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"The information is absolutely correct. Intelligence agencies have obtained photos of Crocodile when he was killed. And the person who killed him was none other than the princess of Alabasta!"
The Marine soldier held up the docunt in his hand, showing a photo of Vivi freezing Crocodile using her 'First Dance: Moon White.'
"The power of ice?" The Marines in the conference room all turned to look at Marine Admiral Aokiji, their faces showing strange expressions. After all, their Admiral Aokiji was a master of ice powers.
"Is it the sa Devil Fruit ability that uses ice?" Aokiji raised his eyebrows, his expression suddenly becoming more alert after being bored by the eting.
"Perhaps it's not a Devil Fruit power, but ice created through a certain sword style," Marine Captain Hina, wearing a red uniform, suddenly spoke up.
"Why do you think it's a sword style?" Aokiji looked over curiously.
"I have seen the black-haired man in that photo, as well as the orange-haired woman and the blue-haired woman," Hina explained. "I once saw that man perform a sword technique that could create fire and water. The woman with short blue hair can also use sword techniques that create water. The orange-haired woman can use swordsmanship that produces thunder and lightning. These two won learned their swordsmanship from this man. Perhaps this man also mastered sword techniques that can create ice and taught it to Princess Vivi in the photo."
When the surrounding Marines heard this, especially those who used swords, they all beca interested in Ikki.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku motioned to the Marine soldier who gave the report. He took the report in his hand and read it. The more he read, the darker Sengoku's face beca.
"This Crocodile actually wanted to get his hands on an Ancient Weapon!" Sengoku slapped the report on the table, his words full of anger toward Crocodile.
"Ancient Weapon?" Vice Admiral Tsuru asked with a frown. "Sengoku, what exactly is written in that report?"
"That man set up so organization called Baroque Works in Alabasta," Sengoku began. "He manipulated Alabasta's people and caused civil strife in the kingdom. He wanted to take the country away from King Cobra and create his own..."
Sengoku shook his head and read the contents of the report to the Marines present while posting the photos from the report on the board behind him.
"King Cobra of Alabasta has already reported this matter to the World Governnt," he continued. "Although there's no hard evidence yet, Cobra probably isn't lying. Crocodile has seed quieter in recent years, but he was indeed quite dishonest."
"Pirates are pirates. Even if they beco Shichibukai, they're still dangerous," Aokiji comnted. "But that man is probably dead, so we don't have to worry about him anymore. Compared to this, I'm more interested in Ikki and Vivi. When did soone appear in the first half of the Grand Line who could project Armant Haki? When did the princess of Alabasta beco so powerful?"
Aokiji put his hands behind his head, his eyes appearing lazy but actually studying the photos behind Sengoku with great interest. Among the several photos were not only the scene where Vivi finally used Sode no Shirayuki to freeze Crocodile in a cylinder of ice, but also scenes of Nami wielding lightning slashes and Nojiko using water attacks against Crocodile. There was also an image of Ikki slashing with Armant Haki.
"Although it was Vivi who defeated Crocodile in the end, the contribution of the others was essential," Sengoku said, pointing to a picture of Ikki. "Especially this man. His slash damaged the elental Crocodile. There's no doubt this is a slash using Armant Haki. A person who can achieve this level of Armant Haki is rare even in the second half of the Grand Line."
"This matter involves Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai. We need to learn more about this black-haired man's identity." Sengoku turned to Hina. "You said you know this man. Please tell us what you know about him."
Everyone in the conference room turned curious eyes toward Hina.
"Actually, I've only t this man twice," Hina replied, taking a drag from her cigarette. "The people who really know him are Smoker and his subordinate Tashigi."
After recalling her etings with Ikki, she continued: "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you may rember that soone reported Captain Nezumi to Marine Headquarters. That person was actually Ikki."
Hearing this, Sengoku nodded slightly. "I do rember that!" A bounty hunter reporting a Marine Captain to Headquarters was sothing that had rarely happened in decades. However, since Ikki was just a bounty hunter at the ti, Sengoku hadn't paid much attention to him. Who would have thought that the next ti he heard about this man, he would be involved in defeating a Shichibukai?
