"With your capabilities, commanding a warship in the North Blue Fleet would be more than sufficient."

Daren smiled, his eyes betraying no attempt to conceal his expectations for Magellan.

Constrained by its scale, the North Blue Fleet's organizational structure remained deliberately simple and clear. Apart from himself—the "hands-off commander"—the fleet's main hierarchy was divided into three distinct levels.

The highest rank naturally belonged to Momonga, the fleet commander, followed by the captains of each warship. Each fleet captain possessed combat strength equivalent to a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral or even Vice Admiral, responsible for the daily management and operations of their respective warships, reporting only to Momonga and Daren himself.

Below them were the first officers and the ranks of enlisted personnel.

Though this clear-cut hierarchy had its flaws, for the North Blue Fleet—constantly operating in a state of "wartime readiness"—it was the most effective structure in terms of execution, organization, and efficiency.

Given Magellan's capabilities, serving as a captain within the North Blue Fleet would pose absolutely no problem. His only issue was that introverted nature of his—it would take time and experience before he could truly bear the responsibilities of leading a warship with over a thousand subordinates.

That said, Magellan was only fifteen or sixteen years old. Expectations didn't need to be too high just yet.

"I..."

Magellan opened his mouth but fell silent.

"Oh?"

Daren raised an eyebrow, watching Magellan's hesitation with interest.

"You don't wish to join my command or Zephyr-sensei's..."

"—I'm willing!"

Magellan's face flushed crimson as he gritted out the words, cutting Daren off mid-sentence.

Daren: "..."

"I—I mean, I'd be honored to fight alongside Zephyr-sensei or you, Instructor Daren."

Realizing how awkward his outburst sounded, Magellan stammered on, cheeks burning red.

"It's just that... Admiral Sengoku has placed great expectations on me. He even vouched for me to the World Government... I can't let him down again."

Daren sighed softly. Sengoku really did have a knack for winning people's loyalty.

"Are you certain?"

He decided to give it one last try, hoping to lure Magellan—a future Admiral-class powerhouse—away. His tone softened, persuasive and deliberate.

"With your talent and potential, staying in a place like Impel Down is truly a waste of your abilities."

"Moreover, given the current situation, it's unlikely you'll gain any political leverage from Marine Headquarters anytime soon."

"This also means that if you wish to advance, it will likely take an incredibly long time... perhaps a year, perhaps three or five years, maybe even a decade."

Daren's voice was deep and magnetic, like a devil tempting one toward sin and ruin—carrying an unsettling, almost hypnotic allure.

"Are you certain you want to spend all those years stuck in a place like Impel Down?"

"Magellan, this ocean is vast."

Yet faced with Daren's "temptation," Magellan remained unexpectedly firm. He simply shook his head.

"Daren-sensei, I don't consider this a waste of time... No matter where I am, I'll never stop tempering myself or striving to improve."

His youthful, expressionless face seemed to radiate light in that moment.

"Besides, Instructor Daren, didn't you teach me... that as long as justice dwells in one's heart, even the darkest corners can be illuminated?"

"...Did I say that?" Daren's mouth twitched.

"Yes, I remember it clearly!"

Magellan nodded vigorously, his eyes burning with pure, unshakable admiration as he looked at Daren.

Daren retorted irritably:

"I was just messing with you."

"No!"

Magellan shook his head firmly.

"I know you meant well—you didn't want me wasting my time in a place like Impel Down. But to me, this is a test of my resolve!"

"This is the world's greatest prison, the darkest and most corrupt place on earth—Impel Down!"

"I truly believe that even within this filthy, lightless pit, genuine justice can still shine through."

Daren: "..."

Staring at Magellan's overly dramatic expression, Daren suddenly felt a tightness in his chest and covered his face in exasperation.

Dealing with a single-minded fool like this, even his silver tongue was powerless...

"Fine. Since you've made your choice in life, I won't interfere any further."

Daren spoke with a trace of frustration.

So, in the end, Magellan would still walk the same path as before—becoming the undisputed "king" of this deep-sea prison.

Still, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. At least here, in Impel Down, Magellan's abilities could be used to their fullest potential—two hundred percent, even.

And more importantly...

The side effects of Magellan's Devil Fruit were simply absurd.

In an underwater prison, it wasn't an issue—the toilets drained straight into the sea, the facilities were well-built, and the ventilation systems were state-of-the-art. Even if there was a "toxic gas leak," it could be dispersed almost immediately.

But if he were stationed on one of the North Blue Fleet's warships? One lapse of control, and the entire crew would be doomed.

Thousands of meters above the sea, trapped on a vessel with nowhere to run... just imagining that scene sent chills down Daren's spine.

After all, not everyone could breathe in Magellan's poison gas like cigarette smoke the way he could.

With that thought, Daren placed his bat helmet back on and rose from his seat. He stepped forward, resting a hand on Magellan's shoulder as he spoke in a low, steady voice:

"To each his own. I won't force you."

"But Magellan, I want to leave you with something."

Magellan stiffened, his face solemn, his expression full of anticipation.

"Please, tell me, sir!"

Daren smiled faintly.

"Even though you haven't joined my command, remember this—we will always be fighting side by side."

He stepped past Magellan and walked toward the door, his dark, imposing cloak unfurling behind him like the wings of a shadow.

"—Because justice binds us together."

The words struck Magellan like a bolt of lightning.

His body trembled violently, as if the shock had pierced straight through him. He turned, dazed, staring at that retreating back—it seemed taller now, more commanding, radiating a light he could never hope to reach.

Only after Daren left the office did Magellan snap out of it, blurting out in a panic:

"Daren—no, Mr. Wayne, wait for me!"

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