Meanwhile...
The Curse Seal Chakra began to flow in her arm...
Obviously.
In Karin's perception, the Ryokugyu in front of her wasn't someone she could easily defeat. She had to enter Curse-Seal Sage Transformation to contend with the opponent before her!
"Yo... You're pretty strong!"
Ryokugyu whistled, covered in vines, seemingly half-mocking as he praised Karin: "The life nutrients on you are more abundant than anyone I've ever seen. You don't seem to be a simple character after all, the Navy indeed has hidden talents..."
Originally...
Ryokugyu thought Karin was just an ordinary adjutant.
Now it seems this adjutant even has the combat power of a Vice Admiral level!
"Curse Seal Mode!"
Karin suddenly sprouted a pair of wings from her back!
The speed of this red-haired girl quickened, and in the blink of an eye, she appeared beside Ryokugyu, continuously slashing down with her Ninja Sword!
Countless vine fragments were chopped off by her blade!
Ryokugyu was directly forced back by her attack, hastily raising his hands to manipulate vines to wrap around Karin's body, but the wings on her back gently fluttered, dodging the attack!
"Please calm down."
A force of gravity suddenly swept in!
Fujitora had picked up his sword sheath and pressed it to the ground at some point, using gravity to interrupt the battle between Ryokugyu and Karin, advising in a deep voice: "At a time when there is a major enemy, rashly initiating internal conflict is unwise..."
"!!!"
Both Ryokugyu and Karin felt a terrifying gravity simultaneously, and the two of them had to stop their actions!
"Vice Admiral Fujitora..."
Electricity flashed on Akihara Kagura's body, and he slowly looked towards Fujitora: "This doesn't seem to be any of your business..."
"Ryokugyu just made a little joke..."
Fujitora shook his head, understanding the meaning in Akihara Kagura's words, he sighed softly: "Indeed, Vice Admiral Ryokugyu made a mistake first, but to be framed by Admiral Kagura as a Revolutionary Army under cover is rather wrong for him, such an accusation would not be acknowledged, especially when it weakens the Navy's strength amidst a major enemy, it is somewhat detrimental to the execution of justice..."
"Alright."
Aokiji, sitting at the main seat, rubbed his head with some headache, and forcefully halted this internal strife with his Admiral status: "Now we must first discuss the pressing issue, stop fooling around in such a setting..."
"I found it quite amusing..."
Ryokugyu chuckled, taking his seat again.
"Then let's follow Admiral Aokiji's command."
Akihara Kagura looked at the people present and suddenly smiled, waving at Karin: "Come back, Karin, let's put the matter of Vice Admiral Ryokugyu's rude words aside for now, let's give our Admiral Aokiji a bit of face..."
"In the future, if you fight him on the sea and accidentally kill him, it's fine, just make it look like it was done by the Konoha Pirates…"
"Hahahaha..."
Ryokugyu couldn't help but laugh loudly, looking at Akihara Kagura while wearing sunglasses, grinning: "You're quite the joke-teller..."
"This doesn't seem like a joke..."
Fujitora's expression turned extremely serious, his perception was extremely sharp, he could discern from Akihara Kagura's emotions whether he was lying or telling the truth.
Fujitora could tell...
There seemed to be a playful intent to kill in Akihara Kagura's words!
This person...
Really wanted to kill Ryokugyu!
"How does it not sound like a joke?"
Akihara Kagura's smile was particularly bright: "Vice Admiral Fujitora, even though you can't see, you should be able to hear it..."
"..."
Fujitora's forehead was slightly sweating.
As a blind person, Fujitora always had an almost accurate intuition about everything he perceived. He could clearly sense the danger in Akihara Kagura's laughter.
No...
That shouldn't be laughter...
That was contempt for Vice Admiral Ryokugyu...
Akihara Kagura's contempt wasn't from a personality disdain towards Vice Admiral Ryokugyu, but a contempt for Ryokugyu's life, like he could take everything away from him at any time...
In the Navy...
How could such a dangerous thinker exist?
"Admiral Kagura."
"Do not do unnecessary things."
Aokiji frowned; he knew Akihara Kagura better than the two vice admirals present.