"When I first t him, I just thought his swordsmanship was a bit unusual," Hina continued. "He was very good at teaching swordsmanship to others, but I didn't think he was especially powerful. I didn't expect that he could actually train a student who could fight against Crocodile. The princess of Alabasta's power must co from Ikki's teachings."
"Regarding Ikki's teaching ability," she went on, "I heard Smoker say that he once taught Marine Lieutenant Tashigi for just over ten days. In that short ti, Tashigi successfully mastered the swordsmanship called 'Water Breathing' that can create water. Additionally, under Ikki's guidance, Tashigi also beca a swordsman who can cut through steel."
"What? It took only ten days for a Marine Lieutenant to beco a swordsman who can cut through steel? How is that possible?" one Marine exclaid.
"Yes, let's not even talk about the water-creating sword techniques—becoming a swordsman who can cut steel is not easy," another added. "It takes several years to beco a steel-cutting swordsman. No matter how good this Ikki's teaching ability is, he shouldn't be able to make his students progress so quickly."
After Hina finished speaking, the Marines in the conference room began discussing among themselves.
"Hina, based on your knowledge of Ikki," Vice Admiral Doberman, one of the chief instructors of the Marines, asked, "would you say Tashigi's growth has more to do with Ikki's teaching thods or with Tashigi's natural talent?"
As an instructor who had trained many Vice Admirals, he was quite knowledgeable about teaching thods. But even he wouldn't claim he could make his students progress so quickly.
"Smoker said that Ikki once comnted that Tashigi has great talent for swordsmanship," Hina replied. "Her ability to quickly beco a steel-cutting swordsman must have a lot to do with her talent. But I believe Ikki's contribution is essential. Look at the blue-haired woman Nojiko and the orange-haired woman Nami—they learned swordsmanship from Ikki in a short ti and can defeat Arlong Pirates. This speaks volus about Ikki's teaching ability."
"Also, though I'm not a swordsman myself, I can tell that man's swordsmanship is indeed quite powerful. He once offered to teach swordsmanship if I gave him a famous sword he wanted."
After saying this, Hina couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She never thought that the man who initially seed just sowhat skilled would turn out to be at the level of a Shichibukai. 'Did Hina make a mistake?' she wondered to herself as she put out her cigarette.
"Special sword style, rapidly progressing students..." Sengoku mused. "This man deserves our attention."
After a pause, he continued: "Hina, since you know this man, you should also participate in the investigation of Crocodile. Additionally, since Crocodile was a Shichibukai, his actions reflect on the Marine Headquarters and World Governnt. We need to keep so of what he's done confidential."
"I hope you can convince Ikki to keep the Crocodile incident a secret. As for his swordsmanship... Hina, if he's still willing to teach you, you might consider learning from him. His students progress quickly, perhaps because of his style. It could be very useful to the Marines. I'll also inquire about this from Tashigi later."
After reading the report's details, the strict Sengoku was naturally curious about the power demonstrated by Vivi and the others. Since Ikki had once offered to teach Hina, Sengoku didn't mind letting her try again.
Vice Admiral Zephyr lowered his head, pondering the story about Ikki. He was also curious about him but, considering his next assignnt, abandoned the idea of eting Ikki.
"Understood, Fleet Admiral!" Hina nodded in agreent after receiving her orders.
"Also, investigate Nico Robin while you're at it," Sengoku added, looking down at a portion of the report with a question mark. "This information ntions the appearance of soone suspected to be Nico Robin."
"Nico Robin?" Off to the side, Aokiji frowned quietly.
Half an hour later, two Marine battleships sailed out of the Marine port and began heading toward Alabasta. On one of them, Hina stood at the bow wearing sunglasses, talking on a Den Den Mushi.
"Smoker, where are you now?"
"What is it, Hina?" ca the reply.
"Ikki and his companions defeated Crocodile in Alabasta. Hina thought you might be interested in this, so I'm letting you know."
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