Aokiji's eyes trembled slightly.
He hadn't seen incorrectly just now; Uehara Naraku was definitely using freezing abilities, not the inferior Snow-Snow Fruit, but pure freezing power.
But...
He, Navy Admiral Aokiji, was the Ice-Ice Fruit user!
This guy, Uehara Naraku, was using freezing abilities in front of him, a Fruit Ability User. What exactly was his power? Could it be the replication of Devil Fruit abilities...
"Don't like it?"
Uehara Naraku maintained a gentle smile on his face, looking at the Navy Admiral before him, continuing with a smile: "Because this place is too simple, if there is any lack in hospitality, I hope Mr. Kuzan will be generous..."
"No."
Aokiji shook his head and spoke calmly: "Leveling the whole island and creating such a luxurious dueling arena to welcome me is indeed too extravagant..."
"Hahahaha..."
Uehara Naraku laughed and waved his hand, then said seriously: "Don't blame me; you're an Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, after all. Such a place is befitting of your status!"
The words were somewhat uncomfortable to hear.
Clearly, Uehara Naraku was praising Aokiji's status, yet his tone sounded as if a superior was looking at a child.
After Uehara Naraku finished speaking, he spread his palm to introduce the dueling arena: "I worked hard to create this battleground yesterday; it will absolutely allow Mr. Kuzan to exert his full power here..."
"Such thoughtfulness..."
Aokiji slowly tilted his head, his gaze moving to Nico Robin standing nearby: "It seems there was a slight error in the intelligence; I thought Miss Robin was your superior, but now it appears she has joined another organization..."
"..."
Tiny beads of cold sweat appeared on Nico Robin's forehead.
Ever since she was eight, Aokiji had been the enemy who brought her to the brink of disaster, her fear and the shadow he cast were not something that could be erased in a short time.
Nico Robin's expression grew increasingly uncomfortable; she muttered softly: "Why are you here... Are you here to kill me again?"
"That's correct."
Aokiji nodded slowly, continuing gently: "After all, as the last archaeologist from Ohara, you are still too dangerous for this world..."
After saying this, Aokiji's gaze slowly moved from Robin to Uehara Naraku: "Now, it seems you have joined a more dangerous organization! In that case, I can't let you go anymore..."
"Don't say that."
Uehara Naraku picked up a glass of juice from the stone table, sipping it leisurely, and spoke softly: "We are but a peaceful organization dedicated to mediating world wars; no one longs for world peace more than us..."
Aokiji: "..."
Someone who just killed the King of Drum Island sitting here, planning to challenge a Navy Admiral, tells me they're a peaceful organization?
Hoshigaki Kisame and Nico Robin's expressions were somewhat strange.
Seeing their expressions, Uehara seemed to realize something and quickly corrected himself: "Sorry, it slipped... Anyway, Mr. Kuzan only needs to know our hearts are truly righteous and bright."
"You all don't resemble such people in the slightest!"
Aokiji's eyelids twitched, gripping the glass of ice water and swallowing it whole: "You look more like conspirators... I see no justice in your eyes!"
"That's because we're pretending to be villains."
Uehara Naraku nonchalantly explained: "We are currently agents of a company called Baroque Works; this Baroque Works is a criminal enterprise, and the boss of this company is nothing good, so we must imitate the boss!"
Nico Robin: "..."
Is this where it begins?
Can Uehara Naraku even pretend to be a normal person for a bit?
Sand Crocodile might fight you to death when he hears about this!
"What do you mean?"
Aokiji's brows furrowed slightly as he looked strangely at Uehara Naraku: "Can you speak a little slower? I'm a bit unclear about what you mean... So, who is the boss of this Baroque Works?"
"It's Sand Crocodile Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
Uehara Naraku nonchalantly leaked the identity of Sand Crocodile to Aokiji, observing the Navy Admiral before him show no change upon hearing Crocodile's name.
Evidently, this Navy Admiral didn't regard the Seven Warlords of the Sea highly.
Uehara Naraku's expression immediately tightened, speaking solemnly: "Hey, what's with that expression? Show some seriousness!"
As Uehara Naraku spoke, his emotions grew increasingly agitated: "That's Sand Crocodile Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, with a bounty of 81 million! In his youth, he narrowly lost to the strongest man in the world, Whitebeard, in one move, a Great Pirate!"
Uehara Naraku suddenly clenched his fist, becoming more and more emotional: "If there's anyone else in this world who can reach Laugh Tale and become the second Pirate King, it must be Mr. Crocodile!"
These words were true enough to sound like a loyal lackey of Crocodile; even Crocodile himself would hardly find fault with them.
At this moment, Uehara felt like an acting emperor.
Unfortunately, his courage and strength didn't quite match his performance.
A man wanting to challenge a Navy Admiral was here saying he was a subordinate of one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?
This guy's act was too fake!
Aokiji watched Uehara Naraku's performance expressionlessly.
If he hadn't met Crocodile a few times before and seen Uehara Naraku's setup, Aokiji might have actually convinced himself to be lazy-minded and believed Uehara Naraku's nonsense.
