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Pov - Aokiji
Aokiji had only been in this place for a short time, but he was already taken aback by the depth of knowledge the young man beside him possessed.
This Tru Kingdom is remote and insignificant to most of the world but has somehow become aware of the inner workings of the World Government's CP divisions. And this boy, this Anos, knew more than just the basics, he seemed to have an understanding of their methods as well.
Even if Aokiji didn't want to believe it, he had to face the reality: this kid knew things he shouldn't.
"Why are you so certain of these things?" he finally asked, trying to get to the bottom of it.
"Did I say something surprising? I'm sure you, Vice Admiral Aokiji, are quite familiar with the World Government's intelligence units, from CP0 to CP9. You don't need me to explain their moral character, right?"
Aokiji listened quietly, his unease growing with every word. The young king's tone was confident, almost taunting. He didn't stop there, though.
Anos continued, "But I also believe that whether it's the World Government or your Marine Headquarters, no matter how important matters are in our Tru Kingdom, you won't have the time to deal with them."
"The seas are changing, Vice Admiral. The Great Pirate Era is upon us. How many troops do you think we can afford to manage things on our end?"
Aokiji could sense the hidden meaning in his words. This boy was no fool. The coming age of pirates, the Four Emperors rising, the Shichibukai all of it was looming over the horizon.
Anos was already preparing for it, clearly ahead of most others. His confidence was unsettling.
Aokiji kept his gaze fixed on the young king, his concern deepening. It was as if Anos had thought of everything, and that sense of control, of being several steps ahead, left Aokiji with an uncomfortable feeling in his gut.
But the conversation was going nowhere productive. It was a futile dialogue at this point. So, shifting the subject, Aokiji asked, "Your training methods here seem familiar, don't they?"
Anos didn't hesitate. "The Rokushiki of the Marine became an official part of your training two years ago. It's designed to push the limits of your body in attack, defence, and movement. Combined with Haki, it's bound to become one of the Marine's strongest assets. Am I wrong?"
Aokiji's heart sank further. The boy didn't bother hiding the truth he knew too much.
How was it possible for someone so young and from such a small Kingdom to have access to this kind of intelligence?
The only thing Aokiji could think of now was whether there were spies from the Tru Kingdom within the Marine Headquarters. That was the only explanation, right? But as if reading his thoughts, Anos dismissed the idea.
"Don't worry, Vice Admiral Aokiji. None of this information came from your Marine Headquarters. Two years ago, our Tru Kingdom was too poor to send anyone to infiltrate high-ranking positions."
"Besides, and more importantly, I expect you, Marine, to explain what it did to our kingdom in the coming years. If Fleet Admiral Sengoku isn't willing, I won't hesitate to make this public myself. Imagine the damage this "Big news" would do to your Marine's reputation, especially in the Great Pirate Era."
Aokiji clenched his fists slightly as the boy's words dug deeper. Anos was referring to events that happened ten years ago in the Tru Kingdom. He knew exactly what had transpired. And so did Aokiji.
Baterilla Island… over two thousand pregnant women had been killed during the Marine's involvement, an incident that haunted Aokiji to this day. It had been a stain on the Marine, one that he'd been personally involved in.
Yet now, walking down the streets of this foreign land, surrounded by the silent watch of its people, he was left with no choice but to swallow his emotions.
Sengoku had warned him repeatedly before he arrived. "No matter what happens, don't take action in the Tru Kingdom," Sengoku had said.
Aokiji hadn't understood the gravity of those words until now. The boy's knowledge of the past and his willingness to use it left Aokiji with a mounting sense of unease.
For the first time in a while, Aokiji dropped his usual lazy demeanour. His gaze sharpened, and though he remained calm on the surface, he let his intent pierce through the mask. He didn't bother hiding the murderous glint in his eyes.
Anos, though, didn't flinch. He even smiled. "There's no need for such hostility, Vice Admiral. I respect you. Look at the incident at Ohara. Weren't you disappointed by the Marine's recent actions? Isn't that what made you realize their flaws?"
Aokiji gritted his teeth at the mention of Ohara. The massacre of innocent scholars, children, and civilians had left him disgusted of himself.
But Anos wasn't stopping there. He was provoking Aokiji on purpose.
"Isn't it funny? You know so much," Aokiji muttered, his voice betraying only the faintest hint of irritation. "A little guy like you, aware of Marine's secrets. It's embarrassing."
Despite his words, Aokiji knew they held no weight. This fifteen- or sixteen-year-old had seen through everything. And he wasn't even being discreet about it.
But now, Anos cut to the heart of the matter.
"I'm not here to blackmail you with this information. But what happened on Baterilla Island in my Tru Kingdom deserves an explanation from your Marine"
His words were sharp, his presence intense, and for a moment, Aokiji sensed that the boy's Conqueror's Haki was on the verge of erupting. Had they not been in public, the air between them might have ignited.
Aokiji chuckled. "That's not for me to decide, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's the one who'll handle this. I'm just a messenger. It's a hassle either way."
Though his tone remained lazy, he knew full well the stakes. The Baterilla Island incident remains a haunting scar on the Marine's legacy, a chilling reminder of their darkest failures, an incident that must never reach the public's ears. Anos, with his knowledge, was a dangerous threat.
Aokiji felt the weight of the situation pressing down. The Great Pirate Era was coming, just as the boy said. And with it, the Marines were already spread thin.
They couldn't afford to divert resources back to some small, distant kingdom in the South Blue.
Anos knew this too. He was no fool. As confident as he seemed, he wasn't delusional enough to believe his kingdom could stand against the might of the Marine.
