Chapter 56: The Decision

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"Hmm… hmm?"

Aokiji nearly dropped the Transponder Snail in his hand, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What did you say? You killed Crocodile?"

Ian nodded calmly, his voice unwavering. "That's right. I took him down."

"..." Aokiji's usual laid-back expression vanished, replaced by a somber gravity. 

He wanted to dismiss it as a joke, but Ian's tone was devoid of any hint of humor. Although he hadn't personally interacted with Ian yet, he knew of the reports from Momousagi, Chaton, Kizaru, and even Sengoku and Garp. A demon who had escaped from the clutches of pirates and now claimed to have killed Crocodile… it had to be true.

A part of him wanted to question if Ian was even capable of such a feat. While he possessed a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit and formidable swordsmanship, Crocodile was a seasoned Warlord, a veteran of countless battles.

He was nothing like Moria, who had retreated to the shadows of Thriller Bark after his defeat, his strength stagnating over two decades. Crocodile, on the other hand, harbored ambitions of world domination. Could they even be compared?

How could a rookie who had emerged only a few months ago possess such power? But then again, hatred was a powerful motivator, capable of pushing individuals to unimaginable heights. It wasn't entirely impossible.

The thought sent a shiver down Aokiji's spine. Two Warlords had fallen at Ian's hands within a few short months.

He had initially opposed the Warlord system, so he wasn't entirely against Ian's actions. But the loss of two Warlords would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the world, potentially triggering a tsunami of chaos.

Ian's voice continued, "He was plotting to seize control of Alabasta, inciting rebellion and chaos, all for the ancient weapon, Pluton."

"You, as an Admiral, should be aware of this, right? Sengoku must have informed you. I witnessed Crocodile meeting with Diamante, one of Doflamingo's executives, trading weapons and dance powder. They openly discussed their plans."

"I couldn't wait for him to act before apprehending him. He tried to kill me, so I eliminated him. I didn't expect him to be so weak, though. He's just like Moria."

Ian's voice grew heated, his words laced with righteous fury. "And he slaughtered everyone on Whiskey Peak! I couldn't forgive that."

"The Warlords, the Marines, and the Four Emperors are the three pillars that maintain balance in this world. They are crucial… You defeating Moria already caused a significant disruption. We can't afford to lose another Warlord so soon."

"Using pirates to control pirates is a policy established by the World Government. It's not something we can easily change."

Aokiji massaged his temples, sighing wearily. "You're still so young… You're disrupting the balance of power."

"We had already received orders to monitor Crocodile's activities. We would have intervened if he made a move. There was no need for you to act alone."

Aokiji's voice was a mixture of astonishment and exasperation. "We still haven't found a suitable replacement for Moria, and now you've killed Crocodile. The consequences will be severe. Without a Warlord in Paradise, piracy will surge, putting even greater pressure on the Marines."

"We might not agree with granting pirates the right to plunder, but the Marines need them for now. The World Government refuses to implement a global draft, so our hands are tied."

"It's all about control, isn't it? Those self-proclaimed descendants of gods fear that even the Marines might slip from their grasp."

"But I'll handle this vacancy. I have someone in mind. Ace was initially suggested as Moria's replacement, but I wasn't even a Marine at the time, so Garp stepped in."

"Who is it?" Aokiji asked, his voice laced with concern.

"I'll keep it a surprise for now. But I can assure you, he's as strong as Mihawk, perhaps even an Admiral. He's also a man of unwavering justice, dedicated to serving the Marines."

"That way, even if the Warlord system is abolished in the future, he'll still be a valuable asset. There are many skilled individuals in the world. If we implemented a global draft, the Four Emperors wouldn't stand a chance."

"If we can't trust the Warlords, it's better to have positions filled by individuals we can rely on. But those old geezers are too obsessed with control." Ian chuckled.

He was referring to Fujitora, the blind swordsman who would later replace Aokiji and Akainu as an Admiral. There was also Green Bull, but his identity remained a mystery. With his Forest-Forest Fruit, he was the Hashirama Senju of the One Piece world, while Fujitora was akin to Madara Uchiha, capable of summoning meteorites.

"If we can't find anyone suitable, then I'll become a Warlord myself!" His declaration stunned the Marine captain and Tashigi, who were listening nearby. What a bold decision…

"You're joking, right? You have the potential to become an Admiral, perhaps even surpass us." Aokiji yawned, his usual nonchalance returning. "By the way, was there a pirate named Nico Robin among Crocodile's crew? The Devil Child?"

