Chapter 123

"Waaaaah!"

Nami pointed at the big block of ice and shrieked.

Aokiji slowly withdrew his right hand, his gaze indifferent.

He had long been accustomed to reaping the shock of those around him after taking action.

He could guess exactly what this little girl named Nami would say next.

It would be nothing more than "Is this a Marine Admiral?" or "What a terrifying ability."

As it turned out—

"Nojiko, this guy's ability is completely imitating yours!" Nami turned her head and said indignantly to Nojiko.

"I was clearly the one who did it first!" Aokiji was speechless, black lines appearing on his forehead.

"It's still not quite the same," Nojiko shook her head slightly. "If I were to attack, I would probably turn this elephant into a snowball, not this kind of crystalline ice."

"That's true."

Nami clapped her hands together, seemingly enlightened. "I wonder, if you two used your abilities on each other, who would end up frozen by whom..."

"Need you even ask!" Aokiji roared through gritted teeth.

"Sigh..." Aokiji rubbed his brow. The tense, confrontational atmosphere he had worked so hard to build was completely ruined.

Not wanting to bicker with a little girl, he turned his head to look at Siano:

"Not a single reaction. It seems this big guy really isn't your accomplice."

"We're certainly not close."

Siano glanced at the mammoth.

He didn't understand why this guy had shown up here either, shouting about bonds and protection before charging in and getting himself taken out in a second.

"Then let's ignore him and continue with our previous topic."

Aokiji stared into Siano's eyes. "You... you were laughing just now, weren't you, Siano? Was what I asked you that funny?"

"Was I laughing?"

Siano said nonchalantly, "Maybe. I was indeed trying to mock you, anyway."

"Mock me?" Aokiji frowned.

"Don't get it? Then let me perform it again. It's that..." Siano mimicked Aokiji's tone from earlier, leaning in close to him, his voice cold:

"—Where does that leave the Marines and the justice we believe in? And what kind of ambition are you really harboring?"

"Pfft, hahaha!"

Siano couldn't help but slap his thigh. "You put on such an imposing, aggressive air, yet you ask such absolute nonsense. Hey, Kuzan! How do you keep a straight face? I bet even you want to laugh when you hear yourself say that, right?"

"Seeing injustice and acting, meeting villains and beating them away, protecting the people I want to protect to the end—that is what I believe in, and that is what I have been doing! Such a simple and clear matter, yet you insist on pinning a bunch of labels on me... You're clearly just masking your own jealousy!"

Aokiji was silent for a moment, then said blandly, "I'm jealous of you?"

"Of course!"

Siano laughed wantonly. "And very jealous at that, because I can do this freely, while you cannot!"

"You know the filth of the World Government better than anyone, yet you still lick their boots and serve as their lapdog, wiping the asses of that group of scum wearing bubbles everywhere! The number of innocent civilians who have died unjustly because of your 'acts of justice' is probably no less than those who died at the hands of pirates!"

"In such a situation, you're still talking to me about the Marines upholding justice?"

"What kind of justice?"

Siano's voice suddenly rose an octave:

"Is it the justice of helping the Celestial Dragons wipe out a country every three years!"

Aokiji could no longer remain indifferent. He suddenly looked up, his expression changing drastically:

"Even I only learned of these secrets by chance a short while ago. How do you kno—"

"That's not important, is it?"

Siano narrowed his eyes slightly, interrupting his question, his tone becoming increasingly aggressive. "It's you who actually knows... No wonder you're so depressed. A dignified Marine Admiral, yet you reek of a lost, washed-up middle-aged man—you can't even hide it!"

"Though this rot has been spreading for a long time, hasn't it? Ten years?"

"Kuzan, the reason you pay so much attention to Robin and care so much about Ohara back then is precisely because, from that moment on, your ridiculous justice could no longer bypass the hurdle in your own heart and came crashing down!!!"

"..."

Aokiji's breathing was visibly stifled.

His face looked grim. He subconsciously took a step forward, and a biting cold began to erupt from his body, white frost instantly climbing onto his eyebrows.

