One Piece: Starting from Awakening the Cosmo at Marineford

After returning to the island, exchanging the warship for the pirate ship, and giving the pirate ship to Law, Aaron, carrying the bag of pirate hearts, ordered the ship to return to its home base, New Marineford.

As soon as the ship entered the dock, Aaron's Den Den Mushi rang.

It's Akainu.

"Come to my office immediately. Come alone."

Aaron hung up the Den Den Mushi, and Hibari quickly said, "I'll go with you!"

Aaron said, "No need. Marshal Sakazuki wouldn't kill me."

The lark pouted and said, "Okay."

Aaron, carrying a cloth bag, entered the office building and went to Akainu's office.

Akainu sat in his office chair, a cigar dangling from his lips, his face grim.

Aaron tossed the bag onto the desk and untied it: "Here are the hearts of one hundred pirates, mostly escapees from Impel Down, and some other pirates with bounties."

Akainu looked at the still-beating hearts, his expression softening slightly: "These hearts are still beating, does that mean those pirates are still alive?"

"Yes. As long as their hearts are pierced, those pirates will die. It can be said that the lives of these pirates are now in the hands of our navy."

Akainu hummed in agreement: "This kind of thing, Trafalgar Law's Devil Fruit ability could accomplish, right?"

"Yes. He did all this in order to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

Akainu stared at the hearts and said, "You did a good job. I'll recommend him to fill this last vacancy."

Akainu sat up straight, leaned forward, and rested his arms on the table.

"Now, let's talk about something else."

Aaron, feigning indifference, asked, "Marshal Sakazuki, are you referring to my killing of Koby and Helmeppo?"

If Aaron could infiltrate Beehive Island, the Navy could naturally also send others in as undercover agents to report the matter to headquarters.

Blackbeard, of course, wouldn't let this news slip by. If word got out that the Navy was fighting amongst themselves, it would somewhat damage the Navy's reputation.

Akainu said in a deep voice, "The crimes they committed can be considered capital offenses. But this requires a trial by a military court; you do not have the authority to execute them."

Over the past ten days or so, Morgan's World Economic Herald has published several commentaries criticizing the Navy's harsh treatment of ordinary sailors. There's also considerable private discussion about this at headquarters.

Aaron said, "Marshal Sakazuki, both Coby and Helmeppo deserted during the Marineford War, but few people know about it. Let's not talk about Helmeppo, but about Coby."

Last year during the Marineford War, I hindered your actions, giving those pirates time and inadvertently creating an opportunity for them.

Besides delaying the battle, obstructing a naval admiral should also be a capital offense, right?

Akainu snorted and stared at Aaron: "I just said that even if they have committed capital crimes, you have no right to execute them."

Aaron said, "I know. I don't want to argue. Just tell me, what kind of punishment will headquarters give me?"

Akainu puffed on his cigar, frowning in thought.

"Aaron! You bastard!"

An angry voice came from the corridor, followed by a loud bang as the door to Akainu's office shattered instantly.

Karp rushed in and punched Aaron.

Before Aaron could even fly away, Karp grabbed Aaron's clothes without saying a word and lifted him up.

"You bastard! You actually killed Koby! He was my beloved disciple!"

Aaron said, "He is not worthy to be your disciple. He is a deserter, a traitor, and he doesn't even deserve to be an ordinary marine."

Garp, furious, puffed out his beard and glared, "You're talking nonsense! He's someone I have high hopes for, how could he be a deserter! Are you saying I'm blind and made a mistake in choosing him?"

Aaron said, "You're not mistaken, he's just very good at hiding it."

Garp roared, "You're talking nonsense! You...you...I'll kill you!"

Aaron remained calm and silent, simply looking at Karp.

Looking at Aaron's face, Karp suddenly remembered that the boy in front of him could also be considered his disciple.

Although the teaching period was short, everything he taught was genuine and high-quality; he held nothing back.

Garp trembled, his grip loosening slightly: "You're not allowed to leave during this time. Reflect on your actions!"

Unable to kill Aaron to avenge his fallen disciple, Garp angrily cursed a few more times, threw Aaron aside, and slowly walked out of the office.

Akainu then said, "You didn't seem scared just now?"

Aaron said, "Vice Admiral Garp can distinguish right from wrong. Even if I were just an ordinary marine, he wouldn't really kill me. Besides, I can also be considered his disciple."

Akainu finally smiled: "You've thought things through. Garp won't do anything to you, but according to military law, you'll still have to pay the price for what you've done."

Aaron said, "Marshal Sakassky, just tell me directly, what kind of punishment does headquarters intend to give me?"

Akainu said, "Originally, you should have been imprisoned for a year. But considering your contributions, it's been changed to a one-year house arrest, and you're not allowed to leave New Marineford."

Aaron sighed, "Alright. But what about Lark? And what about my men?"

"They will be carrying out missions independently during this period. Don't forget, Lark is also a member of SWORD Squad."

"All right."

Akainu, cigar in mouth, exhaled a puff of smoke: "Furthermore, Headquarters will reward you for your contributions and appoint you as a Major General."

Aaron asked, "Can I forgo the promotion to offset the one-year suspension?"

Akainu said, "Do you think Marine Headquarters is a marketplace? You think you can haggle over rewards and punishments? If you don't want a promotion, then forget it."

Aaron laughed and said, "Okay."

Akainu added, "The one-year suspension will take effect immediately."

"Huh? This..."

"Get lost!"

Aaron scratched his head, realizing he'd been completely fooled by Akainu.

Whether or not I get promoted was originally irrelevant. Now they're just canceling it like that, isn't that a joke?

It's better to haggle at the farmers' market.

Aaron shook his head and walked out of Akainu's office.

The larks waited anxiously, and when they saw Aaron come out safely, though he looked a little disheveled, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

As they got closer, Lark noticed that Aaron's face was swollen.

"Senior Aaron, you got hit?"

Aaron said, "Yeah, I got punched."

The lark asked timidly, "Who is it?"

"Lieutenant General Garp."

Hibari breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness, it wasn't him, it was him."

Fombardy was confused: "What do you mean, 'not him, yet his'?"

Lark ignored him and asked Aaron again, "Has headquarters given us any rewards?"

Aaron smiled helplessly: "There's no reward for me. But there is a punishment: a year-long ban from the house."