ALL NOVEL Chapter 68: CHAPTER 68
Hina pouted, her expression softening slightly. "You still have such a bad temper, Smoker."
Smoker opened his mouth to retort, but before he could respond, the voice of the sentry on the watchtower rang out:
"Commander Smoker! Colonel Hina! And Your Excellency the Admiral! There's... a pirate ship floating in the air!"
The sentry's voice wavered with shock. "No—wait! It's falling! It's falling toward the surface of the sea!"
The tension on the deck spiked.
"The pirate flag... it's..." The sentry's voice cracked as panic seeped in.
"I can't believe it—it's the Four Emperors! The Hundred Beasts Pirates from the New World!"
Smoker's eyes widened in disbelief. "The Hundred Beasts Pirates?!"
The name immediately caught the attention of the lazy man reclining in the sun.
"Beasts?" Aokiji muttered, sitting up and letting out a long yawn. "Ah la la, I was just trying to get some sleep. Why does it have to be something so troublesome?"
He rubbed the back of his neck lazily before glancing at Smoker. "Hey, little brother, why don't we just pretend we didn't see anything? Sound good?"
The sentry hesitated, clearly unsure of how to respond. "Uh... so, uh... isn't that... not good?"
Ignoring Aokiji's suggestion, Smoker clenched his fists and barked, "Full speed ahead! Pursue the Beasts Pirates immediately!"
Aokiji stretched nonchalantly, still wearing a bored expression. "Smoker, you do realize I'm your superior officer, right? I came all this way to Alabasta just to save your sorry face, and this is how you thank me?"
Smoker scoffed, puffing on his cigar. "Save me? I don't need saving. Unlike you, I don't shy away just because we're dealing with the Four Emperors. Some Admiral you are!"
Aokiji waved him off with a sigh, lying back down on the deck. "Ah la la, it's not about fear. Picking a fight with an Emperor-level crew brings unnecessary trouble to the Navy. You should know that."
"Trouble? You just find it inconvenient!" Smoker snapped.
"Enough!" Hina interjected, stepping between them. Her commanding tone silenced the argument. "Stop bickering! The priority is determining why a ship from the Hundred Beasts Pirates is here. Who is leading it?"
Aokiji gave a lazy nod. "Miss Hina can decide whatever she wants. I'm just here for a walk—and a nap." He closed his eyes again.
Smoker seethed with frustration, glaring at the laid-back admiral. If he had Aokiji's strength and authority, he wouldn't be this complacent. He wouldn't let someone like Crocodile wreak havoc in Alabasta just because the system allowed it.
The Navy did nothing while pirates saved Alabasta—and we're forced to take credit? It's disgusting!
Fuming, Smoker fixed his gaze on the pirate ship in the distance. No matter what, he was going to confront them.
On the Hundred Beasts Pirate Ship
Batman, one of the ship's lookouts, adjusted his binoculars and paled. "Lord Alastor, there's a Navy ship twenty miles away... and there are some heavy hitters aboard. That sleeping man—could it be...?"
He gasped. "Aokiji Kuzan! One of the Navy's three Admirals!"
The crew on deck stiffened at the name. An admiral wasn't just another strong enemy—they were the Navy's top combat power, capable of shifting the tide of battle.
"Admiral Aokiji…" someone muttered nervously. "If he freezes the sea, we'll be sitting ducks!"
Alastor sighed, rubbing his temple. "Why is it always me running into big names? First Whitebeard, now an admiral. Do I have some kind of magnet for trouble?"
Behind their ship, the massive golden ball from Sky Island dragged heavily, covered in a black tarp. Its weight had drastically reduced their speed.
Alastor glared at the cumbersome load but refused to abandon it. "No way am I leaving the gold. Batman, turn us around and push the engines to their limit. We're running."
But even at maximum speed, the golden ball slowed the ship too much. The Navy warship began closing the gap.
---
Back on the Navy Warship
As the distance shrank, Smoker and Hina finally got a clear view of the pirate ship. Their expressions darkened.
"It's him," Hina said, her voice tense. "Alastor. He's been all over the front pages lately. Even the buzz about the Worst Generation is overshadowed by his actions."
"More than a month of infamy, and he's already racked up a bounty of 660 million berries," Smoker growled, his grip tightening on his jitte. "No way am I letting him escape."
"Are you sure? He's not just some rookie," Hina cautioned.
Smoker spat out a cloud of smoke, his resolve unshaken. "I'm not afraid of any pirate!"
Aokiji finally stood up, brushing himself off. His usual nonchalant demeanor was gone, replaced by a sharp, calculating gaze. "Smoker, arrogance isn't a quality of a good marine."
As the admiral approached the bow, his eyes locked onto Alastor, standing defiantly on the pirate ship's deck.
From the distance, Alastor met Aokiji's gaze and smirked, as though taunting the admiral.
Aokiji raised an eyebrow, muttering, "So confident... but you're underestimating me."
