Not long afterward, Vergo entered Aokiji's Fleet Admiral's office with Ochoku, who was tightly bound.
When Aokiji saw the scene before him, his once-calm eyes suddenly sharpened, dazzling like twin bolts of lightning streaking across the night sky.
Then, the corners of his tightly pressed lips curved upward slightly, revealing an irrepressible smile.
"Ha ha ha ha..." A hearty laugh rang out from Aokiji, echoing through the room for a long while.
He thought to himself, What perfect timing! I was just worrying about how to quickly fill the two vacant Admiral positions, and now this man is the ideal candidate!
And like Kizaru, he's also a neutral figure. With his strength and achievements, even those impossibly picky Five Elders surely won't be able to find any excuse to object, right?
Aokiji reined in his laughter, walked over to Ochoku, looked him over, and raised a hand to undo his restraints.
"Ochoku, I intend to make you an Admiral and fill one of the vacant positions. With your strength and neutral stance, joining the Marines would benefit every side."
Hearing this, Ochoku froze for a moment. Then he moved his body a few times, which had gone numb from being tied up, and tried to break free, but to no avail.
He raised his head to look at the speaker—Aokiji—and a trace of hesitation flashed through his eyes.
After a while, Ochoku responded, "Become a Marine Admiral? Wouldn't that mean being restricted everywhere and having to follow rules in everything?
"But I've long been used to living freely and doing whatever I please..."
As he spoke, he let out a soft sigh, revealing a measure of helplessness and reluctance.
However, Aokiji merely smiled at Ochoku's concerns and reassured him. "Ha ha, don't worry, little brother. Even if you really become