bioinnovel Chapter 68: The Will to Live
Chapter 68: The Will to Live
Kizaru glanced at Kuzan casually.
He had asked Aokiji about it when he was coming with him, but he didn't press the matter since Kuzan didn't mention it.
The astute Kizaru surely guessed that it must be something the World Government couldn't know...
What does that have to do with me?
……
"My matter will be settled soon, and I'll have time for you all~"
Kizaru turned to Allen: "Get ready tomorrow morning. We'll meet at Port 4. The first time we go, we'll stay for about a week. After that, it's up to you."
After saying that, Kizaru transformed into a streak of light and flew towards his office, not wanting to waste a single minute on work.
……
……
Aokiji led Allen all the way to the abandoned warship port at headquarters, where naval ships were piled up and scrapped.
Several of the massive ships bore traces resembling insect bites, riddled with craters several meters in diameter.
Before Allen could ask a question, Aokiji looked at the damaged warship and said, "This is where I trained with Mr. Garp."
"Those... are marks left by me and Mr. Garp, without using Haki, punch by punch."
Allen watched for a while, then murmured, "It seems... the heroes' strength isn't something they're born with."
He turned and smiled, "I heard that Vice Admiral Garp specially trained to destroy several mountains in order to smash Chinjao's cone-shaped head. Is that true?"
Aokiji chuckled softly: "You and Chinjao are both from the Flower Country, right? No wonder you're curious about this... It's true."
"Chinjao the Cone was very strong. He was famous in that era and was one of the strongest pirates besides top-tier powerhouses like Whitebeard."
A bounty of 500 million Berries twenty years ago would be at least three times that amount by today's standards.
A hint of pride appeared on Aokiji's face as he raised his head and continued, "But compared to Mr. Garp, he's still far behind."
"It was Mr. Karp who insisted on making flattening that cone the condition for victory, which led to the second battle."
……
"Mr. Garp's personality sounds quite interesting," Allen said with a knowing smile.
"Hmm, I think you and Mr. Garp should get along well."
Aokiji paused, his tone changing slightly.
"Allen..."
"Why did you save those slaves that day in Sabaody Archipelago?"
Aokiji also faced a similar situation.
……
The Ohara archaeological site, dedicated to researching the "Void Century," was subjected to a genocide by the World Government after repeated warnings went unheeded.
In the end, Ohara was completely destroyed, with only Robin surviving.
It was the giant general Saul who risked his life to protect this child.
As Saul's friend, Aokiji began to feel confused when faced with his friend's questioning, but ultimately decided to let Nico Robin go.
……
Aokiji wanted to know what Allen's feelings were when he went to save slaves while protecting the Celestial Dragons.
Or were they slaves ordered to be bombarded by the Navy Headquarters?
Didn't he consider that his actions might cause the mission to fail or even endanger the Celestial Dragons?
……
Allen was silent for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Sometimes killing doesn't need a reason, so why does saving someone require one?"
"This is a very strange question, Vice Admiral Aokiji."
……
……
"Is that so... Smoker wasn't wrong after all."
Aokiji let out a long breath, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Actually, Smoker mentioned you to me long before you came to headquarters. Do you know what he said?"
"Uh...it probably wasn't anything nice, that guy's always stinky." Allen scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed.
He knew very well how he was perceived by Smoker.
Aside from the fact that no minors went to the red-light district, Allen basically did everything a marine shouldn't do.
Aokiji shook his head, looking intently at Allen: "He said..."
"You are the man who will truly change the Navy; you possess potential far exceeding mine!"
……
……
"He does have good taste, I withdraw my prejudice against him."
Aokiji was slightly taken aback.
He chuckled, "At least when you're comparing yourself to me, you can be a little more tactful!"
"I'd still be in the mood to pretend before I unleash my Conqueror's Haki."
Allen helplessly spread his hands: "If I still pretend to be humble when things are like this, people will only think I'm too scheming, and that will backfire."
……
"Conqueror's Haki..."
Aokiji sighed with some emotion.
Garp's generation had several officers with Conqueror's Haki, but in their generation, even Akainu and Kizaru, who are already admirals, don't have any.
The emergence of a Conqueror's Haki member in the new generation makes it seem like their generation is the worst.
After a pause, Aokiji spoke slowly.
"Like Smoker, I also had a close friend in the Navy, a giant from the South Sea named Saul."
"He was willing to sacrifice himself to be my enemy in order to save a child who should have died under naval fire."
"Allen..."
"If you were in my position, what would you do?"
……
……
"The Ohara incident?"
Aokiji's expression changed slightly. Given Allen's age, he shouldn't know about that...
But considering his experience and connections, whether it's Professor Zephyr or Tensei, or even the rumor that he has a close friend in the CP department.
Not surprising then.
With this in mind, Aokiji decided not to hide it.
"Yes……"
"Nicole Robin, the only survivor of Ohara, known to the world as the Devil's Child, is the one I let go."
Kara—
Aokiji conjured a glass of ice water out of thin air and handed it to Allen, smiling slightly: "This isn't a secret among the higher-ups, but we can't spread it around, it's quite troublesome."
Allen didn't take the ice cup; instead, he raised his hand, gathering cold energy in his palm, and agreed to construct an ice cup.
The ice glass is crystal clear, and the lines of the glass outline a landscape painting in the snow, with even a faint icy glow visible under the refraction of light.
It's simply a work of art.
In comparison, Aokiji's once exquisite cup was now reduced to dust.
Aokiji's raised hand froze.
……
Allen smiled apologetically, "Well... I've made a living with this skill since I was little, and seeing you... haha, I couldn't help myself, sorry!"
This must be my bloodline influencing me; I'm not the kind of person who likes to show off my skills!
……
Aokiji shook his head: "I almost forgot that you and I are the same type of ability user. I didn't understand the situation."
"I've watched the battle video of you and Shou. When it comes to the refined use of ice element, I'm not as good as you."
The Navy Headquarters reviewed the battles between Kari and Allen many times.
The conclusion is that without special abilities or inherited skills, it is impossible to learn their fighting style through years of arduous training.
Even the most skill-intensive CP department is no match for it, as it's described as "powerful and efficient".
Shaking his head, Aokiji pressed on again.
"Allen, do you think it was right or wrong of me to let Nico Robin live...?"
……
"Another strange question."
Allen smiled faintly as he recalled the frost and snow of many years ago.
"How could wanting to live a good life be wrong?"