How can I become the Pirate King if you don’t work hard?.

Chapter 422 Aokiji Reappears, the Battle for Marshalship!
"Ah la ah la~"

Aokiji reached up and scratched his head, his tone still as languid as ever:
"Let's put the navy and justice aside for now."

"I haven't even mentioned how brutally you attacked your own comrade! I almost lost this leg back then, you bastard!"

On the other end of the phone.

Akainu's breath hitched. He looked down at the gruesome scar on his arm and retorted:
"You have absolutely no reason to criticize me on this point."

"When are you coming back?!"

Give me a straight answer!

Seeing that Akainu was losing patience, Aokiji looked up at the approaching port in the distance and couldn't help but stretch:
"Let's talk about that later."

"I really want to see the countries that Professor Zefa hasn't seen."

"Britannias?!"

"Ah~"

"If you become a pirate, I won't hold back!"

"At this point, what's the point of the Navy, pirates, and the World Government?!"

Aokiji shook his head, his tone undisguisedly sarcastic:
"Or do you not know what the World Government, no, the Celestial Dragons, really are!"

"So be it."

Before Akainu could answer, Aokiji immediately hung up the phone and leisurely rode his bicycle on a journey across the sea.

This life.

Gawain's existence changed a lot, but many things remained unchanged.

After Fleet Admiral Sengoku resigned, he recommended Aokiji to succeed him, while the Five Elders preferred the more aggressive Akainu.

Both of them were aware of each other's personality flaws.

Aokiji's heart wavered; his stance on himself and the Navy was not firm. Such a person was destined not to become a qualified Fleet Admiral.

Akainu, on the other hand, acts too aggressively and to extremes. Although he is much better than in the original timeline, he is still a quintessential hawk in the Navy.

The two men were unwilling to yield to each other for the position of marshal, and eventually engaged in a fierce battle on Punk Hazard.

The battle lasted for ten days and ten nights, and finally ended with Aokiji's defeat due to exhaustion.

However, unlike the original timeline, although the two still disagree on politics, their private relationship has improved considerably because of the T-bone.

Aokiji didn't lose a leg, and Akainu's scars weren't as gruesome.

After this battle.

Akainu became Fleet Admiral, while Aokiji, citing injury, temporarily withdrew from the front lines and took a vacation, traveling the world on his bicycle.

From the ruins of Ohara to the former site of the Neo Navy, and then to Raven Harbor in the East Sea.

It was there that Aokiji saw Zephyr's tombstone.

In the boundless golden fields, Zepha's tombstone stands silently, watching over the distant sea and the laughter in the fields.

It was in that field that Aokiji met Ain, and also met Zephyr's former student.

Aokiji did not appear, but only glanced at them from afar. In these people, he saw a hope he had never had before.

The words Gawain said back in Alabasta still echoed in my ears.

Especially after witnessing the darkness within the World Government over the past two years, Aokiji found it even more unbearable.

The times created pirates, and the World Government created this distorted era.

It was at that moment that Aokiji suddenly understood why Zephyr had gone to such lengths.

Pirates...

Pirates...

How many ambitious individuals truly and willingly choose to become pirates?
"The times created pirates; to end pirates, we must first end this era!"

"The existence of Professor Zephyr has proven that it is impossible to change the World Government by relying on a revolution within the Navy from the inside out."

"After all, the Navy exists because it relies on the World Government and the endorsement of the Celestial Dragons."

"So-called justice...is derived from this?!"

"Ambiguous justice, absolute justice, burning justice, languid justice..."

"wrong!"

"Completely wrong!"

"In the Navy, only the Celestial Dragons uphold justice!"

"Justice is not in Marineford!"

It was from this moment that Aokiji felt the urge to go and see Britannias.

……

call--!
The sea breeze blowing in from the harbor dispelled the biting coldness on Aokiji's body, and he felt a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time.

soon.

The bicycles entered the harbor of Britannias.

Aokiji finally set foot on this land as he had wished.

just.

In the harbor, a figure with a cigar in his mouth was already standing there waiting.

"Sashiburidana~"

"Smoker~"

Aokiji was somewhat surprised.

