As time passed, the three parties with different agendas drew closer and were about to converge on an uninhabited island.
On the deck of the Wind Rider, Caelan looked toward Aokiji's direction, eyes burning with anticipation.
At that moment, the women on board also noticed something unusual about Caelan and leaned in.
"What's wrong, Caelan? Is there something off about that island ahead?"
Nami asked cautiously, a trace of concern on her face.
"Nothing serious. I've just come across a worthy opponent. Time for a warm-up."
Caelan patted Nami's head gently and spoke in a reassuring tone.
"A worthy opponent?"
Nami nodded, still not fully understanding.
Vivi, Robin, and Tashigi were equally puzzled after hearing Caelan's response.
They had never seen Caelan with this kind of expression before.
A glint flashed across Kalifa's glasses as her curiosity deepened.
Who could possibly make Caelan, who had taken down Crocodile react so solemnly?
Could it be another Warlord of the Sea?
"If it's uncertain, why don't we just avoid the island?" Nami looked at Caelan with concern.
"It's fine. Bring the ship in."
Caelan had no intention of running. He wanted to fight Aokiji.
If he missed this opportunity, the next chance to face such a powerful opponent might not come until he reached the New World and challenged Kaido himself.
Besides, Aokiji was already targeting him. Running would be pointless.
After hearing Caelan's words, the women stopped worrying.
Although his mood was different from usual, it wasn't fear—it was excitement.
Before long, the Wind Rider anchored on the island, and everyone disembarked.
On the shore, a tall figure was already waiting.
The man wore a white suit with a dark blue shirt underneath, a dark green sleep mask on his head, and a Justice coat draped over his shoulders.
"Standing while asleep?"
Nami looked at the lazy man in front of her and twitched her mouth.
If this was the opponent Caelan had been anticipating, it felt a bit underwhelming.
Robin stood stiffly beside her. Her pupils shrank and her face turned pale as she looked at the tall figure.
Caelan held Robin's hand tightly, trying to calm her racing heart.
"Admiral Aokiji!"
Tashigi cried out in disbelief.
"The highest military power of the World Government… Admiral of the Navy Headquarters. A world-famous powerhouse," Kalifa added, equally shocked.
She had thought the so-called "worthy opponent" Caelan mentioned was someone on the level of a Warlord of the Sea.
She hadn't expected it to be Aokiji—a top-tier powerhouse standing at the summit of the world.
Was this what he called a good opponent?
Kalifa glanced at Caelan, only to find that he wasn't nervous at all. His expression was calm and composed.
"The Admiral of the Navy? This lazy uncle? Are you sure?" Nami stared at Aokiji again, still a bit skeptical.
Could this man, who could sleep while standing, really be an admiral?
"Little girl, judging people by their appearance isn't very wise." Aokiji yawned as he took off his sleep mask.
His gaze swept across the group and landed on Caelan and Robin holding hands.
Aokiji smiled and greeted her,
"Long time no see, Nico Robin."
"Admiral Aokiji… are you here to arrest me?"
Robin's voice was low and hoarse, nearly despairing.
The man before her had frozen Saul twenty years ago and witnessed the destruction of Ohara.
Even though he let her go back then, Robin still carried deep fear toward Aokiji.
"I suppose so. Will you come with me quietly?" Aokiji replied casually, smiling in a laid-back manner.
"Alright… Please don't hurt them."
Robin closed her eyes and began walking toward Aokiji with heavy steps.
Just as she had told Caelan when she first joined the crew, if an unavoidable threat appeared, she would leave on her own.
These past days had been the most peaceful she had experienced in twenty years.
Precisely because of that, she didn't want to drag Caelan and the others down.
"Sigh… I brought you to this island, not to let you die." Caelan pulled Robin into his arms and rubbed her cheek gently.
"No one in this world can hurt you."
Feeling Caelan's warm embrace, Robin's heart surged with emotion, and she had no intention of resisting.
"Caelan, you're a Marine ally… Do you really intend to protect this woman?"
"She's touched the taboos of the World Government. She's the Devil's Child. Someone untouchable."
Aokiji looked at Caelan with interest, curious to see what he would choose.
"At the age of eight, she single-handedly sank five warships and earned a bounty of 79 million Berries."
"For the next twenty years, she constantly changed affiliations to escape the World Government's pursuit. Everyone who sheltered her met a bad end."
Aokiji continued rambling, trying to sway Caelan.
"She's been a devil since childhood, a harbinger of disaster. I'm telling you, she also…"
Robin's face changed drastically at those words, and for a moment, she even contemplated giving up.
"You can shut up now." Caelan interrupted with clear irritation. He was speechless.
The more Aokiji spoke, the more exaggerated it got. Destroying five warships at age eight? Was he talking about Robin or Big Mom?
"Robin is my crewmate. No one gets to force my people to do anything against their will."
Caelan held Robin tightly, his tone solemn like a vow.
Robin felt the warmth from his chest and looked up at Caelan's chiseled profile.
"That's right! Robin is one of us! She's not the monster you're making her out to be!"
Nami and Vivi said firmly.
After spending so much time together, they knew Robin was gentle and dependable. To them, she was already family.
Even Tashigi glared at Aokiji. Their common enemy had made her side with Robin too.
The once-imposing admiral now looked like a villain peddling slander.
"What a heartwarming scene. Almost makes me not want to interfere."
"However, as a Navy admiral, I can't ignore someone who's an enemy of the World Government."
Aokiji looked at Caelan standing protectively in front of Robin and smiled wryly.
He had come to see if Robin had truly found a safe haven.
Now it seemed she had indeed joined a good crew.
Very well. He'd give them some space to escape.
"If you want to fight, then let's fight. No need for more talk." Caelan met Aokiji's gaze head-on, without the slightest fear.
The power coursing through his body was already eager to be unleashed.
"You're a little too overbearing, young man."
Aokiji's brow furrowed slightly, his voice turning cold.
That kind of attitude could endanger Robin.
Not everyone on this sea was as lenient as him.
Aokiji decided to teach Caelan a lesson first, then let them go.
(To be continued.)
***
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