"Hahahaha, Kuzan, I really admire you. How about joining my Roger Pirates? I can even make you a vice-captain."
Roger raised a brow, winking playfully at Aokiji with an utterly unserious expression.
"Hey, Roger, what about me?"
Rayleigh, hearing this, walked up to Roger and promptly smacked him on the head, leaving a visible bump.
"Hahaha, let's recruit him first. Who says there can't be more than one vice-captain?"
Roger rubbed his head, his cheeks flushing slightly in embarrassment, his eyes curving into crescent moons.
"I'll never become a pirate in this lifetime."
Aokiji didn't even turn around as he spoke. Though he had his own reservations about the Marines' brand of justice, joining the pirates? That was out of the question.
"Nee~ Kuzan's sense of justice is still too weak. We're Marines, after all~ What a headache, nee~"
Kizaru sighed, his face drooping with dissatisfaction. To him, the Marines' justice was simple—eradicate pirates. As a high-ranking Marine officer, failing to uphold this ideal made one unworthy of the title.
"Aokiji, if you leave now, there will be consequences."
"Oh? Do as you please, Admiral Sengoku."
"Gah! You—! Don't push it, Aokiji! This operation cannot afford failure. If you leave, we lose our numerical advantage!"
Aokiji ignored Sengoku, hands still in his pockets as he walked away.
Sengoku's rage manifested as literal flames atop his head, his eyes darkening—proof of his fury.
"Sengoku, let him go."
Garp picked his nose casually, though his gaze remained sharp.
"Tch, what a disgrace to the Marines. Our justice demands decisiveness. Someone like him doesn't deserve to stand with us."
Akainu glared at Aokiji's retreating back, molten lava dripping from his mouth and sizzling against the ground.
"Kuzan..."
Black Arm Zephyr silently murmured the name. Among his many students, he held a particular appreciation for Aokiji. In terms of temperament, Aokiji's justice lacked the same bloodlust—an ideology that aligned closely with his own.
Aokiji's eyes were distant, his face as lazily indifferent as ever. But inwardly, his mind had never been clearer.
As he passed Garp, he paused.
"Garp-san."
"What is it, Aokiji?"
Garp's expression remained unreadable. He didn't seem the least bit surprised by Aokiji's sudden departure from the battlefield.
"What you told me before… I understand it now."
"What did I say? I don't remember."
Garp continued digging at his nose, his face annoyingly nonchalant.
"Is that so? Then I'll take my leave."
After a few steps, Aokiji halted again.
"There's something I want to try."
"Oh? What's that?"
Garp straightened slightly, intrigued. For the usually lethargic Aokiji to speak so seriously was unusual.
"Conqueror's Haki."
"…What?"
Garp rubbed his ear, wondering if he'd misheard. The lazy Aokiji had such ambitions? Conqueror's Haki was an innate quality, a king's disposition—could Aokiji's have lain dormant until now?
The two locked eyes, Garp studying Aokiji's gaze intently.
"Ah~ Do what you want. Follow your instincts."
"Thanks."
With that, Aokiji yawned, adjusted his eye mask, and walked off without another glance.
"That kid… must've realized his shortcomings in that last fight. But to recall my old words now—seems he took it hard. Hahahaha!"
Since Sengoku and the others were still aboard the ship, they hadn't overheard the conversation.
Nearby, Roger's eyes gleamed with interest. "That man, Aokiji… He'll go far. A shame, really. He's an interesting one—would've been great to have him on board."
At the water's edge, Aokiji crouched and placed a hand on the sea's surface.
"Ice Age."
The ocean froze instantly, spreading rapidly. Aokiji stepped onto the ice and vanished from sight.
With his departure, the numbers on both sides were nearly even.
"Sengoku, we're only one man short now. Still want to fight?"
Roger smirked. Avoiding battle would be ideal—he had no interest in entertaining the Marines any longer. Once Rouge safely gave birth, he still had to lead the Roger Pirates to Wano to rescue Oden. Lin's words hadn't left his mind.
"Don't get cocky, Roger. No matter what, today we fight with everything we have."
Sengoku declared.
"Gol D. Roger, you are indeed strong. I underestimated you before. But how much of your strength can you muster now?"
Akainu was the first to leap from the ship onto the island, the others following suit.
"If you want a fight, we're ready anytime."
Rayleigh stepped forward, joining Roger's side.
"Exactly. My axe has been itching to taste a Marine Admiral's blood."
Gabban stepped up to Roger's other side, the blades of his twin axes gleaming coldly.
Roger rose to his feet, resting his supreme grade great sword on his shoulder as he pointed at Sengoku.
"Sengoku, seems this fight is unavoidable after all."
"Heh, Captain, if they want a fight, we'll give 'em one to remember."
Sanbel lumbered forward in his massive form, each step shaking the ground beneath them.
"Yeah. For our family's sake, we can't back down now."
Roger nodded.
The two factions stood facing each other, the air thick with unyielding masculine resolve.
"Admiral Zephyr, you handle Gabban. Kizaru, take on Rayleigh. Akainu, you and I will deal with Sanbel—that monster's hide is thicker than battleship armor."
"Hahaha! Rayleigh, Gabban, you hear that? My rank's way higher than yours!"
Sanbel's enormous head shook with laughter, sending droplets of spit flying everywhere.
"Eugh— Old San, keep your mouth shut if you're just gonna spray spit everywhere!"
Roger wiped himself off on Rayleigh's coat, only to earn another solid punch to the head.
"Roger, I may not be… whatever you're implying, but I still have standards for cleanliness."