Pirates' Resolve

After the meeting ended, the heads of each department quickly left to carry out the new orders. Aokiji, however, did not immediately return to his office. Instead, he stopped Kizaru, who was about to leave, in a secluded corridor.

"Borsalino, do you have time to talk?" Aokiji's tone remained lazy, but his gaze was unusually serious.

Kizaru let out an exaggerated sigh. "Oh~ Kuzan, what a bother. What is it that you need to see me about so urgently?"

"Don't you find it strange? The Five Elders' reaction to this incident has been far too intense." Aokiji lowered his voice. "Even when faced with threats to overthrow the World Government, they were never this nervous."

Kizaru seemed to casually straighten his cuff. "Policy isn't something we should concern ourselves with, Kuzan. We're merely executors~"

"Then what do you think about the ordinary people's 'Ancient Dreams'?" Aokiji keenly watched Kizaru's reaction. "So many people having similar dreams at the same time is far too much of a coincidence."

Kizaru's movements paused for an instant before he resumed his languid demeanor. "They're just dreams. Why take them seriously?"

Aokiji said meaningfully, "If one day, you discovered that the justice you had always upheld was actually built upon a massive lie, what would you do?"

Leaving those words behind, Aokiji turned and walked away, leaving Kizaru standing where he was as his expression gradually turned serious. In truth, Aokiji had touched upon a question buried deep within him. Recently, Kizaru had also had a strange dream—a dream in which he was protecting something important. It had felt so real that even after waking, he could still feel power flowing across his fingertips.

Kizaru shook his head, but deep inside, a voice had begun questioning the beliefs he had always held fast to.

Meanwhile,