Kuzan

Let's go back to the present.

On the "hive" of Hachinosu, the islanders were feasting and drinking to celebrate the return of their king.

Cifer and his men, along with their subordinates, also gathered in a palace above Las Noches, where they feasted.

As long as they are there, there is no need to deliberately send people to guard this island.

"Oh my gosh~ Such a lively scene, would you mind if I came down and joined in the fun?"

After a series of footsteps, a chill swept over them.

As everyone looked, a man about three meters tall, wearing a heavy coat and seemingly having just come from the snow and ice, stood behind them.

Even with such attire, the large burn scars on his neck could not be concealed.

"Oh, a familiar face has arrived!"

Enel and the others clearly recognized him and had already sensed his approach.

"Aokiji! What are you doing here?"

Robin was somewhat surprised. Since leaving the Navy, the person in front of her seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing without a trace.

But to my utter surprise, it ended up here.

"Hon... Hon Admiral Aokiji?!"

Buggy's tongue trembled as it floated in the air.

He increasingly felt that becoming Ulquiorra's subordinate was a wise move.

Based on the lineup they've just seen, Buggy even doubts whether they have the capability to directly defeat the Marineford!

More importantly, they had no interest in that legendary One Piece!

By following them, you may have a chance to find the treasure left behind by that man.

ONE PIECE!

"It's been two years, and you've really grown into a beautiful young woman!"

Kuzan scratched his head, smiled at Robin, and felt fortunate for his actions in Ohara back then.

"I was just wandering around randomly, and then, somehow, I ended up here."

Then, he walked over very familiarly and sat down next to Cifer.

He reached out and casually grabbed a bottle of wine from the table, his palm radiating coldness, and then began to drink heavily.

He made up his mind to leave the Navy after losing to Sakazuki a year ago.

He felt that his ideals were incompatible with that guy's, that guy's sense of justice was too extreme, and the navy he commanded was no longer suitable for him.

From then on, he began to wander westward across the sea.

"So, after leaving the Navy, you want to join my Las Noches?"

"This isn't the first time I've extended an invitation to you."

As always, Cifer looked at the person before him who was lost in the pursuit of justice and extended his right hand.

"Join you? What a joke! I used to be a Navy of Justice! And who do you think I'm in this state now?"

Kuzan laughed self-deprecatingly, put one leg on the table, and his calf turned into ice and shattered!

"What? Are you going to take your anger out on me?"

Cifer laid his hands on the table, seemingly unconcerned.

The other party meant no harm, and besides, it wouldn't matter anyway.

"What good would it do to you? I'm not so arrogant as to think I'm your match."

"To be honest, you only survived because you held back."

Kuzan recalled the Sabaody Archipelago incident, the first and only time in his life that he still felt lingering fear.

However, setting aside all stances and the past, the actions of Las Noches that he had witnessed over the past two years actually made him yearn for them.

A voice inside Kuzan: That's what he wanted, true justice.

"Since you owe me your life, then come and pay it back."

"You're leaving the Navy because you're utterly disillusioned with the World Government's justice. Why not come to Las Noches and seek your own justice?"

Cifer also took a sip of strong liquor, his gaze fixed on him.

"Becoming a pirate to pursue justice? I've really fallen... But I still have to thank you for what happened with Professor Zephyr."

"But how did you manage to do that to Professor Zephyr's arm?"

Kuzan did not give an immediate answer, but the implication was clear: he was willing to become a member of Las Noches.

He then picked up another bottle of wine and took a drink. After thinking for a moment, he expressed his gratitude and asked about his curiosity.

He had already met Zephyr, and he respected the man greatly. He was also very unhappy about the tragedy that happened back then and about Edward Weevil becoming Shichibukai.

Fortunately, the person in front of me helped me vent my anger.

Moreover, he was also very curious about what the ability was that could restore Zephyr's severely injured arm to its original state.

Although he could use his Devil Fruit powers to create a leg that wouldn't affect his daily life at all, it was still not his original flesh and blood body.

"I was just doing things according to my own will."

Cifer understood Aokiji's meaning, but he didn't have any fruit left to use.

Whether or not one can inherit the High-Speed Regeneration depends entirely on luck.

"As for that... I can't do anything about it right now, and whether it can be done is not absolute."

"Let's talk about it later. Now that we have a new companion, how can we miss out on a banquet?!"

Cifer raised the bottle of wine in his hand.

"You wouldn't mind if there were a few more people, would you?"

At this moment, Zephyr also entered with his students from the west (Qiaomu and T-Bone also became his students).

"I've been waiting for you for a long time, 'Black Arm'!"

Rayleigh tossed a bottle of strong liquor, which landed perfectly in the other person's hand.

"I don't need a bastard like you!"

Zephyr didn't hold back with his words, but he still drank heartily.

Rayleigh had been in Hachinosu for a while now, so how could he not have met the other party?

However, his visit was only for Kuzan, that guy who couldn't learn to be honest.

He could see that his student was standing at a crossroads in his life, feeling lost.

It was also my idea to have Kuzan find an opportunity to meet Cifer.

Zephyr had originally asked him to mention Hachinosu after learning that Cifer had returned.

However, it seems he also went to a small island to do some things, and arrived just in time for Cifer's return.

Fortunately, the result was as I had hoped.

"Admiral Kuzan... it feels like I'm back at Marineford."

T-Bone took the bottle of wine handed to him by Yisheng, muttering to himself.

"Yay! Hahaha! Come on, have a drink!"

The atmosphere gradually became more relaxed, Enel couldn't help but stand on the table, raising the bottle of wine in his hand.

"Dry!"

Chopper, Bonney, and the others all raised their glasses.

"Brubrubru~ Brubrubru~"

Just then, the Den Den Mushi in Cifer's arms rang at an inopportune moment.

"What a rare guest, Doflamingo."

Looking at the devilish expression on the Den Den Mushi's face, even before the other party spoke, Cifer knew who it was.

However, they hadn't been in contact for two years, so this phone call was truly unexpected.

"Hmm~ Hehehe~ I didn't want to make this call either, but things really did turn out quite unexpectedly."