There've been Marines who insult the Celestial Dragons before.
Take Monkey D. Garp, for example. That old man could openly curse the Celestial Dragons even in Mary Geoise.
So what? He's Garp. He's a living Marine hero — his son leads the Revolutionary Army, and his grandson's on track to become a pirate king. Who's going to stop him for mouthing off at the Tenryuubito?
But Ian was just a green recruit. He'd mouthed off about the Celestial Dragons and his direct superior had found out.
Ian sighed inwardly.
Oh man, that's going to mess with my career…
Please don't tell me Aokiji's going to "assign" me to some distant four-seas branch?
If that happened, well — that would actually be—
Amazing!
Aokiji's expression grew ever more serious; the cold around him deepened until it felt like the admiral's office itself might freeze solid. Then, in the next instant, the frost melted away.
"Puhahaha!"
Aokiji burst into loud laughter.
"Recruit! Now I finally see why Zephyr recommended you to the SWORD unit!
"You're amusing!"
SWORD unit?
A secret special unit of Marine Headquarters — the Blade Unit?
Ian caught a key detail in Aokiji's words and quickly connected the dots:
Zephyr had sent him to Aokiji to be recommended for the SWORD unit.
"By the way, recruit—no, Adrian? Just call you Ian!"
Aokiji wiped the ice crumbs from his eyes and switched back to a serious tone.
"Do you know about the SWORD unit?"
He knew the name, but not much else. Ian played clueless and shook his head.
"The SWORD unit, or the Blade Unit," Aokiji explained, "is a classified special force set up by Headquarters. Strategically, it's roughly on par with Dr. Vegapunk's SSG."
"The members of the Blade Unit are, simply put… Marines who have submitted their resignations."
"The Blade Unit's mission is to strike at pirates—yes, including the Yonko, the Emperors of the Sea."
"Besides that, Blade Unit members do not have to obey ordinary orders."
"It's basically a guerrilla force that can act independently."
Aokiji finished the overview and let the information hang for Ian to digest.
Honestly, what Aokiji said matched most of the intel Ian already had. The only surprise was Aokiji claiming the Blade Unit's strategic importance rivaled the SSG.
SSG — Special Science Group. The name sounded unfamiliar, but the SSG's creations were legendary: pacifist devices, laser weapons, bubble shields, green blood, the Seraphim… The SSG had almost single-handedly carried the Navy's scientific might. Its status was undeniable.
Could the Blade Unit really be compared to the SSG?
Still, Aokiji spoke about the Blade Unit with the intimacy of someone who knew it well. Did that mean he headed the unit? Like Kizaru commanding the Headquarters Science Force? If Aokiji were the Blade Unit's top brass… was he undercover?
A flurry of thoughts raced through Ian's head.
Aokiji continued, "Zephyr praised you highly in his letter. He thinks your personality suits the Blade Unit."
He paused, then casually recited some lines from the recommendation.
"Self-disciplined, hardworking, not blindly worshipful of authority, and you have your own sense of justice."
One thing Aokiji didn't say out loud: Ian's family background was pristine. Three generations of Marines. Even inside Marine Headquarters, recruits with Ian's bloodline and talent were rare.
The Blade Unit was secret. Its nature demanded absolute purity of members' backgrounds. Ian's family fit that requirement perfectly.
Aokiji looked Ian in the eye and extended the invitation.
"Recruit Ian Adrian — would you be willing to join the SWORD unit and become a member of this classified force?"
Ian stayed calm, not leaping to accept. Joining the Blade Unit came with pros and cons. The regular Navy obeyed orders and played the World Government's dogleg. The Blade Unit—free to ignore orders—had far more complications.
"Before I answer," Ian said after a moment, "I have a few questions."
Aokiji nodded. "Ask."
"How secret is the Blade Unit?"
"Within the Navy, only Admirals and the Fleet Admiral are qualified to know the full roster," Aokiji answered.
"And the World Government?" Ian pressed.
A subtle expression crossed Aokiji's face. "The Government won't know the Blade Unit exists."
Really? Ian was stunned. The Blade Unit's independence was that absolute? Even the World Government didn't know?
With intel lacking, Ian decided to take Aokiji at his word for now. He asked another question.
"If the Blade Unit can strike at the Yonko of the New World, what about the Seven Warlords?"
Normally, without explicit approval from the highest level — the Five Elders — even Marine Headquarters should avoid provoking the Emperors. Even a small push could spark larger war. But the Blade Unit could directly take the initiative against a Yonko — that was its special nature.
So, what about the Seven Warlords, the regime-sanctioned pirates stamped by the World Government? Were they also targets?
Aokiji looked at Ian gravely. As an admiral, he knew perfectly well how the Shichibukai system had corrupted the Navy and "justice." But it was a World Government policy, implemented to stabilize the seas by dividing pirate power. Headquarters couldn't simply override it.
As for the Blade Unit… Aokiji nodded slowly. "Yes."
"If you can hit a Yonko, why not the Seven Warlords?"
Regarding defying World Government policies and orders… Aokiji's face grew stern.
"But I must warn you, Ian. Headquarters won't be responsible for Blade Unit members' actions. They can be stripped of their commission at any time." If ordered by the World Government, Marine Headquarters might even erase a Blade Unit member's existence entirely.
Ian didn't flinch at the warning; instead he smiled faintly and asked his last question.
"If I join the Blade Unit, does the pay go up?"
"Of course! The Blade Unit's benefits are the best in the whole Navy!" Aokiji smiled back. "We welcome you, Ian Adrian."
Ian didn't reply with words. He gave a silent salute.
He had boarded the Blade Unit's ship.
Since Ian agreed, Aokiji wasted no more time.
"Long story short—the Blade Unit has to carry out a very important mission. The New World's landscape has recently shifted dramatically. After Whitebeard's crew, the Beast Pirates, and the Big Mom Pirates, another crew has risen."
"A new Yonko has appeared in the New World — the 'Red-Haired Pirates,' nicknamed the Iron Wall Pirates."
"A fourth Yonko has emerged — Red-Haired Shanks!"
"Ian, the Blade Unit's task is to scout the Yonko in the New World and gather intelligence. Your mission is—"
"To become a great pirate, infiltrate the New World, and penetrate the inner ranks of a Yonko!"
Ian cocked his head, pointed at himself with a thumb.
What the hell — me, go deal with a Yonko?
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