The sky gradually brightened as dawn arrived.
A warship docked at the shore of Water 7, and several hundred Marines disembarked, running toward the city.
Smoker and Hina were in the ranks.
The two looked at the crack in the ground, several meters wide, stretching from the shore to the center of Water 7, their faces filled with shock.
"What's this situation? How did Water 7 split open?" Smoker asked in confusion.
Hina analyzed, "It was probably caused by the Aqua Laguna, right?"
They didn't consider Luo Chen.
With two Admirals, Aokiji and Kizaru, dispatched, they assumed capturing Luo Chen would be a piece of cake.
It was absolutely impossible for any terrifying battle to have broken out.
But as they drew closer to the battlefield, the astonishment on the faces of the several hundred Marines became more and more apparent.
Water 7 was a scene of devastation.
Large swathes of buildings had been razed to the ground, turning the city into a field of rubble.
"Was this also caused by the Aqua Laguna's assault?" Smoker took a drag from his cigar, his face puzzled behind the smoke.
Hina nodded. "Hina thinks it must be."
The group of Marines, filled with doubt and amazement, arrived at the destination Admiral Kizaru had specified.
When they saw the two Admirals, their bodies trembled, their faces filled with shock.
Admiral Aokiji was shirtless, his face and body covered in dried blood. Wounds of all sizes were clearly visible as he sat on the ground without any regard for his image.
Admiral Kizaru was also sitting on the ground, looking exhausted. Although his suit was intact, it was stained with a lot of dirt, and the corner of his mouth was clearly bruised, as if he had been punched.
Vice Admiral Momonga, at the lead, had a change of expression, his gaze shifting between the two.
Could it be that the two Admirals had a disagreement and dueled in Water 7?
He walked over, full of suspicion.
Aokiji stood up and directly asked for the Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs.
After receiving the cuffs, he walked over to Luo Chen, who was encased in ice.
Kizaru also stood up, his expression grim, his muscles tensed, ready for battle.
This made the eyelids of Vice Admiral Momonga, Smoker, Hina, and the other Marines twitch.
What was going on? Why were the two Admirals so serious?
Soon, Aokiji began to thaw the ice around Luo Chen's hands.
During this time, a chill emanated from his body, his fruit ability ready to be unleashed.
The tense and solemn atmosphere made Momonga and the other Marines nervous as well.
Fortunately, no accident occurred.
Aokiji smoothly cuffed Luo Chen's hands with the Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs.
"This time, you won't escape."
Aokiji seemed to be muttering to himself.
"Bring him back to the warship. Return to Marine Headquarters immediately."
Aokiji ordered.
Vice Admiral Momonga immediately sent men to carry Luo Chen, and the group headed for the warship at the shore.
Nearby, reporters who had arrived last night excitedly filmed this scene.
On the way, Momonga observed the large area of ruined buildings and asked tentatively:
"Mr. Kuzan, this place is..."
Aokiji nodded. "Destroyed when Luo Chen fought us. After we get back, send the relevant personnel to contact Mayor Iceburg to help with the rebuilding."
Momonga's expression tensed.
It really was caused by Luo Chen fighting the two Admirals.
The injuries on the two Admirals spoke for themselves... also inflicted by Luo Chen.
This made Momonga look at the ice block in horror.
Luo Chen's strength was already comparable to an Admiral's?
No wonder Onigumo and Crocodile were defeated.
And no wonder Aokiji and Kizaru were so tense and serious when arresting this man.
A single moment of carelessness, if Luo Chen were allowed to escape, would be a devastating blow to the Marines.
In the ranks, the breathing of many Marines fluctuated wildly and became disorderly.
They had also heard Aokiji's words.
Smoker and Hina looked at each other in terror.
"Hina is too surprised. He got stronger again?!" Hina said in disbelief.
Smoker's face was heavy.
Luo Chen's strength had exceeded his expectations time and time again.
