Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Aokiji continued, his gaze fixated on Robin, who was visibly anxious. "The bounty on someone's head isn't just about their strength," he explained. "It's also about their potential to disrupt the world order."
"Robin was only eight when we first marked her," he noted, not flinching as the tension among the Straw Hats intensified.
Luffy interrupted him, irritation clear in his voice. "We know all about that! Bai Ye told us the first time we all met!"
Aokiji seemed taken aback for a moment, not expecting Robin's past to be common knowledge among her crewmates. Yet, he pressed on, "A child surviving on her own all these years must have developed certain... survival tactics. Betraying and fleeing when threatened, finding new shelters and doing whatever it takes to stay hidden."
He paused, his eyes locking with Robin's, "And now, you've chosen the Straw Hat Pirates as your latest sanctuary?"
Sanji couldn't contain his anger any longer. "Enough of your insults!" he shouted. "What do you have against Robin?!"
Aokiji's response was cool and detached. "I hold no grudge against her. She merely slipped through my fingers once, a long time ago."
"You'll soon see the mistake you've made by harboring her," Aokiji warned them. "Every group she's been involved with has met a tragic end—except for her."
He stared pointedly at the crew, his voice dropping to a chilling tone, "Why do you think that is, Nico Robin?"
As Aokiji's accusations reverberated in the air, Robin's body tensed, the chill of her past creeping under her skin. She wasn't scared of her history being exposed; she feared what these people—her friends and crewmates—might think or do with this newfound knowledge. Even though she knew their characters well, doubt gnawed at her, leaving a pit of fear in her stomach. Instinctively, her arms crossed, ready to launch an attack on Aokiji, desperate to stop his revelations, despite knowing she stood no chance against him.
But then, unexpectedly, Chopper sprang forward, placing himself between Robin and Aokiji. His small form was determined, his voice loud and clear. "Robin isn't the person you describe!"
Chopper hadn't been there during the Alabasta saga, but his time spent with Robin had shown him a different truth. He couldn't accept Aokiji's portrayal of her as a deceitful fugitive. "That's right!" echoed Merry, stepping up next to Chopper, her cheeks flushed with emotion. "Robin is a very good person!"
Robin, overwhelmed, covered her mouth, tears welling up as she looked at the little reindeer and the young ship spirit defending her so fiercely.
Nami then wrapped an arm around Robin, pulling her in close, her voice resolute. "You don't get to badmouth our crewmate!" she declared.
Usopp, overcoming his initial shock, joined in, his voice rising with conviction. "And hey, if we're talking about pasts, we've got pirate hunters and former thieves among us too!"
With Nami and Usopp now by her side, Robin felt a surge of warmth. Luffy, Bai Ye, Zoro, and Sanji stepped forward, forming a united front against the naval admiral. Their presence was a silent vow: they were in this together, no matter the past or the challenges ahead.
Sanji exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes narrowing as he addressed Aokiji with a cool disdain, "I've been tolerating your unpleasant chatter for a while." He flicked his cigarette into the sand, his voice low and steady, "It's about time someone taught you how to behave like a true gentleman."
Zoro, tying his bandana tighter, unsheathed his swords with a clink that resonated in the tense air. His grin was more a promise of a battle than a simple smile. "You talk too much," he growled. "Let's see if you're as tough as your words suggest."
Stepping forward, Bai Ye's gaze fixed on Aokiji with a calm intensity. "If you're really curious about why, let me enlighten you," he said, his voice smooth yet edged with a palpable intensity. "Robin never truly had friends before us."
His words were deliberate, as much an assurance to Robin as they were a challenge to Aokiji. "Those who sheltered her either wanted her bounty or, like Crocodile, aimed to use her for their vile plans. Why shouldn't she defend herself against such exploitation? Is this your navy's version of justice? It's laughable."
Robin, watching the scene unfold, felt tears streaming down her face. Bai Ye's declaration erased any lingering doubts about her place among the Straw Hats.
Despite the challenge thrown by Bai Ye, Aokiji remained unflustered. His reply was casual yet laden with meaning, "Ah la la, it seems you really understand each other well."
But even as the air crackled with the tension of impending conflict, he continued, undeterred by Bai Ye's provocation. "Maybe you don't grasp the true extent of the threat this woman poses," Aokiji remarked calmly. "She holds the power to destroy the world..."
