Did his father know about the situation with the rewards? Bill wasn't sure and decided not to ask.
When Bill nodded to show he understood, Aramaki changed the topic.
"Now, I heard about the incident, and that's why I'm here.
I won't beat around the bush with you, son. I specifically arranged for Captain Hina to be on any missions you participate in because of her outstanding abilities. The danger you faced should never have occurred.
The fact that Headquarters lost contact with her ship should have been impossible."
Then, leaning forward in his chair, elbows resting on his knees, Aramaki calmly said, "These issues cannot be ignored. Now tell me what exactly happened."
Bill had been standing all this time, but now decided he needed to sit.
Sitting down, he asked the question that had been bothering him.
"Dad, I know a little about your history... but how do you have so much influence to do such things?"
That was the heart of the matter, because although Bill knew his father was strong, he also knew he wasn't the strongest. For example, he was "one of" the youngest vice admirals in history and "one of" the strongest swordsmen in the Marine Corps.
This would provide him with some influence, but was it enough to manipulate assignments or take Bill away from his immediate superior?
"Impossible," thought Bill.
Shaking his head, Aramaki seemed to pay little attention to Bill's question and repeated, "First, tell me exactly what happened."
With a sigh, Bill began recounting his journey to his father. Everything he could remember, which turned out to be almost everything.
After two or three hours, the story came to an end.
As Aramaki listened to Bill talk about his hard work, his face showed little expression, but when Bill mentioned fully mastering the Moon Step, his expression changed, particularly when Bill talked about the flying pirate, whispering "Lion." However, what astonished him the most by the end of the report was hearing about Bill's complete mastery of the Return of Life.
Finishing the story, Aramaki got up and said, "Son, stand up and take off your shirt."
Hearing this request, Bill didn't find it strange and did as he was told.
His bare torso wasn't the embodiment of a muscular body—Bill's body was in good shape, but that was all.
After examining his son, Aramaki began running his hands over his shoulders and after a moment said, "This is going to hurt a bit, okay? I want you to show me how you heal yourself, alright?"
At this double expression of concern, Bill chuckled slightly and said it was fine. Then a razor-sharp leaf grew from Aramaki's finger.
Holding Bill's right arm with his left, he ran the blade down a few inches from the elbow.
Seeing not a drop of blood, Aramaki looked at his son and repeated "Good" several times before more seriously asking, "And when you eat, can you control how you utilize the nutrients?"
Nodding in agreement, Bill explained that he could do it already in Vallipo, only now the effect had become stronger and easier.
Stepping back, Aramaki told Bill that he could put on his shirt. When Bill did so, Aramaki took a vial out of his pocket.
Aramaki: "Drink this."
Throwing him the small bottle, Bill caught it, and it was as if the room disappeared.
All his attention focused on the item in his hand, he was mesmerized. He was urged to drink it, but his instincts resisted the idea.
After some time, he finally tore his gaze away from the vial and, with great effort, dropped it on the ground.
Looking at his father in horror, he was met only with confusion as Aramaki extended a vine and picked the item up from the floor.
Aramaki: "Why did you drop it? I gave you the Elixir for you to drink."
Though his father was speaking, Bill couldn't take his eyes off the bottle. He didn't know what the Elixir was, but simultaneously craved it and hated it.
With hatred on his face, Bill looked at his father and seriously asked, "What... what is this?"
Aramaki: "What?"
Pointing at the vial, Bill growled, "Th... this! Can't you see life... and death? How did you even get such a thing?"
At this moment, Bill couldn't find the words.
From the first glance, Bill saw that this Elixir was a mixture of decay and rebirth. It was paradoxical, and Bill knew it didn't belong here.
Throughout his life, Bill had always been confident in his actions, even after all the confusion with his reincarnation, he never doubted who he was.
The world could change, but in his thoughts, Bill believed he would never change himself.
And now, having seen the elixir, the mixed feelings—the desire to destroy it and the urge to consume it—were tearing his Will in two directions.
Gathering his strength, Bill calmed down for a few minutes until he sorted out his feelings.
When he did, his body turned black, and he clearly saw the item in his father's hands.
"Father, this thing has its own Will. It hasn't fully formed yet, but it's real. It can save... but it will also destroy... This Will of Corruption..."
At that moment, Aramaki was completely bewildered, but looking at his son dressed in black, he cautiously said, "This is the Elixir of Life. This vial is far more valuable than any Devil Fruit, and it is precisely because of it that we have such support from the World Government."
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