Aokiji truly adored the oath "Dark Blade, Guardian of Justice."
He deliberately took out pen and paper from his office drawer, bending over to transcribe it meticulously.
The scratching sound of pen on paper echoed continuously through the admiral's office.
During this interval.
Storm stared at the [Clay-Clay Fruit] in his hand.
Lines of text visible only to him materialized from the void.
[Name: Clay-Clay Fruit]
[Rank: None]
[Description: Paramecia-type Devil Fruit]
[Effect: The consumer can transform any part of their body into clay, while also creating clay from nothingness.
Note: Devil Fruits symbolize unnatural evolutionary paths, consumers will thus be cursed by the natural sea.]
[Comment: Playing with clay in the ocean]
The specific effects of the [Clay-Clay Fruit] didn't surprise Storm.
This was indeed a "Special Paramecia" Devil Fruit.
Just like Charlotte Katakuri's [Mochi-Mochi Fruit].
Not Logia, yet surpassing Logia.
'Now, [Clay-Clay Fruit], lend me your power!'
Storm secretly used the [Devil Ring] to extract and seal away the supernatural elements contained within the [Clay-Clay Fruit].
This process occurred without a sound.
A Devil Fruit that appeared completely intact on the outside had now lost its original extraordinary abilities.
Through the [Grand Prize Trophy], Storm could still observe the current information of the [Clay-Clay Fruit].
[Name: Powerless Clay-Clay Fruit]
[Rank: None]
[Description: A bizarre-looking, foul-tasting devil fruit]
[Effect: Nothing but terrible taste]
[Comment: Eat shit!]
'Even the side effects are gone, it's become completely hollow...'
Storm held up the [Clay-Clay Fruit].
Though he hadn't consumed this Special Paramecia Devil Fruit.
At this moment, he could clearly feel an additional power within himself.
As if with just a thought.
He could instantly create some soft, white clay...
Just as Storm was carefully experiencing this strange and novel supernatural power.
Aokiji finally finished transcribing the oath.
He looked up to see Storm still holding the [Clay-Clay Fruit].
"Storm, eat it."
Aokiji's voice brought Storm back to attention.
"Huh?"
Seeing Storm's delayed reaction, Aokiji slightly emphasized his words.
"Storm, eat it!"
Storm realized Aokiji was urging him to consume the now-useless [Clay-Clay Fruit].
Originally he wanted to observe whether the powerless [Clay-Clay Fruit] might undergo special changes in the future.
But now, eat it he shall! Storm raised the grotesque [Powerless Clay-Clay Fruit] and took a fierce bite.
Instantly.
An indescribable revolting sensation spread from his mouth to every nerve cell in his body.
This was literally like chewing wax—no!
Like chewing "rubber"! Could it be that all Devil Fruits were handcrafted by the Sun God?
Storm tried to find humor in his suffering.
He devoured the [Clay-Clay Fruit] in three bites, not leaving even a scrap of peel behind.
Aokiji looked at the other's ashen expression, seemingly recalling the scene when he first ate the [Ice Fruit].
"Ah-la-la."
Aokiji chuckled lightly.
"The taste of a Devil Fruit is something you'll never forget in this lifetime."
"Want to try out your abilities, Storm?"
"Of course!"
Storm readily agreed—or rather, he had been itching to do so! A mass of white Clay materialized in his palm, then rapidly morphed into more complex shapes.
From the head, to the torso, then the tail, and finally a pair of broad, flat wings...
Aokiji watched with amusement as the plump, white Clay creature took shape in Storm's palm.
"Is that a penguin? I actually quite like penguins."
"Penguin?!"
Storm's lips twitched, nearly awakening the "wrath of the sleeping dragon."
"It's a dragon!"
Vongola Storm, also known as Stormborn, dreamed of raising a giant dragon.
For now, though, Storm couldn't keep a real dragon.
But molding a Clay White Dragon was no problem.
Even if this Little White Dragon was a bit small, a bit round in the belly, and lacked visible Dragon Scales or horns...
Still, how could it possibly be mistaken for a penguin? Feeling openly mocked, Storm's heart swelled with mischief.
Under his control, the fist-sized Little White Dragon slowly transformed into a chubby little chicken.
No! Not a chicken.
This was an "Earth" Pheasant, a "White" Pheasant, an "Ice" Pheasant.
Definitely not a "Blue" Pheasant.
Ahem.
Aokiji glanced at the possibly pointed little chicken and cleared his throat lightly.
Storm knew when to stop.
With a clap of his hands, the "Little Blue Pheasant" turned into a "Little Bian Que" before vanishing entirely.
"Sir! I volunteer for the undercover mission!"
Storm straightened his back, enthusiastically suggesting.
"Right now, I need to become a pirate."
"So, should I just defect from Marine Headquarters? Charge me with 'stealing a Devil Fruit'?"
Wait, why are you so eager? Aokiji's eyes widened slightly.
And why do you sound so practiced at "defecting"?
"No! Not yet!"
Aokiji hurriedly stopped him, trying to dissuade Storm from his dangerous idea.
The Marine Headquarters had established the SWORD Unit, carefully selecting promising recruits with clean backgrounds and even providing them with precious Devil Fruits.
They weren't sending them straight to their deaths in the New World! At least, not in Aokiji's view.
With Storm's current strength, heading to the latter half of the Grand Line—the New World—would be suicide!
"You've only just eaten the [Clay-Clay Fruit], and your abilities are barely developed."