As Aokiji prepared to reveal the danger of Robin's ability to decipher the poneglyphs, Luffy, standing boldly at the forefront, interrupted with a fierce shout, "I don't care!!" He fixed his gaze on Aokiji, every word dripping with determination. "Robin joined my crew because I asked her to. She's one of us!"
A dark red aura of Conqueror's Haki began to emanate from Luffy, swirling around him with growing intensity. Aokiji's eyes narrowed, sensing the impending challenge, but before he could react, Luffy took a bold step forward and declared resolutely, "You can't take her from us!!"
A powerful wave of Haki surged toward Aokiji, sending a thunderous boom through the area. The dense forest behind Aokiji rustled violently as birds and beasts scattered in panic, sensing the overwhelming power unleashed.
Despite the formidable display of Haki, Aokiji remained composed, his voice carrying a hint of surprise mixed with recognition. "This is his Haki?" he mused quietly, recalling reports from Smoker about Luffy's awakening of this power in Loguetown. Thoughts of a certain legendary white-haired man flickered through his mind, "He's grown so powerful in such a short time. Truly, he is his grandfather's grandson."
But then, Aokiji's tone hardened, "This is exactly why we can't let you continue your journey!"
With a light exhale, Aokiji unleashed his own power. "Ice Saber!" He declared. The leaves caught in the surge of Luffy's Haki froze mid-air, transforming into a sharp blade of ice.
The tension escalated to a breaking point, making it clear that a confrontation was unavoidable.
Sanji's patience snapped as he listened to Aokiji belittle Robin. His anger flared, and in a blur of movement, Sanji ignited his leg and launched himself at Aokiji. With a fiery intensity, he executed his signature move, Diable Jambe - Mouton Shot, aiming a scorching kick at Aokiji's knee.
"This speed…" Aokiji, whose skills in both armament and observation haki far surpassed the nascent abilities of the Straw Hats, perceived Sanji's attack clearly. Yet, he was taken aback by Sanji's astonishing velocity, which forced him to acknowledge the threat seriously.
Coolly, Aokiji's feet expelled a burst of cold air, instantly freezing the ground beneath him. With a graceful slide, he evaded Sanji's fiery kick. As he maneuvered, Aokiji commented, genuinely impressed, "Moreover, your armament haki is commendably strong, Black Leg Sanji. Your bounty of 60 million seems quite underestimated."
As Aokiji reached out to grab the swiftly approaching Sanji, intending to incapacitate him with a chilling grip, an unexpected intervention occurred.
"Three Swords Style - 108 Caliber Phoenix!!!" Zoro's voice roared as he unleashed three fierce slashes from his katanas, targeting Aokiji's back. Zoro didn't hold back, using one of his most powerful techniques right from the start, recognizing the gravity of facing an admiral.
The cold air around Aokiji thickened as he sensed the imminent danger from behind. With no choice but to redirect his focus, he spun around, his ice blade ready to counter. "Ah la la, flying slash?" he exclaimed, a hint of respect coloring his tone.
Caught off guard by the intensity of the Straw Hats' assault, Aokiji conceded internally. He had initially thought he had accurately gauged their strength, but this confrontation was proving him wrong. He underestimated them, and now, he realized the battle was more serious than he had anticipated.
Aokiji's ice blade, once shimmering with a cold light, now darkened as he infused it with armament haki. The rich black coating was his response to Zoro's lethal flying slashes. If he hadn't fortified his weapon with haki, Aokiji mused that Zoro's attack might have indeed shattered his ice blade.
Clang, clang! The sound of metal clashing rang out, and Zoro's slashes were deflected with such ease that Aokiji remained firmly in place, barely needing to exert himself. This only sharpened the determination in Zoro's eyes.
However, Aokiji could spare no further time for Zoro. From beneath him, the earth began to tremble ominously.
"Earth Hexagram — Earth Dragon!!!" Bai Ye's voice was calm but the effect was immediate. The ground under Aokiji's feet erupted as if a giant dragon made of earth had awakened. Its gaping maw aimed directly at him, threatening to swallow him whole.
Reacting instinctively, Aokiji executed a moon walk, propelling himself into the sky to escape the clutches of the earthen beast. Yet, as he ascended, a realization dawned on him—something was off.
From below, Bai Ye watched Aokiji's ascent with a sly grin. "Unfortunately, you fell for it!" he called out cheerily. "There's a big surprise up there, waiting for you."
Just then, Luffy's voice thundered as he launched himself upward. "Gomu Gomu no Gigant Axe!!!" His foot, magnified to a massive size, hurtled towards Aokiji, who was now caught between the earth and the sky.