Chapter 56

Akainu took a long drag from his cigar, his brow furrowing as he processed Loya's words. "You captured him? Tony? Why in the world would you do that?"

Loya's face was grim as he replied, "He killed civilians, Akainu. I had no choice."

"Civilians?" Akainu nearly choked on his cigar smoke. He whipped his head around to stare at the prison below deck where Tony was being held. "Do you have any idea how serious this is?"

Loya nodded slowly. "Of course I do. That's why I'm coming to you."

Akainu's mind raced. This wasn't just some run-of-the-mill pirate causing trouble. This was Tony - Zephyr's disciple, a member of the elite. If word got out...

"Look," Loya said, his voice low and urgent. "I know Tony wasn't in his right mind when it happened. But you know as well as I do that the higher-ups won't care about that. They'll use this against Zephyr if they can."

Akainu's eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you asking me to do, Loya?"

Loya met his gaze steadily. "I'm asking you to keep this quiet. Let Zephyr handle Tony's punishment. Don't let this reach the World Government."

For a moment, the only sound was the crash of waves against the shore. Then Akainu's aura flared, his voice deadly serious. "Do you realize what you're saying, Christopher Loya? You're asking me to cover up a crime!"

The air itself seemed to still, tension crackling between the two men.

Loya felt the world shrink around him, Akainu's imposing figure dominating his vision. For the first time, he truly grasped the power of a Navy Headquarters Admiral.

It was overwhelming - stronger than even Whitebeard. There was no killing intent, no overt aggression, but the sheer pressure was like a hammer blow to Loya's chest, making it hard to breathe.

Despite this, Loya stood his ground, meeting Akainu's intensity with his own. "Of course I know what I'm asking," he said, his voice steady.

This wasn't about brute force or intimidation. It was a clash of wills, a test of spirit. Loya knew the stakes - a broken will could cripple even the strongest fighter. He'd seen it happen before.

As their auras clashed, Loya realized he was outmatched. Without tapping into his Dragon Slayer powers, he couldn't hope to match Akainu's decades of experience and honed abilities.

Nearby, Aludo stared in confusion at the standoff, wisely keeping his distance. In contrast, Mingde glanced over with mild interest, confident in Loya's abilities.

Just as the tension reached its peak, Loya made a decision. There was no point in escalating this further. He took a deep breath and pulled back his aura, letting the oppressive atmosphere dissipate.

"Thank you for hearing me out, Akainu," Loya said, his voice quiet but firm. He'd made his case - now it was up to Akainu to decide.

Akainu's intense aura faded, replaced by a bemused smile. He wasn't about to push this further - alienating Loya wasn't worth it, and he didn't want to risk Zephyr's wrath if things got out of hand.

The oppressive silence lifted, leaving only the sound of waves and the crunch of pebbles under their feet as evidence of their standoff.

Suddenly, Akainu burst into laughter. "Ha! You're something else, Loya. I didn't expect that kind of strength from you."

Loya's expression remained neutral, his eyes unimpressed. "So, what's your decision?"

Akainu's smile faded, replaced by a more serious look. He took a long drag from his cigar before speaking. "Truth is, Zephyr anticipated something like this might happen."

"What?" Loya's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you saying Zephyr knew Tony might lose control?"

Akainu nodded, exhaling a plume of smoke. "The Shura style is known for its lethality. It's not surprising there might be... side effects." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Zephyr had his suspicions about Tony potentially losing control during combat. That's why I'm here. Normally, this kind of thing would fall to Momonga, but..."

Loya's mind raced, trying to process this new information. It seemed there was more going on here than he'd realized.

Loya felt a wave of relief wash over him. If Zephyr had anticipated this, there must be a plan in place. "So what happens now?" he asked Akainu.

Akainu's smile had a hint of darkness to it. "Don't worry. I've already arranged for the bodies to be... taken care of. No evidence, no crime."

Loya stared at him, shocked. "Isn't that crossing a line? Even for the Navy?"

Akainu shrugged. "I'm a Marine, but I'm also Zephyr's student. Is it so wrong to help out a fellow disciple?" He tapped his insignia. "Besides, I'm following orders from the Chief Instructor. It's my duty to obey, no matter how questionable those orders might seem."

His expression darkened. "Just like with Ohara."

Loya felt a chill run down his spine. "Some justice," he muttered.

As Akainu turned to leave, Loya grabbed his cloak. "Wait. What if Tony confesses?"

Akainu frowned. "The teacher didn't cover that. But..." he leaned in close, "I'll let you in on a secret. Your classmate Hansa? He's also training in the Shura style."

"What the hell?" Loya exclaimed. "How many secrets is Zephyr keeping from us?"

But then understanding dawned. If Hansa was practicing the same style without losing control, he might be able to help Tony overcome this.

Seeing the realization in Loya's eyes, Akainu nodded and quietly walked away, leaving Loya to ponder the complexities of justice and loyalty in the world of the Marines.

...…..

The Grand Line, Rainbase, Alabasta Kingdom.

Deep beneath the bustling Rain Dinners casino, unknown to even King Cobra himself, lay the secret base of a pirate with grand ambitions.

In a dimly lit room, the most striking feature was a massive aquarium built into the wall. Inside, several of Alabasta's notorious Banana Gators circled restlessly. These fearsome beasts, capable of devouring Sea Kings, were reduced to mere pets in this confined space.

The room's sparse furnishings - a sofa, a desk, and an iron cage - only added to the oppressive atmosphere. Most would find it suffocating, but for Nico Robin, whose life had been anything but normal, it offered an odd sense of security.

That feeling vanished the moment she saw the man lounging on the sofa.

Robin took a deep breath. "Boss, the Whiskey Peak operation failed. Mr. 5 escaped. What are your orders?"

Crocodile exhaled a plume of cigar smoke, his voice deceptively calm. "So the 30 million Berries are gone?"

Robin felt a chill despite the room's warmth. She kept her composure, years of practice hiding her fear. "Yes. Shall we follow the usual punishment protocol?"

"Do that," Crocodile replied, his face unreadable. He fell silent, leaving Robin to wonder if she'd just sealed someone's fate.

The tension in the room was palpable as Robin awaited her next instructions, all too aware of the dangerous game she was playing.

The silence in the room was suffocating. Robin maintained her smile, but her nerves were on edge.

Finally, Crocodile spoke. "Tell me, Robin. How exactly did this mission fail?"

Robin relaxed slightly, grateful for the break in tension. She produced a report. "According to Mr. 5, three days after he partnered with 'Scavenger' Beard, a group of Navy Elite recruits on a training mission arrived on the island. They killed Beard's first mate, Rocky the Fox. Then one of them defeated and killed Beard himself."

"Mr. 5 determined the mission was compromised and retreated."

As she spoke, Robin's eyes gleamed with a mix of admiration and fear. A Navy recruit taking down a notorious pirate like Beard? It was impressive, but also terrifying. The stronger the Navy became, the more dangerous her own situation grew.

Crocodile, oblivious to her inner turmoil, frowned. "These Elite Battalion brats... What's the name of the one who killed Beard?"

Robin consulted her notes. "Christopher Loya, sir. He's a user of the Ice Dragon Fruit. Our information on him is limited, given his status as a new recruit in Marine Headquarters. But he's reportedly the strongest of his generation, already nicknamed 'Admiral' by his peers."

"Christopher Loya," Crocodile repeated, a humorless laugh escaping him. "Interesting. It seems old Zephyr has trained another prodigy."

Robin remained silent as Crocodile's laughter echoed through the basement, cold and ominous. She knew better than to interrupt when he was in this mood, all too aware of the dangerous man behind the Warlord title.