Aokiji couldn't resist inquiring about the girl entrusted to him by his friend, Vice Admiral Saul. He had missed the recent headquarters meeting to search for her, hoping to convince her to leave Crocodile's side. But where could she go?

His relentless pursuit was merely a way to ensure her safety.

This was Aokiji, the compassionate Admiral, whose Ice-Ice Fruit reflected his gentle nature and his unique sense of justice. Whenever possible, he spared those who were forced to make difficult choices, those who were victims of circumstance.

"The Devil Child? Nico Robin, the survivor of Ohara? No, she wasn't there. But since it's your request, Kuzan-san, I'll spare her life…"

Before unleashing his devastating Raigo attack, Ian had confirmed Robin's absence using his Observation Haki. Even if she had been present, Crocodile would have likely spared her life, given her importance to his plans.

After all, she was essential to deciphering the poneglyphs and locating Pluton. But now, it was irrelevant. Crocodile was dead.

"Hey…" Aokiji called out, but Ian had already ended the call. He wanted to know how Ian intended to spare Robin's life, but his words…

"I won't tolerate evil, nor will I allow a good person to be wronged."

His sense of justice resonated with Aokiji, a stark contrast to Kizaru's passive indifference.

Ian had angered Doflamingo, and he would soon return to headquarters. Doflamingo, scarred by his traumatic childhood, considered his executives as family. He had a history of crossing oceans to avenge them.

But if Ian could defeat several of Doflamingo's executives and Crocodile, their strength must be comparable.

Gazing out the window at the Marines working tirelessly to maintain peace and the new recruits honing their skills, Aokiji wondered if Ian's presence would usher in a new era for the Marines. He believed it would.

He picked up Sengoku's Transponder Snail. He had to report this incident to his superiors.

In Pangaea Castle, on the holy ground of Mary Geoise, Sengoku sat across from the Five Elders in a spacious, pristine conference room, a document clutched in his hand.

"That concludes the recent developments and future plans for the New World. We'll be focusing our efforts on monitoring the activities of the Kaido and Big Mom Pirates."

"Excellent work. Prioritize stability and avoid any unnecessary disruptions." The blond-haired Elder stated.

"Speaking of which, we still haven't found a suitable replacement for Moria among the Warlords. Fire Fist Ace declined our offer."

"Moria's absence will create an imbalance in Paradise. But those who lack sufficient strength are not worthy of the Warlord title. Crocodile's plot to seize Alabasta and acquire Pluton, despite its current state of decay, is a serious concern."

"The Marines have already diverted resources to address this issue." One of the Elders stated gravely.

Another Elder chimed in, "What is Garp thinking? He failed to recruit Fire Fist Ace, yet he refuses to arrest him. Is it simply because he's family?"

Sengoku was taken aback. He had anticipated Ace's rejection. As Garp's longtime friend, he knew of Ace's true parentage—the son of Gol D. Roger.

Suddenly, his Transponder Snail rang. He frowned, glancing at the Five Elders before placing the snail on the table, activating the speakerphone so they could all hear.

This particular snail was connected to Marine Headquarters. Aokiji knew he was currently meeting with the Five Elders to discuss the Marines' recent operations and future plans. If he was calling despite knowing this, it meant something urgent had occurred. "This is Sengoku."

As Aokiji's voice echoed through the room, Sengoku and the Five Elders froze, a stunned silence engulfing the conference room.

"What did you say? Are you certain?"

After a few seconds, Sengoku recovered from his shock, his voice laced with disbelief.

Crocodile was dead!

Killed by Ian!

The news was almost too much to comprehend. They had just been discussing Crocodile, and now they received word of his demise.

"I've already dispatched personnel to investigate. We'll confirm the validity of the report soon, but I don't think it's necessary. Ian said he would handle it."

"If we can't find a suitable replacement, he's willing to become the new Warlord, taking Crocodile's place."

Aokiji's voice carried a hint of resignation. He was still worried about Nico Robin's fate.

A Warlord was a pirate!

Even if they were recognized by the government, they were still pirates. Ian, driven by his desire to prevent the tragedy of Dressrosa from repeating itself in Alabasta, was willing to sacrifice his position as a Marine Vice Admiral and even embrace the title of Warlord, all to replace Crocodile.

Aokiji was speechless. Ian's actions, his disregard for orders, his focus on eliminating pirates regardless of the consequences, his unwavering adherence to his own unique sense of justice… it was both impressive and troubling.

"A Warlord?" The Five Elders exchanged glances, their expressions shifting.

"He can't find a suitable replacement, so he's willing to take the position himself. What an intriguing idea…"

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Word Count [1783]

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To Be Continued..

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