One Piece: Starting from Awakening the Cosmo at Marineford

Aaron's lips twitched. "So, General Sakazuki, you've come here to settle scores with me?"

Akainu snorted, "Do you think I'm that petty?"

Aaron nodded and said to the bartender, "Hey, these two drinks are on his tab."

"Huh?" The bartender was taken aback.

Although Akainu treated them to these two drinks, this marine was incredibly bold.

Is this "stingy" the same as that "stingy"?

Akainu said in a deep voice, "Neil Aaron, an orphan, joined the Navy two years ago, and is a lieutenant officer in the 74th Division of the North Blue. Am I right?"

Aaron said, "That's right."

For a naval admiral, investigating an ordinary marine is an extremely easy task.

"Your mech from the other day wasn't from the Vinsmoke family, was it?"

"no."

Akainu downed his second drink: "Want to stay at headquarters?"

Headquarters has issued an order that everyone must return to their respective branches first thing tomorrow morning.

At the same time, the current Naval Headquarters will also be relocated, swapping locations with the G1 branch in the New World.

The subsequent reconstruction work at Marineford will be carried out by the marines of the G1 branch.

Aaron has been thinking these past few days about whether there's any way to stay at Marine Headquarters.

If I go back to the naval branch in the North Sea, my activities will be limited to that area, and I will basically miss out on some major events.

Now that Akainu has raised this question, Aaron naturally seizes the opportunity.

"think!"

Explain your reasons.

"At Marine Headquarters, you can face much stronger pirates, and your growth rate will be much faster."

"Is there anything else?"

"Of course, the benefits will be much better."

Just like in real life, there's a difference between first-tier and second- or third-tier cities. For example, even with the same rank of second lieutenant, the salary at the Navy Headquarters can be 30% higher, or even double, compared to that at a branch in the Four Seas.

Akainu looked at Aaron: "Hmm, that's the truth. You'll stay here for the next few days and await my orders."

"it is good."

Akainu didn't seem to care that Aaron's answer wasn't the standard response from a subordinate to a superior. He drank two glasses, then pulled out a 10000-bery bill, handed it to the bartender, and turned to leave.

Aaron finished his drink, nodded to the bartender, and returned to his original table.

As soon as Akainu walked out of the bar, the previously quiet and discordant atmosphere instantly exploded.

The bar returned to its usual lively atmosphere.

"Aaron, what did Admiral Akainu talk to you about?"

Aaron said, "We just chatted for a bit. I'll be staying at Marine Headquarters from now on."

"What?!"

"This is fantastic news! Admiral Akainu is going to promote and cultivate you! But why?"

"He must have witnessed the battle between Aaron and the Whitebeard Pirates' captain!"

"How enviable! I also want to stay at headquarters, but unfortunately, I'm not good enough!"

Aaron said, "Staying at headquarters or in a branch is the same; both are about protecting civilians. There are even more civilians across the world, and they need protection even more."

"Well said! Aaron, no matter where we are, we will fight pirates!"

The group drank until the bar closed before dispersing and returning to their respective dormitories.

Aaron was the only one left in the four-person dormitory room. The other three beds still had perfectly smooth sheets and pillows on them.

Aaron, drunk, lay down on the bed and quickly fell asleep.

The next morning, the loudspeakers at headquarters blared.

Aaron quickly washed up, changed into a clean set of casual clothes, and went to the pier at the head of the bay.

Countless marines were boarding the ship in the square and at the bay. Aaron wandered around for a while but did not see the twenty-odd marines he had been drinking with again.

"Could they be on the other side?"

Aaron didn't dwell on it; happy gatherings and partings are just how things are.

Aaron looked out over the bay and around the perimeter. The densely packed warships had not yet raised their sails, and from the outside, they looked no different from each other.

It was almost noon when all 80,000 to 90,000 people had boarded the ship.

Warships have already set sail one after another.

Marineford has returned to tranquility, and is even quieter than before.

Aaron walked across the square and saw more than a hundred marines and some construction workers who looked like civilians, busy working in the square.

Back in the residential area, the civilians who had temporarily left Marineford for refuge due to the war gradually returned.

Besides bars, restaurants, clothing stores, fruit stalls, and so on, most of them have also resumed business.

Aaron stopped in front of a fruit stand and picked out a few pears.

The vendor weighed it: "950 peso."

Then he patted his pocket and pulled out a 1000-Berry bill: "Keep the change."

The stall owner quickly picked out the largest pear from the pile, put it in a bag, and said with a smile, "Good job, young naval officer! Consider this pear a freebie!"

Aaron smiled and said, "Thank you!"

Aaron carried the bag and ate a bowl of noodles at a noodle shop. Then he crossed the street and returned to the dormitory area.

The area, which had been bustling the night before, had become quiet.

Aaron scratched his head: "It's suddenly become so quiet, it's really a bit strange."

"ah.."

Aaron yawned.

I went to bed late the night before and drank a lot of alcohol. Now I feel sleepy, so I lay down on the bed and fell asleep again.

After an unknown amount of time, a police siren blared: "Woo-woo-woo!"

Aaron jolted awake, jumping out of bed: "That's the enemy attack alarm!"

Aaron jumped out of bed, put on his shoes, went out, and ran quickly toward Oris Square.

The scene was chaotic, with countless vendors packing up and some shops closing their doors and windows.

Some of the bolder ones were still discussing, "We just finished fighting, and now someone else is attacking?"

"Hey, who knows! This world isn't short of audacious pirates."

Ten minutes later, Aaron ran to the edge of the square and could see several marines flying in the distance, as if they were flying kites.

Before they could land, several more marines took to the air.

The civilians dropped their picks and shovels and ran towards Aaron as fast as they could.

Aaron quickened his pace, passing the civilians, and ran towards the marines who were being "beaten up".

"gumugumulu!"

The enemy of those marines was none other than Straw Hat Luffy, who had returned. There were two other people standing not far behind him.

One is Jinbe, the former Shichibukai, and the other is Rayleigh, the left-hand man of the Pirate King.

Jinbe looked serious, while Rayleigh had a smile on his face, as if he was very satisfied and pleased with Luffy's actions.

Jinbe had already spotted Aaron and his gaze was fixed on him.

Rayleigh had obviously noticed it too, but he only glanced at it casually and continued to observe Luffy's battle.

Aaron was furious and ran even faster.

As they drew closer, Aaron shouted, "Stop!"

Aaron took off the pendant from his chest and threw it into the air.

A burst of orange-yellow light flashed, and a high-pitched, passionate phoenix cry suddenly rang out, even threatening to drown out the sound of sirens.

More than a dozen pieces of red, yellow, and white metal armor flew toward Aaron as he ran, and one by one they attached themselves to his body.