Chapter 184 The Lazy and Righteous Aokiji

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

On the vast seas today, the Navy stands as the mightiest force visible to all. Among this formidable power, apart from the Fleet Admiral, there are only three who hold the esteemed title of Admiral: Red Dog - Akainu, Blue Pheasant - Aokiji, and Yellow Monkey - Kizaru. These three are not only symbols of the Navy's ultimate martial prowess but also bearers of divergent philosophies of justice.

At this moment, one of these towering figures was confronting the Straw Hats. After acknowledging Robin, Aokiji's gaze drifted to Nami, lighting up with a playful sparkle as he remarked, "Ah la la~ What a breathtakingly beautiful lady we have here! Would you be free tonight?" His flirtatious invitation sliced through the tension like a knife.

Before Nami could even process this, Sanji exploded in anger, spitting out at Aokiji, "What are you talking about! You idiot!!" Usopp, bewildered and slightly panicked, turned to Robin and blurted out, "What's the deal with this guy, Robin? Are you sure he's really an admiral?"

Aokiji responded to Usopp's incredulous expression with a chuckle, "Hey, hey, little man, don't judge a book by its cover." He continued nonchalantly, "As a Navy man, my motto is—lazy justice!"

Usopp shot back, slightly amused despite the tension, "It's hard not to judge by appearances when you make it so obvious." Aokiji shrugged off the comment and, surprisingly, lay down right on the beach. Adopting a relaxed pose, he casually stated, "All in all... sorry, I'm tired from standing."

As Aokiji made himself comfortable on the sand, he resumed the conversation with a lazy drawl, "I've been looking for you, Straw Hats. Or more precisely, for Nico Robin behind you." After briefly pausing to find a more comfortable position, he explained his presence, "After the incident in Alabasta, I heard that Nico Robin had vanished. I figured she must be with you."

Usopp muttered under his breath, "This guy really knows how to be lazy," while Sanji, observing Aokiji's demeanor, added thoughtfully, "But it's exactly this laid-back attitude that makes him so much more intimidating as an admiral."

After establishing Nico Robin's association with the Straw Hats, Aokiji shifted to a more official tone: "Given what I've heard, it's clear Nico Robin is now part of your crew. I'll need to update the Navy headquarters about this." He then started tallying up the bounties aloud, pointing at each member: "Captain at 150 million, deputy captain 125 million, swordsman 85 million, plus..."

Mid-calculation, Aokiji faltered, scratched his head, and shrugged off the rest: "I can't get it all straight, but you get the gist." Chopper, overhearing the admiral's lackadaisical counting, couldn't hide his annoyance, "So sloppy!" This caught Aokiji's eye, who then peered curiously at Chopper, "Hmm," he mused, nodding slowly, "What a cute raccoon."

Chopper, bristling with indignation, retorted, "Bastard, I'm a reindeer! Look, I have horns!!" Amidst this, Luffy's voice thundered with determination, "You came for Robin, huh? Well, see if I don't blow you away!"

Gomu Gomu no...

"Luffy, wait a minute," Bai Ye intervened, his voice calm yet firm. He turned to face Aokiji squarely, "Even if there's to be a fight, let's at least ensure the safety of those not involved."

-----

As a weary group emerged from the dense forest, their ragged appearance tugged at the heartstrings of everyone present. Upon hearing Aokiji identify himself as a Navy officer, they dropped to their knees, eager to share their harrowing tale. Chopper, ever the compassionate doctor, and Sanji, the skilled chef, quickly set about providing medical aid and preparing a meal for the exhausted newcomers, earning a curious glance from Aokiji.

Amid the newcomers' story of a ship wrecked by a massive sumo frog, Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement. "A sumo frog?" he exclaimed, his interest piqued. "I really want to see it!"

Usopp, ever the voice of reason, smacked Luffy on the back of his head, scolding, "Wake up, idiot. And why are you eating now?!!"

Aokiji, who had been observing quietly, chimed in, "That's a Yokozuna." But Luffy, focused on the perceived threat to Robin, barely registered the comment and continued to munch on skewers defiantly. "Even if you tell me, I won't give it to you," he muttered between bites.

"I have no intention of eating either," Aokiji replied calmly, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Since you don't want to eat, then leave quickly," Luffy retorted, his patience wearing thin. Aokiji sighed, "Can you have a better attitude?"

Watching the exchange, Robin couldn't hide her amusement. "Unexpectedly, he gained the upper hand?" she mused. Bai Ye observed the interaction with interest, thinking to himself how different this scene would be if Akainu were here instead of Aokiji. "It's Luffy after all," he remarked.

Finally, Aokiji had enough of the childish back-and-forth. He stood, dusting off his coat, and turned his attention back to the refugees. "Get ready to go now. There is an inhabited island not far from here. It's better to get treatment there," he advised, directing them towards safety.

Luffy, however, wasn't done. He approached the refugees, pointing at Aokiji. "Hey, everyone! Don't believe what this kind of person says, he is a navy!!"

