Marineford

Nangong Yan had received the news as well. He stood at the branch entrance alongside Colonel Mei Feng, waiting for the people from Marine Headquarters to arrive.

Before long, a Marine force of around fifty men appeared before them. The man at the front had his hands tucked into his trouser pockets as he lazily walked toward Nangong Yan.

"Greetings, Vice Admiral Kuzan!" Colonel Mei Feng was greatly startled upon seeing the leader. He promptly straightened up and raised his hand in salute, while the other Marines hurriedly followed suit.

Nangong Yan had not expected the famous Aokiji, the future Marine Admiral, to personally come and pick him up.

He felt somewhat flattered, and even a little ashamed. The Marines valued him this highly? It made Nangong Yan feel rather embarrassed. He had never intended to remain in the Marines forever. Setting aside all other reasons, there was one reason alone why he could never stay with the Marines indefinitely.

Back on Earth, Nangong Yan had greatly liked Nico Robin and felt deeply sorry for her. Since he had come to this world, Nangong Yan had resolved to protect her properly and let her live happily.

Nico Robin was also a thorn in the World Government's side, an irreconcilable enemy. The conflict between the two was impossible to resolve, and peaceful coexistence was almost out of the question.

Given a choice between the Marines and Robin, Nangong Yan would undoubtedly choose Robin. The Marines were merely a place for him to learn Haki.

Though there were quite a few people in the Marines whom Nangong Yan admired and liked, Robin ranked among the most important people to him. Nor could Nangong Yan remain bound to the Marines forever. Leaving them was only a matter of time.

Just as Nangong Yan was lost in thought, Aokiji spoke.

"Ah la la la, you must be the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit user Mei Feng mentioned. You're really young." Aokiji was very tall. Though he had not yet reached his full height, he was already over two meters tall, an immensely imposing figure in the eyes of ordinary people.

"Hello, Vice Admiral Kuzan. My name is Nangong Yan," Nangong Yan said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Vice Admiral Kuzan, why did you come personally?" Colonel Mei Feng asked curiously beside Nangong Yan.

"Ah la la... I happened to be carrying out a mission in the West Blue and was heading back to Headquarters anyway, so the Fleet Admiral sent me." Faced with Colonel Mei Feng's question, Aokiji answered patiently. He was approachable and completely without airs.

"Alright, kid, come with me. Headquarters is still quite a distance from here."

"Alright. Goodbye, Colonel Mei Feng." After saying farewell, Nangong Yan followed behind Aokiji.

Once aboard the warship, Nangong Yan looked around curiously. He moved over a chair, sat down, and began enjoying the view.

The warship set sail, cutting through the waves toward Marineford, Marine Headquarters. The sea breeze whipped Nangong Yan's hair about as he closed his eyes and quietly considered how to further develop the Golden Crow Fruit.

Not long afterward, Aokiji came over to Nangong Yan's side and lazily asked, "Anyone else in your family?"

"No. My parents died in a shipwreck," Nangong Yan replied casually without opening his eyes.

After a moment of silence, Aokiji asked again, "Why do you want to join the Marines?"

"For power." Nangong Yan made no attempt to hide it and directly stated his true purpose, too lazy to dress it up with pretty words.

Aokiji was taken aback, his brow slightly furrowing. He sensed a deep-rooted defiance within Nangong Yan's bones.

"For Observation Haki and Armament Haki. I have no other way to obtain these two powers. Joining the Marines is the most direct and easiest way." As if explaining himself, Nangong Yan spoke again.

"Ah la la la... you're certainly a straightforward kid. Aren't you afraid I won't let you join the Marines if you say that?"

"It doesn't matter. Joining would be best, but even if I don't, I'll learn both types of Haki sooner or later. It will merely take longer."

"You're quite an arrogant kid. There is no justice in your heart. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you for being so blunt?" Aokiji's tone turned indifferent as a chill rose from his body. The temperature plummeted, as though he were about to strike at any moment.

"I have my own justice, not the Marines' justice! Though I am not your opponent right now, Vice Admiral Kuzan, if you want to kill me, I'm afraid you won't be able to." Pale golden flames rose from Nangong Yan's body, dispersing the cold around him. His tone was calm and confident.

For some reason, Nangong Yan was very modest when dealing with insignificant characters from the original story like Colonel Mei Feng. Yet when faced with famous figures from the original story, the pride within him was immediately stirred.

"Ah la la la... is this your Devil Fruit? Your trump card? Then let me see what is so extraordinary about it." As Aokiji finished speaking, half his body transformed into snowy white ice. Terrifying white frost spread toward Nangong Yan, and thick layers of ice began to cover the warship and the chair.

Nangong Yan's expression remained unchanged. Though his current strength was insufficient to withstand Aokiji's frost, the Devil Fruit was far from his only trump card.

The scarlet Mangekyo Sharingan silently appeared behind his orange sunglasses, and Nangong Yan's body soundlessly merged into the Kamui Dimension.

The frigid frost had already engulfed Nangong Yan's entire body, yet his body showed no change at all. Aokiji stared blankly, his expression turning somewhat grim as he secretly increased the output of his frost. The surrounding temperature instantly dropped even further.

"Don't waste your effort. As long as I only wish to protect myself, no one in this world can do anything to me."

"To be frank, while I cannot remain in the Marines forever, since I have gained power from the Marines, I will still do my duties wholeheartedly."

"Vice Admiral Kuzan, are you confident that you will remain in the Marines forever?"

"If the Marines were to do something that went against the justice in your heart, what would you do?"

"Would you continue pretending not to see it? Would you become an accomplice to evil? Or would you decisively leave the Marines and pursue the justice in your own heart?"

Aokiji immediately fell silent. He withdrew the frost and gazed into the distance. After a long while, he said, "I think I would leave the Marines and pursue the justice in my own heart."

"I never expected a kid like you to be so full of ideas. Not bad."

"I just like to think when I have nothing to do. If we both leave the Marines in the future, I'd really like to work with Mr. Kuzan again."

Aokiji remained silent. Seeing this, Nangong Yan said nothing more either. He closed his eyes and began resting again.

The warship sailed across the sea. Sailing on a pirate ship and going on adventures was not exciting every moment. On the contrary, most of the time was dull and monotonous.

There was nothing fun aboard the warship either. As for sparring with Aokiji, that was impossible. Aokiji was far too powerful for Nangong Yan; there was no need for them to spar at all.

Time could not be wasted. On the ship, Nangong Yan used the warship's equipment to train his physique and develop his Devil Fruit.

A week later, the warship passed through the Gates of Justice and entered Marineford. Looking at the colossal Gates of Justice, the grand, majestic, and solemn Marine Headquarters, and the powerful elite Marines constantly moving through it, Nangong Yan could not help but marvel at the World Government's deep foundations.

After disembarking, Nangong Yan followed Aokiji to the office of Marine Fleet Admiral Kong. Along the way, Nangong Yan witnessed the Marines' formidable strength.

At Marine Headquarters, colonels were everywhere, while commodores and rear admirals roamed in droves! Though the World Government and the Marines lacked the strength to suppress the entire sea, it was undeniable that the Marines still held immense influence across most regions of the ocean.