The Greatest Disgrace in Marine History-Chapter 223 - 125: The Three Old Men Without Mercy

"Kaido's main base... destroyed?"

Darren froze the moment he heard the news.

As for being promoted from Commodore to Rear Admiral? He didn't really care.

Sure, navigating politics had its place—but in this sea, strength ruled above all. With his power, rank was merely a matter of time.

"You don't look particularly thrilled about it..."

Borsalino eyed Darren's contemplative expression with a lazy smile.

"Going from Captain to Rear Admiral in such a short time... that's a record-breaking triple promotion. Even caught up to me, huh?"

He scratched the stubble on his chin.

"Bet Sakazuki's got a nice headache right now..."

But Darren's brow remained furrowed.

"No, Borsalino. What I'm thinking is... if the base was destroyed and its coordinates exposed, where the hell did Kaido go?"

Borsalino shrugged with feigned innocence.

"Who knows? Kaido's a flying Mythical Beast, right? If he wants to disappear... who in this ocean could ever find him?"

Darren's brow twitched.

A fleeting thought flitted through his mind—but it vanished before he could grasp it.

"Though back when he was with the Rocks Pirates... I heard Kaido and Big Mom were pretty close."

Borsalino scratched his head.

"Maybe he ran to her for help?"

"Unlikely."

Darren shook his head.

Kaido wasn't the kind to live under anyone else's heel.

And if those two monsters ever met... the island wouldn't survive the reunion.

"Unless..."

He turned toward Borsalino—only to pause mid-sentence.

"...Why are you smiling?"

Borsalino raised both hands in mock surrender.

"Who, me? I'm not smiling."

But that insufferable grin—like he was watching a comedy—was unmistakable.

Darren felt a cold sweat creep down his back. Something was coming.

"You're definitely smiling!"

"Well, well... have you figured out how you're going to explain your little disappearance yet?"

Borsalino smirked and pointed toward the shore.

Darren followed his finger—and nearly bolted on the spot.

A row of massive Marine battleships had docked. From them, towering figures leapt to the shore, storming toward him with thunderous strides.

Was it just his imagination—or did their eyes... glow red?

His lip twitched uncontrollably.

"...No way..."

But before the words left his lips, thunderous roars boomed across the beach.

"Darren, you little brat! Where the hell have you been!? If you're alive, send a damn message!!"

"We've scoured dozens of islands looking for you, you punk!!"

Darren turned pale as he saw Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp striding toward him, cracking knuckles and radiating pure fury.

For the first time in his life, he felt panic rise.

"Um... Admiral Sengoku, Instructor Zephyr, Vice Admiral Garp..."

"Please let me defend—uh, I mean, explain myself..."

But the three fuming veterans weren't in the mood for excuses. White steam puffed from their noses as they loomed over him.

Three massive fists whooshed through the air—growing larger in Darren's vision by the second.

These damn geezers—where's their sense of justice!?

In desperation, a spark of genius flashed in Darren's mind. He blurted out:

"I... I fought the Whitebeard Pirates!!"

Boom!

All three fists halted inches from his face, wind pressure rippling across his skin.

"...You what?"

Zephyr's eyes bulged.

"He said he fought the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Garp shouted straight into Zephyr's ear.

"I'm not deaf, damn it! Why're you yelling!?"

Zephyr snapped, veins popping on his forehead.

"Well, you were the one repeating yourself—"

Garp muttered, picking his nose in protest.

Zephyr clenched his fists: ヽ(#`Д′)?

Sengoku rubbed his temples in exasperation, ignoring the squabbling buffoons beside him. His eyes locked on Darren.

"Darren... you're not joking, are you?"

A bead of cold sweat rolled down Darren's temple.

He nodded carefully.

With how battered his body still was, he couldn't afford another beatdown.

Especially not from Garp or Zephyr—those two never held back.

One good thrashing and he'd need another full day just to recover.

"Yes. It was... purely by chance."

Seeing the concern beneath their anger—how they'd dropped everything and come across the seas to find him—Darren softened.

Their exhaustion, the dust on their cloaks—it was clear how much they cared.

So he answered honestly:

"I... dislocated the arm of one of Whitebeard's sworn brothers. Nearly finished him off."

"Then I launched an attack on the Moby Dick to buy time for retreat—but it was blocked."

"...And then Whitebeard got pissed."

"He used his Tremor-Tremor powers and sunk an entire island beneath a tsunami."

"I barely made it out with my life."

Darren flashed a proud grin at the stunned trio.

Darren: b(￣▽￣)d

Sengoku: ...

Zephyr: ...

Garp: ...

Next second—

"You brat! You just had to poke the bear, didn't you!?"

Sengoku exploded in rage.

Whitebeard! The most overprotective, most dangerous pirate emperor in the New World!

"And you two—Zephyr, Garp—SHUT UP! Stop laughing!!"

Sengoku turned, veins bulging, as Zephyr and Garp stood with arms crossed, laughing uproariously.

Zephyr: "Hahaha! That's my student!" ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Garp: "Bwahaha! That's the adjutant I picked!"

Sengoku: ...

He clenched his teeth.

"...First Byrnndi World. Then Roger. Then Kaido. Now Whitebeard!?"

He buried his face in his hands and glared red-eyed at Darren.

"Are you just... planning to antagonize every legendary pirate!?"

"So what's next!? Big Mom? Ochoku? John? Golden Lion!?"

Darren paused to think.

"...Hmm... maybe..."

"YOU'RE ACTUALLY CONSIDERING IT!?!?"

Sengoku's roar shook the entire island.

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To be continued...