When word spread that Akainu had been blackmailed out of fifty million Berries by Ron,
Aokiji thought it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.
He even brought it up during a Marine strategy meeting just to rub salt in the wound.
But now, standing in Ron's tavern, surrounded by chaos and shards of shattered glass,
he finally realized the universe had a cruel sense of humor.
Because this time—the joke was on him.
"Boss… maybe we can stop now?" Aokiji muttered, surveying the wrecked room.
Across the floor, Borsalino—the tall, lanky Admiral known as Kizaru—was darting back and forth in full retreat.
Behind him, a sleek black cat was chasing him like prey.
Aokiji couldn't help a weary smile.
He'd seen countless strange sights at sea… but this? This took the cake.
"You should probably worry about yourself first," Ron said casually.
Aokiji blinked. "What do you—"
"Freeze the cat! Freeze her, now!!" Kizaru's panicked voice cracked in his ear.
Before Aokiji could even turn, the Light Admiral lunged forward,
grabbing him by the shoulders and shoving him directly into the feline's path.
"Traitor—!" Aokiji barely bit back the curse.
Suppressing the urge to punch his so-called comrade, he activated his power,
frost instantly crawling across the floor.
The black cat—Yoruichi—leapt midair, claws poised to strike.
But before they could land, ice swallowed her whole.
In seconds, she froze solid, mid-pounce.
"Phew… that was close," Aokiji sighed, brushing off his hands and sitting down.
True to his nature, he didn't even glance back at the "explosion."
A real man never looks back at the carnage.
He picked up his drink.
But then—he caught it.
That subtle, knowing smile curving at Ron's lips.
"…Oh no."
He didn't even finish the thought before the sound came—CRACK!
The ice behind him shattered, shards flying.
A blurred black shape blurred forward, and—
THWACK!
Yoruichi's paw slammed straight onto the back of his head.
Stars burst in Aokiji's vision.
He gripped the counter to keep from collapsing face-first.
"...Ow."
"Meow, meow, meow!!"
The sleek cat perched atop the bar, glaring down at both Admirals with smug satisfaction.
"Alright, that's enough," Ron said mildly, wrapping a towel around Yoruichi and lifting her into his arms.
"Meow…" she protested, not angry—just sulky.
Still, she didn't struggle as he brushed the ice from her fur.
"Boss," Aokiji groaned, rubbing his temple, "what is that cat?"
Even Kizaru, nursing a few scratches, looked over curiously.
"She's… uh, just the tavern's pet," Ron said, tone smooth as silk. "Nothing special."
Both Admirals stared blankly.
Nothing special?
What kind of pet could chase two Marine Admirals across a room?
They wisely decided not to ask further.
Aokiji picked his drink back up—but froze mid-sip as another, darker thought struck him.
The bill.
If Ron charged him like he did Akainu, this wouldn't just hurt his wallet—it'd destroy his reputation.
If Sengoku had to wire the money to bail them out,
the Navy's Hawk Faction would laugh for years.
And Akainu… Akainu would roast him at every meeting until retirement.
Aokiji sighed, whispering a silent prayer.
Please, just… not fifty million. Anything but that…
Half an hour later, neither he nor Kizaru had even finished half a bottle.
The stuff was too strong—more flame than drink.
The door suddenly slammed open with a loud bang!
Silvers Rayleigh swaggered in, lugging a wooden crate, pride glowing on his face.
Clearly, the old man had enjoyed another… "victorious" night.
But the instant he spotted the bar's occupants, his grin froze.
Aokiji. Kizaru. Both in uniform.
"Oh, this'll be good," Ron murmured, eyes glinting.
"Got the Devil Fruit?"
"Yeah," Rayleigh said, tossing the box onto the counter.
Then, with an awkward cough, he began to back toward the door.
"Er… forgot to turn off the stove. I'll just—"
Lucoa, who'd been cleaning up the earlier wreckage, turned with a pleasant smile.
"Leaving already? Won't you stay for a drink?"
Rayleigh stiffened.
Even a man who had once faced Gol D. Roger himself knew better than to refuse that woman.
He swallowed hard, remembering Ron's rule: No fighting in the tavern—or face the consequences.
That alone gave him courage to sit.
"Fine!" he said, puffing up his chest and dropping heavily onto the stool beside Kizaru.
"Barkeep, pour me something strong!"
The Admirals exchanged bewildered glances.
Wasn't this man a pirate?
Shouldn't he be running right now?
They both looked down, double-checking the word Justice on their coats,
wondering if they'd accidentally joined the wrong faction.
Still dazed from Yoruichi's ambush, neither of them felt like starting a fight anyway.
Rayleigh rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Say, Ron, got any more of those pills?"
"Those miracle ones?" His eyes gleamed. "Before, I could never handle black holes—
but after taking one of those… I spent the whole night exploring the void!"
Ron smirked. Old dog still has his tricks.
He reached under the counter and tossed over a bottle.
"Take 'em."
Rayleigh caught the pills with reverence, then pushed the crate forward.
Inside lay a single, swirling Devil Fruit covered in storm-shaped patterns.
"Can you tell what kind it is?" he asked.
[Ding! Identified: Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Thunder Dragon. Ancient-type Zoan.]
Ron's eyes lit up. Jackpot.
Seven hundred points at least—this haul was massive.
The fruit disappeared into his system's inventory in a flash of light.
The two Admirals stared, dumbstruck.
That medicine could fetch a Devil Fruit?
"Rayleigh… what kind of pill is that?" Kizaru asked, curiosity overcoming caution.
Rayleigh, never one for secrets, told them straight.
When he finished, both men's expressions turned identical—wide-eyed and gleaming.
Good stuff. Very good stuff.
Their gazes shifted to Ron simultaneously, eyes burning with unspoken request.
After all—what man didn't want to be a little… longer?
"Sorry," Ron said smoothly. "Rayleigh bought the lot.
If you want any, you'll have to bargain with him."
Then he slid a slip of paper across the counter.
"By the way, your tab—and the damages to my tavern—come to fifty million Berries."
He smiled. "Pay before you leave."
There it was. The killing blow.
Aokiji's smile froze; Kizaru's jaw dropped.
Rayleigh burst out laughing. "You two got fleeced too, huh?"
He took a sip of his drink, eyes twinkling.
"Don't pout, boys. Here—let me tell you how Akainu got his turn."
Both Admirals leaned in instantly, curiosity overpowering pride.
Rayleigh smirked, voice dropping to a storyteller's rumble.
"That time, he was leading a Marine squad across the Grand Line. Ran straight into us."
"Akainu, the hot-headed brat he was, didn't even hesitate—
started blasting Meteor Volcano like fireworks over our heads."
"Roger got pissed, drew Ace, and unleashed a single slash—Divine Departure."
He chuckled.
"And Akainu… well, he didn't dodge."
Silence.
Then Kizaru choked on his drink.
Aokiji covered his mouth to hide a grin.
Even Yoruichi, still perched on Ron's shoulder, let out a soft "mrrrow"
—as if laughing right along with them.
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