One Piece: The Arm of Fate

"Wow!"

Nami pointed at the massive ice block and screamed.

Aokiji slowly withdrew his right hand, his eyes indifferent.

He had long grown used to the people around him reacting this way whenever he made a move.

He could guess what the girl named Nami would say next.

It was nothing more than: "So this is a Navy Admiral?" or "What terrifying power."

But—

"Nokigo! This guy's ability is completely copying you!" Nami turned and angrily said to Nokigo.

"I was clearly the one who did it first!" Aokiji was speechless, black lines appearing on his forehead.

"It's still a little different," Nokigo shook his head slightly. "If I were to do it, I'd turn the elephant into a snowball, not a crystal-clear ice sculpture."

"True."

Nami clapped her fists together like she had realized something. "I wonder who would freeze who if you two used your powers on each other…"

"Is that even a question?!" Aokiji roared, baring his fangs.

"…Ah." Aokiji rubbed his brow. The tense, interrogative atmosphere he had tried so hard to build was now completely ruined.

Not wanting to argue with the girl, he turned to Shano.

"No reaction at all. Looks like this big guy really isn't with you."

"Yeah, I'm not familiar with him."

Shano glanced at the mammoth.

He didn't understand why this guy showed up here too—yelling about bonds and protection, only to get wiped out in seconds.

"Forget about him. Let's get back to what we were talking about."

Aokiji locked eyes with Shano. "You… were you laughing just now? Shano, was my question really that funny?"

"Did I laugh?"

Shano replied calmly, "Maybe. But I really did want to laugh at you."

"Laugh at me?" Aokiji frowned.

"Don't you get it? Let me show you again. Like this…"

Shano mimicked Aokiji's tone, leaning in with a mocking seriousness:

"—Where do you want to place the Navy and the justice we believe in? What ambition do you harbor?"

"Haha!"

Shano slapped his thigh in amusement. "You looked so righteous when you said it, but you asked something so damn dumb. Hey, Kuzan, how do you even keep a straight face? Didn't you want to laugh too when you said it?"

"Help the weak, beat up the bad guys, and protect what you want to protect—this is what I believe in and what I've always done! It's simple and straightforward, yet you dress it up with all this justice nonsense… You're just jealous!"

Aokiji fell silent for a moment, then said flatly, "I'm jealous of you?"

"Of course!"

Shano laughed. "You're very jealous—because I can do it freely, and you can't!"

"You know better than anyone how dirty the World Government is, but you still suck up to them, doing clean-up for those scumbags in bubbles! How many innocent civilians have died under the name of your so-called justice—probably no less than those killed by pirates!"

"In this situation, you still say the Navy upholds justice?"

"What justice?"

Shano's tone rose sharply:

"The justice of helping the Celestial Dragons wipe out a country in three years?!"

Aokiji's expression finally cracked. He looked up sharply, shocked.

"Even I only learned that recently by accident… How did you…"

"It doesn't matter, does it?"

Shano narrowed his eyes, cutting him off. "What matters is that you already knew. No wonder you're such a depressed mess. You're an admiral, yet you walk around like some disillusioned, useless uncle—you can't even hide the stink."

"And that stink's been clinging to you for a long time now. Sixteen years, maybe?"

"Kuzan, the reason you've always been so obsessed with Robin and O'Hara isn't because of duty—it's because ever since that moment, your so-called justice has already collapsed!"

Aokiji visibly flinched.

He took a step forward, a biting chill swirling from his body. Frost quickly spread across his brows—

But in the end, it all faded away.

His eyes lowered, shadowed and unreadable.

He said nothing for a long time.

It wasn't like he hadn't been mocked by pirates before.

But he never wavered—vicious pirates deserved to be wiped from the world. He wouldn't even let them finish speaking—he'd freeze them on the spot.

But Shano… was different.

This so-called pirate with a one billion bounty was doing purer things than the Navy itself.

Aokiji couldn't argue against it—his conscience wouldn't let him.

He slumped onto a bench, staring at the starry sky. Arms outstretched, he exhaled a breath that had been buried for years.

His gaze shifted.

First, to Robin.

The woman who once lived in shadows was now leaning by a streetlamp. Her earlier fear and tension had vanished.

Her hair fluttered in the evening breeze. A faint smile played on her lips—a kind of peace Aokiji had never seen on her before.

Then, he looked at Smoker.

His old friend, standing silently with a cigar in his mouth, watching him.

Finally, his eyes returned to Shano.

"…I kind of regret coming today."

He spoke with self-mockery. "I wanted to learn about your background. In the end, you saw through mine instead?"

"Let's go."

Not waiting for a reply, he shook his head and stood.

"Time to rest. Seriously… arguing with teenagers. How boring."

He casually adjusted the tie of his white suit and bent over behind the bench.

Only then did everyone notice—there was an old-fashioned bicycle lying on the grass.

Aokiji swung one long leg over the frame. The bike creaked, but still supported the admiral's weight.

"We've reunited after so long. How about a meal?" Smoker puffed out a smoke ring and raised an eyebrow.

"Spare me."

Aokiji waved lazily. "There are a lot of people outside the garden. It'd be bad if a photo of me eating with a big pirate made it to the papers."

"Hey, brother."

He looked at Shano again.

"Let me keep watching. I want to see just how far a wild card like you can go in this twisted sea."

With that, he pushed off and pedaled away, one hand on the handlebars, the other stuffed in his pocket.

Ding-ling—

The bell rang softly. His tall figure faded into the dusk, his final words drifting with the wind:

"But remember what you said today. I hope you hold onto that conviction… Otherwise, next time we meet—I'll end you myself."