A heavy silence fell over the group. After a few tense moments, one of the refugees courageously broke the quiet, addressing Luffy with a mixture of respect and uncertainty: "Excuse me, does it matter?"

Luffy was caught off guard for a moment, then his face lit up with realization. He slapped his hand with a sudden insight and burst into laughter, saying, "Hahaha, it really doesn't matter. To you, the navy might be the good guys, and we might seem like the bad guys."

Boom! Usopp thumped Luffy on the back of his head and scolded, "Is this really the time to be joking about this?" The rest of the Straw Hat crew turned their heads away, their faces wearing expressions that seemed to say, "I don't know this guy."

Usopp, still frustrated, pointed out, "However, this guy doesn't even have a ship." Luffy, catching on, pointed at Aokiji and added, "I saw it just now; this guy came on a bicycle!"

The refugee looked curiously at Aokiji, eager for an explanation. Aokiji, unfazed by the odd stares, casually remarked, "Forget it, it's not so bad to put in some effort once in a while." He then instructed everyone, "Stay here and don't wander off."

Aokiji walked to the edge of the island and squatted down, facing the vast sea. He dipped his hand into the water, exhaled a chilly breath, and slowly uttered, "Ice Age!" Instantly, an extremely cold wave emitted from his palm, creating an endless ice path across the sea that left everyone in awe.

Usopp shivered as he witnessed the sea transform into ice, stammering, "J-just kidding... He actually froze the sea!" Sanji lit a cigarette, musing aloud, "A devil fruit user, huh?" Zoro watched Aokiji with a spark of combativeness in his eyes, the admiral's display igniting a fiery spirit within him. "Is this the power of an admiral?" he murmured, his voice thick with anticipation for a challenge.

Bai Ye, observing the vast expanse of ice, thought to himself about the sheer scale of Aokiji's power. "This range..." he muttered, acknowledging that while he could freeze the sea too, the scope of Aokiji's ice was breathtaking.

Aokiji addressed the refugees with a casual air, as if freezing an expanse of the ocean was just a minor exertion for him: "This ice will last for a week, so you can depart whenever you're ready."

"Though, you might want to bundle up; it'll be quite chilly," he added, his tone light.

The refugees bowed deeply, gratitude evident in their gestures. "Thank you very much!" they exclaimed with heartfelt thanks.

Meanwhile, Luffy and his crew were also doing their part. They not only supplied the refugees with food and water but also handed out warm clothing to protect them against the cold. As the refugees prepared to step onto the icy path, their leader turned back to express his gratitude. "Thank you so much," he said earnestly. "We were skeptical at first, but you really are good pirates."

Luffy burst into laughter, clearly pleased. "Hahaha, that Aokiji isn't so bad after all!"

In Luffy's mind, Aokiji was quickly reclassified as one of the 'good guys,' a testament to Luffy's straightforward and forgiving nature.

But then, Aokiji's voice cut through the chatter again. "Monkey D. Luffy," he called out, and everyone realized that the Admiral hadn't yet departed.

He was lounging on the beach, casually observing Luffy. "You bear a striking resemblance to your grandfather," he mused aloud. "Is it passion or elusiveness that defines you both?"

Luffy's face suddenly tensed up. "Grandpa... Grandpa?!" he stammered, his usual composure wavering.

Usopp, noticing Luffy's distress, chimed in with concern: "Hey Luffy, you're sweating buckets!"

Luffy, in a rare moment of denial, turned away and insisted, albeit unconvincingly, "No...it's nothing..."

Aokiji, seemingly unbothered by the exchange, continued nonchalantly, "Your grandfather has been of great help to me in the past! I came here to meet not only Nico Robin but also you—and, of course, someone else who has a notably bad reputation with the Navy."

Bai Ye, puzzled, thought, "? ? ?"

Aokiji then sat up, fixing a serious gaze upon the Straw Hats. For the first time, a grave expression crossed his face as he looked at the small but notorious pirate crew. "Despite the swift change of heart," he said, "it might still be better to arrest you all."

Faced with Aokiji's declaration, the crew of the Straw Hat Pirates managed their surprise without panicking. Though they had just collaborated to help the refugees, everyone knew deep down that pirates and the navy were inherently opposed. As reality set back in, Luffy, Bai Ye, Zoro, and Sanji instinctively stepped forward, forming a protective front line, while Nami, Usopp, and the rest began to edge backward cautiously.

It was as if they had anticipated this moment all along.

Aokiji observed their formation but remained unperturbed. He began to explain, his voice calm yet imposing, "The actions you've taken recently have already started to put pressure on the navy and the World Government. It's clear you'll become an even greater threat in the future."

"I've dealt with some of the most formidable evils in the world," Aokiji continued, "yet, it's easy to predict the chaos you could unleash. However, the person who concerns me the most is you, Nico Robin."

As he directed his gaze at Robin, she halted, her face contorted with anxiety. It was apparent she had an inkling of what Aokiji was about to say.