He expected to see acquaintances here, but he never imagined that the person would be Smoker.

The feud between Smoker and Gawain can be traced back to the East Sea period.

Having suffered two consecutive crushing defeats at the hands of Gawain, given Smoker's pride, he is likely unwilling to accept it.

In Aokiji's mind, this man would never bow down to pirates.

But at this moment.

Smoker still had a cigar in his mouth and his expression remained as resolute as ever, but he had taken off his military uniform and put on a set of light knight's armor.

"Ah~"

Smoker nodded and said:

"It's been a long time since we last saw each other."

"However, as a naval admiral, I cannot ignore your presence here."

"but."

between words.

Smoker's face lacked the warmth and casualness of an old friend reminiscing; instead, it betrayed a subtle wariness.
"Even if my closest friend wants to take action against this country, he'll have to get past me first!"

Aokiji's lips twitched:
"Oh~"

"Your change of stance is quite swift; have you already forgotten the justice you once upheld?"

Smoker pointed to the sword and shield flag in the harbor, his tone firm:

"This is the justice I bear now!"

Aokiji fell silent for a moment.

Look around.

On the faces of the common people of Britannias who were passing by, I saw the same things as those of the people working in the wheat fields of Raven Harbor.

Hope and stability.

Aokiji suddenly understood why both Zephyr and Smoker had placed their hopes on Gawain.

He pointed to his clothes:
“I am on leave for the time being. Once I take off that uniform, I am no longer an enforcer of justice.”

"Is this so..."

Smoker's expression softened slightly. He stopped his steam motorcycle, familiarly led Aokiji to a tavern, ordered two large glasses of beer and a few strawberry pies, and then sat down to chat.

During the conversation, Aokiji mostly talked about what happened to the Navy after Smoker left, mentioning his fight with Akainu, which even made Smoker sweat with worry.

More than anything, I felt fortunate.

"Even you're no match for that guy?!"

Smoker couldn't help but exclaim in admiration and offered words of comfort:

"but."

"If they can fight for ten days and ten nights, the difference between them shouldn't be too great. Perhaps if the battlefield or the time were different, the outcome of the battle would be completely different."

"Are you kidding me?"

Aokiji shook his head, his languid expression vanishing, replaced by a rare seriousness:

"Although I'm reluctant to admit it, if that guy hadn't shown mercy a few times, the battle would have been..."

"It's already over."

“After losing his best friend T-Bone, Sakazuki changed a lot. His personality was no longer as radical as before, and he began to reflect on whether his actions were right or wrong.”

"He also went through a period of confusion, but after his crushing defeat at the hands of Whitebeard in the Marineford War, Sakazuki rose again." "His combat strength... far surpasses what it once was!"

"I even doubt that Mr. Garp at his peak would be a match for that monster."

Smoker paused slightly in his hand holding the wine glass, his expression serious as he said:
"So, the one who has now succeeded as Marshal is Sakazuki?!"

"what."

Smoker said with a solemn expression:

"This is hardly good news."

Smoker had witnessed Akainu's attitude towards pirates and knew better what kind of consequences a navy led by such a person would cause.

The sea...

Another period of turmoil is about to begin!
Smoker looked at Aokiji and asked:

"And you? Are you really planning to work for that guy?"

"Excuse my bluntness, but you two never got along, and now you're actually together..."

"The navy is likely to split up again."

"Hahaha……"

Aokiji chuckled and skipped the question, instead asking about Smoker. He quickly learned from Smoker about the Neo Navy's disastrous defeat.

"Is that so..."

"Having gone through so much, Professor Zephyr chose to stay in Raven Harbor and guard his wheat fields, while you and Yisheng chose to join Britannias..."

"Does that man really have that much charm?!"

As soon as the words came out.

Aokiji then realized he had said something pointless.

Gawain's words in Alabasta still echoed in his ears, so what reason did he have to question them?
really.

The next instant, Aokiji saw an unusual awe on Smoker's face, an expression he had only seen before when Smoker first met Zephyr.

"Of course!"

"Captain Gawain... he is a true being capable of changing the world!"

