Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Out on the vast expanse of the Grand Line, Aokiji pedaled his bicycle over a sea shimmering with blue waves. As the familiar sound of the Den Den Mushi rang out, he sighed, pulling the snail-like device from his pocket. "Ah la la, why do you always call at this time?"
The image of a stern-looking elder appeared on the snail's face. "Kuzan," he greeted, using Aokiji's first name.
Aokiji balanced the bicycle with one hand. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what's the matter?"
Sengoku got straight to the point. "According to the intelligence department's report, a frozen island has suddenly appeared not far from the Long Ring Long Land. There are signs of fighting. Did you do it?"
"That's right," Aokiji admitted casually. "I had a skirmish with the Straw Hat Pirates there."
Sengoku's brow furrowed slightly, a note of surprise in his voice. "It seems that you let them go, didn't you?"
Aokiji paused for a moment, the sea breeze fluttering around him. Sengoku's tone suggested he suspected the decision might have something to do with Garp.
Aokiji exhaled slowly, his words cutting through the conversation like a chill breeze: "I wasn't confident in catching them." He paused, letting the gravity of his statement sink in before adding, "Also, it's different from what happened with Stainless. The Straw Hat Pirates... their combat power has grown significantly."
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku's voice was silent for a moment as he processed the news. Then, with a tone of authority, he commanded, "Stop loitering in the first part of the Grand Line. I'm sending a warship to pick you up. You need to report back to headquarters immediately."
Aokiji's response was laid-back but firm, a hint of defiance in his tone: "Ah la la, that won't work, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. I have other plans."
This choice to refuse Sengoku's direct order made the Den Den Mushi's expression turn quite grim. Aokiji, unfazed, continued, "And—you'll hear more about the Straw Hats soon enough. They're poised to stir up significant trouble."
With a swift flick, Aokiji ended the call before Sengoku could respond. Alone again, Sengoku pulled out a map, eyes tracing potential paths. He muttered to himself, "If they're following the Log Pose, their next stop might be—Water 7?"
Meanwhile, Aokiji pedaled on, his voice trailing off into the sea breeze, "Ah la la, if they head this way, they'll come alarmingly close to headquarters. I'll head there next to see for myself."
-----
On the deck of the Golden Merry, Sanji stepped out of his cabin and was greeted by the brilliant morning sunlight. He paused, squinting slightly, and let out a sigh of relief. "Feels like I've been asleep for ages," he murmured to himself, stretching his limbs.
Just then, a burst of energy came his way. "Sanji, you're finally out!" Luffy's voice boomed across the deck, full of excitement and hunger. "Sanji, I'm starving! I need meat!!" His voice carried a tone of desperation that suggested he hadn't eaten in days.
Sanji, seeing Luffy barreling towards him with the unstoppable force of a runaway train, paled slightly. A collision with Luffy, given his current state, would surely send him right back to bedrest.
Thankfully, Chopper intervened just in time. Transforming into his larger form, he blocked Luffy's path and admonished him, "Luffy, stop!! Sanji's still recovering. He needs to be checked over before anything else, you meathead!"
After a quick check-up, Chopper gave the all-clear, much to Sanji's relief. "You're free to go about your day," Chopper said with a nod.
Sanji, who had been teleported unexpectedly by Bai Ye's spell, had been left unusually weak. It had been a shock to his system, one that required days of rest and a dose of Bai Ye's special pills to set right.
"I got it, I'll cook," Sanji responded to Luffy's persistent pleas, his voice firm yet weary. "But first, I'm making some desserts for Nami-san and Robin-san."
Luffy's face fell. "Whaaat?" he whined, disappointed.
"Back off, or I'll boot you right out of the kitchen!" Sanji threatened, a hint of his usual fire returning as he headed towards the galley.
Luffy grumbled but didn't dare challenge Sanji further. Chopper, watching the pair bicker as they walked away, let out a relieved sigh, glad for the return to normalcy.
Sanji was the last among the crew to get back on his feet. The teleportation had hit him hardest. Bai Ye had only felt a bit wobbly afterwards, and Luffy bounced back after a hearty sleep. Zoro shook off his grogginess with a day-long nap, but Sanji was confined to his bed for two whole days, which had Chopper quite worried.
Now, with Sanji finally up and about, it seemed Bai Ye's casual comment was proven right: "It's not a big problem, just a bit of a shock to the system."
"It looks like I still have much to learn," Chopper mumbled to himself as he glanced up towards the observation room. There stood Bai Ye and Zoro, side by side. Zoro had been out of commission for a while due to the ordeal, and Bai Ye had stepped in to cover his duties. This shift change marked their official handover.
Zoro, however, had more on his mind than just navigation duties. He turned to Bai Ye and said, "That Aokiji didn't use all his strength against us."
Bai Ye nodded, his expression unchanged. He wasn't surprised by Zoro's observation. Both the intensity of the battle and Aokiji's parting words hinted at the admiral holding back.
Bai Ye nodded and responded to Zoro, "Indeed. Aokiji is a man who has mastered the power to freeze anything. Given his years of experience and training, it's clear his capabilities go well beyond what we've seen."
"He's not just about raw power; he has top-tier haki and exceptional physical skills from his naval training. We only saw a fraction of his true strength," Bai Ye continued.
Zoro, absorbing this, nodded slightly. It seemed he had anticipated this answer, yet a touch of disappointment flickered across his face.
Observing Zoro's reaction, Bai Ye reassured him, "Don't be too hard on yourself. You're only 19, after all. Among your peers, few can match the strength you've shown."
"It's great to have goals, but remember, Aokiji stands at the pinnacle of the maritime world. He's 47, with 28 more years of intense training under his belt, supported by the vast resources of the navy."
Bai Ye worried he might have introduced Zoro too early to such a high level of power, potentially sparking self-doubt in the young swordsman.
Before Bai Ye could continue, Zoro interjected, sharing a personal anecdote that shaped his resolve. "There's something you should know… I once made a vow to a very important girl—a promise I intend to keep, even at the cost of my life."
As Zoro spoke, his gaze turned distant, almost as if transported back to another time and place. He envisioned a forest clearing from his past, where a young boy with green hair faced a girl with short hair, both holding wooden swords. Tears streamed down the boy's face, marking a moment of deep emotional commitment and the origin of his unwavering resolve.