"I'm here to travel!" Aokiji said flatly.
"Tourism? Weasel, Momousagi, and the others are all here to travel?" Kaito pointed to the weasel and Momousagi, who had failed in disguise not far away, and gave a half-smile.
Aokiji remained silent, staring at Kaito, always sensing that he knew something.
"What are you doing here?"
"Hot springs! I heard the hot springs here are excellent, so I thought I could relax when I have free time."
"Alright! I have nothing to do either, so I can relax here!" Aokiji said irritably.
"Come on? If it were just you alone, I might believe it! But look! It's basically all of you Marines around here. Do you think I'm a fool?" Kaito glanced at the familiar faces nearby and pouted.
"Since you already know, I won't hide it. What else are you asking?" Aokiji replied, returning to a lazy expression.
"Cut! When I don't know! Didn't that guy Kizaru tell you?" Kaito said as he led Aokiji to a nearby snack bar. He ordered some local specialties and ignored the surprised looks of Weasel and the others. They quietly followed, as Kaito casually continued eating while conversing.
With this familiarity, not only was Aokiji confused, but the Marines disguised as ordinary citizens were also puzzled. When did Aokiji Admiral and Kaito really know each other?
Maynard, who had been patrolling nearby, quietly approached Weasel. "The news has been confirmed. Mr. Zephyr and the others are coming here, and they should arrive in about twenty minutes."
"Twenty minutes…" Weasel whispered, a hint of sadness flashing in their eyes.
"Don't dwell on it. This was chosen by Mr. Zephyr himself. All we can do is watch!" Momousagi said softly, her eyes misting unconsciously. Even women were moved by this, not just Marines.
"That's it! Aokiji Admiral and Big Blue Kaito sitting together? How is that possible?" Maynard exclaimed, observing the two from a distance. His mind was full of question marks.
"Aokiji Admiral was pulled over by Kaito," Momousagi said, speechless.
"Wait! He's here! Will this affect our plans?" Maynard hesitated.
"Probably not. I think Aokiji Admiral is just here to observe Kaito," Weasel replied, shaking their head.
At the stall, Kaito ate some grilled meat and commented, "You Marines really go all out, sending so many people just to see off Zephyr!"
Aokiji's pupils constricted. "You… you really know everything!"
"Does it need saying? This is the last of the three endpoints. If the rabbit doesn't act, I will. But if you're here, I'll have nothing to do!" Kaito said casually, eating his skewers while downplaying the Marine presence.
"Well… I can't hide anything from you. As expected of our Marine's most feared enemy!" Aokiji's relaxed expression instantly turned serious.
"Whatever! Maybe one day, I'll have a proper fight with you Marines!" Kaito added with a false sense of sincerity.
The two casually chatted about their daily lives, appearing as old friends who hadn't seen each other for over a decade. Their easy camaraderie caught the attention of the Marines lurking nearby.
Ten minutes later, along the distant coastline, a pirate ship sped through the waves toward the town.
"Yo! Come on! It's time for you to go!" Kaito said lazily, still enjoying his skewers.
"Really!" Aokiji glanced at Kaito, then walked over to Weasel. "Have those people wait at the volcano intersection! It's also for Mr. Zephyr, to see him off!"
The town, famous for its hot springs, was built near a volcano. The intersection was at the top of the town, on a rough road surrounded by dense Marines led by Kizaru in yellow cedar and his apprentice Zhan Taomaru. Around them, four pacifists seemed ready for any confrontation, each crafted in the shape of Shichibukai bears.
Soon, a pirate ship docked near the town. Zephyr disembarked with his students, paying no attention to the bystanders, and walked straight toward the volcano.
"As long as this volcano is destroyed, the pirates of the entire New World will be wiped out, and the seas will be peaceful again!" Zephyr declared, his expression terrifying.
Beside him, Ain glanced at the crowd, tourists, suspicion in her beautiful eyes. "Why… do these people seem so familiar?"
"Binz! Shuzo! Be careful. These people look familiar!" Ain warned.
"Familiar? Hearing you say that, I thought I was the only one feeling this way! We just became pirates, and only one person seems familiar…" Binz said, his eyes serious.
"A Marine?" Shuzo asked.
"No! If that's the case, there must be a Marine lying in ambush ahead. I have to warn Teacher Zephyr!" Ain said, her expression changing as she tried to run toward Zephyr, but Shuzo stopped her.
"Shuzo! What do you mean?" Ain asked impatiently, face flushed.
"Can't you see? Mr. Zephyr is the chief Instructor of the Marines, with apprentices throughout the organization. We know the surrounding Marines. Doesn't he know? Can't he recognize the teacher?" Shuzo sighed.
Ain's face fell. "You… you mean Teacher Zephyr…"
"Can't you see? Since Mr. Zephyr is set on destroying the New World, he's ready to die. All we can do now is follow and witness his final glorious end," Shuzo said, tears unintentionally escaping.
"That… a weasel!" Binz exclaimed suddenly, spotting a figure flashing by a distant room.
"The weasel is here!!!! That…!" Ain cried, horrified.
Amid the tension, Aokiji quietly appeared before Ain and the others. "Find a safe spot to watch! This was chosen by Mr. Zephyr himself. Do not interfere!"
"Admiral Aokiji!" Ain's expression changed, her teeth clenched.
She drew her weapon, aiming at Aokiji. Binz and Shuzo were equally vigilant, weapons ready.
Suddenly, footsteps pattered from surrounding rooms. Ain and the others shrank back, faces ashen, their weapons dropping unknowingly.
Momousagi, Weasel, Ghost Spider, Tea Dolphin… every notable Marine Vice Admiral was present. They walked past Ain without glancing at her, forming ranks before Aokiji.
"Zephyr-san has entered! Let's go!" Momousagi said, red eyes glaring.
"Alright, let's move!" Aokiji sighed.
"You all follow, and once finished, return to the Marines with us!" After saying this, Aokiji led the generals forward.
Ahead, Zephyr clashed with the minion-like Marines, the island echoing with the roar of battle.
The town's surroundings instantly fell into chaos.