"Hey, Teacher Zephyr, you can't put it like that."

"This isn't cowardice, it's called strategic thinking."

"A talent like me should sit comfortably in the rear lines. I'm actually planning to apply for the Head of Logistics position soon."

"Then I can stay at headquarters with you every day!"

Hammer would never admit he was scared. Please, the seas were full of terrifying monsters; why should he be the one charging in to fight?

Let the fighting be the Dog bro's job, not his.

"Logistics Chief, my foot! You little punk, you're already a perfectly good Vice Admiral and you wanna be Head of Logistics?!"

"I should just smash you right here and now, save myself the heart attack!"

Zephyr was absolutely fuming. 'After all this time, the Logistics Chief nonsense still wasn't over?'

'Such a good, healthy young man, instead of being out at sea, he wanted to hole up at HQ? This tree was growing all crooked!'

"Aw, relax, Teacher, just stay here with me in Marineford. When something comes up, we'll send Sengoku or the dog squad. We two can just retire in peace, isn't that nice?"

"Once I'm Logistics Chief, I'll make sure Marineford's defense level jumps up a notch, I promise you it'll be safer than Mary Geoise itself!"

Hammer wasn't intimidated by Zephyr at all; he just countered him word for word.

The others standing around watched the two stare each other down, both refusing to back down, all while trying desperately not to laugh.

The Marine's rising star and its previous generation's Admiral, teacher, and student, father and son.

Hammer's rebellious spirit was on full display.

"Hahahaha! I can't, I can't hold it in anymore!"

Hina cracked first, her bright laughter broke the tension.

Once she started, the others couldn't hold it either.

Everyone was laughing now, except for Zephyr and Hammer, who were still glaring at each other.

"Hmph! I can't argue with you, do whatever you want!"

"Tch! Admit it, you're convinced now. Don't worry, teacher, you'll have endless Sherry wine and top-shelf cigars on hand every day!"

With everyone still chuckling, the two finally sat down again. Zephyr really didn't feel like butting heads with him any longer.

'Crooked or not, at least the boy could still forge weapons. Worst case, I'd just get Him to make me another one to soothe my heart.

'Yes, that was it, settled!'

The more Zephyr thought about having another custom weapon, the less annoyed he felt. He grabbed a bottle of Sherry and drank happily by himself.

"Forget it, eat, eat. Once we're done, I've gotta go back and polish my Fist of Tekko."

"By the way, I heard you made another custom weapon? And it's not for Sengoku?"

Hearing Sengoku's name made Hammer roll his eyes immediately.

"Yeah, not for him. That old man thinks everything's for him, even wit that massive cold snap; he assumed that was his new toy. I swear…"

"He's a giant golden Buddha, what does that have to do with ice? Anyone with half a brain could see that!"

"It's for Kuzan. He can come pick it up himself later."

Zephyr burst out laughing. He knew Sengoku was already losing it over this.

"He really is losing it. You didn't see him, after that clash with the Whitebeard Pirates, he was stunned watching me unleash my full power."

"If Whitebeard hadn't been so ridiculously strong, I wouldn't have needed any help. Those division commanders? One punch each!"

At the mention of fighting Whitebeard's crew, Zephyr's pride was sky-high.

That day, clad in the Fist of Tekko, he'd basically turned into a war god; it really was one punch per pirate.

Even Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit couldn't shake him, the Fist of Tekko let him take the hits head-on and punch right back.

'So satisfying', Zephyr smacked his lips at the memory.

No question, he'd definitely have Hammer make him another weapon. With two custom weapons in hand, he'd go challenge Whitebeard to a rematch for sure!

"I heard about that too, rumor says Admiral Sengoku came back with bloodshot eyes, looking totally unhinged."

"Probably because Teacher Zephyr showed off, and you didn't help, either."

Momonga, cheeks stuffed with meat, suddenly chimed in.

Gulp!

He swallowed his mouthful and gave Hammer a hopeful puppy-dog stare.

"Hammer, buddy, you see, we…"

"Stop right there!"

Before Momonga could even finish, Hammer shut him down.

"You're my bodyguard right now, not my buddy. And even if you were my buddy, you wouldn't be getting a custom weapon for free!"

Momonga instantly pulled a tragic face, and even Yamakaji looked a bit crestfallen.

"Unless…"

Hearing that, the two perked up like puppies, ears pricked, waiting for more.

"Unless you bring your own materials. Let me be clear: custom weapons are all made with materials people hand over themselves."

"Look at Sakazuki, gave me his magma. Kuzan, his ice. Even Sengoku scrounged up a Light Crystal."

"Teacher Zephyr doesn't count, he's my old man, after all."

Hearing that, Zephyr laughed out loud again, more satisfied than ever. He was definitely getting another custom.

Momonga and Yamakaji, meanwhile, fell into deep thought.

Hammer wasn't wrong; they couldn't expect freebies.

Looks like they'd have to pay more attention to rare materials during pirate hunts from now on.

"Fine! Rare materials, huh? After this mission, I'm gonna patrol the Grand Line, hunt pirates, and seize treasures. I'll definitely get my hands on some rare ores!"

Momonga was fired up; he'd go all in for a custom weapon: hunt pirates, seize loot, get materials!

"Heh, how about you first earn back enough to repay your debt to me?"

Momonga: 'This iron-skinned miser!

The next day, the Warhammer set sail from Marineford once more, along with it, a steel behemoth-class battleship at Vice Admiral level, personally approved by Sengoku.

"Say what you want, that old Sengoku does know what he's doing!"

"Ahahahaha!"

Standing on the Warhammer's deck, Hammer watched the battleship sail alongside them, laughing out loud.

Momonga and Yamakaji were on that ship, escorting him as his bodyguards.

Not long after Hammer set out to sea, a call came into Fleet Admiral Kong's office.

"Hello? This is Kong."

"What? The Celestial Dragons want to visit Marineford? Why?!"

"Uh… Hammer's not here; he just recovered from injuries and immediately took on a sea mission."

"What, how is that my fault? He's a Navy man, what was I supposed to do, make him Fleet Admiral?!"

"No, no, that's not what I meant…"

"Wait, no, don't-!"

Click!

Kong stared at the dead line, totally stunned.

"SENGOKU! BIG TROUBLE! The Celestial Dragons are coming to Marineford!!!"

"Get ready! NOW!!"

Sengoku, buried in paperwork in his office, jolted so hard his whole body shuddered.

"The Celestial Dragons?! Oh my god…"

"Somebody! ANYBODY!"

In an instant, all of Marineford plunged into chaos.