Onepiece: I Am Aizen, The Strongest Admiral

After hearing what Crane said, Aizen was honestly a little surprised.

Based on his impression of the Marine structure, he had initially assumed they would cower or simply brush off the incident to avoid conflict with the World Government. However, reality seemed to defy his expectations.

But upon reflection, it wasn't entirely unexpected. Marine and CP0 were distinct organizations, each with its own agenda and authority. It was only natural for tensions to flare when the interests of two powerful entities collided. In such scenarios, loyalty to their respective sides always took precedence.

Moreover, CP0 had initiated the conflict, leaving Marine no choice but to retaliate. Surrendering without protest would have been a public humiliation, and Marine could not afford to lose face, especially not in the eyes of the World Government.

"Let's report this to Marshal Kong," Aizen finally said, his tone measured and deliberate. The sooner the events were relayed to Kong, the quicker Marine could solidify its response.

Crane wasted no time, giving Marshal Kong a detailed rundown of the situation. Judging by her composed demeanor, Aizen guessed that Kong would handle this with a firm hand.

Meanwhile, the CP0 operative, battered and broken, was sent to the Marine hospital at the G3 base. Despite his grievous injuries, his monstrous endurance ensured he would survive. However, the arm torn apart by Aizen's *Five Swirling Dragons of Destruction* was beyond recovery.

This was the price for daring to provoke him.

---

When the CP0 operative finally regained consciousness, he stared at the stump where his arm once was. He knew this was more than a physical loss; it was a devastating blow to his career. As the "strongest shield" of the Celestial Dragons, losing an arm was nothing short of a disgrace. His failure would almost certainly lead to demotion, if not outright removal from his prestigious position.

Clenching his teeth, he retrieved a Den Den Mushi and contacted the Five Elders.

"Your Excellencies, the mission has failed," the CP0 agent reported, his tone grim. "I was unable to test the sword's ability, but I can confirm that Aizen's combat strength exceeds that of an Admiral. Even without his sword, I was defeated in under ten minutes."

On the other end of the line, the Five Elders listened in silence. Their expressions grew darker with each passing moment.

"The strongest shield… defeated in ten minutes?" one of them muttered incredulously.

The CP0 operative continued, recounting every detail of the encounter without embellishment. Despite their anger, the Five Elders could not deny the truth. Aizen was no ordinary Marine. At just nineteen years old, he possessed power that rivaled, if not surpassed, the legends of the current era.

"Even so, failure is failure," one of the Elders said coldly. "Your demotion is inevitable. Rest for now—we'll deal with your status later."

The CP0 operative lowered his head, gritting his teeth as the call ended.

---

Meanwhile, the Five Elders sat in contemplative silence.

"This young Marine… his potential is terrifying."

"Do we take action? Can we risk letting someone so dangerous rise further?"

"It's not so simple. Kong is clearly grooming him as Sengoku's successor. Marine's upper echelons are rallying behind him. If we act recklessly, it may backfire."

"But can we afford to do nothing?"

Before they could come to a decision, the ringing of a Den Den Mushi interrupted their discussion. One of the Elders immediately answered the call, and the familiar voice of Marshal Kong came through.

"Your Excellencies, I wanted to inform you that Vice Admiral Aizen was attacked unprovoked by a CP0 operative. According to Marine law, any attack on a Marine officer warrants repercussions, and this includes the issuance of a bounty," Kong declared, his tone unwavering.

The room fell silent. The Five Elders exchanged shocked glances.

"You mean to tell us you plan to classify a CP0 operative as a bounty target?" one of the Elders finally asked, his voice sharp with disbelief.

"Yes," Kong replied firmly. "Marine law is clear. No one is above it—not even CP0."

Hearing this, the Five Elders were momentarily stunned. For the World Government, this was an unprecedented situation. No one, not even the Celestial Dragons, had dared to challenge the balance between Marine and CP0 so openly.

Kong's voice hardened. "The Marines are not tools for the Government to use and discard. If CP0 believes they can act without consequence, then they are sorely mistaken. This is not a negotiation."

With that, Kong ended the call, leaving the Five Elders to digest his words.

---

Back at the G3 base, Aizen stood by the window, watching the distant horizon. Crane approached him, her expression calm yet thoughtful.

"It's been reported to Kong. Things will likely escalate from here, but I suspect you've anticipated that," she said.

Aizen smirked faintly, his hands resting casually in his pockets. "Let them escalate. It's the only way to determine who truly stands at the top."

Crane gave a small nod. "Just don't forget that the Marines are behind you. Whatever comes next, you won't face it alone."

Aizen's gaze didn't waver from the horizon. "That's good to know," he replied. But inwardly, he knew the road ahead would only grow more treacherous. And he was more than ready to face it head-on.