Chapter 140: Robin is Drunk
"Waaah!" Nami shrieked, pointing at the massive block of ice.
Aokiji slowly retracted his right hand, his expression calm.
He was used to the shocked reactions of those around him after he used his powers.
He could even guess what this little girl named Nami would say next.
Something like "So this is a Marine Admiral?" or "What a terrifying ability."
But instead—
"Nojiko, this guy is totally copying you!" Nami said, turning to Nojiko indignantly.
"I think I was first," Aokiji said, a black line appearing on his forehead, completely exasperated.
"It's not exactly the same," Nojiko said, shaking her head slightly. "If it were me, I would have turned that elephant into a snowball, not a crystal-clear block of ice like that."
"That's true," Nami said, slapping her fist into her palm as if she had just had a revelation. "I wonder, if you two used your powers on each other, who would freeze who…"
"Do you even have to ask?!" Aokiji roared, baring his teeth.
"Sigh…" Aokiji rubbed his temples. The tense, intimidating atmosphere he had been trying to create had been completely ruined.
He didn't want to argue with a little girl, so he turned to Shane. "You don't seem to have any reaction. It looks like this big guy really isn't with you."
"We're not acquainted," Shane said, glancing at the mammoth.
He had no idea why this guy was here, or why he had charged in shouting about bonds and protection, only to be taken out in a single second.
"Then let's forget about him and get back to our previous topic," Aokiji said, his eyes fixed on Shane. "You… you were laughing just now, weren't you, Shane? Was my question that funny?"
"Was I laughing?" Shane said nonchalantly. "Probably. I was definitely trying to laugh at you."
"Laughing at me?" Aokiji frowned.
"You don't get it? Let me show you again," Shane said, imitating Aokiji's earlier tone and demeanor. He leaned in, his voice icy. "—Where do you place the Marines and the justice we believe in? And what kind of ambition do you harbor?"
"Puhahaha!" Shane couldn't help but slap his thigh. "You put on such an intimidating act, but you ask such a stupid question! Hey, Kuzan! How do you keep a straight face? You must want to laugh yourself when you hear it!"
"When I see injustice, I act! When I see a villain, I beat them up! When I see someone I want to protect, I protect them to the end! That's what I believe in, and that's what I've always done! It's so simple, and yet you have to come at me with all these labels… you're just trying to hide your own jealousy, aren't you!"
Aokiji was silent for a moment, then he said calmly, "I'm jealous of you?"
"Of course!" Shane laughed wildly. "And you're very jealous! Because I can do it freely, and you can't!"
"You know better than anyone how corrupt the World Government is, but you still lick their boots and clean up the messes of that scum who wear bubbles on their heads! The number of innocent civilians who have died because of your 'acts of justice' is probably no less than the number who have died at the hands of pirates!"
"And in this situation, you're still talking to me about how the Marines are upholding justice?"
"What justice?" Shane's voice suddenly rose an octave. "The justice of helping the Celestial Dragons destroy a country every three years?!"
Aokiji could no longer remain calm. He looked up, his expression changing drastically. "I only just learned about those secrets a while ago. How do you kn—"
"That's not important, is it?" Shane said, narrowing his eyes and interrupting him, his tone becoming more and more aggressive. "But you know about it too… no wonder you're so dejected. A Marine Admiral, and you reek of a washed-up, disillusioned old man! You can't even hide it!"
"But that stench has been around for a long time. Sixteen years, hasn't it?"
"Kuzan, the reason you're so obsessed with Robin, so concerned with what happened in Ohara, is because from that moment on, your ridiculous justice could no longer get past your own conscience, and it came crashing down, didn't it!!!"
"..."
Aokiji's breath hitched.
His face was grim. He subconsciously took a step forward, and a biting cold began to radiate from his body. Frost instantly crept up his eyebrows.
But in the end, it all dissipated.
He lowered his eyes, his expression hidden in the shadows.
He was silent for a long time.
It wasn't the first time a pirate had mocked his position in front of him.
But that had never shaken his beliefs, because vicious pirates were something that needed to be eradicated from this world.
He usually wouldn't even have bothered to listen, and would have just frozen them on the spot.
But Shane… was an anomaly.
This so-called "pirate," with a bounty of a billion, was doing things that were more pure than the Marines.
It made him unable to go against his own conscience and act, and he was powerless to refute him.
Aokiji slumped onto the bench, defeated. He looked up at the starry sky, his arms limp at his sides, and let out a breath of frustration that had been pent up for years.
His gaze shifted, first to Robin.
The woman who had once been accustomed to hiding in the shadows was now leaning against a lamppost, her previous tension and fear completely gone.
The evening breeze rustled her hair, and a faint smile played on her lips. It was a look of contentment that Aokiji had never seen on her face in all these years.
Then, he looked at Smoker.
His old friend, who he had known for many years and who he had always gotten along with, was staring at him in silence, a cigar between his lips, a smirk on his face.
Aokiji's gaze finally settled on Shane.
"I'm starting to regret coming to see you today," he said with a self-deprecating laugh. "I was trying to sound you out, but in the end, it seems you're the one who saw right through me."
"Well, I'm off," he said, shaking his head and standing up. "Time to go and get some rest. Honestly, I can't even win an argument with a teenager. So boring."
He casually adjusted the tie of his white suit, then reached behind the bench and pulled out an old-fashioned bicycle.
The others had just realized that it was there.
Aokiji swung his long leg over the frame. The bicycle creaked but held the Admiral's weight.
"A reunion after so long, and you're not going to stay for dinner?" Smoker said, blowing a smoke ring and looking at him out of the corner of his eye.
"Spare me," Aokiji said, waving his hand. "There are too many people out there. A Marine Admiral, having dinner with a great pirate… that's a little too scandalous."
"Hey, kid," he said, glancing at Shane. "I'll be watching. Let's see how far an anomaly like you can go in this twisted world."
With that, he began to pedal away, one hand on the handlebar, the other casually in his pocket.
Ding-a-ling!
The sound of the bicycle bell rang out, and the tall figure gradually disappeared into the twilight. Only his last words drifted back on the wind. "But remember what you said today. I hope you can always stay true to yourself… otherwise, the next time we meet, I will be the one to end you."
...
The night wind gently blew through the garden, a slight chill in the air.
The group watched the retreating figure, looking at each other.
"He's just leaving?" Nami was the first to speak, her voice full of dissatisfaction. "What's the deal? From the way he looked, I thought my brother would be able to convince him to switch sides."
"Cough!" Smoker, a cigar between his teeth, nearly choked on the smoke. "A Marine Admiral, become a pirate? You've got some imagination."
"It's not impossible," Shane said, his gaze returning from the distance. "But a man like him, with his own pride and principles, can't be so easily persuaded by words alone."
It couldn't be done in a day.
Today's confrontation had planted a seed in his heart.
Perhaps one day, when the opportunity arose, he might really be able to bring Aokiji to his side.
After all, if even a standard pirate villain like Blackbeard, who was completely incompatible with Aokiji, could recruit him in his moment of weakness, then his own chances should be even greater.
"Let's go. Forget about him," Shane said, shaking his head and turning to his comrades with a smile. "After all that, everyone must be hungry. Let's go to the restaurant."
"Ohhh, dinner!" Nami cheered and was the first to run out of the garden.
The others followed, laughing and joking. But Shane deliberately stayed behind. When no one was paying attention, he looked out at the sea.
Aokiji seemed to be moving at a leisurely pace, but he was already at the horizon, about to disappear.
It made one wonder if he was secretly pedaling furiously when no one was looking.
Or maybe he was just carrying the bike and running?
In any case…
"You think you can just drop some threatening words, act all cool, and then leave?" Shane said, crossing his arms and snorting. "You think it's that easy?"
I'm the type to hold a grudge!
At least leave your wool behind!
…
That's right.
He still hadn't sheared Aokiji's wool.
Against a world-class powerhouse like him, even with his god-like thievery skills, he wasn't confident that he could take something from him without his Observation Haki noticing.
He had only been able to successfully shear Garp and Akainu because they had been in a long, close-quarters battle, their attention completely focused on the fight.
But this time… unfortunately, they hadn't fought.
Aokiji hadn't even had the nerve to attack him. And he couldn't very well just start a fight for the sake of stealing something, could he?
That would be a little inappropriate.
But, with that new item, this sheep was not getting away.
Shane opened his inventory.
The "Sleight of Hand" card set was activated!
—Five cards, five chances. Each use allows you to randomly take one item from anyone within your line of sight, regardless of distance!
And the first target would be you, Aokiji!
…
On the sea, Aokiji rode his bicycle, his expression dark and silent.
A while ago, in Sengoku's office, he had accidentally come across a certain file, and it had been on his mind ever since.
The truth behind the God Valley incident, thirty-two years ago.
It was this file that had shaken his faith in justice once again, and it was also the reason why he had come to see Shane.
But the result…
Aokiji shook his head, pushing the troubling thoughts from his mind.
He then remembered a small detail he had noticed earlier.
The orange-haired girl's body had been on fire… was she the Flame-Flame Fruit user?
Should he call the staff office at Headquarters and have them correct the bounty?
Aokiji tilted his head.
He could easily guess the reason.
Shane obviously didn't want his sister to become a target, so he had used various methods to deceive the Marine intelligence department.
And the little girl was probably scared of her bounty getting higher…
Oh well, forget it.
An underage girl didn't seem that important.
Aokiji yawned and continued to pedal.
A narrow path of ice was left in his wake.
But suddenly, he felt his feet go out from under him.
He instinctively looked down. The bicycle was gone, replaced by a dotted line. Before he could react, he had fallen into the sea—
SPLASH!
The icy water instantly engulfed him, and bubbles rose to the surface. Aokiji's eyes widened, and he stared up at the sky.
"Huh?"
...
"Hmm?"
Shane looked at the bicycle that had suddenly appeared in his hand, a little surprised.
What a pleasant surprise!
He had been expecting something random, and he hadn't had high hopes. A suit jacket, gloves, sunglasses, anything would have been valuable. An eye patch would have been even better.
But he had gotten the grand prize.
His luck was really good.
He didn't hesitate to sacrifice it.
[Sacrifice: Kuzan's Bicycle]
[Quality: Epic]
[Value: 4500 Points]
[Appraisal: The signature vehicle of Marine Admiral Aokiji. Though it appears to be an ordinary bicycle, it has witnessed countless legendary moments. While it offers no combat bonus, as one of the most recognizable modes of transportation in this world, its value cannot be underestimated.]
4500 points?
As valuable as Akainu's cap, which he had practically marinated in. Not bad.
His previous balance of 27,000 points had now surged to 31,500.
"Nice."
Shane clapped his hands in satisfaction and closed the system panel. Just then, Nami turned and waved. "What are you doing, Big Bro?! Hurry up and catch up!"
"Coming!"
He laughed and quickened his pace.
And behind him, in the silent park, the cold night wind blew, and the mammoth in the ice remained motionless…
Just like Aokiji, who was now without a bicycle, no one cared how he was going to get back.
...
Night fell, and the lights of the City of Gourmets shone like a galaxy.
Shane and his crew entered the restaurant they had booked. The warm lights, the rich aroma of food, and the soft, pleasant music instantly put them at ease.
"Cheers!"
The clinking of glasses filled the air, and everyone drank up.
After a few rounds, Robin was holding her wine glass, a faint blush on her pale cheeks.
She was usually so elegant and composed, but now, she was showing a rare sign of tipsiness. She rested her chin on her hand and quietly looked at Shane.
She didn't know if it was the alcohol or if the lighting was too dim.
But when she blinked, she thought she saw the nightmare that had haunted her since childhood, the tall, powerful, and terrifying figure who had killed Saul, his body radiating a bone-chilling cold…
But when Shane spat out a bone without a care in the world and laughed, patting his belly, she blinked again.
And the cold, terrifying figure was gone.
"Captain…" she called out softly, her voice much softer than usual.
"Hmm?" Shane's mouth was full. He turned, confused, and met her slightly misty eyes.
Robin blinked and then chuckled. "Did you know? Sometimes I wonder, if you hadn't reached out to me on the turtle's back that day…"
She paused, her fingertips gently tracing the rim of her glass. "…where would I be now?"
"Why are you suddenly talking about that?"
Shane asked, puzzled, and continued to stuff his face with roasted meat. He mumbled as he chewed, "You couldn't have stayed with Baroque Works, so you probably would have joined some other underground organization and continued to play hide-and-seek with the World Government, right?"
"Perhaps,"
Robin laughed softly, but her gaze grew distant. "But more likely… I would have given up."
Her voice was very soft, but it made Shane fall silent.
Robin tilted her head back and downed the rest of her wine. The burning sensation made her frown slightly, but then she relaxed.
She put down her glass and suddenly reached out and gently tugged on the corner of Shane's shirt.
"So, thank you," she said, looking up, her drunken eyes filled with an unprecedented sincerity. "Thank you for showing me that a person doesn't have to hide in the darkness forever, that the sun… no, even a lamppost, can really be this warm."
Shane was taken aback for a moment, then he chuckled and ruffled her hair. "What are you talking about? It's only natural. You're our comrade, aren't you?"
Robin didn't pull away. Instead, she narrowed her eyes slightly, like a lazy cat.
At some point, she had leaned in closer, and her alcohol-scented breath tickled Shane's ear. "Ara, just… a comrade?"
Shane froze.
On the other side of the table, Nami and Nojiko also stopped what they were doing. They pretended to be wiping their mouths with their napkins, but their eyes were secretly darting in their direction.
The ash on Smoker's cigar had grown quite long, but he hadn't flicked it off. He was staring intently at his glass, as if he had suddenly become fascinated by the condensation on it.
And Kuina—
The young swordswoman was sitting quietly in a corner.
Her gaze seemed to be focused on the dessert in front of her, but the marks her knife was making in the cream were getting deeper and more chaotic…
Awoo?
Gin also sensed the change in the atmosphere. He tilted his head, looking from side to side, and then decided to just bury his entire head in the giant bowl of strawberry milk in front of him.
Just as the atmosphere was becoming charged—
"Hic!"
Robin let out a small, drunken hiccup. She covered her mouth, looking a little uncomfortable, and swayed, falling directly into Shane's arms.
Shane fumbled to catch her and used a napkin to wipe her mouth.
When he put the napkin down and looked at her again, he saw that her eyes were closed and her breathing was even. She had clearly passed out from the alcohol.
"..."
He sighed helplessly and gently lifted her into his arms.
"That's enough for tonight," Shane said, standing up. "I'll take her back to the ship. You all continue eating…"
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