If it weren't for the shifting tides of the Great Pirate Era, his kingdom would have been crushed by now for mastering the Rokushiki alone.
Yet, as Aokiji and Anos finally reached the gates of the palace, the boy extended a courteous invitation.
"Vice Admiral Aokiji, you've come so far. Why not stay a few days and experience our local customs? Maybe you could even offer guidance to the future leaders we're cultivating."
Aokiji smirked. "It's rare to have some free time, but I wouldn't want to impose, Your Majesty."
"Oh, come on. I imagine you'll be promoted to Admiral soon. The highest rank. I'm sure there'll be plenty of chances to bother you in the future."
Aokiji couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Where'd you hear that from? You seem well-informed for a small Kingdom"
Since he'd arrived, Aokiji couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Every move he made, every word he spoke this boy had anticipated them all. It was like being exposed, laid bare. A strange feeling for a seasoned vice admiral.
It wasn't Anos' words that unnerved him. It was the sense that, despite his experience and rank, he was being completely outmanoeuvred by this boy who couldn't be more than sixteen or seventeen.
And that, perhaps, was the most troubling realization of all.
Pov - End
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Anos smiled, now that his goal had been achieved. At least in his own kingdom, this was his home court, and he would never be swayed by others.
"I know a lot of things, more than you can imagine"
Anos spoke calmly, and before anyone realized it, they were already in the palace.
Before Aokiji could ask more questions, a guard approached and said respectfully to Anos, "Your Majesty, Haruya and the guard captain have led the army to attack the capital of the Roya Kingdom. The captain has sent word, seeking guidance on whether to proceed with a direct assault or await further orders."
"Ah... things are progressing quickly," Anos remarked, glancing at the guard before turning to Aokiji. "Vice Admiral Aokiji, would you be interested in heading over there to observe?"
"I don't mind. It won't hurt to take a look," Aokiji replied casually.
After all, his primary mission here was to assess the strength of the Tru Kingdom's military, and the battlefield would offer the best insights.
"Tell Daiki to hold off for now. I'll be bringing our Vice Admiral from the Marine Headquarters to witness the situation," Anos instructed the guard.
Everything had already been planned. If Daiki wanted to consult on such matters, he could easily do so through a Den Den Mushi. There was no need to send a messenger for trivial updates.
No one could quite understand what their king had in mind. The battle against Roya Kingdom was practically a foregone conclusion, and there were no significant threats.
But Anos had his own thoughts.
Initially, when he didn't know that Aokiji had come to investigate, he had considered countless scenarios, even preparing for the worst case of facing Akainu.
But he was confident that the Marine Headquarters wouldn't send Akainu to this region.
The fastest way to get to the capital of the Roya Kingdom was by sea, which would take at least two days.
However, it had taken Daiki just five days to attack the enemy's capital. Nearly none of the Roya Kingdom's soldiers they encountered along the way had offered any resistance.
Thus, they naturally arrived at their destination without much trouble.
If they desired, they could storm into the Royal City of the Roya Kingdom without significant effort.
Among the dozens of kingdoms in the South Blue, the Roya Kingdom's military strength wasn't particularly weak, but it wasn't especially outstanding either. However, its other aspects have been notable in the past.
This time, Anos had brought most of his kingdom's high-ranking officials to witness the situation firsthand.
As the royal ship set sail, Daiki and the others, who had already reached the Roya Kingdom's capital, were waiting.
The total number of troops the Tru Kingdom had sent to attack the Roya Kingdom amounted to about 10,000.
Though the Roya Kingdom had a larger population and military, there was a significant difference.
Since the current King of the Roya Kingdom had ascended the throne, he had faced widespread opposition from both the citizens and the military, which had been severely mismanaged.
When the people of the Roya Kingdom saw the relatively better conditions in the Tru Kingdom, many of them stopped resisting.
In several places, they even opened the city gates, welcoming the army of the Tru Kingdom.
As a result, Daiki and his forces had faced little resistance and had already reached the Roya Kingdom's capital.
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Two days later, when Anos and Aokiji arrived, they were greeted by an astonishing sight at the city walls.
Standing atop the walls were not soldiers, but pirates, using the city's inhabitants as human shields to prevent Daiki and his forces from entering.
Remarkably, there was no sign of battle at the city gates. From start to finish, Daiki's troops had not suffered any losses.
In the five years since the new King of Roya had taken power, the kingdom had been ravaged to the point that words could hardly describe it.
As the royal ship docked in the capital of the Roya Kingdom, Anos observed the scene with a smirk.
"Vice Admiral Aokiji, what do you think of this?" Anos asked, still smiling.
"Your Majesty, most of the troops within the city are under control, but the number of pirates inside far exceeds our expectations," Daiki said, standing beside Anos.
"What's going on? Why are there so many pirates in the Roya Kingdom?" Anos inquired.
"Your Majesty, this is all tied to the King of the Roya Kingdom. Most of these pirates hail from the West Blue, and their total number is about 8,000. There are only two major pirate crews among them, but many are quite powerful."
"The Roya's King promised these pirates that if they helped him conquer the Tru Kingdom, they would be given all the treasures within our royal palace. That's why so many pirates have come to assist the Roya Kingdom," Daiki explained respectfully.
"What do you think, Vice Admiral?" Anos turned again to Aokiji.
"Oh, King Tru, don't involve me in this. I'm just here to observe, not to intervene," Aokiji replied lazily.
"Are you ready?" Anos asked, glancing at Daiki.
Daiki grinned, clearly understanding the signal.
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