Chapter 105

"You say those pacifists studied for so many years, and I even voluntarily provided the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit, yet when facing the Cybertronians invented by the Beast Emperor's Imperial Son-in-Law Luo Xing, they were destroyed in a single encounter!"

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

"The pacifists are completely incomparable to it!"

Huang Yuan's words made Sengoku even angrier..........

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

What Sengoku wanted Huang Yuan to explain was Huang Yuan's own responsibility!

You just fired a Yasakani no Magatama before leaving, didn't even fight with the Flame Disaster Kaido, who are you fooling?

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

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I suggest the World Government provide Dr. Vegapunk with more funds, and the budget for our Scientific Combat Unit must also be multiplied several times."

"Otherwise, the gap in firepower between us and the Beasts Pirates' weapons will likely grow even larger in the future!"

Sengoku was stunned into silence.

Why do I feel the main point of your suggestion is to increase the budget for the Scientific Combat Unit you lead?

This is a roundabout way of demanding a raise!

Borsalino, you really have some nerve; after suffering such a crushing defeat, you still want a raise?

Sengoku could no longer suppress his rage and was about to shout, but then he heard Huang Yuan's voice:

"I fought too desperately yesterday; my old lower back seems injured. I must find a military doctor to check it. I will see you again tomorrow, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."

A figure vanished in a flash.

So angry was Sengoku that he nearly overturned the table.

Another person was still in the office, Admiral Aokiji.

Huang Yuan is famous within the Marines as an old slick operator, slippery as an eel, yet his strength is formidable; the Marines cannot and dare not dismiss him.

Aokiji was long accustomed to Huang Yuan's attitude and comforted Sengoku, saying:

"The artificial Devil Fruit raw materials on Punk Hazard cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of the Beasts Pirates. Shall I go there and retake Punk Hazard?"

Sengoku leaned back in his chair helplessly.

Even he, the highly respected Fleet Admiral of the Marines, could do nothing about Huang Yuan 2.3.

After all, Huang Yuan possesses the strength of an Admiral but lacks the ambition of a superior Fleet Admiral.

As long as he does not commit the great crime of Betraying the World Government, no matter what he does, the Marines will not touch him.

Sengoku felt a headache coming on, but hearing Aokiji's comfort, his mood finally improved somewhat.

Aokiji is indeed the successor he had high hopes for; though usually lazy and slack, he still steps forward to take on great responsibility when the critical moment arrives.

But Sengoku did not agree to Aokiji's request, saying:

"Kuzan, you have heard too, haven't you? The Red-Haired Shanks and Bai Huzi met in the New World."

"I have a premonition that a major event is about to happen; at such a time, the combat strength of the Marine Headquarters cannot be weakened, but must instead be strengthened."

"As for Punk Hazard, we Marines are currently powerless to retake it; let the Five Elders worry about it. After all, that place was originally a secret research base of the World Government!"

Upon hearing this, Aokiji nodded silently, then took his leave.

……

Please vote for monthly tickets, great ones.

97. Aokiji's Shock, Zoro and the Fate of the Second Generation Ghost Blade (Requesting Subscriptions)

Aokiji left Sengoku's office.

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

Aokiji said in surprise:

"Smoker, weren't you stationed in Loguetown, preventing any pirates from the East Blue from entering the Grand Line?"

Smoker, like Aokiji, was a disciple of the former Marine Admiral Black Arm Zephyr.

The two were both superior-subordinate and friends.

"I have already been back at Marine Headquarters for several days," Smoker said, a cigar in his mouth, "to investigate news regarding the Emperor Red-Haired Shanks' pirate crew."

"Red-Haired?"

Aokiji was even more surprised.

The Red-Haired Shanks pirate crew has always stayed in the New World, a hundred thousand miles away from Loguetown where Smoker was stationed; how could the two have any connection? 7

Although years ago, Red-Haired Shanks did travel through the East Blue and stole 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 had not yet become a Colonel in Loguetown. 5

Red-Haired Shanks and Smoker should not have even met face to face. 7

Aokiji voiced his doubts. 6

Smoker took a deep drag of his cigar and did not answer. 3

His adjutant beside him, Tashigi, replied: ⒍

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

"What?!" Aokiji suddenly trembled.

Red-Haired Shanks injured Smoker?

That doesn't make sense; he just heard from Fleet Admiral Sengoku that Red-Haired Shanks went to meet Bai Huzi.

How could he appear both in the New World and in Loguetown, which is near the East Blue?

Could Red-Haired Shanks possess a clone technique?

Smoker exhaled thick smoke, let out a bitter laugh19, and said:

"Forget it, there's nothing shameful about it."

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

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

Aokiji's pupils contracted slightly.

Smoker's strength may not be considered very great, but it is absolutely not weak.

To injure Smoker solely through aura, that person is anything but simple!

And that person's Conqueror's Haki is absolutely like Red-Haired Shanks', capable of inflicting physical damage!

Aokiji said with a Solemn expression:

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

Smoker nodded and said, "Yes."

On this great sea, the only known figure possessing Conqueror's Haki capable of inflicting physical damage is the Emperor Red-Hair.

It is only natural for Smoker to believe the person who injured him might be connected to Red-Hair.

"Do you have any leads?"

"No, Red-Hair has always stayed in the New World, and some time ago even met with Whitebeard; they could not possibly appear in Loguetown."

That is indeed the logic.

Aokiji also had no leads regarding that strange man.

In this world, although the strong are numerous, those possessing such overwhelming Conqueror's Haki are as rare as phoenix feathers.

It must be some special mysterious figure.

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

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

The reward for capturing him alive had even reached the terrifying figure of five billion!

Furthermore,

the World Government and the Navy have yet to see this person's true face,

when he appeared in Dressrosa, he was always wearing an Oni Bane mask, making it impossible to glimpse his true appearance.

Additionally, when that Luo Xing killed Doflamingo, he seemed to have used Armament Haki coating.

Synthesizing all this information, the more Aokiji thought, the more he felt that the one who injured Smoker was very likely that mysterious Luo Xing.

But speculation is ultimately just speculation, with no evidence or intelligence to corroborate it.

Aokiji therefore did not tell this guess to Smoker.

He asked, "Then what do you plan to do next? Are you returning to Loguetown?"

"I am not returning."