Akainu: Let Me Tell You a Secret (23)

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

"I didn't expect you to visit me..."

Ron looked surprised for a moment, then stepped aside from the doorway. "Please come in, Admiral Aokiji."

"Pardon the intrusion!"

Aokiji nodded and entered the courtyard, greeting Zephyr, who was sunning himself in a lounge chair.

"Teacher Zephyr. It's been a while."

"Oh? Aokiji? Are you here to mooch a meal too?"

Aokiji: "..."

With a wry smile, Aokiji shook his head and looked at Ron, whose coat of justice bore dragon-patterned epaulettes. "Admiral Azure Dragon, could we speak alone?"

"Of course!"

They sat facing each other inside the house. Ron brewed Aokiji a pot of hot tea, then happily sipped from a bottle of juice.

Aokiji glanced at the tea stalk standing upright in his cup and smiled helplessly. "I came to thank you, Ron."

"The Fleet Admiral... Mr. Sengoku told me the truth. As far as I can tell now, it was only a possibility. But if I'd caused the Marines immeasurable losses, I know I would have regretted it."

While Aokiji was recovering from his injuries, Sengoku, freed of his duties, had visited him in secret and told him what Ron had really intended.

Now that he understood the whole story, Aokiji wouldn't say he was moved. He wasn't that shallow a man.

But he was deeply grateful to Ron!

Grateful that Ron had played the villain to spur him on and help preserve the Marines' strength.

"You give me too much credit, Admiral Aokiji. I was only doing my duty as a Marine."

Ron spoke with a righteous expression, then broke into a grin. "Besides, though I had nothing to do with it, that thunderstorm that cost you the fight almost felt like heaven was deliberately coming after me."

"As long as you don't hold it