One Piece: With Sign-in System

Just as Aokiji raised his hand, preparing to dispel the massive ice sphere—

Crackle!

A sudden streak of golden light flashed from within the frozen structure. The smooth and solid surface of the ice sphere began to fracture, a faint crack appearing on its flawless exterior.

Aokiji froze momentarily, his sharp eyes narrowing as he focused on the scene before him.

Within the massive ice prison, the black-haired youth clutching his twin blades remained still—except for his right foot, which was now sparking with arcs of golden lightning. The destructive energy radiating from his foot surged with a rhythmic pulse, slamming against the ice with relentless ferocity.

The cracks on the colossal ice sphere multiplied rapidly, spreading wider and deeper with each passing second.

And then, before Aokiji's astonished gaze—

BOOM!

The massive ice sphere shattered into a dazzling explosion of ice shards.

Countless fragments of ice, glimmering like precious gems under the sunlight, scattered into the air. It was as if a divine being had broken free of a chrysalis, emerging anew. Amidst the shimmering rain of crystal-like debris, the black-haired youth grinned confidently at Aokiji.

"I knew you didn't have any killing intent," Ron said, his voice calm yet brimming with defiance. "You're not such a bad guy, Kuzan."

He stretched his limbs, the arcs of golden lightning flickering around his body. "Thanks for the fight. It helped me fully understand my strength. Next time we meet, I'll buy you a drink."

With that, Ron stomped his lightning-clad foot on the frozen surface of the sea. In an instant, his figure disappeared from Aokiji's sight.

Crack!

The impact of his departure sent a terrifying shockwave rippling downward. The thick, hundred-meter-deep ice layer covering the sea cracked open, creating a massive void. Seawater erupted violently from the exposed gap, shooting high into the air.

Aokiji waved a hand casually, freezing the geyser of seawater back into place with practiced ease.

He turned to watch the Traveler, the ship's tracks skimming the icy surface as it rapidly fled into the horizon. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"As expected... what an interesting guy."

Aokiji placed his sunglasses back on, mounted his bicycle, and began pedaling in the opposite direction.

"Nico Robin is in your hands now," he murmured to himself. "Let's see where your resolve will ultimately lead..."

Onboard the Traveler...

Ron lay sprawled across the deck, his chest heaving as he gasped for air.

"It's finally over," he muttered, his voice weary but tinged with relief. "The strength of a Marine Admiral is no joke."

Robin, tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes, sat slumped on the floor, staring blankly at Ron as if she hadn't fully processed what had just happened.

Bonney, on the other hand, was staring at Ron with wide-eyed shock and disbelief.

"He... he actually escaped from a Marine Admiral…"

Her back was drenched in cold sweat, and though she felt a lingering fear, her heart was pounding with an unfamiliar excitement.

Just a moment ago, she had grumbled about the dullness of traveling with Ron and his crew. Now, they had faced off against a Marine Admiral—and lived to tell the tale.

This... this was beyond thrilling!

Her body trembled with adrenaline as she fixed her gaze on Ron, who was lying exhausted on the deck.

One thing was clear to Bonney: no matter what, she was sticking with this guy!

This ship... the Traveler... was now her home.

...

One week later, at Marine Headquarters, Marineford...

"What?"

"You're telling me you didn't find them?"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed his hands on the desk, his voice thunderous as he glared at Aokiji.

The Admiral, ever lazy in his demeanor, scratched his head and shrugged. "My apologies."

Sengoku's frustration boiled over, but before he could erupt further, Garp, seated nearby and munching on a donut, interrupted.

"Well, the South Blue is pretty big, isn't it? If that brat Ron is running all over the place, it's only natural Kuzan couldn't find him. Lighten up, Sengoku."

"Shut up, Garp!" Sengoku roared, veins bulging on his forehead as he shot his subordinate a furious glare. "If it weren't for your ridiculous suggestion back then, none of this would've happened in the first place!"

"Bwahaha! And now it's my fault again, is it?"

Garp let out a hearty laugh, his booming voice reverberating through the office.

Sengoku, visibly irritated, sank back into his chair with a heavy sigh.

"If you didn't find them, then I'll just send someone else!"

"Send someone else? Do we even have anyone to spare right now, with the chaos in the New World and the Grand Line?" Garp chimed in again.

This time, Sengoku didn't bother to argue, instead falling into a contemplative silence.

He had to admit—Garp wasn't wrong.

The New World was already in a state of upheaval. Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido were all vying for the throne, their powers shaking the seas. And to make matters worse, the rapidly rising Red-Haired Pirates had added yet another force to the fray. The New World was a battlefield of titanic proportions, where chaos reigned supreme and the Marines's top forces were already stretched thin trying to maintain order.

Even the Grand Line was far from quiet. The so-called Supernovas had been appearing one after another—each one more troublesome than the last.

Sengoku's frown deepened, the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him like a storm cloud.

Aokiji, still clad in his Justice coat, stood with his hands tucked lazily into his pockets. He glanced at Sengoku, his gaze steady. "Actually... I have a suggestion."

Both Sengoku and Garp turned their eyes to him, the latter even pausing his snack mid-bite.

"I think we should let this matter rest for now."

Sengoku's brows furrowed further. "You're suggesting we ignore Nico Robin, the Ohara survivor with a 79 million berry bounty?"

Aokiji's tone was as relaxed as ever, but there was a sharp edge to his reasoning. "Her threat to the Marines lies in her ability to decipher the Poneglyphs. In terms of combat strength, she's not a significant concern. And now that she's traveling with Ron, running around the East and South Blues, how exactly is she supposed to read Poneglyphs out there?"

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "Honestly, it's better this way. If Nico Robin were to enter the Grand Line or New World, she'd undoubtedly become a target for the major pirate forces vying for dominance. That would only escalate the chaos in those waters, something we don't need right now."

Aokiji glanced meaningfully at Sengoku. "Moreover, we should avoid forcing a confrontation with Ron. If we push him to the point of outright opposition, it'll only make things harder for us down the line."

Sengoku lowered his head in thought.

What Aokiji said made sense.

It was far less risky to leave Nico Robin in Ron's company, far removed from the power struggles of the New World. Letting her stay in the relatively quiet Four Seas would, without a doubt, keep the situation more manageable.

But—

"Can you guarantee they won't eventually enter the Grand Line or New World?" Sengoku asked, his voice heavy with concern.

"There's no guarantee," Aokiji admitted without hesitation. "But by the time that happens, the chaos in the New World might have settled a bit. At the very least, we'd have the manpower to handle it more effectively."

Sengoku fell silent again, his mind racing through countless scenarios. Finally, he turned his gaze to Garp, who was busy chomping on another donut, his expression one of complete indifference.

"Garp, what do you think?"

"Dunno."

"Dunno?" Sengoku's patience was wearing thin.

"And weren't you the one who told me to shut up just now?" Garp added casually, picking his nose as he spoke.

A vein popped on Sengoku's temple. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.

Ignoring Garp's antics, Sengoku intertwined his fingers and rested his hands on the desk, looking straight at Aokiji with a resolute expression.

"Fine. For now, we'll proceed with your suggestion. Ensure that news of Nico Robin's whereabouts is kept strictly confidential. Under no circumstances should it reach the ears of those troublesome forces in the New World."

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