Back in Loguetown, he still had the confidence to capture him.
But how long had it been? Just over a month, and now he himself would be instantly killed by the man.
"This guy..." Smoker's eyes stared at the young man in the ice, his expression gloomy.
He had no idea how Luo Chen trained; he was getting stronger too fast.
At the front of the group, Aokiji said, "After boarding the warship, I'll be responsible for contacting Fleet Admiral Sengoku. You communicate with Spandam of CP9. Two of their agents were captured by the Straw Hat crew."
"Also, Vice Admiral Gmil is severely injured. Have him temporarily placed in a hospital in Water 7 for treatment. Send some Marines to look after him."
Vice Admiral Momonga was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
...
After returning to the warship, Aokiji and Kizaru personally locked Luo Chen in a temporary brig.
The cell bars were made entirely of Sea-Prism Stone.
With the Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs also on Luo Chen's wrists, the two finally relaxed completely.
Aokiji dispelled the ice from Luo Chen's body.
Separated by a row of black iron bars, he said in a deep voice, "Luo Chen, you are under arrest."
Inside the cell, Luo Chen's face was calm, showing no emotion.
"If it weren't for letting the Straw Hat crew leave, you wouldn't have been able to catch me."
Kizaru dug his ear and chuckled, "So scary. Are you confident you can escape from my speed?"
He clearly thought Luo Chen's words were too arrogant.
Luo Chen smiled but said nothing, instead looking at Aokiji.
"Straw Hat Luffy is the grandson of the Marine Hero Garp, right? And you are Garp's student."
"To catch me, you actually went after them."
"It seems tricking you last time really made you angry."
Hearing him bring up the last incident, Aokiji's face turned cold. "All you can do now is run your mouth in prison."
"It will be the same in the future."
"The next time you leave this cell will be the day of your execution."
Luo Chen fell silent, then sighed. "I regret it. I shouldn't have cared about Luffy and the others. I mainly didn't expect you to ambush me in Water 7."
A smile tugged at Kizaru's lips. "I heard you once said you'd make Onigumo and Mr. Sengoku regret. Now you're the one saying you regret it. Did you ever think this day would come?"
Luo Chen sighed again. "It's too late for regrets."
The smile on Kizaru's face widened, wrinkles piling up.
He was quite happy to see a powerful pirate like Luo Chen repent.
Aokiji's cold, stern expression also softened slightly.
Just then, Luo Chen said, "You are Marine Admirals. You should be upholding justice."
"You must have heard about my situation."
"If the truth is just as Genzo said, that I was framed by Onigumo, do you still think catching me is justice?"
Aokiji's and Kizaru's eyes flickered.
Kizaru yawned and said with a grin, "I just follow orders."
His justice was ambiguous justice.
Kizaru's pursuit was to clock in and get by.
Kizaru didn't want to get too involved in Luo Chen's business.
If the Fleet Admiral told him to catch someone, he'd catch them.
If he was told not to, he wouldn't.
Aokiji said coldly, "I believe the Marines would not frame any good person. Luo Chen, you being here today is of your own making. You deserve this."
Luo Chen sneered. "Hasn't the incident at Ohara, bombing the civilian ship, shown you the true face of the Marines?
You're just the claws of the World Government's tyrannical rule.
The Marines don't know what good and evil are, or what justice is."
Aokiji's body stiffened, and he gave Luo Chen a deep look.
"Aokiji, when Sengoku steps down from the position of Fleet Admiral in the future, you'll probably compete for the position, won't you?"
Luo Chen asked with a smile. "Compared to Kizaru, you seem to be the one who wants to find true justice."
"After becoming Fleet Admiral, perhaps you can build the Marines into your ideal force."
"But what if you don't become Fleet Admiral? What will you do then? Why not join me? We can build a new Marine force together."
Aokiji's and Kizaru's mouths fell open.
Even as Admirals, they were stunned by Luo Chen's words.
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