"Luffy, one day I will become an Admiral and show you!"
At the time of parting, Koby shouted his dream to Luffy, then ran off first, feeling both excited and a bit embarrassed. Helmeppo followed closely behind.
Taro's gaze swept over the face of every member of the Straw Hat crew, then he waved his hand.
"Goodbye, everyone!"
Then he soared into the sky.
After landing on the deck, Taro noticed the atmosphere was a bit off. "Mike, Mike, where is everyone?"
Creak
The door to the captain's quarters opened, and a person walked out, but it wasn't Mike.
"Admiral Kuzan?"
Taro stared blankly at Aokiji and said subconsciously, "How can you be on my ship? Aren't you currently..."
Aokiji pushed his eye mask up to the top of his head.
"Oh? Rear Admiral Taro, you don't seem surprised that I appeared in Water 7, but rather surprised that I shouldn't be on your ship?"
Taro didn't expect Aokiji to immediately catch a slight linguistic slip. He steadied himself, thinking rapidly, and then spoke:
"Regarding this Enies Lobby incident, we failed to complete the mission objectives. It's only normal for Admiral Kuzan to handle it personally. In the end, it's because the few of us were too incompetent!"
Aokiji stared at Taro and remained silent for a long time before sneering, "Do you really think so?"
Taro's intention was just to be polite and move past the topic, but he didn't expect Aokiji to be so persistent and even mock him. He couldn't tolerate this.
"If the Admiral wants to settle that past matter, go find her in the city yourself. Why come to my ship to test me?"
Aokiji's expression finally became more serious. "That past matter? Taro, you really do know a lot."
He paused and then added, "It's not a test, nor is there a need for one. I just wanted to see the justice you uphold."
Taro was stunned. The justice I uphold? Big shot, I don't understand what you're saying!
"Well, now that I've seen it, it's time for me to leave. You're right, that past matter should be settled today!"
After saying that, Aokiji stretched, jumped off the warship, and left on his bicycle. Another sentence drifted through the air:
"Go find Onigumo. The mission regarding that pirate you've always been so concerned about is completed!"
Taro was dazed for a long time after hearing this before he reacted.
Blackbeard?!
Mission completed?!
Ace?!
Taro's mood instantly plummeted to the bottom. Could it be Ace? Had the outcome ultimately not changed?
"Rear Admiral, we..." Mike waited for a long time without hearing Taro's order, so he cautiously approached and asked softly.
Taro sighed. "Let's set off. Go and rendezvous with Vice Admiral Onigumo."
Taro was a bit hesitant. His first reaction was Ace, but he still held a bit of wishful thinking that perhaps things had changed. Ultimately, he decided to go and confirm it first.
Because Taro and Onigumo had a very strained relationship during the Enies Lobby incident, he didn't bother to see Onigumo's face and ended up just following far behind Onigumo's warship.
The route went all the way east from Water 7. As they passed more and more islands, Taro's mood became increasingly gloomy because the course was heading straight for Jaya Island.
This seemed to imply that the great pirate with a bounty of over 100 million captured by Blackbeard was indeed Ace.
"Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral Onigumo's ship has stopped." Mike suddenly spoke, interrupting Taro's deep thoughts.
"Stopped? Which island is ahead?" Taro was startled and asked quickly.
"It's Banaro Island, Rear Admiral!"
"Banaro Island, Banaro Island, Ban..." Taro muttered a couple of times, then felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his face turning pale instantly.
"Rear Admiral, what's wrong, Rear Admiral!" Mike quickly supported Taro.
Taro finally remembered this island. He only remembered that Luffy and Blackbeard had met on Jaya Island and knew that Ace had caught up with Blackbeard on some island, but he completely forgot the name of that island.
He could remember Jaya Island because it was the source of Sky Island, and it was there that Blackbeard spoke the famous quote: "A man's dream will never end!"
"I'm fine, let's follow them." Taro shook his head.
Taro and Onigumo stood side by side on the pier. Because of the previous conflict, the atmosphere between them was somewhat heavy, and even the surrounding Marine Soldiers didn't dare to breathe loudly, each looking nervous.
"Zehahahaha, Vice Admiral Onigumo, oh, and Rear Admiral Taro, hello there!"
"Fate is truly unpredictable; we meet again!"
Just then, a wild laugh came from the corner of the street connected to the pier.
Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, rounded the corner from an alley.
"Blackbeard, where is the person you said you caught?"
Seeing that Blackbeard was alone, Onigumo said in a deep voice: "You should know the consequences of deceiving Marineford and the World Government."
Taro could hear from Onigumo's words that he didn't care much about Blackbeard, which also represented the thoughts of almost all Marines.
After all, Blackbeard had been an obscure pirate for decades, not even having a bounty.
Taro sighed in his heart. Blackbeard was planning to deceive everyone; his ambition was the entire world!
"Zehahahaha, don't be in such a hurry. Both of you are famous Marine officers; I still want to get closer to you both!"
Blackbeard laughed again and pointed to a scar on his chest.
"Especially Rear Admiral Taro, the gift you left for me is still here!"
Taro snorted disdainfully. "I don't mind giving you more gifts like that."
"Rear Admiral Taro, I am one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and we are allies. Are you sure you want to attack me? Zehahahaha!"
Blackbeard laughed triumphantly.
"Blackbeard, I need to remind you that until you hand over the great pirate with a bounty of over 100 million to us, you are not yet a member of the Seven Warlords."
Onigumo spoke before Taro. He knew what Taro had said at the Seven Warlords meeting and was worried Taro would strike directly, which would be difficult to handle, so he spoke first.
Taro's hand was already on the hilt of his sword. Hearing Onigumo speak, he could only temporarily desist. He stared at Blackbeard, his tone cold.
"I'll give you 10 seconds. If I still don't see the person, hmph!"
Blackbeard didn't care at all. "Rear Admiral Taro's Aura is truly overbearing, as expected of..."
"5 seconds."
Taro ignored Blackbeard, frantically circulating his Internal Energy, his Aura gradually rising, and even the air began to grow restless.
"3 seconds."
Taro's hand gripped the hilt of his sword. Once the time was up, he would strike with all his might.
"Wait, I give in. Burgess, bring the person out!"
From Taro's rising Aura and increasingly cold tone, Blackbeard judged that Taro would really strike, so he decisively chose to back down.
The hand on the hilt hesitated for a few moments before slowly letting go. Taro really wanted to strike Blackbeard just now, regardless of the consequences.
Sighing, Taro looked toward the street corner.
Burgess appeared carrying something covered in black cloth.
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