Onepiece: I Am Aizen, The Strongest Admiral

"Come on in!" the green-haired man urged, leading Aizen into the Hunter's Guild.

The building matched Aizen's expectations—a modest, functional space resembling a typical tavern. On the far right stood a bulletin board with a scattering of posted tasks, and on the left, rows of tables buzzed with chatter. The two-story structure exuded a clean and welcoming atmosphere, brighter than your average bar.

As Aizen entered, the unmistakable presence of Golden Lion on the second floor caught his attention. From above, Golden Lion noticed Aizen as well, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. Aizen, clad in his Marine attire, stood out like a sore thumb. However, Golden Lion said nothing, his expression neutral.

Without acknowledging Golden Lion directly, Aizen tossed a small tip to the green-haired man and ordered food, taking a seat near the center of the room.

Moments later, a striking blonde woman approached him. Her graceful movements and captivating aura drew the room's attention.

"Welcome, guest. Are you here to post a mission?" she asked with a polite smile.

Aizen studied her carefully. Something about her seemed familiar, tugging at a distant memory. Her golden locks and delicate features matched a face he'd seen in his mind before.

"What's your name?" Aizen asked.

Caught off guard, the woman hesitated. "Stella," she eventually replied.

Aizen's suspicion was confirmed. She was *the* Stella—the woman who would one day become the heartache of the Golden Emperor, Tezolo. At this moment, though, she was free of chains, unknowingly standing before the very man who could alter her destiny.

"Stella. I see," Aizen said, his tone even.

"Are you here to post a mission?" she repeated, her professional demeanor masking her unease.

Aizen smirked. "I am, but it's a task no ordinary hunter could handle. I'm curious to see if anyone here has the nerve to accept it."

Stella tilted her head. "We take pride in handling difficult missions, guest. As long as the price is right, someone will step up."

"Price isn't an issue," Aizen replied smoothly. His gaze shifted upward, locking onto Golden Lion. "But I suspect only one person here has the strength to carry out my request. What's the cost to hire the man upstairs?"

The air grew tense as murmurs rippled through the room. All eyes followed Aizen's gaze to the Golden Lion perched on the second floor.

Golden Lion leaned forward, resting his arms on the railing. "If you're asking for me personally, the starting fee is 500 million berries. The rest depends on the mission's difficulty," he said, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Arrogant, aren't you?" Aizen chuckled. "Very well, I'll name my price." He leaned back casually, the room falling silent as he continued.

"2.5 billion berries for the bounty, plus your 500 million fee. A total of 3 billion berries. The target? The head of the first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco the Phoenix."

The declaration struck the room like a bolt of lightning. Gasps and stunned whispers echoed across the guild as disbelief rippled through the crowd.

"Did he just say Marco the Phoenix?" one man whispered in shock.

"Three billion berries?!" another muttered, greed gleaming in his eyes.

Even Stella froze, unsure how to respond. Golden Lion, however, burst into hearty laughter, the sound booming throughout the guild.

"Three billion berries, huh? That's quite the price tag," Golden Lion said, his grin widening. "You've got guts, Marine."

Aizen smirked. "I take it you're interested?"

Golden Lion's laughter faded, replaced by a calculating gaze. "I'll take it under consideration. Marco's no easy target, but for three billion berries? It might just be worth the risk."

The room fell silent once more, the tension palpable. Some bounty hunters shifted nervously, while others seemed tempted to try their luck against the Whitebeard Pirates. After all, the lure of three billion berries was enough to tempt even the most cautious.

Aizen, however, appeared utterly unfazed, as if the chaos he'd just ignited was all part of the plan.