"Woah, is this the power of an Admiral? He actually froze everything!" Oliver, perched on a nearby rooftop, stared in amazent at the frozen Aeridar and the chilly Kuzan.
Kuzan let out a puff of white air, looking slightly more relaxed.
Crack!
Suddenly, a clear cracking sound rang out, and Kuzan's face, which had just begun to ease, beca serious again.
A single crack appeared on the ice encasing Aeridar.
Crack...
Then, more and more cracks appeared on the ice.
Bang!
The ice on Aeridar's body shattered, countless tiny shards exploding outwards.
"Whew~ It's cold in here!" Aeridar exhaled a puff of white steam and shivered involuntarily.
"Just as I thought, it wouldn't be that easy," Kuzan said, twirling the Ice Saber in his hand with a troubled look.
"You really are a Marine Admiral. I was almost done for, you bastard," Aeridar said, rubbing his hands helplessly. The way he seized that montary advantage was truly worthy of an Admiral.
"Arara~ Don't lie, you rascal," Kuzan waved his hand and rolled his eyes. He didn't believe for a second that a famous pirate would be taken out so easily.
"Well then, let's start round two!" Aeridar's killing intent surged, and a look of madness appeared on his face.
'This killing intent... Is he serious...?' Kuzan's heart tensed, and he beca secretly vigilant.
Pere pere pere... Pere pere pere...
Suddenly, a ringing sound ca. Kuzan reached into his pocket, pulled out a Den Den Mushi, and said, "Hold on a second, I need to take this call." With that, he answered the phone.
"Ah, no problem, go ahead." Aeridar was montarily stunned, then waved his hand, his killing intent receding.
On the rooftop, Oliver almost stumbled and fell when he heard their conversation. "What the hell are you guys doing?! Is this a ga?! Can you please take this seriously?!" he roared in protest.
"Moshi moshi, this is Kuzan," Kuzan said into the activated Den Den Mushi.
"Aokiji, what are you doing?! Are you trying to destroy the Sabaody Archipelago?!" The Den Den Mushi was hopping and roaring. It was the voice of Fleet Admiral Sengoku. He had obviously heard that Aokiji and Aeridar were fighting on the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Now, now~ Fleet Admiral Sengoku, we have to give the Celestial Dragons an explanation, don't we?" Kuzan said, scratching his head lazily and speaking in an unconcerned manner.
"Cut the crap. You're not usually this gung-ho. They're not dead or injured, so why are you fighting? Do you want the whole world to laugh at us?!" Sengoku roared through the Den Den Mushi.
A conflict between a Marine Admiral and a Warlord of the Sea was an internal fight! If word got out, the Marines and the World Governnt would lose face.
"Alright, alright, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. What do you want to do?" Kuzan waved his hand and asked.
"Stop fighting imdiately, and give that bastard the Den Den Mushi," Sengoku ordered.
"Hai~ Understood." Kuzan gave a mock salute to the Den Den Mushi, then tossed it to Aeridar. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku's on the line."
Snap!
Aeridar caught the Den Den Mushi and laughed, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this is Aeridar. Long ti no see! Fancy a drink?"
"You bastard, cut the crap!" Sengoku's anger flared upon hearing Aeridar's words. He roared through the Den Den Mushi, "Tell , can't you stay out of trouble?! You cause such a commotion the mont you arrive and you lay a hand on a Celestial Dragon?! Do you want to be stripped of your title, you idiot?!"
"Hey, hey~ Don't say that! You're not saying you want those two to kill , are you?! You're the bastard who started this!" Aeridar was unhappy with Sengoku's words, and he started arguing back indignantly into the Den Den Mushi.
"That bastard!" In his office, Sengoku's temples throbbed with a visible vein. He was so incredibly frustrated. Frustrated that Aeridar had to provoke the Celestial Dragons! Frustrated that the Celestial Dragons had to provoke Aeridar! And also frustrated that Kuzan had to start a fight with Aeridar on the Sabaody Archipelago! Oh, my god, I'm so exhausted!
The Celestial Dragons were a given, they were a protected treasure. As for Aeridar, he was a key figure in maintaining the balance of the seas. He was not only a Warlord of the Sea but also the king of a World Governnt-affiliated kingdom. Stripping him of his title would only push him to the side of the pirates.
Besides, it was uncertain whether Kuzan could even defeat him, as he wasn't alone; the second strongest mber of the Chris Pirates was with him. And even if they did defeat him, the chain reaction and consequences would only be a self-inflicted wound for the Marines.
"Hmph~ I won't argue with you about all that. I have a question for you: The SS drug, it ca from you, right?" Sengoku grunted, getting straight to the point through the Den Den Mushi.
Hearing this, Aeridar's expression changed, and his eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? I have no idea."
"Heh, it's fine if you don't understand," Sengoku scoffed again. "I just want you to help get in touch with the buyer of the SS drug. I'm willing to pay a high price. If you can get in touch, I can make the Celestial Dragon issue go away and even agree to so reasonable conditions you might have. Or you could just give the contact information, and I'll deal with it, and the terms will remain the sa."
"I see!" Aeridar understood now. This was Sengoku's real purpose. Compared to the SS drug, which could significantly enhance the overall strength of the Marines, the incident of a Celestial Dragon being knocked out by Haki was nothing. After all, no one was dead or injured; even the Five Elders would likely support this deal.
"Hehehe~ I'll have to think about this. Whether I can get in touch with them or not is another story," Aeridar chuckled, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He was thinking, weighing his options, and considering how to reply to the Marines.
Sengoku didn't press. Instead, he said, "Alright, I'll wait for your answer. Give the phone back to Aokiji."
Aeridar raised an eyebrow and casually tossed the Den Den Mushi back to Kuzan.
Snap!
Kuzan caught the Den Den Mushi and asked, "What now?"
"Stand down!" Sengoku spat out just two words.
Kuzan hesitated, "Arara~ And what about the Celestial Dragons..."
"I'll handle the Celestial Dragons myself." Sengoku interrupted him before he could finish.
"Alright, sounds good. You're the Fleet Admiral, you call the shots," Kuzan said decisively, then hung up the phone.
On the other end of the line, in his office, Sengoku stared blankly at the disconnected Den Den Mushi. It took him a mont to realize what had happened, and he was nearly livid. That guy was trying to get him to take responsibility, putting all the bla squarely on Sengoku himself!
"You bastard Kuzan! Just you wait until you get back! I'll deal with you!" Sengoku's face flushed red, and he roared, pounding his desk repeatedly.
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