Even The Most Brutal Order Is Better Than Fearless Chaos

On the path ahead of the fleet, fragments of ice first appeared, gradually growing into icebergs towering hundreds of meters high until the entire sea was frozen over.

"This is..."

"There shouldn't be glaciers of this scale on Water 7's route; what's going on?!"

The new marines on the deck looked at everything in confusion.

But the more experienced officers had already noticed the problem.

"Hey, hey, hey, the only one who could do something like this is..."

Before the officer could finish, his colleague quickly covered his mouth.

He then realized that Akainu was also on the deck, frowning while looking into the distance.

In reality…

Akainu realized the problem much earlier than others.

This power, capable of freezing the sea, is so rare that even among the vast number of Devil Fruits, only one devil fruit can achieve it.

That is the logia Ice-Ice Fruit.

Its owner is someone Akainu knows all too well.

However, this familiarity is not something particularly pleasant; it is more about conflict and quarrels.

Although this conflict gradually weakened after the Ohara incident when Aokiji's personality drastically changed, Akainu knew it had never disappeared. 

It was simply hidden by that man.

But emotional and ideological discord never fades with time; it only grows heavier and deeper until it finally explodes.

"Kuzan..."

Akainu murmured, his expression unchanged, though his cloak flapped in the sea breeze.

It was at this moment that Akainu saw the figure of a man in casual clothes and sunglasses standing on the ice far away.

"It's been a while..."

"Sakazuki."

Akainu's eyes narrowed slightly.

The figure standing on the ice, his tone still as lazy as ever, even his incredibly casual posture, seemed as though nothing had changed.

But the one who knows you best is often your rival.

If there were to be a ranking of those who know Aokiji the best within the Marines, Akainu would rank alongside Zephyr and Garp.

At this moment, even without any words, Akainu could sense the difference between the man before him and the old Aokiji.

The flame that had stopped burning after the Ohara incident twenty years ago reignited at this moment, burning even fiercer than before!

"You..."

"Have you found your path again?!"

"Ahh…"

Aokiji raised his hand and scratched his head, his tone casual.

"After meeting someone incredible in Alabasta, I saw new possibilities from him. I don't have much time to waste, and the Marines can't wait either."

"Shall we talk?!"

"Ho."

Akainu's mouth curled up slightly, and his eyes were filled with a little surprise: "To hear those words from you."

"Even I'm curious now, who did you meet, and what changes have you made?"

"But not now."

"I have no need to fight you, but if your goal is to stop me, even as a colleague, I will show no mercy."

"You should understand me well."

Before Akainu could finish his harsh words, Aokiji casually tossed a bottle of alcohol from a distance. 

Akainu instinctively reached out and caught it, also noticing the familiar label on the bottle.

"Sherry wine, is this the brand Zephyr-sensei liked?"

"You..."

Akainu raised his head to look at Aokiji again.

He sensed the transformation in Aokiji but hadn't expected it to have come this far.

"Let's talk."

Aokiji's tone carried an unspeakable sincerity, almost with a hint of pleading.

Akainu did not respond immediately, merely rubbing the bottle with his fingers.

Even though the cork sealed the scent of the wine, he could still smell its pungent and strong aroma in his mind.

The people around them were waiting for Akainu's decision.

At this point, they had all realized Aokiji's purpose: to stop the execution of the Buster Call.

And with Akainu's past behavior, he probably wouldn't compromise on something like this.

Moreover, their discord was already an open secret within the Marines.

Time ticked by.

The sea breeze howled, bringing the cold from the distant glaciers, making everyone on the ice shiver.

Finally, Akainu's expression softened slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his cold face.

"Since you have something to say, I'll listen."

As his words fell, everyone in the area let out a sigh of relief.

If Akainu and Aokiji fought here, the execution of the Buster Call was uncertain, but the entire sea would inevitably be affected, and even the climate of the sea area would be permanently changed.

This was the kind of power an admiral had, and it was a scene everyone hoped to avoid.

Boom!

Akainu leaped into the air and landed steadily in front of Aokiji. He raised his hand to uncork the sherry wine bottle, took a sip, and then put it down, his gaze falling on Aokiji.

In his mind, the intelligence he had seen about Alabasta flashed quickly, and a name emerged: "Is it White Knight Gawain?"

"Not just Zephyr-sensei; even Borsalino has mentioned him many times."

"He's some kind of special pirate."

"Now, even you have been influenced by that guy?"

"I must remind you of something."

Akainu's gaze grew colder as he fixed his eyes on Aokiji.

"A pirate is a pirate. They are the source of chaos in this sea and the primary cause of the more than seven million civilian deaths every year!"

"Seven million..."

Aokiji murmured the number and asked back: "How many died from the Buster Call? How many families are torn apart every year because they can't pay the Heavenly Tribute?"

"Sakazuki..."

While speaking, Aokiji's gaze became sharper, and he no longer just questioned Akainu but also vented the anger that had been suppressed in his heart since the Ohara incident.

"Do you remember these numbers?!"

"I came here today just to fight for a chance for the ordinary people of Water 7 to survive."

Akainu fell silent for a moment, his cold eyes returning to their usual icy demeanor.

"But once the Pluton blueprint leaks, and if they're made, how many people will die because of that?!"

"There has never been an option that is perfect. You should know the simple truth that, compared to two bad outcomes, the lesser evil is better. After forty years, you still don't understand this?!"

"Even the most brutal order is better than fearless chaos."

"If what you want to say today is just this, you can leave."

Aokiji's breath caught.

"Why must we choose between two terrible outcomes?"

"Again!"

"Kuzan!"

Akainu shouted sharply, interrupting Aokiji's next words.

"Once you say something, there's no turning back!"

"Tsk!"

Aokiji curled his lips in disdain, but the cold air swirling around suddenly intensified, and snowflakes began to drift in the air.

An invisible aura erupted from Aokiji's body, like a violent wind, sweeping through Akainu's cloak. 

However, it was impossible to shake the expression on Akainu's face.

Faced with the resolute will shown by Aokiji, the determination to stop himself and prevent the recurrence of the Ohara incident even if he risked his life and betrayed the Marines.

Akainu did not make a move, letting the cold wind blow on his face:

"If you lose, I'll take you back to the Marines, and they will still flatten Water 7; if you win, they will still flatten Water 7."

"And facing the pirates that are currently occupying the area around Water 7, those people won't have a chance to survive."

"Give it up, Kuzan!"

"This action is meaningless."

Aokiji's breath was choked, and the cold winds were surging around him, but there seemed to be a flame burning in his eyes, causing his gaze to grow even more intense.

He opened his mouth but couldn't speak a word.

Akainu continued: "Besides, White Knight Gawain, who caused you, Kizaru, and Zephyr-sensei to change and even altered your will, is he not also near Water 7 right now?!"

He didn't notice that, with his words, Aokiji's eyes began to shine even brighter.

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