As soon as Cudius's voice fell, Zephyr remained silent for a while. Even though Cudius had spoken in a calm and polite tohe fact remaihat he was still a Celestial Dragon. When someone like him made a request, no matter how nicely it hrased, it left Zephyr in a difficult position. Refusing would be no easy matter.

  At the same time, Zephyr had his own challeo sider. As a Marine Admiral, he couldn't just dedicate himself to Cudius full-time. From the way Cudius had spoken, it almost sounded like he was asking Zephyr to take him on as a disciple.

  Being the first Mario take on a Celestial Dragon as a student? That would certainly be a first. Zephyr had never heard of such a thing happening before. Plus, he wasn't eager to get involved in the plexities of Mariejois, which made the situation rather awkward.

  If Cudius knew what was going through Zephyr's mind, he might have ughed.

  Not only was Cudius not asking to formally bee Zephyr's disciple, but even if he had been, it wouldn't have been all that eous. If anything, Zephyr should learn from his colleague, Sengoku.

  In a few years, Sengoku wouldn't just accept a Celestial Dragon into his ranks he'd go as far as adopting his little cousin, Rosinante, as his own son! Now that's what you call open-minded!

  But notig the unfortable look on Zephyr's face, Cudius realized that the Admiral was overthinking things, probably assuming that Cudius wao recruit him as some kind of personal backer or bodyguard.

  So, Cudius smiled and crified, "Zephyr Admiral, I believe there's been some misuanding. I don't expect you to stay in Mariejois and personally guide me step by step. What I'm asking for is far simpler I just need learning materials and the be of your experience."

  He paused before adding, "I know that as an Admiral, you're busy with your duties, and I wouldn't want to impose on you too much. But I'll have a lot of time once I return to Mariejois, and I don't want to waste it. That's why I hope you share your knowledge with me before then."

  Hearing this, Zephyr visibly rexed. With a lighter tone, he responded quickly, "Thank you for being so uanding, Saint Cudius. As you said, I ot stay by your side all the time, but if it's just providing information and sharing my experiences, I'd be more than happy to help. Once we arrive in Mariejois, I'll make sure to prepare everything for you."

  Cudius smiled, satisfied with the ahat was all he needed. Mariejois was full of skilled individuals, even among the sves, and the hidden masters in the CP anizations were formidable as well. If Cudius wao learn and grow stronger, finding teachers wouldn't be difficult.

  However, he uood that building a solid foundation was key. No matter how skilled someone was, without a proper base, it would be impossible to make progress. Without ying the groundwork, how could he expect to grow stronger?

  Across the world of pirates, Zephyr might not be the stro in terms of sheer bat prowess. However, when it came to training future talents and ying solid foundations, few could rival him.

  As a Celestial Dragon who wasn't willing to waste his resources, Cudius had made a smart decision in seeking Zephyr's expertise. Many people would love the opportunity to learn from Zephyr, but such a privilege was rare and hard to e by. Being a Marine Admiral, Zephyr's time and attention weren't something just anyone could demand. But Cudius, as a Celestial Dragon, stood at the very top of the world's hierarchy.

  Even so, he was careful not to take such a valuable resource franted. After all, if he was going to y a foundation, it o be the best.

  Zephyr, for his part, seemed relieved to avoid getting tangled up too deeply with Mariejois politics. He could see that Cudius was straightforward and not the type t others into unnecessary trouble.

  Feeling a little guilty for his earlier hesitation, Zephyr added, "Though I'm quite busy, if there's ever something you don't uand, I'd be more than happy to e and teach you personally."

  His offer was clear: While Zephyr couldn't stay by Cudius's side all the time, he was willing to make occasional trips to Mariejois to uidance if needed.

  This was a gesture of goodwill, a way to show that he valued Cudius's potential. From what Zephyr had seen, Cudius wasn't like the typical Celestial Dragons he had entered. Perhaps this young man had the potential to aplish something signifit iure.

  Cudius smiled warmly. "That's excellent news. I'll be sure to rely on your help then, Zephyr."

  With that settled, their versation shifted to the basics of training. Zephyr expihe principles behind strength training, and Cudius eagerly soaked up the knowledge. Although the exercises Zephyr described push-ups, running, a training sounded simple, there were tless teiques to optimize them.

  Zephyr leased to see that Cudius was so receptive to learning. His natural ination as a teacher took over, and he gradually became more enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge.

