Just as Vir had left, Chopper, who had been dropped on the deck of the Going Merry, slowly regained consciousness…
At this moment, Aokiji scratched his head somewhat awkwardly as he looked at Luffy standing before him.
“Arara~ Hello~”
Seeing Aokiji’s friendly demeanor, Luffy also felt a bit awkward.
“Uncle, your head really looks like a mushroom.”
Aokiji: Are you even being polite?
“Luffy! Who is this guy?”
Nami and the others had rushed over, looking at Luffy in confusion.
Seeing the two casually chatting, she thought Luffy actually knew him.
“Oh~ This mushroom-head uncle was sleeping here, and I woke him up. I don’t know him.”
Luffy answered matter-of-factly.
You don’t know him?
Then why waste time talking?
“Then why haven’t you told him to leave?! What are you chatting for?!”
Nami shouted angrily!
Just as Luffy was about to respond, Vir arrived at the scene.
The moment Aokiji saw Vir, he instinctively started sizing him up.
But no matter how long he looked, he couldn’t see anything special about him.
He didn’t sense anything unusual from Vir at all.
With that, Aokiji immediately concluded—Vir posed no threat to him.
This mission should be easy to complete.
What’s this kid looking at?
Why is his gaze so strange?
Is he thinking about how to deal with me?
That stare is way too obvious!
How annoying…
Originally, he had planned to simply freeze him and carry him back, but now… a good beating seems more appropriate!
As Aokiji was sizing up Vir, Vir was doing the same to him.
‘Tall and skinny. With a lazy face. Alright, I’ll go for the face first, and I’ll hit hard.’
‘Knock him out and then go straight for the welding combo?’
‘No, his expression is really pissing me off. Is he thinking about how to package me up?’
‘I was going to hold back a little, but now I see there’s no need! I’ll remodel his face completely! That expression is infuriating!’
“Yo~ You must be Vir-kun? I’ve heard so much about you.”
Aokiji smiled as he greeted Vir.
The moment he spoke, Luffy and the others were stunned.
A random sleeping uncle on the island actually knew Vir?
Was it because of his 200-million bounty?
Luffy was even more frustrated!
“Uncle! Do you know me?!”
He looked at Aokiji with hopeful eyes, wishing that his fame could match Vir’s.
But Aokiji took one glance at him and decisively shook his head.
Luffy: Ahhh~ You—
Tears immediately welled up in Luffy’s eyes.
He turned to stone on the spot!
And then, as if hit by Perona’s Negative Ghosts, he collapsed to the ground, repeatedly pounding it with his fists.
“He doesn’t… know me… not even a little.”
Seeing Aokiji smiling at him, Vir knew something was wrong.
Why is this guy so focused on him?
Looks like he didn’t come here just for fun.
Better be cautious.
At that moment, Robin finally caught up and stood behind Vir.
She was now face-to-face with Aokiji, feeling the overwhelming pressure radiating from him.
Her eyes filled with fear, and her legs trembled.
Memories of Aokiji’s terrifying presence overwhelmed her, making it hard to stand.
She lost control and collapsed to the ground.
Just as she was about to fall completely, a large hand reached out and grabbed her delicate fingers, stopping her descent.
“What’s wrong? If you’re sick, I don’t have time to treat you right now. You’ll have to wait a bit.”
Vir’s deep, magnetic voice rang out at the perfect moment.
Hearing his voice and feeling his strong grip, Robin’s heart immediately felt more at ease.
Strength seemed to return to her body.
Looking at Vir’s faint smile, she hurriedly said in a panicked tone:
“That man is a Marine Admiral, codename Aokiji! We don’t stand a chance against him! Everyone, run for your lives!”
Robin’s voice was loud, and everyone heard her.
Some faces turned pale, while others looked confused.
“Huh? What’s a Marine Admiral?”
Luffy asked in confusion, even patting Aokiji on the back.
“Uncle, are you a Marine?”
This action completely stunned everyone.
Bro.
There’s gotta be a limit to your cluelessness!
When we get back, we’re making you study!
No passing, no leaving!
“Arara~ We barely exchanged words, and now I have to make a move.”
“That’s right, I’m a Marine. I’m here under orders to capture Vir-kun.”
Aokiji shook his head helplessly.
He originally wanted to chat with Robin for a bit, but looking at the situation, they’d probably try to escape soon.
If he didn’t act, he wouldn’t complete his mission.
But this time… Robin, you didn’t abandon your comrades.
Have you found people who truly care about you?
Well, it doesn’t matter. We’ll find out soon enough.
The moment Aokiji said that, everyone’s faces changed.
Even Luffy was no exception.
Robin was particularly shocked.
Capture Vir?
Why Vir?
Shouldn’t they be after her?
No!
She can’t let him take Vir away!
She won’t allow it!
“Treinta Fleur: Clutch!”
Robin shouted.
Immediately, arms sprouted all over Aokiji’s body!
The moment they appeared, they tightly restrained his limbs and joints.
But Aokiji’s face remained expressionless.
He simply stared at Robin, his face showing an unusual expression.
Robin… seems to care a lot about this Vir…
And then—
*Crack!*
*Snap!*
Several sharp sounds rang out as Aokiji’s entire body shattered into pieces!
Ah!?
Everyone was stunned.
Did Robin just one-shot the strongest Marine?
Before they could react, the scattered ice shards started reforming!
In just a few seconds, the ice blocks took shape again, reconstructing Aokiji.
He looked at Robin in mild surprise and said, “It’s been years… you’ve really grown.”
Luffy and the others, seeing Aokiji standing up again, immediately charged forward.
Luffy didn’t understand what a Marine Admiral was, but there was no way he’d let Vir be taken!
Zoro and Sanji felt the same.
“Wait!”
A voice stopped them in their tracks.
“You’re no match for him! If you don’t want to get hurt and end up needing my treatment, stay back!”
Everyone looked at Vir in shock.
Though hesitant, they didn’t back down!
After a brief pause, they rushed forward again.
“Even if you have to treat us, we can’t let you get captured!”
Luffy roared angrily and launched a Gomu-Gomu no Pistol!
Zoro and Sanji also charged from both sides!
Vir sighed helplessly.
Though he was touched, this was basically just throwing themselves into danger.
Things just got complicated.
So Aokiji was after him.
In that case, he wouldn’t go after Robin first.
This is bad.
Putting the cat ears on himself or throwing them at Aokiji wouldn’t work either.