Lin Yuan whirled around and stared intently at the ice. A tall figure slowly took shape on its surface, standing over three meters high.
It was Aokiji Kuzan, the future Marine Admiral.
"Marine Admiral Candidate, Aokiji Kuzan!"
Watching him warily, Lin Yuan spoke Kuzan's name one word at a time.
Although Kuzan's tone remained calm, Lin Yuan did not let down his guard in the slightest. The constant sense of danger kept his nerves on edge.
He knew Kuzan had his eye on him and could strike a fatal blow at any moment, even though he was only a ten-year-old child.
"Robin and I have known each other since we were little. My name is Lin Yuan. When I was five, pirates attacked my family. I only survived because I drifted to Ohara."
Aokiji raised an eyebrow. His Observation Haki had remained fixed on Lin Yuan all along, and he watched the boy's tone, expression, and changes in heartbeat.
At last, Kuzan reached a conclusion: the child before him had actually been telling the truth. His heart sank again.
"Another tragedy caused by pirates?"
But when he thought about what the Marines and the World Government had done this time, especially Sakazuki's bombardment of the evacuation ship, his spirits sank.
Lin Yuan said nothing. He knew that Aokiji Kuzan's sense of justice would change completely after this mission.
But for now, they were enemies. He did not think Kuzan would spare him just because he had spared Robin.
For a moment, both fell silent. Neither spoke.
After a while, Kuzan seemed to recover from his low spirits. Looking at the young child staring at him warily, he waved a hand listlessly.
"You can go. If I hear you've done anything evil in the future, I'll personally take your life."
Lin Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed they had gotten past this hurdle. Holding Robin, he nodded to Kuzan, then turned and headed toward Olvia.
But as he turned, the Famous Sword that Robin's body had been blocking suddenly came into view.
A glint flashed in Kuzan's eyes. He had already decided to let them go, but he suddenly remembered the slash that had erupted in the direction of the Tree of Knowledge.
"Wait!"
Lin Yuan's heart skipped a beat. He did not know why Kuzan had called him back, so he could only steady himself and turn to face him.
"Hey, kid, can you tell me if those slashes on the island were yours? Why did you go to the Tree of Knowledge? What exactly are you after?"
Lin Yuan's expression tightened. He had not expected Kuzan to notice him using his swordsmanship earlier. He quickly weighed his options.
Kuzan had long since locked onto Lin Yuan with his Observation Haki, sensing his heartbeat and watching his expression. When he noticed the subtle change in Lin Yuan's face, he became certain the boy had a secret he could not reveal.
So whatever Lin Yuan said next would not be the truth.
"I went there to look for Robin. I had no other purpose."
A faint, amused smile appeared on Kuzan's lips. Looking in the direction Lin Yuan had come from, he confirmed his suspicions.
"Hey, kid, if you won't tell the truth, don't expect to leave here today."
Hearing that, Lin Yuan let out a breath, seemingly resigned. It looked like this would not end peacefully.
Ignoring Kuzan, Lin Yuan walked a short distance away and stomped, shattering the ice. He then set Robin down against the upturned chunks of ice, took off his coat, and covered her with it.
Kuzan did not stop him. He watched quietly, and when he saw Lin Yuan cover the little girl he had spared with his coat, something flickered in his eyes.
After settling Robin, Lin Yuan walked toward Kuzan, drawing the Famous Sword at his waist.
"You launched a Buster Call and wiped out all of Ohara. You even shelled the evacuation ships the World Government had prepared."
"And now, after committing such a vicious act, you're questioning what I'm after? Kuzan, how can you show your face and question me!"
"I only want Robin and me to live in peace, but even that chance is being taken away. Heh, even though I'm only ten, I'll draw my sword and fight today so we can live."
"I'd like to see just how strong Aokiji Kuzan, one of the Marines' three great monsters, really is!"
Lin Yuan gripped his sword with both hands and stared intently at Kuzan. He was no match for Kuzan, but he would enjoy cursing him out first.
Hearing the fierce words from the child before him, even Kuzan could not stop his face from twitching. Already troubled by the mission, he felt even more depressed and could not help questioning the justice he stood for.
What a chance!
Seeing Kuzan momentarily distracted, Lin Yuan immediately seized the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although he had never truly fought to kill anyone in his previous life, he had trained and naturally knew the value of striking first.
"Flying Slash: Starshine..."
A golden slash burst forth and struck fiercely at Kuzan. As Lin Yuan watched expectantly, it sliced him to pieces.
Boom...
The shock wave from the slash shattered the ice, and seawater surged up from below.
Lin Yuan put on a faint smile, pretending his attack had succeeded, but he was even more alert. He knew Kuzan, who had eaten the Ice-Ice Fruit, could not be defeated with a single slash.
He smiled only to mislead his opponent. After all, he was still very young.
Thanks to the Zhu Jiuyin Fruit, he could take on even a Marine Vice Admiral if he gave it his all, but defeating Kuzan was simply impossible.
After all, the gap between a Marine Vice Admiral and an Admiral was far too wide.
"Hey, kid, sneak attacks aren't a good habit. A swordsman this young-you've got monstrous talent! Interested in joining the Marines?"
"I'm not interested in joining the Marines!"
Lin Yuan was taken aback. He had not expected Kuzan to try to recruit him. If he had only just transmigrated, joining the Marines would indeed have been an option.
But now he was considered one of Ohara's survivors, and there was Robin too. The World Government could easily find that out.
Knowing the World Government, it would rather kill the wrong person than let anyone slip through. Lin Yuan did not think Kuzan, who had yet to become an Admiral, could protect him from it.
Even if Kuzan did protect him, he would not be comfortable living as the World Government's dog. He said nothing, however, and raised his sword.
Its tip pointed toward Ohara, which had been engulfed in flames.
Kuzan looked toward Ohara and seemed to understand what Lin Yuan meant.
"Sigh, what a pain. Looks like I can't let you go. A swordsman so young would be far too terrifying once he grew up."
Lin Yuan: Who do you think you are, Borsalino?
"Two Pheasant Beaks..."
"Twin Flame Slash..."
There was no point saying another word when they could not agree. Kuzan could not help feeling some regret, but as a Marine, he could not let this monstrous little fellow go.
Seeing Kuzan attack, Lin Yuan struck with all his strength as well. A red slash of flame rushed toward the incoming ice spears.
Boom...
The ice spears and the flame slash collided with a deafening sound. The ice exploded, sending murky seawater surging upward.
Lin Yuan did not attack again. Instead, he darted in front of Robin. Unconscious, she had no way to defend herself and would not survive the shock wave from the battle.
"Hey, kid, you let your guard down!"
"What!"
Just as Lin Yuan shielded Robin from the shock wave, Kuzan suddenly appeared beside him, cold vapor rising from his face.
By the time Lin Yuan reacted, a mass of ice had appeared beneath his feet, freezing him solid in an instant.
"Sigh, what a shame!"
"Hot-blooded justice-how ridiculous! What exactly is my justice?"