Aokiji the Ice Man

A few hours later.

A full nine Marine Headquarters warships appeared in the Calm Belt, lined up in a row.

At their head stood the renowned Marine Headquarters vice admiral Aokiji, a man with the power to freeze all things.

In the eyes of countless pirates, he was practically a monster, having once frozen the sea for thousands of miles.

And in the eyes of countless Marines and soldiers, Aokiji's combat power had already qualified him as the top candidate for reserve admiral. His future was virtually limitless.

Meanwhile, the Kuja Pirates' sisters, Gorud and Sonia, had already sailed the Kuja pirate ship out from Kuja Island's harbor.

The Kuja pirate ship's flag bore the image of a sun, with a skull wrapped by nine snakes at its center. The entire hull was a dazzling vermilion red.

In the Calm Belt, the ship was propelled mainly by the two enormous sea serpents beneath its hull, which dragged it forward.

These two enormous sea serpents possessed venom feared even by Sea Kings. Within the Calm Belt, the Kuja Pirates were absolute overlords—even Sea Kings did not dare challenge them.

"Norse, you absolutely can't hold back on us this time. Elder Sister suddenly fell ill, and with the Kuja Pirates facing such a powerful Marine lineup, you're probably the only one who can hold the fort and lead us out to resist them. The two of us can at most deal with Rear Admiral Strawberry."

On the ship, Gorud spoke seriously. "Also, thank you so much for preparing that feast for us before the battle. That Sea King cuisine was so delicious and nourishing. Even my big breasts feel full of strength now."

"Exactly. Norse, just lead us without worrying. Gorud and I aren't afraid at all. We're even thinking about going back to finish the rest of the food, hehe..." Sonia nodded, hoping Norse would not have to split his attention worrying about them.

Seeing how serious the two sisters were, Norse smiled. "The way you two are treating me today is a complete one-eighty. You weren't like this before, were you?"

"Oh, come on. You were the one hiding your strength so well. I thought you wanted to be some pretty boy living off a woman. Besides, you're the vice captain of our Kuja pirate ship now. Of course we'll respect you more and talk to you properly!" Sonia spoke with a touch of coquettishness, just short of rushing over to grab Norse's hand and shake it.

"Fine. At least your attitudes are serious today."

Norse suddenly pulled a white paper cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips. "Come on, can you light it for me first before we keep talking?"

The two sisters exchanged a glance, realizing Norse wanted to test their sincerity.

"Wait here. I'll get a light."

Sonia ran into the cabin and quickly returned with a box of matches, carefully lighting Norse's cigarette.

"How was that? Did I do okay?"

"Not bad, not bad. Since you acknowledge me as your vice captain, I'll make you a promise too. I'll protect your safety. If anyone dares touch a single hair on your heads later, I'll take their lives!" Norse said calmly, puffing on his cigarette.

When everyone aboard saw how calm and imposing Norse was, they all felt much more at ease. As expected of a vice captain who had shot up in fame overnight.

They had long heard that Lord Norse had always been concealing his strength. Thinking about it now, his deep-sea fish-blasting power before had probably only been him testing the waters.

His true combat strength likely had not been revealed at all yet.

"Hehe... I knew you treated us the best, Norse." Sonia smiled seductively.

Seeing Sonia suddenly put on such a seductive, bewitching look, Norse could not help shivering. Sure enough, I still can't open up my heart and body to them.

They're way too terrifying.

"Enough. That won't work on me. Go steer the ship."

Gawain tossed the remaining cigarette butt into the sea. Looking at the Marine warships still some distance away, he reminded all the female pirates aboard.

"You'll be the same later. Don't get all worked up and rush forward just because they're all men. In short, without my orders, you can only watch from the ship and sit this one out, understood?"

"Understood. Don't worry, Lord Norse."

And so, the Kuja pirate ship sailed across the windless sea, gradually closing in on the nine Marine Headquarters warships.

When the two sides were just over fifty meters apart.

Suddenly, Aokiji unleashed the power of Ice Age, instantly freezing the sea for hundreds of miles around them. Even the Kuja pirate ship was frozen fast to the surface.

With this move, Aokiji had struck first, not only creating a frozen domain favorable to Marine operations, but also sealing off the enemy's escape routes to a certain extent.

This was one of Aokiji's usual naval combat tactics.

"Whoa... is this the strength of a Marine vice admiral? Look, our ship got frozen in place."

"Yeah, it's really incredible. He froze the ocean in an instant. He's practically a devil!"

Aboard the Kuja ship, the female pirate crew were utterly shocked and nervous.

It was not merely because the base of their pirate ship had been frozen. Looking out, it seemed as though the entire sea had been frozen over, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet rapidly below zero degrees Celsius.

It was bone-chillingly cold.

"Oh? Rear Admiral Strawberry, heh... long time no see!"

Gorud immediately spotted Strawberry, the man she had defeated three months ago, on an opposing warship. She mocked him, "Your strength is nothing special, yet rumors across the sea say you killed the Sun Pirates' captain in a frontal sneak attack. That was a great pirate with a bounty exceeding two hundred million Berries. Aren't you laying it on a little too thick?"

At that moment, Gorud's posture was especially exaggerated. She stretched out one long leg and rested it halfway on the rail, then leaned her entire body forward, letting the weight of her ample upper body rest on that thigh. At the same time, she exposed the yellow private document between her legs, utterly unconcerned by the Marines across from her who were sneaking glances.

If these elite Marines could not even restrain themselves at the casually revealed spring scenery on Gorud's side, then upon encountering the emperor-level beauty Hancock, they probably would not even be able to pull a trigger before losing all fighting power.

They might even instantly become slaves at her command. That was practically a certainty.

As for Rear Admiral Strawberry, he had only been rescued onto a ship a little over an hour ago, during which he had received a scolding from his superior, Vice Admiral Aokiji.

He was unfit to be an officer. Not only had he lost a Headquarters warship, but he had also buried several soldiers at the bottom of the sea. Most crucially, such a terrible incident had happened in barely a single morning.

Thus, Strawberry now stood behind Vice Admiral Aokiji without wanting to say a word, thinking he should leave everything to the vice admiral's judgment and handling, lest he cause more trouble again.

However, a Marine sergeant standing beside Aokiji immediately pulled out a wanted poster, examined it, and reported, "Vice Admiral, this pirate is Boa Gorud of the Kuja Pirates. She possesses the Zoan Snake-Snake Fruit. Although her bounty reached thirty million Berries after a single incident, she is nothing to fear."

P.S. I originally wanted to post them together, but in the end I decided to stick to the usual schedule and post another chapter at 1 o'clock!

Sigh! I've been getting roasted pretty badly these past few days, and my heart can't take it. Honestly, I'm doubting my whole life again. I don't know how to write what you all actually want to read!