But in the end, it all dissipated.

He lowered his eyelids, shadows obscuring all his expressions.

He remained silent for a long time.

It wasn't as if pirates hadn't mocked his stance to his face before.

But that could never shake his convictions, because heinous pirates were meant to be erased from this world.

He wouldn't even bother listening to them finish before freezing them into ice sculptures.

But Siano... was an anomaly.

This so-called "pirate" with a one-billion-berry bounty was doing things purer than the Marines.

It made him unable to act against his conscience, and he was powerless to refute a single word.

Aokiji slumped onto the bench. He looked up at the starry sky, his arms spread out limply, and let out a long-pent-up sigh.

His gaze shifted slightly, first looking at Robin.

The woman who used to be accustomed to hiding in the darkness was now leaning against a streetlamp, the previous tension and panic having vanished without a trace.

The evening breeze brushed her hair, and a faint smile played on her lips—a look of peace he had never seen on her face in all these years.

So he looked at Smoker.

This old partner he had known for years, who was quite compatible with him, had the corner of his mouth holding his cigar curled into an arc, staring at him without a word.

Aokiji's gaze finally settled on Siano.

"I kind of regret coming to find you today."

He said with a touch of self-mockery, "I originally wanted to probe your background, but in the end, I was the one seen through by you?"

"Time to go."

Without waiting for Siano to answer, he shook his head and stood up.

"Time to go back and rest. Honestly, I can't even win an argument against a teenager. How utterly pointless."

Casually straightening the tie inside his white suit, Aokiji grabbed the back of the bench, bent over, and reached behind the bench.

Only then did everyone notice that an old-fashioned bicycle was lying on the lawn.

Aokiji lifted his long legs and easily straddled the frame. The bicycle let out a creak but steadily supported the weight of the Marine Admiral.

"Long time no see, not going to have dinner together?" Smoker puffed out a smoke ring, eyeing him sideways.

"Spare me."

Aokiji waved his hand. "There are too many eyes and ears outside the garden. As a Marine Admiral, being photographed dining with a big pirate would be a bit too improper."

"Hey, kid."

He glanced at Siano again.

"Let me keep witnessing it, then. Let's see how far an anomaly like you can go on this twisted sea."

With that, he moved his long legs and rode the bicycle toward the outside of the garden, one hand on the handlebars and the other casually tucked into his trouser pocket.

Ding-a-ling!

The bicycle bell rang softly, and his tall figure gradually disappeared into the twilight, with only his final words drifting faintly on the wind:

"However, remember what you said today. I hope you can keep this original intention... Otherwise, the next time we meet, I will end you with my own hands."

…………

The night breeze brushed through the garden, sweeping past everyone with a hint of chill.

Everyone looked at the receding back and exchanged glances.

"He just left?"

Nami was the first to recover, grumbling dissatisfiedly, "What is this? Seeing how dejected he looked just now, I thought Big Brother would be able to convince him and make him defect right then and there."

"Cough!" Smoker, with his cigar in his mouth, nearly choked on the smoke upon hearing this. "Make a Marine Admiral a pirate? You really have a wild imagination."

"It's not entirely impossible."

Siano withdrew his gaze from the distance and said calmly, "But people of this caliber have their own pride and persistence. It's not something that can be easily persuaded just by words."

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Today's confrontation could be considered planting a seed in the other's heart.

If there's an opportunity in the future, there might actually be a chance to pull Aokiji into his own camp.

After all, even Blackbeard, a standard pirate villain, couldn't get along with Aokiji, yet he still managed to take advantage of the situation and recruit him.

His own chances of success should only be greater.

"Let's go, forget about that guy." Siano shook his head, turned around, and said to his partners with a smile, "We've been delayed for so long, everyone must be hungry. Let's head to the restaurant first."

"Oooooh, dinner time!" Nami cheered and was the first to rush out of the garden.

The others followed while laughing and talking, but Siano deliberately stayed behind. When no one was paying attention to him, he looked up toward the distant sea.

