"..."
Aokiji believed that deep down, he should trust them.
"Let's go."
Akihara Kagura watched the enormous pirate ship sail away and softly said, "The Konoha Pirates can't yet uncover the Golden Underground Palace left by the Queen of Alabasta. The palace is surrounded by quicksand, and only a Sand-Sand Fruit ability user like Crocodile might be able to dig it out. At least it can be delayed until the Navy Admiral arrives..."
"But..."
Aokiji frowned, uncertain whether to speak or not: "Even if the Admiral and Vice Admiral Garp arrive, they might not be able to deal with the Konoha Pirates..."
"Why deal with them..."
To Aokiji's surprise, Akihara Kagura chuckled, responding with interest: "I just don't want that Golden Underground Palace, hiding historical secrets, to be exploited by a group from the Konoha Pirates. The truth hidden there should be known by more people..."
"..."
Karin couldn't help but glance sideways.
If she hadn't known that her supervisor was the one controlling the Konoha Pirates, she might have believed Akihara Kagura's words at that moment...
Naturally...
Aokiji, who was unaware, was undoubtedly fooled.
Aokiji looked at Akihara Kagura's figure, as if seeing an O'Hara scholar who partnered with dark forces to uncover historical secrets.
"Buru buru..."
The sound of a Radio Snail rang again.
"Hey, Kuzan, do me a favor..."
When Aokiji answered the Radio Snail, an old voice came through: "I heard from Sengoku about the strength of that pirate crew. This battle might be very dangerous, right?"
"Vice Admiral Garp..."
Aokiji's expression gradually turned serious. He couldn't hide the truth from the old man who cared for him greatly: "That's indeed the case... Within that pirate crew, there are at least three enemies who can rival Whitebeard..."
Even... more troublesome.
Because Aokiji understood Kizaru, he knew neither he nor Kizaru would assist each other in this battle.
Ultimately...
It would likely be only Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru, the three veteran marines, fighting.
Garp's voice carried through the Radio Snail, sounding somewhat aged: "Help me chase those two kids out of Alabasta, or capture them and take them to Impel Down... This battle isn't something they can participate in..."
But...
If those two kids found out...
Inevitably, they might foolishly get involved.
Alabasta is clearly soon going to involve secrets of the World Government, not something those two brats can partake in...
On the other side.
In the port of Alabasta.
Two Logia-type ability users were clashing!
Flames and smoke each dominated half the area, fiercely entangled with one another!
One of them was Navy Headquarters Colonel Smoker, who was searching for the Straw Hat Pirates, and the other was the great pirate also seeking Straw Hat Luffy, Portgas D. Ace!
Ace was adopted by Vice Admiral Garp since childhood and raised alongside Monkey D. Luffy by the bandit Dadan. They were sworn brothers. He went out to sea three years before his younger brother Luffy, becoming a renowned great pirate early on. Inspired by Whitebeard, he chose to join the world's most powerful Whitebeard Pirates.
This time, Ace had come only in pursuit of Blackbeard Teach, and by chance discovered his brother's bounty. He decided to see if he could seize the chance to meet his brother.
For this, Ace waited for a week in Alabasta, coincidentally encountering Smoker at the port. Just as they were about to start fighting, their common target, Straw Hat Luffy, appeared!
Smoker immediately abandoned Ace, opting to pursue the potentially more dangerous Luffy!
Naturally, Ace was unwilling, and he intervened to save his brother, also conveniently defeating a group of Baroque Works minions chasing Luffy.
On the Golden Merry.
The Straw Hat Pirates had boarded the ship early to evade the navy.
After Ace repelled Smoker and the Baroque Works pursuers, he boarded the small ship, politely thanking the Straw Hat Pirates, and asked if he could hitch a ride on the Golden Merry to the next stop in Alabasta.
However...
While the Golden Merry was traveling, they encountered three more people who wanted to board the ship.
At the edge of a cliff along Alabasta's inland river, someone stood waving at them.
A very tall man, a man who seemed very amiable, and a red-haired girl who appeared hot-tempered.
"I guessed right... They are indeed entering Alabasta along the inland river..."
Akihara Kagura watched as the Golden Merry sailed through the inland river and showcased once more to Aokiji that he was a man known more for wisdom than combat prowess: "If you want to help Vice Admiral Garp, then stop them right here..."