When Aokiji heard Akihara Kagura mention those words, he knew that the matter of Ryokugyu being ambushed by the Konoha Pirates could easily become a reality, considering Akihara Kagura had the ability and wisdom to easily achieve it…
Ryokugyu's strength is indeed not weak, even strong enough to uphold the title of an Admiral in the future. Unfortunately, no matter how strong Ryokugyu is, he cannot be a match for the Konoha Pirates.
"Admiral Aokiji."
"Today, it was Vice Admiral Ryokugyu who provoked me first..."
Akihara Kagura still had a smiling face as he cleaned the pear juice from his hand with a towel and handed it to Karin behind him: "My subordinates are like children I personally raised. Since I adopted her, I've never let her suffer any grievances..."
"..."
Karin shuddered slightly, reaching out to take the towel.
This...
Even Karin herself sometimes never thought of it.
All along, she just considered herself as a redeemed subordinate, even constantly believed her unique healing ability would be Akihara Kagura's final lifeline, always ready to offer her life for Akihara Kagura.
However...
It seems she really has never suffered any grievances...
Since being rescued by Akihara Kagura, whether studying in Konoha or working in the Root, no one has ever been able to harm her again...
Even back in her youth when she participated in a Chunin exam, Akihara Kagura specifically arranged someone to accompany her to avoid difficulties he once encountered.
"Just a joking remark..."
Aokiji rubbed his temples.
Honestly...
There are so many jokes like this on the sea!
Is Akihara Kagura's deputy the only special one?
If just because of a joke, which isn't even considered frivolous, Ryokugyu has to sincerely apologize, it might be a bit too embarrassing for a Vice Admiral of the main headquarters!
Probably...
Akihara Kagura is deliberately causing trouble...
"Alright."
Aokiji, after all, wasn't very good at handling these matters, could only forcefully suppress the conflict between the parties, and smoothly changed the topic: "Let's first discuss the preparation status of Enies Lobby. Twenty thousand naval main forces have already arrived in full at Enies Lobby, and if the situation becomes unfavorable in the future, Marineford will also immediately send new reinforcements to Enies Lobby..."
"Report! Vice Admiral Garp has arrived!"
A Navy Soldier knocked open the conference room door.
"..."
Aokiji felt even more headaches.
During this period...
Aokiji's mind was on the verge of explosion.
Because Nico Robin is also a part of the Straw Hat Pirates, but Nico Robin happens to be the archaeologist that the World Government needs, barely able to be considered a trouble.
However...
Straw Hat Luffy is the core protagonist of this Enies Lobby operation plan and also the bait the World Government wants to attract the Revolutionary Army, it cannot possibly be manipulated in secret.
Moreover...
The World Government has given clear orders.
If the critical time comes, Straw Hat Luffy must be executed!
This order...
Was conveyed personally by Saint Saturn and Saint Nusjuro!
The World Government is under enough pressure from the Konoha Pirates and the Revolutionary Army, if further trouble arises from that magical fruit within Straw Hat Luffy, the World Government might as well dissolve completely...
However...
Aokiji also knows Luffy is Vice Admiral Garp's grandson.
Aokiji was once Garp's deputy, nurtured by Garp for a considerable period, even acting style is greatly influenced by Garp, to him, Garp is a father-like figure...
If Vice Admiral Garp finds out he has to execute his grandson, Aokiji truly has no face to see Garp...
Truthfully...
Aokiji is quite relieved that he has joined the Konoha Pirates, as an undercover sent by the Konoha Pirates to infiltrate the Navy. Now, betraying the orders of the World Government and looking for an opportunity to privately release Straw Hat is less of a psychological burden for Aokiji...
But...
Before that, it's best to first meet Garp.
Aokiji can only hastily conclude the meeting, aware of Garp's intentions, stands up and leaves: "Today's meeting ends here. I'll go meet Vice Admiral Garp..."
"..."
Only three people remained in the conference room.
"Karin, let's go too."
Akihara Kagura simultaneously stood up.
"Admiral Kagura, please wait a moment."
Fujitora stood up, leaning on his staff sword, slowly approached Akihara Kagura, bowing and requesting: "Could you spare some time to meet with this blind man? I am quite curious about Admiral Kagura..."