"Who are you?"
Luffy stepped forward, pressing down on his straw hat.
After undergoing thunder tempering, his body had developed an almost beast-like instinct for danger.
At this moment, his intermediate Vajra energy surged on its own, faint silver sparks dancing across his skin.
Zoro, Sanji, and Ronan instantly spread out in a fan formation.
Their four powerful auras intertwined, shielding their companions behind them.
But just as tension peaked—
A dull thud came from behind.
"Robin?!"
Everyone turned in shock.
The ever-calm and composed Nico Robin was now pale as death.
Her eyes were locked onto the tall figure ahead, completely unfocused.
She had collapsed onto the ground, slender fingers digging into the soil, her body trembling violently from sheer terror.
Cold sweat slid down her temples. Her breathing was ragged and uneven.
"Robin… what's wrong?" Nami rushed to her side.
"D-don't… go near him…" Robin's voice trembled, hoarse with fear. "That's… that's…"
—
"Hey now, no need to be so tense, young folks."
Aokiji scratched his messy hair and slowly stood up.
At full height, his towering three-meter frame cast a shadow that swallowed half of Luffy's body.
He brushed dust off himself, his tone lazy, as if he'd just woken up.
"I'm not here on orders or anything… just thought the weather was nice today."
"Came out for a walk… maybe find a place to nap."
—
"Orders?" Zoro nudged Wado Ichimonji's hilt with his thumb, the blade giving a crisp metallic ring.
"Who are you? Marines?"
His gaze was sharp as a hawk's.
Even after reaching intermediate Vajra Body—
He still felt a chilling abyss from this man.
Like facing a glacier that had never melted for millennia.
—
"He is a Marine…"
Robin forced herself to stand, her voice trembling with despair.
"And one of the World Government's… highest combat forces."
Ronan held his spear at his side.
The Seastone tip crackled faintly with dark-gold lightning as it responded to his rising battle intent.
His voice was low.
"If I'm not mistaken… Admiral Aokiji. Kuzan."
"Another Admiral?" Luffy frowned.
"Yes…" Robin inhaled shakily.
"There are only three Admirals in the Marines—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru."
"We've already seen Akainu's brutality…"
"And he…"
"Is another one of them."
—
"Ah… so you've grown into quite the perceptive woman, Nico Robin."
Aokiji looked at her, a complicated emotion flickering in his eyes.
Then—
His gaze shifted.
And landed on Nami.
—
Nami stood there, golden staff resting on her shoulder.
The radiant crown gleamed in her orange hair.
Behind her, the six-pointed golden ring floated, shining brilliantly in the sunlight.
She looked like a divine being descended upon the world.
Aokiji paused for half a second.
Then casually leaned closer—
His large, lazy face almost right in front of hers.
"Well now… there's quite the charming lady here."
He scratched his cheek, tone completely flat despite his outrageous words.
"So… how about dinner tonight?"
—
"…Huh?!"
Nami jolted, lightning bursting instinctively from her staff.
"What the hell are you saying, you giant weirdo?!"
"You bastard—what did you just say?!"
Sanji instantly snapped.
His right leg ignited with blue flames laced with lightning.
He stepped in front of Nami like a furious lion.
"Stay away from Nami-san! Want me to kick you into pieces?!"
—
"Alright, alright…"
Aokiji waved his hand, looking mildly exasperated—as if he were the victim.
"You guys really don't listen, do you? Didn't I say I'm just out for a walk?"
"And besides… you're all being a bit… well…"
"Well what?" Ronan frowned.
"What do you mean?" Luffy asked.
"…Forgot. Never mind." Aokiji scratched his head again.
"Don't mumble like that, idiot!" Usopp and Sanji shouted together.
Usopp pointed at him, forcing courage into his voice.
"What's with this guy?! Robin, are you sure you didn't get it wrong?!"
"Someone this scatterbrained can't possibly be an Admiral!"
—
SMACK!
A heavy hand landed on the back of Usopp's head.
"Ow! Ronan, what was that for?!"
"I told you to train your Observation Haki properly. Did you ignore me again?"
—
On the rocky plain—
The violent tension settled into a strange balance.
"Hey now, don't look at me like that."
Aokiji scratched his hair lazily, his voice low and indifferent.
"Yeah, I'm a Marine… but my belief is 'Lazy Justice.'"
"Catching people is a hassle. Without direct orders, I can't even be bothered to lift a finger."
—
"Lazy justice?" Usopp and Sanji echoed, drenched in cold sweat.
"That sounds exactly like your face!"
—
"…Ah, sorry. Standing is tiring."
Before their eyes—
The man representing the highest combat power of the World Government—
Simply lay down on the hard rocky ground.
One hand behind his head.
Completely at ease.
Like he was sunbathing back at Marineford.
—
Nami gripped her staff tightly, veins popping on her forehead.
"You… were sleeping standing up just now, and now you're lying down to talk?!"
"Are you even taking us seriously?!"
Aokiji half-closed his eyes, still unhurried.
"I told you… I'm not here to capture you."
"I just came to confirm something."
"After disappearing following the Alabasta incident…"
"Nico Robin really did choose to stay with you."
—
"This guy… he's arrogant to the extreme."
Sanji clenched his cigarette, though his leg trembled slightly.
"Is this what an Admiral feels like…" Usopp swallowed hard, hiding behind Ronan.
—
At that moment—
Luffy's Vajra energy erupted from sheer anger.
Lightning crackled wildly across his body.
"I don't care who you are!"
"If you want to touch Robin—get past my fists first!"
He stomped forward, rubber elasticity merging with inner energy, producing a thunderous boom.
"Gomu Gomu—"
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