Kreeeeeeek... Boom!
The sturdy doors to Admiral Kuzan's office slammed open, the sharp burst of air nearly toppling over a stack of ice-laced coffee mugs near his desk.
Inside the dimly lit room, Admiral Aokiji was reclining on his padded leather chair with his legs casually propped on the table, arms folded behind his head. A black blindfold rested over his eyes, and a sliver of drool trailed from the corner of his lip.
He was deep in the heart of what he called 'Enforcing Lazy Justice.'
The sudden intrusion, however, shattered the fragile bubble of calm like glass under a hammer.
"Admiral Aokiji, sir!"
"Gwaah—?!" Kuzan jerked, the chair tipping dangerously as he flailed.
"Tch." He slowly sat upright, pulling the blindfold up onto his forehead to reveal sleep-laced eyes. "...do you mind? I was conducting a critical operation..."
He yawned dramatically.
"…called napping."
The young Rear Admiral stood ramrod straight, saluting so sharply he nearly sliced the air. His breath was still ragged from the sprint through the halls.
"Orders, sir! From Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself!"
Kuzan groaned audibly, rubbing his temple with a chilled hand. "Sengoku-san... of course. What now? Another pirate ship spotted? Celestial Dragon stubbed his toe again?"
"No, sir! It's... Vice Admiral Luffy."
The name hit the room like a thunderclap.
Aokiji's drooping eyes snapped open fully, sharp and alert. The very name had weight—Monkey D. Luffy, the youngest Vice Admiral in Marine history… and arguably the most dangerous Marine since Garp himself. But not dangerous because of betrayal. No, it was far worse. He was dangerous because no one, not even he himself, knew what he was about to do next.
He pulled it up with a sluggish motion, and now his gaze, normally calm and disinterested, turned razor sharp.
"...Luffy?"
Even his voice was different. Less bored. More alert.
The Rear Admiral swallowed. "Yes, sir. About ten minutes ago, Vice Admiral Luffy suddenly departed Marineford... without clearance. He took his personal warship and left the harbor at full speed—no destination listed. No written request. No escort."
Kuzan stood slowly.
His cloak, once tangled under him, fluttered to the ground with a whisper of authority.
"He left without orders again…?"
The Rear Admiral winced. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku believes... given his history and unpredictable nature... it's likely he's about to cause another incident."
Kuzan ran a hand down his jaw, sighing. "That kid…"
He took a long pause, then turned to the Rear Admiral.
"Was he alone?"
The Rear Admiral blinked. "Negative, sir. According to reports, accompanying him are Vice Admiral Momousagi, Vice Admiral Chaton, Rear Admiral Roronoa Zoro, Rear Admiral Kuina, Rear Admiral Hina, Captain Issho, Captain Ain, Lieutenant Commander Kujaku, Lieutenant Commander Prince Grus."
Kuzan clicked his tongue, muttering.
"Such a big lineup! Is he planning to destroy a Yonko or what?"
Kuzan stood tall, tugging his coat into place. "Tell Sengoku… I'll go after him."
The Rear Admiral blinked. "Sir! You're really going?"
Kuzan turned toward the window. His breath frosted as a thin mist of cold crept around his feet.
"Of course I'm going. Because no one else can stop that brat if he decides to get serious. You think Divine Fist Luffy is scary?"
He cracked his knuckles.
"He is almost unstoppable."
The Rear Admiral gulped, then saluted. "Y-yes sir!"
Kuzan began walking, the marble beneath his boots icing over with each step.
------
Meanwhile at sea...
The waves shimmered beneath a lazy afternoon sun. The Marine warship sliced through the gentle ocean like a knife through silk, the sails filled with a smooth wind that whistled a low, comforting hum. The sound of gulls echoed above, dancing along with the ship's rhythm.
On the front deck, a recliner chair had been shamelessly claimed by Luffy.
Laid back with one leg crossed over the other, his Vice Admiral coat draped over the chair, Luffy wore nothing but a half-unbuttoned shirt and his maribe signature cap tilted low over his dark eyes. His chest rose and fell gently with each breath.
"Pfft... heh."
He chuckled with a small, amused sound that slipped through his lips like an accidental confession.
Click...
Boots tapped softly against the wooden deck.
A voice, cool, sultry, and elegan t,drifted near.
"Now, what made you troublesome guy giggle like a child?"
Hina, ever poised and composed, raised one perfectly shaped brow as she stopped beside him, her Justice coat fluttering behind her. Her cigarette dangled from her lips, unlit but never far from use, and her pink hair swayed with the sea breeze.
Luffy tilted his head lazily, raising his cap just enough for one golden eye to peek out.
"The scent of the sea…" He said, his voice low and rich. "It's been a while."
Hina exhaled sharply through her nose, hiding the small tug of her lips. "You really are a brat sometimes."
"Only when I want to be," He murmured, his grin deepening.
Hina rolled her eyes, her long fingers casually brushing back a strand of hair as she turned to walk away. "Well, then take your nap now. Because once we are near Wano, we might not get the chance to even take a breath."
Luffy watched her hips sway, then leaned back again with a smirk playing on his lips.
So she noticed too, huh?
She just didn't say anything.
What none of them knew... was that Luffy had been listening to Marineford just moments ago.
With his Goro Goro no Mi, the range of his electromagnetic senses stretched miles across the ocean. Every conversation, every breath, every whisper that rode an electric signal or static charge belonged to him if he so wished.
Earlier, he'd focused his senses on a very specific signal: the voice of a Rear Admiral delivering orders to Admiral Aokiji.
"Orders from Sengoku…"
"Vice Admiral Luffy has left port."
"He's going to cause another incident…"
And Kuzan's reply was simple.
"Tch… Damn Garp's grandson."
Luffy chuckled again to himself, the lightning humming beneath his skin. His hands rested calmly on his stomach, but his fingers crackled faintly with power.
You're coming after me, huh, Kuzan?
Guess I better give you something to chase.
Without moving from his chair, Luffy silently invoked one of the many hidden cards in his arsenal, the Moa Moa no Mi.
His pupils flickered with a faint pink glow. The air warped subtly, and the keel of the ship vibrated for a second.
And just like that... the entire warship's speed increased a lot.
It was not enough to draw direct suspicion. But more than enough to widen the gap between him and the Admiral chasing him.
The sails snapped louder. The hull sliced deeper into the sea. And the officers onboard felt it, though no one voiced it outright.
---- ✦ ✦ ✦ ----
Spoilers for the next five chapters!
Chapter 166: The Chase
Chapter 167: The Gates of Wano
Chapter 168: Land of Wano
Chapter 169: The Hungry Land
Chapter 170: Wano's Story
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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