This Navy Admiral helplessly rubbed his forehead: "Sir... were you a drama actor graduate? No, I should say acting in a play isn't quite enough! I've seen no trace of respect for Crocodile in your eyes!"
"Are you questioning my loyalty to Mr. Crocodile?"
Uehara Naraku's face flashed with an anger, his fist gradually clenched tighter: "In this world, no one respects Mr. Crocodile more than I do!"
"Hey, hey, hey..."
Aokiji looked at Uehara Naraku like this, and felt it was hard to watch.
Aokiji couldn't help but rub his brow: "That's enough! The way you're acting reckless... is there really anyone who dares to be your superior?"
"..."
The entire audience fell into silence.
The anger on Uehara Naraku's face gradually dissipated, and he restored his smile: "Hehe, it seems the Navy Admiral's intelligence isn't as low as I imagined... Seriously, you managed to see through my perfect performance!"
"Your acting was just too poor!"
Aokiji couldn't help but retort, and gestured to this dueling arena with his hand: "If we two met by chance on the ocean, you on a small pirate ship, maybe I might slightly believe your nonsense..."
He is an Admiral of the Navy Headquarters!
No pirate in the world would take it lightly upon seeing him, especially here in the First Half of the Grand Line!
In the First Half of the Grand Line, any pirate would fear the pursuit of an Admiral, yet Uehara Naraku, knowing his Admiral identity and strength, still set up a super luxurious dueling arena here!
"Enough of the rambling..."
Aokiji slowly put down his hand, his face showed a shadow: "Can you tell me your true identity now? Otherwise, I can't guarantee your life will survive later..."
At this moment, Aokiji's aura suddenly changed!
A chill emitted from him, making everyone present involuntarily feel the temperature in the air plummet!
Aokiji's aura was so strong it was suffocating, at this moment he temporarily set aside his laziness and fully displayed the prestige of an Admiral!
Hoshigaki Kisame's expression also changed slightly!
Nico Robin was so scared she almost collapsed!
"Ha... truly worthy of being an Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, really scary!"
Uehara Naraku spoke, his smile unchanged, he even leisurely continued to sip some juice.
Uehara Naraku's mocking words and actions couldn't help but remind Aokiji of his other slightly evil colleague.
"You... just as nasty as Borsalino!"
Aokiji couldn't help but pat his forehead, his expression turned more serious: "I don't want to waste time with you ambiguous folks..."
"Then let's begin!"
Uehara Naraku clutched his juice, lazily leaned back in his stone chair.
The next moment, Uehara Naraku's expression suddenly went somewhat wild: "Please fully display your strength in front of me, let me see how strong the Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, claimed to be the highest force of the World Government, can really be!
If your power isn't enough, you will no longer have the qualification to stand before me, and I'll have someone make your corpse into a piece of artwork!"
After saying this, Uehara Naraku's expression suddenly changed, his mouth curled up slightly into a gentle smile: "If your power can slightly entertain me, I don't mind telling you our true identity..."
Uehara Naraku sat upright, clasping his hands on the table, his smile appeared extremely mysterious: "Like the beauty of sunrise, able to bring hope to this world, Dawn..."
Uehara Naraku's words were vague and mysterious...
But they really made Aokiji feel he was talking about something remarkable!
Aokiji's expression gradually became more solemn, the chill from his body lowering further, even frosting the chair!
"Go, Kisame!"
Uehara Naraku waved towards the tall fishman beside him, shouted loudly: "Let our Admiral sir give you a pointer, also let me see the power you've mastered now..."
"Yes, Lord Uehara."
Hoshigaki Kisame grinned, revealing his full set of shark teeth, he slowly unsheathed the Shark Skin Greatsword, Armament Haki quickly wrapped around the Shark Skin.
The Shark Skin Greatsword turned completely black rapidly!
This scene made Aokiji's eyes reveal a trace of surprise.
On the ocean, Armament Haki is not rare.
But in the First Half of the Grand Line, pirates able to use Armament Haki, and directly wrap it around a weapon, are extremely rare.
Many pirates in the First Half of the Grand Line probably haven't even heard of Haki.
Such a character...
Now only has a 15 million bounty!
Even 150 million seems a bit unqualified!
Even more ironic, such a person is merely a subordinate beside Uehara Naraku, while Uehara Naraku himself has only an 8 million bounty.
These folks...
Really hidden deeply!
"Please!"
Hoshigaki Kisame grinned, invited Kuzan to the arena, his smile gradually turning fierce and grim: "According to Lord Uehara's wishes, the only rule in his dueling arena is no rules!"
"Looks like I really was underestimated!"
Aokiji couldn't help but scratch his head, followed Hoshigaki Kisame to the broad arena, he couldn't help but whisper: "Is it your strength too strong? Or do you underestimate others' power?"
"Really confidence beyond imagination!"
Hoshigaki Kisame couldn't help but glance at Aokiji, his smile still Fierce and grim: "I never underestimate anyone's strength... but Lord Uehara is different... no matter how he underestimates you, it's also a praise!"