  Over the few days, Cudius didn't eveo summon Zephyr. With little to occupy his time on the sea, Zephyr voluntarily sought Cudius out every m. He would wake Cudius early and take him to the deck for training, giving him hands-on guidanbsp;

  As Cudius trained, Zephyr would sit nearby, piling all the training materials Cudius would need once he returo Mariejois. That way, Cudius could tinue his training indepely. Once Cudius had id a solid foundation, Zephyr po summarize more advaeiques for him.

  Before long, the warship roag the Red Line. From the deck, one could already see the endless crimson cliffs rising from the horizon.

  Cudius, with a towel around his neck, stood shirtless on the deck. Under Zephyr's guidance, a few days ur exercise had started to show results. His body had lost most of its excess fat, and though he wasn't muscur yet, the zy, weak aura he once had was gone. Now, at least, he looked like a young man with energy and drive.

  "We'll reach Mariejois soht?" Cudius asked quietly, his gaze fixed o cliffs of the Red Line in the distance.

  It wasn't Zephyr who answered, but Kuzan, who had taken an i in Cudius.

  "Yes, Saint Cudius. At this speed, we should reach Mariejois in no time," Kuzan said with a grin, standing not far behind him.

  "Good," Cudius replied with a smile. "As much as I've ehese past few days, there are things I o take care of in Mariejois. Only after that will I be able to rest easy."

  As the warship slowly pulled into port, a rge ti of Mariejois servants had already gathered to wele Cudius. The moment the ship docked, a sharp-faced man who looked like a butler hurriedly led a group of servants. They rolled out a fresh, bright red carpet from the dock all the way to the bubble elevator.

  Armuards lined up on both sides of the carpet, seemingly ag as an huard.

  Cudius stood on the deck, watg the se below with a fsh of disdain in his eyes. "Hmph, quite the dispy. Where was all this effort before?" he muttered under his breath.

  Kuzan, seeing the extravagant dispy for the first time, couldn't help but be surprised. Though he was aware of the status and privilege of the Celestial Dragons, seeing it in person where even something as simple as disembarking from a ship required this much fanfare was something else.

  Zephyr, who had ied with the Celestial Dragons several times before, was unfazed.

  Ohe gangway was in pce, Cudius reached out and grabbed a shun hao him by a Marihen, without hesitation, he led the way off the ship.

  The sharp-faced butler rushed forward to greet him the moment he saw Cudius. Though Cudius's appearance had ged signifitly, the butler, Mendil, reized him instantly, having served him for years.

  As soon as Cudius set foot on the red carpet, Mendil dropped to his knees and groveled, "Wele back, Saint Cudius. I've missed you dearly these past few days. It's been agony not being able to serve you."

  Cudius gnced down at the butler with a look of disgust, speaking softly, "Really? I would've thought you'd be too busy enjoying the rewards from selli to feel any guilt, Mendil."

  At those words, Mendil's whole body trembled. He raised his head in a panic, trying to stammer a response, "Y-Yhness…"

  "Shut up. I don't want to hear a single word from your filthy mouth." Cudius's voice was filled with cold disdain.

  Without a moment's hesitation, Cudius raised the shun in his hand and aimed it at Mendil's head. He didn't need evideo firm that Mendil had been plicit iraying him and sending him off on that ill-fated voyage to the New World. The clusion was obvious from his memories: this butler had seen him as nothing more than a fool, an easy target to manipute.

  And since Cudius didn't need evidence, he saw no reason to let the man live. Without waiting another sed, he pulled the trigger.

  Boom!

  The sound of the gunshot echoed through the port. Blood sprayed into the air as Mendil's head exploded, and his lifeless body colpsed onto the bright red carpet.

  Cudius tossed the still-smoking shun onto the carpet without so much as a g the butler's corpse, and calmly walked forward as if nothing had happened.

  After all, for a Celestial Dragon, killing someone like that wasn't out of the ordinary. He didn't need a reason. This was the privilege of being a Celestial Dragon absolute power over life ah.

  Watg Cudius's back as he walked away, Kuzan couldn't help but murmur, "Now I've finally seerue nature of a Celestial Dragon."

  Zephyr, standio him, g the body on the ground before shaking his head. "No matter horoachable he may seem, in the end, if something displeases him, a life be taken just like that. You're right this is more like the Celestial Dragons I remember."