Chapter 10 - 10: A Hidden Background Check

Words : 1246 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

"The night sky in this world… it's even deeper than the last." "And the stars—so much brighter." As Yoriichi Tsugikuni gazed into the night, his voice tinged with quiet awe, Zephyr was nowhere near his home. Tonight, he had a meeting—a meeting that would prove significant not just for him, but for Yoriichi as well. Inside the Fleet Admiral's office— Steel-boned Kong sat behind his desk, the golden justice coat draped across his shoulders. Before him, two thick dossiers lay stacked high. His brows were furrowed as he flipped through the documents with focused intensity. He wasn't alone. Standing on either side of him were Vice Admiral Tsuru and Admiral Sengoku, both poring over the same reports in silence. Knock knock knock! A sharp knock echoed through the room. Kong looked up and called out in a resonant voice, "Enter." The office door swung open. Zephyr strode in briskly, the word Justice emblazoned boldly on the back of his cloak. He closed the door behind him and walked up to Kong's desk, his expression grim. "How did the investigation go?" he asked in a low voice. "Is there a problem?" Kong didn't answer immediately. Instead, he lowered his head again, flipping another page in the file. Zephyr's eyes narrowed. He inhaled sharply, just about to speak again, when Tsuru raised a hand and gestured for calm. "Don't be so hasty. Take a seat on the couch." "So far, there are… a few oddities. But nothing that constitutes a serious issue." Zephyr lowered himself onto the couch with a thump, his voice heavy. "Oddities?" Just as Tsuru opened her mouth to explain, Sengoku cut in. "Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Based on everything we've gathered, his true age is twelve." "According to survivors rescued by Garp from Ryūgin Island, Yoriichi did indeed live there his entire life." "His parents arrived on the island twenty years ago. As for where they came from… that part is a complete blank." "His father passed away when Yoriichi was two. His mother followed six years later." "He survived thanks to the help of neighbors—until two years ago, when he suddenly disappeared. No one saw him again until recently, when he reappeared alongside Garp during the pirate purge." Zephyr listened, frowning deeper with each word. By the end, his tone was tinged with frustration. "Hey, Sengoku, you've said all this—but where's the doubt you mentioned?" "His life trajectory is clear, isn't it? He vanished two years ago—probably lost in the woods. Ryūgin Island has no shortage of dangerous beasts. The villagers likely assumed he'd died." "Didn't Garp find a cave in the center of the island where the boy had been living?" "His sword? Most likely inherited from his parents. His swordsmanship? A mix of talent and a bit of early instruction." "This world's a vast place. A boy like him? Not exactly unheard of." "He survived in the wild, honed his instincts, grew stronger—until Garp found him and brought him back to the Navy. Isn't that straightforward enough?" "So tell me, Sengoku—what's the real issue here?!" His words rang with fierce loyalty. Zephyr had taken a strong liking to the gifted child. During their time together, the maturity Yoriichi had shown—whether deliberate or accidental—had struck a deep chord within him. For a boy that young to carry himself with such gravity… he had to have endured something unimaginable. And truthfully, Zephyr wasn't wrong. "C'mon, don't get so worked up," Sengoku said, raising a calming hand. "Let me finish." He gave a knowing smile—he understood Zephyr's reaction. He'd been there himself. Four years ago— Sengoku, who had no children of his own, adopted a boy named Rosinante. At the time, he had no idea of the child's origins. He simply brought him back and submitted the standard background check. Only to discover the boy was a Celestial Dragon—a blood descendant of the Donquixote Family. But the matter had been kept quiet. Thanks to Sengoku's own influence, the truth never left the upper echelons. Apart from those present in this very room, the only other who knew was Garp, who had already returned to sea. Zephyr, having lost his own family, had since thrown himself into building the Navy's future. He cared deeply for the younger generation. And now, Yoriichi had moved into his home—a privilege no other trainee had ever received. Zephyr had clearly taken him in as one of their own. Just like Sengoku had, all those years ago—he'd grown soft. "Speak," Zephyr said sharply, folding his arms. "The oddities lie in two things," Sengoku replied, "his weapon—and the fact that, according to Garp, he's awakened Conqueror's Haki." At this, Sengoku paused and met Zephyr's eyes. And Zephyr's expression darkened. Sengoku continued, "I'm sure you noticed it too. That blade of his—its quality is exceptional." "But it doesn't match any of the 12 Supreme Grade Meito." "Whoever forged it must have been no ordinary craftsman." "And then there's Conqueror's Haki… the mark of a king. You honestly believe someone like that has no special background?" Zephyr fell silent. For a moment, his breath hitched. Then he shook his head slowly and muttered, "That's exactly the kind of thinking I hate most." "Yoriichi is Yoriichi. His origins have nothing to do with his worth." "All I know is, he was born and raised in the East Blue. And he's done nothing wrong." "He's just a boy who lost his parents early—a bit gifted, that's all. What, is that a crime now?!" "Doubt? What a load of crap." He stood up abruptly. He'd heard enough. He understood Yoriichi's situation. That was all that mattered. Zephyr turned toward the door. But just as he reached it, Kong finally spoke: "Zephyr." "You're not wrong. He is just a child who lost his parents." "But precisely because he's a child, we must guide him carefully. Wouldn't you agree?" "For the next five years—I don't want him leaving Marineford." "And I forbid you from teaching him any Navy secrets. No intelligence leaks. No advanced techniques. Not even Haki or the Rokushiki." "Kids his age tend to chase after glory. What he needs now is a solid foundation—physical strength, basic education, and a proper worldview." Zephyr halted in his tracks. Then, without turning around, he snorted coldly. "You don't have to tell me that." Bang! The office door slammed shut behind him. Sengoku watched him go, then tossed the file in his hands back onto the desk. "Well, nothing left for me here. I'm heading out—Rosinante's still waiting." And with that, he too left the room. Only Kong and Tsuru remained. Kong turned to her, his voice low and serious. "What do you think?" Tsuru—revered as the Navy's brain—had always earned Kong's deepest respect. "It's a clear background. Nothing to worry about." "Children are blank slates. I believe Zephyr will raise him right." "He's not like Garp. He's dependable." At the mention of Garp, Kong couldn't help but rub his forehead in frustration. Garp was a Vice Admiral. His son, Monkey D. Dragon, also in the Navy… had recently begun disobeying orders and acting unpredictably. It gave Kong an uneasy feeling in his gut. (End of Chapter)

Chapter 10 - 10: A Hidden Background Check

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