Two days earlier, Loa had sent everyone with an assignment to different parts of the world, then set off in pursuit of Poseidon. But aside from the disturbance Poseidon had left upon appearing, Loa could sense nothing.
Like Loa, Poseidon could fly in human form and was exceptionally hard to detect. Unless Poseidon deliberately left a trail, Loa could only race around the world and hope to stumble across his quarry by sheer luck.
That left Aokiji and Crocodile in charge of the Pluton Battleship.
Now, standing at the front of the deck, Aokiji gazed out over the sea with a wistful expression.
"So this is what that world is like!"
Ahead of them, a group was slowly approaching across the sea. They walked on blue-white ice crystals, step by step, drawing closer.
Kizaru still wore that same pursed-lip expression, looking indifferent while complaining about how scary everything was. The Kizaru from the other world looked a little strange seeing it. He had revealed his true personality to Loa and the others long ago, and rarely wore that disguise anymore.
Beside him, Aokiji folded his arms, picking at the corner of one eye as he froze a path for the others. The Fleet Admiral Aokiji from the other world could tell that this version of himself still clung to the same naive ideas. Without the late-night talk between teacher and student on Kuriswia Island, Admiral Aokiji had yet to find a clear purpose.
Between Kizaru and Aokiji, half a step ahead of them, was Akainu, who had died long ago in the other world. He was plainly the most ambitious of the three, just as they knew.
Leaning against the deck railing, Crocodile blew out a ring of smoke. "So this is a world without Lord Loa!"
"Yes, this is