Outside Amazon Lily.
"Admiral Aokiji, Amazon Lily is just ahead," the sentry shouted from the top of the Marine warship.
"Even the city gates are utterly ruined… It looks like there was an intense battle here."
Aokiji stood at the very front, shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand, and saw the shattered gates of Amazon Lily, currently undergoing reconstruction.
As the Marine warship continuously approached Amazon Lily, Aokiji frowned.
"Alright, let's stop here.
Any further, and it will send a signal of invasion… We're here to talk cooperation, not to start a war."
The Marine warship stopped, and a ladder made of ice materialized under Aokiji's feet.
He stepped down the ice ladder, one step at a time, until he reached the surface of the sea. With him as the center, the seawater within a radius of more than ten meters was frozen solid.
Aokiji was in no hurry. He leisurely walked forward, surveying the traces left by Ye Jia's battle with Blackbeard and Donquixote Doflamingo the day before.
The damage was shocking to behold. Many areas were riddled with craters, scorched, flattened, shattered, and cracked.
Aokiji was dumbfounded.
"Those kinds of battle traces, they couldn't have been left by ordinary power… Did he truly defeat those two with absolute strength?"
Aokiji was an Admiral, after all, with extensive combat experience, and his analysis of battlefields was naturally astute.
These lingering battle traces did not, in any way, suggest that the opponents had been crushed by absolute power.
It looked more like a grand battle where both sides gave their all, and victory was only achieved with great difficulty by resorting to super powerful abilities at the very end.
With doubts in his heart, Aokiji had already arrived at the shattered gates of Amazon Lily.
"Hey… the Marines are here for a visit. Is there no one to greet us? Amazon Lily is being quite rude!" Aokiji shouted in a languid voice.
"Admiral Aokiji! Our sisters have already gone to inform them, please wait a moment!" the female warrior on sentry duty replied, beads of sweat dripping down her face.
This was Admiral Aokiji, one of the Marine Headquarters' strongest forces… if he truly started fighting, he'd be even more formidable than Blackbeard and Donquixote Doflamingo combined!
"They should have spotted the Marine warship early on… yet they haven't appeared after all this time. They're really not giving me face…"
"If it were Borsalino or Sakazuki, they'd be furious right now and tear Amazon Lily apart… Forget it, I'll just take a nap and wait for them to come."
True to his word, Aokiji, who always wore an eye mask, pulled it down, sat cross-legged on the ice, rested his head on his hands, and fell asleep.
"Admiral Aokiji, I apologize for not being able to greet you sooner."
Just then, a flash of light suddenly appeared on Aokiji's ice.
Draped in a black greatcoat with gold trim, similar to the Marines' 'justice' coats, and with two wide sleeves fluttering in the wind, Ye Jia made his grand entrance in full attire.
This outfit not only made him look incredibly imposing but also exuded the demeanor of a high-ranking individual.
"Ye Jia."
Aokiji pulled up his eye mask, seeing the familiar face before him… This face had drawn considerable admiration at yesterday's meeting, with even Fleet Admiral Sengoku praising him highly.
However, on the familiar face before him, there was a smile, entirely lacking the intimidating aura present in his portrait.
What moved Aokiji even more was that Ye Jia appeared a shade younger than in his portrait.
To possess such strength at this age… the future era truly is incredible!
"Admiral Aokiji, I've long admired your name. This is our first meeting, and you are indeed just as I imagined." Ye Jia said with a smile.
Aokiji was the only one among the three Admirals who couldn't help but feel a favorable impression of Ye Jia.
Kizaru and Akainu were either consumed by fierce hatred or simply too bothered to bother. Only Aokiji, with his "languid justice" and clear sense of right and wrong, commanded Ye Jia's respect.
So, for this meeting, he had specially changed into a dazzling, grand outfit that he had never worn before.
"You're making me lose a bit of face, you know."
Aokiji stretched and yawned. "If it were an ordinary pirate seeing me, the first thing they'd do is run. Instead, you're standing right in front of me, less than two meters away."
"However, from this point alone, it's clear that Fleet Admiral Sengoku's evaluation of you was indeed correct."
He was one of the three Admirals of Marine Headquarters, the Marines' strongest force… any ordinary pirate encountering him would be scared witless, falling to their knees, desperate to escape.
Yet, Ye Jia actively stepped forward to speak, showing not the slightest hint of fear, and stood less than two meters away from him… This was a distance from which an attack could be launched and cause heavy damage at any moment.
This wasn't something an ordinary brave person could do; it required corresponding courage and strength.
"Admiral Aokiji, it's quite windy out here. You're our guest, so you can come inside to talk." Ye Jia invited.
"No need. With Marine soldiers watching, I wouldn't dare to casually shirk my duty. If Fleet Admiral Sengoku found out, he'd surely complain…"
Aokiji then looked at Ye Jia directly and said, "To be able to take down those two formidable individuals, Blackbeard and Donquixote Doflamingo, your strength is unexpectedly impressive… Are you interested in joining the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
"Join the Seven Warlords of the Sea?" Ye Jia raised an eyebrow.
He had known the Marines would come looking for him ever since he dealt with Blackbeard and Donquixote Doflamingo.
But he hadn't expected them to actually invite him to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Upon reflection, it made sense. The Paramount War was not far off, and two capable Warlords had already been taken down by him before the war even began…
With Sengoku the Buddha's wisdom, he wouldn't issue a bounty for him at this critical juncture. That would only increase the Marines' pressure. Instead, it was better to humble themselves and invite Ye Jia to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea, becoming a major force against Whitebeard.
"After becoming a Warlord, you will receive a Letter of Marque, your identity will be legitimate, and your actions lawful. Within a reasonable scope, the Marines can provide you with every convenience."
Aokiji continued, "At the same time, everything you do will be considered legal, and the Marines will not pursue any charges against you."
"Interested?"
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