After arranging Toki's medical care and security, Daren finally let out a breath, the burden on his heart easing at last.
When it came to Toki, Daren always felt he owed her more than he could repay.
The headquarters' medical team was undoubtedly the best in the world. They ran a full physical examination on Toki, offered advice on nutrition and diet, and assigned professional caregivers to look after her—essential steps for her health and well-being.
Since he had this privilege, there was no reason not to use it. He hadn't fought through blood and fire, climbing the ladder of power, just for himself. It was all to give his family a better life.
As for the security arrangements, relying on the headquarters' defense was only a stopgap.
Daren understood his situation well.
He was walking a tightrope between politics and power, and he'd never entrust Toki's safety entirely to the security at Marineford.
The tragic fate of Zephyr-sensei's wife and child was the clearest warning.
The official story was that it had been a retaliatory attack by pirates, which ultimately led to Zephyr stepping down from his position as Admiral. But Daren didn't buy that for a second.
At the time, Zephyr was a top-ranking Admiral, one of the pillars of Marine HQ. His family had been placed in the high-security officers' compound in Marineford.
This was Marineford.
One of the most secure locations in the world.
Aside from madmen like Shiki, what kind of pirate could possibly breach the Marine Headquarters, get into the officer's family compound, and assassinate the wife and child of a Marine Admiral?
No matter how he looked at it, the situation reeked of suspicion.
Zephyr kept quiet, and so did everyone else at HQ. Daren didn't bother digging deeper.
But one thing he was sure of—the tragedy that struck Zephyr wasn't the work of pirates.
So who was behind it?
A cold, mocking smile tugged at Daren's lips.
Anyone with half a brain could guess who would stoop to such despicable acts.
That's why Sengoku's arrangement to protect Toki was only a temporary solution.
Once the medical exams and care routines were done, he'd need to come up with a more solid plan.
For now, at least, things were relatively stable.
At the moment, he was the trusted right-hand man of Topman Warcury, one of the Five Elders and the highest authority in the World Government. He was also acting as an "undercover supervisor" of the Marines. The likelihood of the World Government targeting him right now was low.
Even if it did come to a fallout, Daren was confident he could make them think twice.
He wasn't just a flying admiral with elite combat power—he was ruthless, calculating, and utterly unrelenting. If the World Government really dared to move against him, the Five Elders would have to consider whether they could handle the consequences of his vengeance.
As thoughts raced through his mind, Daren subconsciously lit a cigar and rubbed his temple, lost in quiet contemplation.
To grow stronger, he'd fought battle after battle—from Totto Land to Wano, and then to the Edd War. He'd barely had a moment to breathe.
Now, he finally had a chance to pause and reflect. He had strength, leverage, and a bit of breathing room.
With Toki's pregnancy, Daren's priorities began to shift back to the foundation.
The North Blue Fleet had proven its strength during the operation against Shiki. It was his ultimate trump card for survival, and its development couldn't be allowed to stall.
In Daren's blueprint, the North Blue Fleet would consist of at least thirty standard warships. Each ship would carry no fewer than fifty cannons of various calibers and be accompanied by a dedicated supply ship.
Each supply ship would carry enough provisions and ammunition to sustain its warship for at least three months without needing any resupply from land.
It was a concept well ahead of its time—a full-scale fleet operation model inspired in part by real-world aircraft carrier strike groups. Although Daren's understanding of modern warfare before his transmigration was limited, this was the rough vision he could manage for now.
Even so, implementing it would be a monumental task.
And that's without even factoring in whether Momonga's "charging" capacity could handle a thirty-ship flying fleet.
But if it worked, the North Blue Fleet would be unmatched.
Once airborne, this massive fleet would drift across the skies like a ghost armada—an airborne Damocles' sword hanging over every nation, faction, and organization in the world.
Even without firing a shot, its sheer presence would be enough to let Daren roam freely.
Eventually, he'd even be able to place Toki aboard the airborne fleet, ensuring her protection was foolproof.
"Let's hope we can make a breakthrough soon. But there's no rushing this... It'll take time."
Daren murmured softly, exhaling a long stream of smoke.
"Knock knock knock..."
A gentle knock suddenly echoed from outside the door, cutting off Daren's thoughts.
"Daren, kid?"
A calm, deep voice followed.
Daren blinked, then smiled.
"I'm here, Zephyr-sensei. Come on in."
The door to the hospital room opened, and Zephyr walked in, looking worn out.
When he saw Daren sitting on the bed smoking a cigar, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"You really aren't afraid of dying, huh? Tokikake just said you were on your last legs, and now you're back to smoking cigars?"
Daren grinned.
"You know how it is, Zephyr-sensei. A Marine doesn't die from smoking."
Zephyr paused, slightly taken aback, but didn't press the issue.
It was true—a Marine doesn't die from smoking.
They die on the battlefield.
"How are you feeling now?"
Zephyr walked over to Daren, smiling as he asked. His weathered eyes were full of concern and worry.
A warmth spread through Daren's chest.
"Don't worry, Zephyr-sensei. I've got an Indestructible Body. I'm not going down that easy."
Despite Zephyr's rigid personality, Daren felt nothing but respect for him.
His "no killing" philosophy and his idealistic, unyielding belief in justice clashed with Daren's own worldview, but that never changed the deep respect he held for the man.
Zephyr, "Black Arm," was a hero through and through.
Even after losing his wife and child, even in despair, he never abandoned his beliefs.
He firmly believed in the value of justice and devoted himself to teaching each of his students, watching them grow with eyes full of hope and pride.
He might seem stubborn, naive, or politically clueless, but he was a good man.
And the more Daren experienced, the more people he encountered, the more he realized—it's far harder to be a good person than a bad one.
Besides, this old man had taught him so much.
"Yeah, that's good to hea—wait, what did you just say!?"
Zephyr nodded reflexively, then suddenly froze. His eyes widened as he stared at Daren.
"Indestructible Body!?"
Seeing his reaction, Daren's heart skipped a beat.
Crap. I said it too fast.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake