Had I Known, I Would Have Made an Exception and Enlisted in the Marines

The stern words carried a heavy scent of gunpowder.

The string of defeats had steadily eroded Akainu's authority within Marine Headquarters.

Meanwhile, Aokiji's impassiveness cast a veil of mystery over his strength.

As one rose and the other fell, the calls within Marine Headquarters—especially among the recruits—for the mild-mannered Aokiji to succeed as Fleet Admiral grew louder.

Akainu had seen all of this.

That was why he had challenged Laxus.

He had gone to the trouble of training Drake and the other two, intending to defeat Laxus and reclaim the authority he had lost within the Marines.

"Akainu, you've gone too far!" Aokiji's expression darkened at once.

Cold air spread across his body, causing the temperature in the vast Marine office to plummet.

"Hmph. We haven't fought in years since graduating from the recruit camp. This time, I'll let you see the gap between the strong!" Akainu snorted.

Scorching magma surged over his body, and waves of hot wind swept outward.

In an instant, the enormous office was plunged into an icy inferno.

"Enough! Where do you think that leaves me, the Fleet Admiral?" Sengoku's face darkened as he roared furiously.

"If you want to fight, wait until I've stepped down from this position. Otherwise, don't blame me for sending you down to the recruit camp as instructors."

"Don't forget that, as Admirals, you must set an example. If outsiders find out that you're brawling in here, you'll have disgraced Marine Headquarters completely!"

Akainu and Aokiji both froze.

Seeing Sengoku beside himself with rage, the auras surrounding them swiftly faded away.

"Alright, Sengoku, you're not getting any younger. Don't argue with these two brats." Garp glanced at Aokiji and was the first to smooth things over. "Instead, let's see if we can get through to Zephyr's Transponder Snail."

"If we