camps were less formal than the structured teachings of military schools in later years, with students occasionally going on missions according to need and order. However, the military typically avoided interrupting training to maintain the quality of teaching.
"What does Admiral Sengoku mean?" Darren inquired. Sengoku replied in a deep voice, "For the sake of confidentiality, I cannot tell you the specific situation before you accept this task." He straightened up with a serious expression, "The target of this mission is extremely powerful, ruthless, and violent. His hands are stained with blood, and countless people have died at his hands. According to staff assessments, this guy's combat efficiency is probably close to that of 'World Destroyer' Byrnndi Waldo."
Darren frowned further, "So Admiral Sengoku, you want me to take on this extremely dangerous mission without even knowing the mission goal?" Sengoku's face stiffened, and he nodded, knowing his request was challenging. He had hoped for Zephyr's support from the beginning, so they could be on the same side. Seeing the expressions of Darren and Sengoku, Zephyr felt at ease and said with a smile, "Boy Darren, you don't need to worry. If you don't want to go, just mention it. It won't have any impact on you."
"Right now, the most important thing for you is to keep training, learning, and improving your strength," Sengoku added anxiously. "Darren, although the mission target is very strong, your Devil Fruit ability is just enough to restrain him. This is why I came to find you. And in addition, you are not acting alone in this mission. You are only participating in the operation as a deputy. The real mission leader is someone else. For you, the danger level of this mission is still within control. It is at least easier than the battle with Byrnndi Waldo."
Is it my ability to restrain myself? Darren suddenly fell into deep thought, his brain working rapidly, searching for relevant information in his mind. Arrogant as he is, Darren is no idiot who wants to die. After facing Roger's knife, he has clearly realized how far he is from the peak powerhouse in this sea. It just so happens that I am in the rising period of strength. If there is no need and certainty, it is naturally a more rational choice to stay in the training camp to accumulate strength. However, who is this guy who can make Sengoku, the headquarters Admiral, so afraid? The combat power is not inferior to the existence of "World Destroyer" Byrnndi Waldo... Violent and cruel... Plus this time period...
A name came to Darren's mind quickly, from blur to clarity. "Admiral Sengoku, if I participate, who is the commander of this mission?" Darren pondered for a moment, then asked under Zephyr's somewhat astonished expression. After the words fell, before Sengoku could speak, a low and hoarse voice suddenly sounded from behind. "It's me." The door of the Chief Instructor's office was pushed open at some point. A harsh and ruthless aura of iron and blood turned into a cold wind and rushed into the office. The moment he heard the voice, Darren froze for a moment. He turned slowly. A tall and stern figure wearing a peaked military cap came into view, his eyes filled with the constant gloom of Ten Thousand Years.
"Well, going to a fight, Darren?" the man said coldly. Darren looked at Sakazuki in front of him calmly. The latter also looked at him with an indifferent look. One second, two seconds, three seconds, the corners of Darren's mouth gradually curled into a defiant arc. "It's been a long time since we fought together, Sakazuki Rear Admiral."
"Sengoku, you b*****d!! You're a fool!!" After Darren left with Sakazuki, Zephyr finally couldn't hold back the aggrieved heart and directly patted the table, blowing his beard and staring. "You didn't say the commander of the mission is Sakazuki!" Zephyr was furious. What a joke! Before Sakazuki left North Blue, Darren was his lieutenant!! Facing his former boss, it is impossible for Darren to refuse this task!
Sengoku sat there leisurely eating senbei, clasping his ears over and over again, pretending to be stupid while saying, "Really, didn't I say? Hahahaha...it's not important." Zephyr gritted his teeth. He knew that b*****d Sengoku was cunning, but he didn't expect him to be so insidious! "There are so many excellent Vice Admirals in this department, why do you have to let Darren go? Besides, you said that the objective of the mission is dangerous. Why doesn't Admiral, your headquarters, go out in person!?" Zephyr demanded.
Sengoku suddenly put down the senbei, and his tone suddenly sank, becoming cautious. "Because there are more dangerous things happening at the same time." He wiped his mouth, his eyes flashed with deep solemnity. "According to Garp's information, the Roger Pirates have already stepped into the waters of New World. According to the course of the Oro Jackson, Roger is likely to meet Whitebeard." Zephyr's face changed slightly upon hearing this.