"I am absolutely certain of this!"

"The prosperity of Britannias is as you can see!"

Aokiji paused for a moment, then said sarcastically:
"But you said before..."

"That was before."

Smoker remained completely unfazed:
"Back then, I thought the navy could save the world!"

Qing Pheasant was speechless for a moment.

He had no way to refute this, so he could only pick up the wine glass on the table and drink it all in one gulp.

The two chatted on and off, not about the navy or pirates, nor about justice or evil, but only about their experiences over the years, and they talked until late at night.

After a satisfying meal and drinks.

Just as the two were about to leave, Gao Wen had already walked into the bar and casually sat down at a corner of a table.

Smoker was about to get up to greet them when Gawain stopped him.

"Why are there so many rigid rules?"

Say it.

Gawain turned to look at Aokiji, a cold glint in his eyes, and said directly:

"navy……"

"Did they already know the world was about to sink?!"

Qingzhi remained silent.

"really."

Gao Wen shook his head, his eyes filled with even more mockery, but he still suppressed the anger in his heart.

He received the news as early as when Aokiji was approaching Britannias.

They had anticipated the Navy's actions and were simply there to get to the bottom of things.

Seeing Aokiji's expression confirmed his suspicions.

"Why?!"

"Why did you hide it?!"

"Even if telling everyone would cause panic, organizing shipyards and mass-producing survival ships is an easy task for both the World Government and the Navy."

Aokiji shook his head and said:

"You are not allowed to do anything."

“This is an order from Mary Geoise.”

“At first I had the same thought as you, but then I understood.”

"The world is silent, and the land is shrinking. This is a process. With each additional person, the remaining people will have one less piece of land to go around."

"The land on the Red Earth Continent... is also finite."

"Ah……"

Gawain chuckled softly:
"Justice!"

"Justice!"

Say it.

Gao Wen got up and left, unwilling to say another word.

Knight Gawain didn't have high hopes for the navy; what made him look at Aokiji differently was the navy.

But now, the apparent confusion surrounding justice is also a form of tacit approval.

"..."

Aokiji looked at Gao Wen.

under the moonlight.

Gawain's shadow stretched very long.

He appeared unusually lonely amidst the laughter of the other drinkers.

Smoker put down his glass, looked at Aokiji, and asked again:

"Have you thought this through?!"

"Will you stay on the navy ship and go down this path to the bitter end, or will you come with me?!"

Aokiji remained silent for a long time, then murmured:

“Sakazuki is an aggressive and ruthless guy; he needs a lock.”

"Besides, that guy isn't exactly a loyal dog of the World Government. Although he's radical, his sense of justice is on the side of the majority, I think..."

"I want to try and see if we can find a way to survive together with him!"

boom--!
Smoker put down his glass, waved to Aokiji, and then followed Gawain.

under the moonlight.

Aokiji sat quietly alone in the open-air bar.

The surrounding area was filled with countless drinkers.

They wore smiles, and their smiles revealed satisfaction.

There was no fear, no panic, and no numbness from indulging in escapism.

Britannias... is hopeful.

When Aokiji thought of this.

What comes to mind is the pirate flag flying over Marineford.

Is there any hope left for the navy?
Aokiji was unaware of this, but he knew that if he also abandoned the Navy, it would be tantamount to pushing those marines to their doom.

Leaving aside those extreme marines who regard the World Government and the Celestial Dragons as the epitome of justice, the vast majority of marines always adhere to justice.

These people should not be abandoned and made victims.

Besides...

Who says the Navy can't uphold true justice?!

The split Neo Navy isn't enough to shake the World Government, so what about the entire Navy?!
Justice does not require a medal from a world government.

These were Zephyr's words to Aokiji, which he kept in his heart and further solidified his resolve to take the path he was about to embark on.

Aokiji got up, walked out of the bar, and headed in the opposite direction from Yu Gaowen and Smoker.

He has found the path he wants to take in the future, and he is no longer lost.

Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Step by step, steadily and firmly.

In the blink of an eye, Aokiji's figure disappeared at the end of the streets of Britannias.

(End of this chapter)