Chapter 115 – [115] : [BONUS] – Rowen: Aokiji, You Confused Fool!!

~ Thank You for 2,100 Powerstones, Here’s Your Bonus Chapter!

~ 18 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon

<><><><><><><><>

3rd Chapter Today!! Enjoy, and as always, thank you so much for your constant support. I’m truly grateful every single day.

<><><><><><><><>

Luffy and the others stared at Aokiji, their eyes wide with disbelief.

A MARINE HEADQUARTERS ADMIRAL!

Thanks to Rowen, Luffy and his crew’s strength and understanding of the world far surpassed what they possessed at this stage in the original story.

Back then, Luffy’s group had no real concept of what a Marine Admiral represented, what level of power they wielded.

But with Rowen as a living benchmark, they now had a tangible understanding of the “Marine Admiral” concept.

That meant—someone capable of fighting on equal terms with Rowen, who had Awakened the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and fully mastered Haōshoku Coating—one of the absolute peak powerhouses on these seas!

They hadn’t even witnessed Rowen in a true life-or-death battle.

Even against Enel, their strongest foe encountered since setting sail, Rowen had displayed overwhelming dominance, taking him down with a single Haōshoku Coating attack.

And Rowen now—was even stronger than he was then!

Yet even that single attack from Rowen back then felt like an insurmountable mountain to them, a level of power they couldn’t possibly contend with.

Robin, looking at Aokiji, broke out in a cold sweat, an undeniable flicker of panic in her beautiful eyes.

Though Rowen had helped dispel much of her psychological trauma, some of it inevitably remained.

The horror of Ohara, and Aokiji displaying his terrifying power before her very eyes—these were nightmares that had haunted her since she was eight years old, nightmares that persisted until she met Rowen.

Now, facing Aokiji again, that panic was unavoidable.

But because Rowen was here, Robin didn’t completely break down as she might have in the original story. Instead, she subconsciously moved behind Rowen, her arms wrapping around his—

—Holding onto Rowen’s arm, Robin’s frantic heart began to calm slightly.

Looking at Rowen, standing half a step in front of her, she pressed her lips together, feeling a significant sense of security…

Nami and Vivi, seeing Robin’s reaction, tensed.

They had never seen Robin this afraid before. It was clear just how deep a psychological scar this Marine Admiral had inflicted on her in the past.

Nami gripped her Clima-Tact, and Vivi shifted into a combat stance. Throughout their voyage, they had come to truly accept Robin as a comrade!

<><><><><><><><>

“Ararara… Nico Robin. Long time no see. You’ve grown into quite a beauty—” Aokiji commented lazily, looking at Robin hiding behind Rowen, his own eyes narrowing slightly.

If Aokiji and the Ohara Incident were Robin’s nightmares—then Robin and the Ohara Incident were, in a way, Aokiji’s nightmare too.

He had personally participated in the absolute cruelty of ‘Absolute Justice’ during that incident.

Even innocent civilians were massacred to ensure no historians escaped. He was even forced to attack his former friend, Jaguar D. Saul, who was protecting Robin.

The memory of it—Aokiji still refused to dwell on it…

Letting Nico Robin escape was Aokiji’s way of seeing what would become of the Little Girl his friend Saul died protecting—the girl who carried the weight of Ohara.

What kind of impact would she have on the world???

Ultimately, it was because of the Ohara incident that Aokiji began to feel lost, questioning the World Government’s ‘Absolute Justice’.

So, he sought out different paths, different possibilities, trying to uphold his own sense of justice as a Marine—and it was also since Ohara, having witnessed too many tragedies caused by the World Government’s ‘Absolute Justice’—that even after becoming an Admiral, Aokiji adopted his Lazy Justice.

Lazy—was just another word for completely lost and confused. Aokiji—could no longer find his own justice within the current Navy.

<><><><><><><><>

“AN ADMIRAL?! Why would a Marine Admiral come after us?! Shouldn’t someone like that be chasing the super great pirates causing chaos across the seas?!”

Usopp and Chopper, the cowardly duo, clung to each other, trembling as they stared at Aokiji. Usopp blurted out his panicked thoughts.

Hearing Usopp’s words—Nami, Vivi, Luffy, Sanji, Zoro—even Aokiji himself—instinctively glanced towards Rowen.

“I forgot! Rowen is one of those super great pirates! The source of chaos on the seas—IT’S US!” Usopp yelled, clutching his head, tears streaming down his face.

Before even entering the Grand Line, they took down the East Blue’s strongest and highest-bounty pirates, Don Krieg and Arlong!

They even clashed with Warlord Hawk-Eyes Mihawk!

Since entering the Grand Line, they directly eliminated another Warlord, Crocodile!

In Mock Town, Rowen made a direct call to the World Government’s stronghold, Mariejois, causing a massive uproar with his Haki, threatening the Five Elders—the world’s highest authority!

Hailed as the most vicious great pirate on the seas today! Bounty exceeding 1.1 billion Beri! The super great pirate causing massive upheaval across the seas—WAS ROWEN!