Aokiji's movements seemed leisurely, but he had already ridden to the edge of the sky and looked as if he were about to disappear beyond the horizon.

It really made one wonder if this guy was secretly pedaling his long legs furiously to speed up once he was out of sight.

Or perhaps he was just running while carrying the bike?

In any case...

"You want to leave after dropping a threat and acting cool?"

Siano crossed his arms and hummed. Is it really that easy?

He was the type of person who held grudges!

At least leave some wool behind for me!

Yes.

He hadn't "sheared" Aokiji yet.

Facing a top-tier powerhouse of this world.

Even with his legendary thieving skills, he really didn't have the confidence to take something from the other party without their Observation Haki noticing.

Being able to successfully shear Garp and Akainu before was because they had been fighting for a long time, with both sides engaged in close-quarters physical combat, and their attention was entirely on the battle, providing ample opportunity to fish in troubled waters.

But this time... unfortunately, they didn't end up fighting.

Aokiji didn't even have the heart to attack him; he couldn't just strike first and slap Aokiji across the face just to find an opportunity to steal something, could he?

That would be a bit inappropriate.

Fortunately, with that new item, this guy's "wool" wouldn't be getting away.

Siano opened the inventory tab.

Activate "Pilfering" card set!

—Effect: Five cards, five chances, each one can ignore distance to randomly steal one item from anyone within his field of vision!

The target for the first use, it's decided—Aokiji!

On the sea.

Aokiji rode his bicycle, his expression gloomy and silent.

Not long ago, the document he had accidentally stumbled upon in Sengoku's office surfaced in his mind again.

The truth behind the God Valley incident thirty-two years ago.

It was this document that further intensified his wavering faith in justice, and it was because of this that he had the idea to come and meet Siano.

But as a result...

Aokiji shook his head, casting these troublesome thoughts out of his mind.

He recalled a small detail he had noticed earlier.

Flames had erupted from that orange-haired girl... Was she actually the user of the Flame-Flame Fruit?

Should he call the headquarters' intelligence department and have them correct the bounty?

Aokiji tilted his head.

He could easily guess the reason.

This must be Siano not wanting his sister to become a target for everyone, so he used various means to cover it up, leading the headquarters' intelligence department to make a wrong judgment.

Little girls are timid, she probably fears her bounty getting higher...

Then let it be.

There doesn't seem to be a need to pay that much attention to an underage girl.

Aokiji yawned lazily and pedaled his bicycle forward.

A narrow trail of ice was left behind wherever he passed on the sea.

But for some reason, suddenly, he felt a void beneath his feet.

He subconsciously looked down. The spot where the bicycle had been was empty, leaving only a dashed line. Before he could react, he fell into the sea—

Splash!

The cold seawater instantly swallowed him, bubbles floated upward, and Aokiji opened his eyes wide, staring blankly at the sky.

"Huh?"

…………

"Hmm?"

Siano looked at the bicycle that had suddenly appeared in his hands with some surprise.

A pleasant surprise!

He had just been trying his luck and didn't have high expectations. Getting a suit jacket, gloves, or sunglasses would have been valuable enough, and an eye mask would have been even better.

But it turned out to be a grand prize.

His luck really was quite good.

He activated the sacrifice without hesitation.

[Sacrifice: Kuzan's Bicycle]

[Quality: Epic]

[Value: 4500 points]

[Appraisal: The iconic ride of Marine Admiral Aokiji. A seemingly ordinary bicycle that has witnessed countless legendary moments along the way. Although it has no combat bonuses, as one of the most recognizable modes of transport in this world, its value cannot be underestimated.]

Sure enough, it's worth it—the same price as that baseball cap Akainu wore that was almost pickled with sweat.

His remaining points, originally 27,000, surged to 31,500 in an instant.

"Feels good."

Siano clapped his hands in satisfaction and closed the system panel, just as Nami turned around and waved to urge him: "What are you doing, Brother? Hurry up and catch up!"

"Coming!"

He laughed, quickened his pace, and strode to catch up.

