Enies Lobby.
"Come quickly! Come quickly! As long as those two who understand the Ancient Weapons arrive at Enies Lobby, my influence will rise to a new level!"
Spandam, the current CP9 Director, maniacally held up Robin's bounty poster, a sickly grin spreading across his face.
"Nico Robin, one of the world's most dangerous criminals! I've been hunting you for so long, and now, finally, you've fallen into my hands!"
He rubbed the leather mask on his face and sneered:
"Damn you, Cutty Flam! The scars you left still ache! Finally, I'll settle this old score!"
Watching his superior lose his mind, CP9 member Jabra chuckled:
"It's been many years, and the Director is still so petty!"
"Bastard! Who are you calling petty? I'll fire you!"
Spandam spun around, glaring at Jabra, who smirked without restraint:
"Jabra, show some respect! I am the Director of CP9! Also, did you mess up your last mission? I told you to infiltrate carefully and assassinate three important figures, including the Revolutionary Army branch captain, but you ended up killing everyone on the island?"
"..."
A tall, rotund man with an owl-like face, his mouth sealed by a zipper, observed silently, his small eyes darting around.
"..."
This was CP9 member Fukuro.
"Damn you, Fukuro! Stop spouting nonsense!" Jabra snapped, glaring. "Your mouth is already zipped up, how are you still talking?"
...
"Hmm?"
On his bicycle, rapidly cycling along the Sea Train tracks, Aokiji's gaze fell on a struggling figure ahead.
The man was climbing with difficulty, wearing a tattered Marine Justice coat, a deep sword wound across his chest. He gripped half of a shattered sword hilt, staggering with each step. Blood trickled from his mouth as he muttered:
"My subordinates are waiting for me… I cannot fall here!"
Aokiji observed silently from his bicycle and sighed.
"Rear Admiral T-Bone… defeated in one move."
As an Admiral, Aokiji understood the full strength of Rear Admiral T-Bone. A righteous and upright man, he was respected by many Marines. Aokiji had met him a few times and had been impressed by the skeletal-looking yet kind-hearted officer who risked everything for civilians.
"He was defeated by Zoro, and Zoro's sword aura still lingers at the wound."
Shirogai watched the injured Rear Admiral with a faint smile:
"If all Marines were like T-Bone, their reputation would be a hundred times greater than it is now."
"Justice differs in the hearts of all, and even one's personal justice shifts with circumstances," Aokiji said thoughtfully. "If everyone shared the same sense of justice, then such absolute justice would not truly exist."
"Perhaps."
Shirogai smiled and vanished behind the bicycle.
Whoosh!
He appeared before Rear Admiral T-Bone, a white silver light flickering in his hand. Gently, he placed a white healing mushroom into the Rear Admiral's mouth.
"You are… Fifth Emperor… Ugh…"
Rear Admiral T-Bone, drenched in blood, stared blankly at Shirogai, recognizing him only as the mushroom touched his lips.
"Damn it! Even facing a pirate like the Fifth Emperor, I will not surrender!"
T-Bone swallowed the healing mushroom under duress, then broke free, swinging his broken sword with a roar:
"Right Angle Flash T-Bone Air Slash!"
Shirogai laughed lightly, raising his hand. The sword energy shattered harmlessly in midair.
"What!"
Rear Admiral T-Bone's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You… you just used your hand? Without Haki… and shattered my slash?"
T-Bone had heard of Shirogai Yamikuro's exploits. Though he hadn't witnessed the Fifth Emperor in combat, he had feared the pirate's emergence. Strong pirates meant suffering for civilians. Only the Marines' justice could shield them.
Yet this pirate, this Fifth Emperor, casually destroyed his attack with a mere hand. The gap was immense. How could he defeat such a foe and protect the innocent?
T-Bone trembled, staring at Shirogai's composed smile.
Then, a calm voice echoed:
"You've done well. Stay true to your beliefs and continue fulfilling your justice."
"Admiral Kuzan?"
Rear Admiral T-Bone looked up to see Aokiji riding past on his bicycle, eyes approving.
"How are you here!"
All fear and despair vanished from T-Bone's heart. A wide, relieved grin broke across his skull-like face:
"This is amazing! With Admiral Kuzan here, these pirates will cause no more trouble!"
"Do not worry," Aokiji said, stopping his bicycle. Ice spread across the sea surface as he looked at Shirogai. "With me watching this pirate, he cannot harm anyone."
"Hey! Hey! Hey! That's too much! I only saved your subordinate. Is there such a pirate who saves the dying and helps the injured?"
Shirogai shrugged innocently, smiling as he sat on the back of Aokiji's bicycle, waving at Rear Admiral T-Bone:
"Your wound was caused by my partner. I simply helped, that's all. All your subordinates are safe; Aokiji made ice boats for them."
"..."
Rear Admiral T-Bone watched with a mix of awe and confusion as Aokiji carried the Fifth Emperor Shirogai into the distance.
Waves rose and crashed, only to freeze midair into glittering ice sculptures.
Creak, creak…
The bicycle moved smoothly through the frozen waves, disappearing toward the horizon.
"What… a strange scene…" Rear Admiral T-Bone muttered.
The coexistence of a Fifth Emperor and an Admiral—a moment he would never forget.
____
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