Usopp and Chopper looked tearfully at Rowen. No wonder a Marine Admiral was after them!

But—even so!

Usopp tremblingly raised his slingshot, preparing for battle.

Chopper clutched a Rumble Ball from his medical bag, ready to eat it at a moment’s notice.

“Ararara… Looks like you have some self-awareness after all. You truly are the source of much of the sea’s current turmoil, Sky Sovereign Rowen,” Aokiji commented, looking at the young man before him, his expression unusually serious.

So young, yet he had already thrown the seas into such chaos—At that age, Aokiji himself hadn’t even learned Haki yet, still enduring Garp’s brutal ‘Fist of Love’ training…

“Calling Mariejois directly, causing a massive disturbance with your Conqueror’s Haki, making numerous Celestial Dragons faint, threatening the Five Elders, the world’s highest authority—You went a bit too far, Sky Sovereign Rowen,” Aokiji stated gravely, his gaze fixed on Rowen.

“CELESTIAL DRAGONS??” Luffy and the others looked puzzled by the term.

But Vivi’s face instantly paled.

As princess of Alabasta, a World Government affiliated nation, and having attended the Reverie, she was certainly familiar with the term.

The World Nobles, descendants of the twenty kings who founded the World Government, the ‘Creators’—they treated everyone else like livestock.

They were beings on these seas one absolutely must not angered!

Back then, Rowen had actually used his Conqueror’s Haki against the Celestial Dragons?!

So, the World Nobles had also been part of Rowen’s leverage to force the Five Elders to concede—all just to clear that little bit of slander against her name…

Vivi bit her lip, looking at Rowen’s back, her heart filled with regret for her earlier unhappiness that led Rowen to do such a thing, but even more so, overflowing with profound love and gratitude.

“Celestial Dragons? You mean those pigs? That was just a warning,” Rowen’s words made Aokiji’s expression change.

Using Conqueror’s Haki to make numerous Celestial Dragons faint—was just a WARNING???

Then next time—was this man planning a full-scale massacre of Celestial Dragons??

And calling them ‘PIGS’ no less!

Sky Sovereign Rowen, who knew even about the Five Elders and the God’s Knights, couldn’t possibly be ignorant of what the Celestial Dragons represented—Yet he still acted this way.

What an utterly lawless man!

“Mah… but I just came here for a stroll today. I don’t plan on fighting you,” Aokiji suddenly said, lying down lazily on the grass.

“That statement… sounds a bit false, Aokiji,” Rowen replied, looking at him with a smile.

“Is that so? I rather think… such words are quite fitting for our current conversation—” Aokiji chuckled back.

Rustle!

Sounds came from the nearby jungle, and a group of civilians slowly emerged.

“Oh! You’re… a Marine!” the leader of the civilians exclaimed with relief upon seeing Aokiji. Then looked fearfully towards Rowen and his crew.

These civilians were survivors of a cruise ship disaster a month prior. When they first saw Aokiji riding his bicycle across the sea, they thought they were hallucinating.

Then, seeing the Jolly Roger on the Going Merry, they dared not reveal themselves. Only after hearing Rowen and Aokiji’s conversation did they realize this man was a Marine Admiral, and the other young man was the infamous super great pirate—Sky Sovereign Rowen.

Though terrified, with a Marine Admiral present, and knowing they would surely die on this uninhabited island if they didn’t seek help, they mustered their courage and came out.

“Your ‘clarification’ efforts aren’t progressing very well, it seems. Looks like I’ll need to give the World Government’s efficiency a little nudge,”

Rowen commented, noting the civilians’ fearful gazes, which also occasionally flickered towards Vivi. He then looked at Aokiji, a crimson-black light flaring in his eyes.

“But before that—Chopper, if you would. Check their physical condition,” Rowen instructed.

Aokiji hadn’t immediately clashed with them because his Observation Haki had detected these civilians—He had thoroughly reviewed Rowen’s intel before coming here: user of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, Bomb-Bomb Fruit, Kilo-Kilo Fruit, Flare-Flare Fruit. Possibly other unknown abilities.

But the Flare-Flare Fruit alone was enough to make Aokiji cautious. A battle between Logia users, especially against a top-tier Logia like Flare-Flare, would inevitably cause collateral damage affecting these civilians. He needed to get them to safety before he could fight freely.

As for why he hadn’t evacuated them before Rowen’s arrival? Aokiji had only just arrived himself. And he didn’t have the Rumble-Rumble Fruit to amplify his Observation Haki range—

—In an uninhabited island environment, Aokiji wasn’t omniscient; he naturally wouldn’t know civilians were present without actively searching the entire island with Haki. He only detected them when they approached.

<><><><><><><><>

Under Chopper’s medical care, the civilians gradually calmed down.

This infamous Sky Sovereign Rowen wasn’t like the rumors at all—he seemed like a very peaceful young man.

When Aokiji offered them a way to leave the island…

“HEY! EVERYONE! DON’T TRUST THIS GUY! HE’S A MARINE!” Luffy yelled anxiously, pointing at Aokiji, warning the civilians.