He stepped forward, preparing to unleash his ultimate move. "Once the ships get closer, I'll freeze the sea. Let's see how you escape from me"
Unexpectedly, the Hundred Beasts Pirates' ship changed course.
For several minutes, it sailed steadily in its new direction. But then, thick black mist began to spread across the sea ahead. The mist hung heavily in the air, veiling the waters in an eerie shroud.
Without hesitation, the Beast Pirates' ship plunged into the black fog and disappeared in an instant, swallowed by the unnatural gloom.
Aokiji's casual demeanor shifted as his expression turned serious. "This is the Devil's Triangle," he muttered. "If I'm not mistaken, this is Shichibukai Moonlight Moria's territory."
Smoker growled, frustration evident. "What does it matter? We're marines! We can go anywhere!"
Hina exhaled slowly, releasing a perfect smoke ring as she spoke. "It matters, Smoker. The Devil's Triangle is infamous. Ships that enter rarely come back out. And since it's part of the Shichibukai's territory, we can't proceed without direct authorization from Marine Headquarters."
Smoker clenched his fists, trembling with barely suppressed anger. "Shichibukai rules again! Just like in Alabasta! Always protecting evil while we stand by and watch!"
Aokiji's gaze softened slightly. He placed a hand on Smoker's shoulder and sighed. "That's the way the world works, Smoker. Whether you're a marine admiral or a recruit, most of the time... you just have to follow the flow."
Turning back to the crew, Aokiji gave his order. "Cease pursuit. We're not going any further."
To prevent Smoker from acting on his rage, he added, "Let's return to Marineford and report this to Fleet Admiral Sengoku. They've entered the Devil's Triangle—they won't be getting out anytime soon."
Inside the Devil's Triangle
"Master Alastor, the navy's warship has stopped pursuing!" Batman's sonar had picked up the marines' retreat, and he relayed the news quickly.
Alastor smirked, leaning against the railing. "Exactly as expected. Aokiji's no fool. He wouldn't risk triggering a confrontation between the navy and the Shichibukai—especially now, with the tension after Crocodile's fall."
He glanced ahead at the looming silhouette of the Thriller Bark, Moonlight Moria's massive, eerie ship. The smile on his lips widened. "Moria, you've done me a favor without even realizing it. I suppose I owe you a 'thank you.'"
The air grew colder and damper as the Beast Pirates' ship ventured further into the Devil's Triangle. The lack of sunlight and the oppressive mist created an unsettling atmosphere.
The surface of the sea was dotted with derelict pirate ships, their sails tattered and flags rotted from decades of abandonment. Some ships were relatively intact, but all were eerily devoid of life—save for the scattered skeletons and bones littering their decks.
Sai shivered, his voice trembling. "This place feels like hell…"
Batman chuckled darkly. "Hell? This is nothing. You've never been to the real hell."
The other Beast Pirates burst into laughter.
"Yeah, this is just a playground compared to Onigashima."
"This place belongs to Moria, the guy who used to think he could challenge Kaido-sama!" one pirate jeered.
The others laughed harder. "Yeah, and look where it got him! His crew slaughtered, his pride shattered—forced to retreat to this creepy graveyard and serve as the navy's lapdog!"
"It's been over 20 years since Kaido-sama crushed him. I bet he's still sulking."
The crew's ridicule showed their utter disdain for the former New World contender.
Alastor, however, remained focused. "Enough chatter. We're here for a reason."
He pointed toward Thriller Bark. "You stay with the ship and watch over the gold—and Enel. Batman, monitor the area for any intrusions. Onimaru, Sai—you're coming with me."
As Alastor and his small team stepped onto the eerie three-masted ship, they were greeted by shuffling figures. Zombies of all shapes and sizes roamed the deck, their grotesque forms animated by some unholy power.
The stench of decay was thick, and the undead immediately turned their attention to the intruders, lurching forward with snarls and roars. A massive three-headed dog among them barked furiously, saliva dripping from its fangs.
Alastor stood firm, unmoved by the terrifying sight. "You handle this," he said calmly.
Onimaru, the swordsman, drew his blade. His movements were swift and precise, each slash cutting down a zombie with deadly efficiency. His attacks carried a sharpness and grace that had grown more refined during their voyage. Even the three-headed dog posed no challenge as Onimaru's blade found its mark with ease.
Sai, eager to prove himself, wielded his naginata with brute force, slicing through groups of zombies with sweeping strikes. "I can't let Onimaru outdo me!" he muttered, doubling his efforts.
"Not bad for a member of the Happo Navy," Onimaru commented, smirking as Sai shattered five zombies with a single kick, his foot coated in Armament Haki.
Sai grinned. "I'm not just from the Happo Navy—I carry the legacy of Don Chinjao himself!"
His fiery determination was clear. Unbeknownst to him, this drive had begun awakening the latent power of the Dragon Cone Nail, a technique passed down in his family.
As the two warriors carved a path forward, Alastor watched silently, a faint smile on his lips. "This is just the beginning," he murmured.
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