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Changing his tone, Garp dropped his smile and his expression became unusually serious, his eyes fixed intently on Aokiji as if trying to see straight through him.
"Kuzan, let me ask you, what exactly is your justice?"
"That lazy, easygoing attitude you wear every day looks carefree on the surface, but it actually reflects an inner confusion."
"You need to figure it out clearly, what justice you truly stand by, because otherwise you will never find the direction forward."
Aokiji's eyes were filled with confusion.
Over the years he had walked his path through the Marines, seemingly without limit to his success, yet deep in his heart he had never had a clear answer about the justice he held to.
He had once believed he was upholding the peace and order of the world, but after so many experiences, especially after the Ohara incident, he had begun to doubt the World Government's actions, and the justice he had clung to seemed to grow more and more blurred against reality.
Just as Aokiji sank into thought, Garp suddenly burst into loud laughter, leaned close to Aokiji's ear, and lowered his voice to a volume only the two of them could hear.
"Kuzan, haven't you also been fed up with the World Government for a long time."
Those words struck like a thunderclap beside Aokiji's ear.
He showed an expression of alarm.
He understood in his heart that if Garp dared to ask that, he must have sensed something, or perhaps Garp himself held the very same thoughts.
Countless thoughts flashed through Aokiji's mind in an instant, and he recalled the World Government's dark dealings and bloody suppressions.
He found that for a moment he had no idea how to respond to Garp's question.
Aokiji's expression instantly turned cold as frost, and he stared hard into Garp's eyes.
"Vice Admiral Garp, are you also with the Revolutionary Army?"
As an Admiral, Aokiji had always stood in the camp that upheld the World Government's rule, yet deep inside he was deeply dissatisfied with the many dark deeds of the World Government.
That contradictory state of mind had kept his attitude toward the Revolutionary Army complicated all along.
On one hand he understood that what the Revolutionary Army sought was to break the old order and build a fairer, more just world, which had a certain resonance with the yearning for justice in his own heart, but on the other hand his identity and duties within the Marines over all those years made it hard for him to easily turn his back on the Navy.
"Is there anyone else in the Marines who is with the Revolutionary Army, Kizaru?"
Aokiji followed up with that question, and the image of Kizaru's carefree, cynical demeanor flashed quickly through his mind, because in his view Kizaru's way of doing things had always been hard to read, and perhaps like Garp he harbored secrets unknown to others.
After hearing that, Garp first paused slightly, then broke into a hearty laugh.
"Ha ha ha, Kuzan, you really have some imagination, that guy Borsalino, how could he possibly be with the Revolutionary Army."
Garp laughed and waved his hand at the same time, his expression very lively.
"I haven't joined the Revolutionary Army, we simply have our own grand plan, a plan that can change this world."
"Whenever you've made up your mind, you can come find me at any time."
Garp patted Aokiji on the shoulder and said earnestly.
"This world needs to change, and we, perhaps, are the key figures to change it."
Aokiji fell silent, lowered his head, and watched the waves rising and falling below his feet with a thousand thoughts churning in his heart.
After Garp said his farewell to Aokiji and walked away, he couldn't help but let a smug smile creep onto his face, and he muttered quietly to himself, "This old man really is a genius."
If he could successfully bring Aokiji over to their side, that would undoubtedly cut the Marine Headquarters' strength in half.
Aokiji was an Admiral, and if he defected, it would inevitably set off tremendous waves inside the Marines and trigger a chain of reactions.
"Hmm, that guy Sengoku is worth a try too." Garp rubbed his chin, because if he could persuade Sengoku, the odds of this transformation succeeding would undoubtedly increase greatly.
Garp thought about it and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward, as if he could already picture Sengoku being persuaded by him.
"Akainu is uncertain though." Garp's brow furrowed slightly.
Akainu's concept of "Absolute Justice" was embedded to the bone, and the difficulty of persuading him was easy to imagine.
"However, if he could be brought on board, that would truly be interesting."
Garp grinned widely.
Far away in the Giant World, Roy was inside the palace of the Giant World.
At this moment, Roy gently stroked Historia Reiss's long hair, which was like golden silk.
His gaze passed over the opulent architecture before him and reached toward the remnant branch of the Divine Tree in the distance.
Not long before this, Roy had obtained a precious item from Isshiki Ōtsutsuki.
Without hesitation he had tossed this treasure to the remnant branch of the Divine Tree, and from that point on the remnant branch seemed to be infused with new vitality and became even more mysterious and unfathomable.
As time passed, subtle changes had taken place throughout the entire Giant World.
The chakra energy drifting through the air grew stronger and stronger, and although compared to the rich, mellow chakra of the Ninja World it was still a drop in the ocean, for the Giant World it was undoubtedly a tremendous transformation.
"Mmm." A soft murmur broke the silence, and Historia Reiss slowly opened her eyes.
Her gaze still carried a trace of drowsiness as she leaned against Roy's broad chest, as if she had found the most solid support.
"Roy, thank you." Historia Reiss showed a sweet smile, bright and captivating.
Not long before this, the queen of the Giant World had offered herself to Roy without reservation, and in her heart Roy was the hero who had saved her and the entire world.
"Mm, thank you for what?" Roy asked softly, his hand still threading through Historia Reiss's silky hair, his eyes filled with tenderness.
He looked at the beautiful woman before him and thought to himself that her physical constitution was still far inferior to his own, because after that vigorous exertion just now she had tired out and fallen asleep.
'It seems Historia Reiss needs to build up her physical strength.'
Roy pondered it inwardly, already beginning to work through his mind various methods to help Historia Reiss improve her strength.
Historia Reiss smiled, and this time her smile carried a few more hints of charm and allure.
"Of course I'm thanking Roy for saving the world and saving me, because without you I truly don't dare imagine what this world would have become, or what would have happened to me."
Roy lowered his head slightly and pressed a gentle kiss to Historia Reiss's forehead.
Historia Reiss nestled close in Roy's arms, feeling his strong heartbeat, her heart full of happiness and peace.
Once she had been a royal descendant, crushed under the weight of a heavy duty, uneasy every day, taking every step with great caution.
But now, at Roy's side, those worries and pressures had all dissolved like passing clouds.
She tilted her head slightly and looked at Roy's clearly defined face, her eyes full of deep affection and longing.
"Roy, being with you makes me truly so happy." Her voice carried a thread of sweetness.
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