“I-Is there a problem with that??” The civilians looked utterly confused by Luffy’s outburst.

Luffy’s face froze. After a moment, realization dawned, and he slapped his forehead. “Oh, right! In the eyes of normal people, Marines are allies, and we’re the bad guys! That’s fine! That’s good!” Luffy’s comical display earned him a whack on the head from Nami’s Clima-Tact.

Next, Rowen and his crew prepared food for the long-starving civilians and provided them with supplies.

“Well then—” Aokiji walked to the seashore and placed his hand in the water.

“The strength of a Marine Admiral…” Zoro, Sanji, and the others stared intently at Aokiji, extremely curious about his power.

ROOOAR!

Just then, a giant Sea King leaped from the ocean, lunging towards Aokiji.

(Usopp, his worldview expanded, didn’t scream for Aokiji to watch out; instead, he swallowed hard, watching intently to see how Aokiji would handle this reckless beast.)

“ICE AGE——!!!”

WHOOSH! CRACKLE! CRACKLE!

In an instant, terrifyingly cold energy erupted from Aokiji’s body!

The Sea King, the ocean, everything as far as the eye could see—WAS COMPLETELY FROZEN SOLID BY THIS HORRIFYING FROST!

“Logia… Devil Fruit!” Zoro stared at the scene, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Sanji watched in horror as well.

Another top-tier Logia Devil Fruit user!

“The Logia Ice-Ice Fruit user—Marine Admiral Aokiji,” Robin murmured, cold sweat on her own brow. Seeing this familiar sight, the horror of Ohara seemed to flash before her eyes again, a shadow falling over her heart.

But the next moment—

“!!!” Robin felt a warmth envelop her hand, dispelling the chill from Aokiji’s ice. Looking up, she saw Rowen smiling at her. Robin pressed her lips together, then gripped Rowen’s hand tightly.

‘So warm… so safe.’ Robin closed her eyes. That shadow over her heart—was once again pushed back.

“This should last for about a week. Head in that direction for four days, and you’ll reach an inhabited island,” Aokiji instructed the civilians.

Rowen and his crew then provided the civilians with supplies for their journey.

“Thank you so much! Mr. Rowen is such a good person! Those rumors can’t be believed at all!” the leader of the civilians exclaimed gratefully, looking at Rowen and his crew with a warm smile.

Hearing this, Vivi smiled happily.

Amidst the civilians’ heartfelt thanks, they set off on their journey.

<><><><><><><><>

“You really are just like your grandfather, Monkey D. Luffy—” Aokiji commented, looking at Luffy after the civilians departed.

‘A pirate, yet still so eager to help civilians.’

And then, Sky Sovereign Rowen…

Aokiji looked at Rowen, a confused expression in his eyes. The way this man helped the civilians just now—wasn’t an act. His warmth—Aokiji’s Observation Haki sensed it clearly.

As a Marine Admiral, Aokiji naturally knew the truth behind the Alabasta incident. And Rowen’s journey so far:

Defeating Morgan because of his tyranny in Shells Town.

Eliminating Arlong and killing Captain Nezumi because they colluded to violently oppress Cocoyasi Village and the surrounding seas.

And the Alabasta incident—Sky Sovereign Rowen and Princess Vivi working together to crush Crocodile’s conspiracy to overthrow Alabasta and incite a terrible war.

Liberating Shells Town, liberating Cocoyasi Village and its seas, liberating Alabasta.

These were the deeds of the man now branded by the World Government and the Navy as the ‘World’s most vicious great pirate’, with a bounty of 1,135,000,000 Beri.

In Aokiji’s eyes, these actions were entirely heroic.

Yet the outcome—was just like the Ohara incident. Sky Sovereign Rowen was now deemed a massive obstacle to ‘JUSTICE’, someone who had to be eliminated.

At this moment, Aokiji’s eyes were filled with profound confusion.

“Gramps?!”

Hearing Aokiji’s words, Luffy shivered violently. Garp was definitely Luffy’s childhood trauma.

“Marine Hero Garp?” Thanks to Rowen, everyone now knew who Luffy’s grandfather was.

Back at the Baratie, just mentioning Hero Garp had terrified Luffy. It was clear Garp had left a deep psychological scar.

“Aokiji. You confused fool… You are too weak,” Rowen stated, his Observation Haki spreading out.

Looking at Aokiji now, Rowen offered a powerful smile. His Haki had already grasped Aokiji’s current emotional state.

No wonder Garp had such an assessment of Aokiji during their battle on Hachinosu.

Aokiji’s aura—was too hesitant, too weak-willed!

Hearing Rowen’s words, the others all looked towards Aokiji.

With their current Observation Haki strength, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji couldn’t sense Aokiji’s aura at all. So they found Rowen’s statement hard to believe.

‘A Marine Admiral—confused??’ Robin, especially, looked incredulous.

Aokiji’s face instantly changed.

“Check Traits.”

<><><><><><><><>

~ 18 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon!

https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx

(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)

<><><><><><><><>

~# Keep the Chapters coming — Support with Power Stones!

~# Every 300 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep