Chapter 102

"You say that the Pacifista has been researched for so many years, and I even actively provided the Glint-Glint Fruit ability, but in the face of the Cybertronians invented by Beasts Imperial Son-in-Law Luo Xing, it was destroyed in one encounter!"

"That Cybertronian can not only transform into a beast form but also into a mecha form, and can even fight on the seabed!"

"The Pacifista simply cannot compare to it!"

Kizaru's words made Sengoku even angrier. .........

Sengoku had already heard Sentomaru's report yesterday; how could he not know the power of the Cybertronians?

What Sengoku wanted Kizaru to explain was his own responsibility!

He only released a Yasakani no Magatama before leaving, didn't fight King of Wildfire at all, who are you trying to fool?

Sengoku was about to question him, but Kizaru stood up and said seriously:

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I suggest that the World Government provide more funds to Dr. Vegapunk, and the budget for our Science Combat Unit should also be increased by several times."

"Otherwise, the gap in weapon firepower with the Beasts Pirates in the future will likely be even greater!"

Sengoku was stunned.

Why do I feel that the focus of your suggestion is to increase the budget for the Science Combat Unit you lead?

This is asking for a raise in a roundabout way!

Borsalino, you really have a way; after suffering such a big defeat, you still want a raise?

Sengoku couldn't suppress his anger anymore and was about to roar, but heard Kizaru's voice:

"I fought too hard yesterday, my old waist seems to be injured, I need to find a military doctor to take a look, see you tomorrow, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

In a flash, the figure was gone.

Sengoku was so angry he almost flipped the table.

There was another person in the office, Admiral Aokiji.

Kizaru was famous in the Navy for being an old slippery fish, slippery and elusive, but he was also powerful, so the Navy couldn't and didn't dare to fire him.

Aokiji was long used to Kizaru's attitude and comforted Sengoku:

"The artificial Devil Fruit raw materials on Punk Hazard cannot be allowed to be obtained by the Beasts Pirates. Why don't I make a trip and take Punk Hazard back."

Sengoku leaned helplessly on his chair.

Even he, a Fleet Admiral with high prestige, could do nothing about Kizaru.

After all, Kizaru had Admiral strength but no ambition to be the Fleet Admiral.

As long as he didn't commit a major crime of betraying the World Government, no matter what he did, the Navy wouldn't do anything to him.

Sengoku felt a headache, and hearing Aokiji's comfort, his mood finally got better.

Aokiji was worthy of being the successor he favored; although he was lazy usually, he would still stand up and take on the important task at critical moments.

But Sengoku did not agree to Aokiji's request and said:

"Admiral Admiral Kuzan, you've heard it too, right? Red-Haired Shanks and Whitebeard have met in the New World."

"I have a premonition that a major event is about to happen; at such a time, the combat power of the Navy Headquarters cannot be reduced, but must be strengthened."

"Punk Hazard, we in the Navy are temporarily unable to retake it; let the Five Elders have a headache about it; anyway, it was originally the World Government's secret research base!"

Aokiji nodded silently upon hearing this, then said goodbye and left.

……

97. Aokiji's shock, Zoro and the fate of the Second Generation Kitetsu (seeking subscription)

Aokiji left Sengoku's office.

On the way, he happened to meet Smoker and Tashigi.

Aokiji said in surprise:

"Smoker, aren't you guarding Loguetown, not letting any pirates from the East Blue enter the Grand Line?"

Smoker, like Aokiji, was a disciple of former Navy Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr.

The two were both in a superior-subordinate relationship and friends.

"I've been back at Navy Headquarters for a few days," Smoker said, smoking a cigar. "It's to investigate news about the Four Emperors Red-Haired Pirates."

"Red-Haired?"

Aokiji was even more surprised.

The Red-Haired Shanks Pirates had always been in the New World, and Loguetown, where Smoker was stationed, was a hundred and eight thousand miles away; how could the two have any connection? 7

Although many years ago, Red-Haired Shanks did travel through the East Blue and snatched a Devil Fruit that the World Government was secretly escorting. 1

Later, Red-Haired Shanks even lost an arm in the East Blue. 2

But at that time, Smoker wasn't a Captain in Loguetown yet. 5

Red-Haired Shanks and Smoker should have never even met. 7

Aokiji then asked his question. 6

Smoker took a deep drag on his cigar and didn't answer. 3

His adjutant Tashigi, beside him, replied: ⒍

"Because Captain Smoker was injured by someone suspected to be the Four Emperors Red-Haired Shanks in Loguetown a few days ago!" 8

"What?!" Aokiji was shocked.

Red-Haired Shanks injured Smoker?

That's not right; he just heard from Fleet Admiral Sengoku that Red-Haired Shanks went to see Whitebeard.

How could he be in the New World and also near the East Blue's Loguetown?

Could Red-Haired Shanks have a shadow clone technique?

Smoker exhaled thick smoke, smiled bitterly 19, and said:

"Forget it, there's nothing to be ashamed of."

"I wasn't injured by Red-Haired Shanks; I was hit by a strange man."

"No, to be precise, it wasn't a hit, but a deterrence! Yes, that strange man, just by using the deterrence of Conqueror's Haki, injured me!"

Aokiji's pupils shrank slightly.

Although Smoker's strength couldn't be called very strong, it definitely wasn't weak.

To be able to injure Smoker with just an aura, that person was definitely not simple!

And that person's Conqueror's Haki was definitely the same as Red-Haired Shanks', a Conqueror's Haki that could cause physical damage!

Aokiji said with a solemn expression:

"So, Smoker, you returned to Navy Headquarters to investigate the Red-Haired Pirates because you wanted to find information about that strange man from Red-Haired Shanks?"

Smoker nodded: "Yes."

On this sea, the only known person who possesses Conqueror's Haki that can cause physical damage is the Four Emperors Red-Haired Shanks.

Smoker thought that the person who injured him might be related to Red-Haired Shanks, which was natural.

"Any clues?"

"No, Red-Haired Shanks has always been in the New World, and he met with Whitebeard a while ago; they couldn't have appeared in Loguetown."

That is indeed the logic.

Aokiji also had no clue about that strange man.

In this world, although there are many strong people, those who can have such a strong Conqueror's Haki are also rare existences.

It must be some special mysterious person.

Suddenly, a name jumped into Aokiji's mind—Beasts Imperial Son-in-Law, the Fifth Emperor, Luo Xing.

This person's bounty had long reached the sky-high price of 2 billion Berries.

The bounty for capturing him alive had reached the terrifying figure of 5 billion!

Furthermore,

The World Government and the Navy had not yet seen the true face of this person.

At the time, when he appeared in Dressrosa, he had always worn a ghost-like Hannya mask, and his true face could not be seen.

In addition, when that Luo Xing killed Doflamingo, he seemed to have used Conqueror's Haki infusion.

Combining all these pieces of information, Aokiji felt more and more that the person who injured Smoker was likely that mysterious Luo Xing.

But a guess is just a guess, without any evidence or intelligence to support it.

Aokiji didn't tell Smoker this guess.

He asked: "Then what do you plan to do next? Are you going back to Loguetown?"

"Not going back."

— Author's Notes —

Seeking monthly tickets, everyone.