Aokiji reassured him.
"Your mission for now is to stay with the Marines and grow stronger."
"Besides, a Marine's fall into piracy needs the right timing."
"In short, everything should proceed step by step."
By "step by step," Aokiji meant Storm should temporarily ignore the fact that he had joined the SWORD Unit.
For now, he should just act like an ordinary Marine fresh out of boot camp. To that end, Aokiji even asked:
"Storm, where do you see yourself in the future? Staying at Headquarters, or assigned to a G-series branch, or maybe one of the Four Blues?"
These were the usual "career paths" for Marine soldiers.
Storm was well aware of this.
His original plan had been to join an ordinary branch in one of the Four Blues.
The Marine Headquarters represents the super elite group within the naval forces.
The difference in strength between the Marine Headquarters and the branch offices across the four seas is roughly three tiers.
Storm was originally qualified to become a "Marine Headquarters officer."
This meant that if he chose to transfer to a branch office in the four seas, he would immediately be promoted to the rank of a "commander-level" naval officer.
In the four seas branches, a Marine captain is practically the highest authority in a branch, wielding the greatest power within the base.
To sum it up in three words—local warlord.
If Storm were to go to a four seas branch,
Not only would he gain maximum autonomy,
But it would also facilitate his future "money-making scheme"—a scheme aimed at earning enough to buy a Devil Fruit.
But that was the old plan.
Now, Storm had changed his mind!
"Sir! I request to be transferred to Impel Down!"
The [Grand Prize Trophy] required bloodshed to obtain.
Storm needed as many opponents as possible to improve his abilities in all aspects.
As a Marine, the most suitable opponents were, of course, pirates.
Looking across the entire ocean,
In terms of both quantity and quality of pirates,
No place could compare to Impel Down!
Not even the New World, the stronghold of the Emperor's pirate crews, could match it!
The prison was a grand stage—if you were alive, you could perform.
"Impel Down?"
Aokiji frowned—he hadn't expected this answer at all.
"Why do you want to go there?"
"Because the number of pirates in Impel Down is as countless as fish in a river,"
Storm answered with complete seriousness.
"I want to observe as many pirates up close as possible to prepare for future undercover operations.
"Besides, Impel Down is 'boring' enough—perfect for focused training and improving my strength."
Aokiji nodded slightly at his words.
He couldn't agree with the first half of Storm's reasoning,
But the latter half did make some sense.
Impel Down was located in the Calm Belt, making entry and exit extremely difficult.
The wardens working there also had little in the way of leisure or entertainment.
If one ignored the prison's unique nature,
It was indeed a decent place to train and grow stronger.
However—
A thought suddenly crossed Aokiji's mind.
A prison.
And the world's most infamous one at that.
Was the difference between the wardens and the prisoners really that great?
"Though both the Marines and Impel Down operate under the World Government, they belong to different systems,"
Aokiji mused for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Transferring you to Impel Down will take time.
"At least three days, no more than a week at most."
"Yes, sir!"
Storm saluted and responded loudly.
"Oh, one more thing."
Aokiji suddenly remembered something.
"In this year's recruit training camp, aside from you, there's one other member who received a recommendation to join the SWORD Unit."
Storm already had a suspect in mind.
Before he could ask, Aokiji volunteered the information.
"It's Tsuru's granddaughter, Kujaku."
Of course it was her! Storm gritted his teeth inwardly.
Now it made sense—how Zephyr had found out about his private remarks regarding the Celestial Dragons.
Turns out there was a little "songbird" sneaking around, tattling behind his back.
I should never have gone stargazing and moon-watching with that woman Kujaku that night! What a disaster! Aokiji was just about to say something, probably urging Storm and Kujaku to get along better.
But right then.
With a thunderous "BANG!"
The Admiral's office door was violently kicked open from outside.
Before Storm could even see who it was.
A booming roar echoed through the Admiral's office.
"You bastard!"
Storm focused his gaze.
There stood a gray-haired old man, gripping Aokiji's collar with one hand while yelling in his face.
"My grandson says he wants to 'become a pirate' again! I absolutely won't allow this!"
That demeanor, that tone, that appearance.
Storm immediately recognized who this was.
Wasn't this the famous Garp, the "Fist of Love"?
Hey, Vice Admiral Garp, could you do that performance again?
You know, the one.
'Stop me, Sengoku! Or I'll kill Sakazuki!'
Storm's mind played out this little drama while outwardly maintaining perfect composure.
Aokiji frowned deeply, his face glistening—whether from sweat or spit was unclear.
"I've heard this hundreds of times already!"
Aokiji responded with clear irritation.
"Who cares about your damn grandson!"
Mid-argument, Aokiji waved at Storm.
Understanding the cue, Storm quietly slipped out of the Admiral's office.
The "argument" between Aokiji and Garp continued.
But Storm had already retreated from the "battlefield."
'It's the year 1518 in the Sea Calendar.
'
'This grandson Garp mentioned who wants to be a pirate must be Portgas D. Ace!'
Walking along the top-floor corridor of Headquarters, Storm's mind raced.
'One year until the Flare-Flare Man sets sail.'
'Four years until the Sun God sets sail.'
'The retirement of the old era, the transition between old and new orders, the Awakening of the Sun God, the great war that will split the sea in two...'
'Time waits for no one!'
Vice Admiral Tsuru's granddaughter Kujaku first appeared in Chapter 966 of the manga.