And behind him.

In the silent park, the cold night wind blew, and the mammoth in the ice remained motionless...

Just like how Aokiji would get back after losing his bike, no one cared.

…………

Night fell, and the lights of the City of Gourmet were as brilliant as the stars.

Siano and his group stepped into the reserved restaurant. The warm lighting, the rich aroma of food, and the pleasant, soft music immediately made everyone relax.

"Cheers!"

Amidst the crisp sound of glasses clinking, everyone drank heartily.

After three rounds of drinks, Robin held her glass in her right hand, a faint flush appearing on her fair cheeks.

She was usually elegant and composed, but at this moment, she rarely showed a hint of drunkenness. She rested her chin on her left hand, quietly watching Siano.

Whether it was the effect of the alcohol or the lighting being too blurry.

When she blinked.

She seemed to see again that nightmare that had shrouded her heart since childhood—that tall, powerful, terrifying figure exuding bone-chilling cold, who had killed Saul with his own hands...

But when Siano spat out a bone without any table manners and laughed while patting his belly.

She blinked again.

That cold, terrifying figure vanished in an instant.

"Captain..." she called out softly, her voice much softer than usual.

"Hmm?" Siano, his mouth stuffed full, turned his head blankly and met her slightly watery eyes.

Robin blinked and suddenly chuckled: "Do you know? Sometimes I wonder, if you hadn't reached out your hand to me on that turtle's back that day..."

She paused, her fingertips gently rubbing the rim of her glass. "Where would I be now?"

"Why bring this up all of a sudden?"

Siano was puzzled, continuing to stuff roasted meat into his mouth. While chewing, he said, "You couldn't stay in Baroque Works, so you probably would have joined some other underground organization and played hide-and-seek with the World Government, right?"

"Perhaps."

Robin laughed softly, but her gaze gradually drifted away. "But more likely... I would have given up."

Her voice was very light, but it made Siano fall silent for a moment.

Robin tilted her head back and downed the wine in her glass. The burning sensation of the alcohol made her frown slightly, but she soon relaxed.

She set down her glass and suddenly reached out to gently tug at the corner of Siano's clothes.

"So, thank you."

She looked up, her drunken eyes filled with unprecedented sincerity:

"Really, thank you. You let me know that people don't have to hide in the darkness forever, and that sunlight... no, even streetlamps, can really be this warm."

Siano was stunned for a moment, then laughed, reaching out to ruffle her hair:

"What silly things are you saying? Isn't that a matter of course? You're our partner, after all."

Robin didn't dodge his hand; instead, she narrowed her eyes slightly, like a lazy cat.

She leaned closer at some point, her breath, scented with alcohol, gently brushing against Siano's ear: "Ara, just... a partner?"

Siano's movements froze.

At the other end of the table, Nami and Nojiko both stopped what they were doing, pretending to reach for napkins to wipe their mouths, but their eyes kept sneaking glances over here.

The ash on the cigar Smoker was holding had accumulated quite a length, but he hadn't flicked it off. He stared intently at the glass in front of him, as if he had suddenly developed a keen interest in the water droplets on the side of the cup.

And Kuina—

The young swordswoman sat quietly in the corner.

Her gaze seemed focused on the dessert in front of her, but the marks her table knife made in the cream were getting deeper and more chaotic...

Awoo?

Gin also keenly sensed the change in atmosphere, tilting his head to look left and right, and finally decided to bury his entire dog head into the giant bowl of strawberry milk in front of him.

Just as the atmosphere became subtle—

"Hic!"

Robin suddenly let out a small hiccup, covered her mouth in discomfort, swayed, and fell directly into Siano's arms.

Siano scrambled to catch her and pulled out a napkin to help her wipe her mouth.

After putting the napkin away, he looked down and found that Robin had already closed her eyes, breathing evenly, clearly drunk and asleep.

"..."

He sighed helplessly and gently picked her up horizontally.

"Let's call it a day," Siano said to the others as he stood up. "I'll take her back to the ship first. Everyone, keep eating..."