———

The garden wind blew gently, brushing past the group.

Everyone watched his departing back, exchanging glances.

"He just left?" Nami blinked in surprise. "I thought my brother had almost talked him into switching sides."

"Cough!" Smoker nearly choked on his cigar. "Making an admiral defect to become a pirate? Girl, you've got some nerve."

"It's not impossible."

Shano's eyes narrowed. "But a man like that has pride. You can't move him with words alone."

This kind of thing isn't done in a day.

Today's confrontation had merely planted a seed.

Maybe one day, there would be a chance to bring Aokiji to his side.

After all, Blackbeard and Aokiji clearly couldn't stay aligned forever. That would be his opportunity.

"Ignore him for now." Shano turned around with a smile. "It's been a long day. Everyone must be hungry. Let's go eat."

"Yay! Dinner!" Nami cheered and sprinted ahead.

The others followed, chatting and laughing.

Shano stayed at the back. Once no one was looking, he glanced out toward the sea.

Aokiji was already a distant silhouette, near the horizon.

That guy pedaled fast… maybe he waited until no one was watching to sprint like mad?

Or maybe he ran with the bike on his back?

Either way—

"Trying to leave after saying your piece and acting tough?"

Shano crossed his arms and snorted.

He's not someone who lets others off easy!

At the very least—he'd take something before letting him go.

He opened his backpack interface.

Activate: "Steal" Card Set!

Five cards, five attempts. Ignore distance. Randomly take an item from anyone in your field of vision!

First target: Aokiji!

———

Out at sea.

Aokiji pedaled in silence.

His mind returned to that document he found in Sengoku's office—

The truth behind the Battle of God Valley thirty-two years ago.

That document was what shook his beliefs again.

That's why he had sought out Shano.

But in the end…

Aokiji shook his head, clearing the thoughts.

He recalled something.

That orange-haired girl… was she the Flame-Flame Fruit user?

Should he report this to HQ?

He hesitated.

It must've been Shano's doing, to protect his sister and mislead the intel department.

She was probably scared of getting a higher bounty…

Forget it.

No need to be so harsh on a timid kid.

Aokiji yawned, pedaled—

But suddenly felt weightless underfoot.

He looked down—

His bicycle was gone.

Only a dotted line remained.

SPLASH!

He plunged into the sea.

Cold seawater surged over him. He blinked up, stunned.

"Huh?"

———

"Huh?"

Shano blinked at the bicycle suddenly in his hands.

What a nice surprise!

He hadn't expected much—just a jacket, maybe sunglasses or an eyemask.

But he hit the jackpot.

Without hesitation, he used Sacrifice.

[Sacrifice: Kuzan's Bicycle]

[Quality: Epic]

[Value: 4500 points]

[Appraisal: The iconic vehicle of Admiral Aokiji. While not enhancing combat, it has witnessed countless legendary events and holds irreplaceable symbolic value.]

4500 points!

The same value as Akainu's pickled hat.

His total jumped from 27,000 to 31,500.

"Nice."

Shano clapped his hands and closed the system panel.

Up ahead, Nami turned back and waved: "What are you doing, brother? Hurry up!"

"Coming!"

He grinned and ran to catch up.

Behind him—

In the quiet garden, the frozen mammoth remained under the night wind.

As for Aokiji, who just lost his bike—

No one really cared.

———

As night fell, the lights of the food city sparkled.

Shano and his crew entered their reserved restaurant.

Warm light. Rich aroma. Gentle music.

Everyone relaxed.

"Cheers!"

Glasses clinked.

After several rounds, Robin held her wine with a blush on her pale cheeks.

Usually calm and elegant, she now looked a little drunk. She held her chin in her hand, quietly watching Shano.

Was it the wine, or the soft light?

She blinked.

In a daze, she seemed to see that cold, towering figure—the man who killed Sauro.

But then Shano chuckled and spat out a bone.

The terrifying figure vanished.

"Captain…" she murmured, voice softer than ever.

"Hm?" Shano looked over, mouth still full.

Robin blinked, then smiled. "Sometimes I wonder… if you hadn't reached out to me on the turtle that day…"

She gently stroked the rim of her glass. "Where would I be now?"

"Why say this out of nowhere?"

Shano mumbled while chewing. "Couldn't stay at Baroque, so probably hiding with another underground force again?"

"Maybe."

Robin chuckled. "But more likely… I would've given up."

Her quiet voice made Shano pause.

She raised her head and drained her glass. The burn of the alcohol made her frown—but she soon relaxed.

Then, she grabbed his shirt gently.

"So… thank you."

She looked up, eyes serious despite the drunken haze.

"Thank you for showing me I don't have to live in the shadows. That even streetlights can be warm."

Shano was stunned. Then he smiled and rubbed her hair.

"Of course. You're our crewmate."

Robin didn't dodge. She squinted, like a lazy cat.

Then leaned closer, her alcohol-scented breath tickling his ear:

"Ah, just… crewmates?"

Shano froze.

Across the table, Nami and Nokigo pretended to wipe their mouths, but watched intently.

Smoker's cigar ash drooped dangerously. He stared at his glass, lost in the water droplets.

Kuina sat quietly in the corner, slicing into her dessert with growing intensity…

Even Ah Yin buried his entire head into a strawberry milk bowl.

Just as the atmosphere thickened—

"Burp—!"

Robin let out a soft hiccup, covered her mouth, and slumped right into Shano's arms.

Shano caught her and dabbed her mouth with a napkin.

She was asleep.

"…"

He sighed, picked her up gently.

"That's enough for today," Shano said. "I'll take her back to the ship. You all keep eating."