Port of Punk Hazard.
Akihara Kagura stood at the bow of the warship, watching Akainu walk slowly towards the port: "Admiral Sakazuki, the World Government has ordered that after the battle ends, we must go to Dressrosa together..."
"Hm."
Akainu jumped onto the warship.
The upper body of this Admiral of the Navy Headquarters was covered with frostbite, and there was even a patch of snow on his shoulder, yet his posture remained tall and upright as he walked.
"The injuries are quite severe..."
Kizaru immediately noticed the severe frostbite on Akainu.
"That guy's injuries aren't light either..."
Akainu snorted coldly, his gaze turning to a figure on Punk Hazard Island, the very Aokiji who was defeated in this ice vs. magma battle.
Compared to Akainu's frostbite, Aokiji's injuries were clearly more severe. Burns covered his body, and one leg had even been broken by Akainu, forcing him to use his Ice-Ice Fruit ability to create a prosthetic limb.
Aokiji's fighting spirit wasn't particularly fierce, at least not compared to Akainu's reckless demeanor when fighting, so his defeat in this battle was not surprising.
This battle...
Was merely the result of coercion by the World Government and the Konoha Pirates.
The World Government didn't trust Akainu enough, and the Konoha Pirates didn't trust Aokiji enough, leading these two opposing forces to compel their subordinates into a great fight.
"I thought he'd kill him..."
Kizaru looked at the severely injured Akainu and then at the gravely wounded Aokiji.
"Killing an Admiral isn't that easy..."
Akainu shook his head, his gaze fixed on Aokiji, who was limping away into the distance through the cold wind: "That guy's strength isn't weak either..."
"I'll go finish him off..."
Akihara Kagura stepped forward voluntarily and said softly: "Killing him at this moment should please the Five Elders..."
"Not necessary."
Akainu reached out to stop Akihara Kagura.
During this battle, Aokiji and Akainu spoke more words than they had in the past twenty years. Since no one dared to approach their confrontation at Punk Hazard, the two finally had the opportunity to talk sincerely, discussing the future of these seas.
"..."
Akainu stood on the ship, quietly watching Aokiji leave.
Throughout the ten-day confrontation, they exchanged many words and reached a pact that would shock the entire world.
Aokiji chose to join the Konoha Pirates, investigating the secrets behind them, using their power to externally purge the Heavenly Celestial Dragons;
Akainu chose to become the Navy Admiral, investigating the secrets of the Heavenly Celestial Dragons and the World Government, using their power and that of the Navy to end the Great Pirate Era.
There's no doubt.
These seas are too filthy.
Whether it's the pirates pillaging everywhere or the Heavenly Celestial Dragons exploiting the world, both are sword blades hanging over all ordinary civilians at sea.
These two Admirals, who had never faced each other before and whom everyone believed looked down on each other, secretly colluded during this battle.
Akainu understood why Aokiji wanted to leave the Navy and join the Konoha Pirates, and Aokiji was very clear about Akainu's determination to end the Great Pirate Era...
In a certain sense, their goals were the same, just aimed at different targets.
They should cooperate from inside and out.
Akainu, inside, and Aokiji, outside.
Both secretly working together to change these chaotic seas.
Akainu remained on the warship's bow, watching Aokiji's figure completely disappear into the wind and snow of Dressrosa, until he could no longer see the slightest trace of the other...
Compared to himself...
Aokiji's pressure is actually greater.
Because he only has to deal with the troubles from the Heavenly Celestial Dragons and the World Government. Under the threat of the Konoha Pirates, their troubles are no longer major ones, and he even has many like-minded Navy colleagues around him. He just needs to use some complex political tactics to handle the issues with the Heavenly Celestial Dragons...
Aokiji is different.
Because Aokiji is alone.
Aokiji has to face the most powerful, mysterious, and dangerous pirate group on the seas. He has to hide on the Konoha Pirates' ship, looking for their secrets, always at risk of being killed...
Yes.
Lurking within the Konoha Pirates...
Is an action very likely to lead to death.
Because those monsters within the Konoha Pirates truly have the strength to kill an Admiral!
"Admiral Aokiji..."
Akihara Kagura watched Aokiji limp and disappear into the snowy winds, then turned to Akainu and sighed: "He is actually a person worthy of respect..."
"You did overhear it after all..."
Akainu's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze falling on Akihara Kagura, as Aokiji had mentioned something about him.
No choice.
This simply couldn't be avoided.
Not to mention anything else, Akihara Kagura, with his Observation Haki powered by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability, is exceptionally strong on these seas, and Aokiji suspected that Akihara might have overheard their conversation.
Yet...
Aokiji wasn't bothered by it.
When discussing Akihara Kagura with Akainu, Aokiji mentioned Kagura's schemes, how he once used the Konoha Pirates in secret, and how Kagura's increasingly powerful strength is indispensable to any force.
Just as expected...
Akihara Kagura's attitude towards the Heavenly Celestial Dragons and those pirates showed extreme intolerance, coupled with his innate intelligence, making him undoubtedly the most suitable candidate for inclusion in their little group.