After landing back on solid ground, Bai Yu raised his gaze forward.
In addition to Kizaru—who had just reformed his body from his elemental state—another figure had appeared beside him.
This newcomer was tall, clad in a sleeveless white suit vest over a dark blue shirt, hands lazily tucked into his pockets.
His disheveled mop of curly hair and the sleep mask pushed up on his forehead gave him a perpetually indifferent air—like someone on the verge of falling asleep.
A presence just as iconic as Kizaru's.
He was Aokiji, one of the Navy's three admirals.
A user of the Hie Hie no Mi, a Logia-type Devil Fruit granting him the power of ice.
The three glacial spears that had suddenly assaulted Bai Yu moments ago—those were unmistakably Aokiji's doing.
Two admirals... appearing together in Water 7, a city currently considered minor in the Navy's radar.
This wasn't coincidence—it was calculated.
Bai Yu instinctively took a defensive stance, his sword hand twitching slightly, his gaze fixed warily on Aokiji.
Meanwhile, Aokiji studied him with calm scrutiny.
His eyes drifted momentarily to Kizaru, who stood with a burnt chest, expression unreadable behind those signature shades.
"…That's enough, Bai Yu," Aokiji said flatly after a moment's pause.
His voice was laid-back but firm, like the quiet crunch of snow before an avalanche.
"You and I are both Marines. There's no point in further bloodshed."
"The misunderstanding has already been clarified. Let's not escalate things unnecessarily."
He added the last part while subtly glancing toward the small satchel that had fallen near Bai Yu's feet.
Bai Yu didn't lower his guard. His voice was sharp as his blade.
"When he attacked, he didn't seem confused at all."
"I don't recall a 'misunderstanding' when your colleague aimed to take my head off."
Bai Yu's tone was icy.
Kizaru had not held back—he was aiming to kill. Now, Aokiji's casual diplomacy felt hollow.
Aokiji turned toward his fellow admiral.
Kizaru, after a moment's silence, exhaled and nodded slowly.
"…Indeed, I was too hasty just now," he said, voice slower and heavier than usual.
"I failed to assess the situation and acted without confirmation. I apologize."
An apology—from a Marine Admiral—was rare.
Bai Yu's eyes narrowed, tension gradually easing in his shoulders.
Why would Kizaru lower himself like this?
Noticing Bai Yu's confusion, Aokiji casually stepped closer, each step crunching softly against the frost underfoot.
He leaned slightly forward, whispering near Bai Yu's ear.
"This isn't just about you. Garp sent me."
"He asked me to clean up the mess before it turned into something irreparable."
"This incident ends here—agreed?"
For a moment, Bai Yu remained still, then slowly nodded.
With a flick of his wrist, he sheathed his blade. The tension of his sword intent dispersed like mist.
Truthfully, Bai Yu had no intent to keep fighting.
Kizaru had been caught off-guard by Bai Yu's sudden evolution mid-battle—an unexpected transformation in swordsmanship and physical strength.
He underestimated Bai Yu.
After all, Kizaru's Pika Pika no Mi ability allowed him to move at near-light speed. While direct confrontation could be risky, evasion should have been trivial.
If they'd continued, the tide of battle might've shifted dramatically.
And as Aokiji said—they were both Marines. Internal bloodshed helped no one.
"If the Admirals have no further business, I'll be on my way," Bai Yu said coolly.
He walked over, retrieved his satchel, slung it over his shoulder, and turned to leave.
"…We're really letting him walk?" Kizaru muttered after Bai Yu disappeared into the distance.
He clutched at the burn across his chest with a wince.
"What else?" Aokiji shrugged. "You saw for yourself—he wasn't hiding anything."
Bai Yu's clothes had no compartments, and the only satchel he carried had been thoroughly checked.
"If properly guided, someone like Bai Yu could become a pillar of the Navy."
"But lose his trust... and we'll be pushing him into the arms of the revolutionaries, or worse."
"That's something neither Fleet Admiral Sengoku nor Garp wants."
Aokiji's tone turned grave.
"Now go patch yourself up."
"A Marine Admiral scarred by a newly promoted colonel... if the news spreads, it'll shake the balance of power."
He smiled dryly, though the meaning behind his words was anything but light.
"What about you?" Kizaru asked, frowning slightly.
"I'm going to have a friendly chat… with the Navy's rising star."
With that, Aokiji turned and walked away.
Zzt!
Kizaru sighed, and with a shimmer of golden light, his body scattered into photons and vanished.
---
Elsewhere—
Having parted ways with the admirals, Bai Yu returned swiftly to the hotel.
Once back in his room, he sat cross-legged on the tatami mat and exhaled deeply.
"System panel."
A transparent screen flashed before his eyes.
---
[The Strongest Swordsman System]
[Host: Bai Yu]
[Swordsmanship: Basic Swordsmanship]
[Combat Techniques: Rokushiki, Azure Dragon Sword Intent (75%), Ju·Ryuren (30%)]
[Weapon: Ryuenken – Dragon Flame Sword (Quick Blade)]
[Physique: Grade A]
[Haki: Armament Haki (20%), Observation Haki (20%), Conqueror's Haki (20%)
[Item: Blueprint – Pluton]
---
Following the battle with Kizaru, Bai Yu's attributes had seen a substantial jump.
Most critically—his physique had broken into the A-grade tier.
His strength, speed, and explosive power had reached a whole new level.
His combat prowess had undergone a qualitative leap.
Then, Bai Yu's eyes drifted to the last column of the panel.
"Good thing the system reminded me of that storage feature," he muttered with a relieved sigh.
The Pluton blueprint hadn't vanished—nor had it been hidden on his body.
It had been absorbed into the system itself.
When Bai Yu first obtained the ancient weapon's design, the system prompted him:
"Special classified items may be stored directly within the system interface."
Unless Bai Yu actively summoned it with his consciousness, no one else could perceive or retrieve it.
This function had allowed him to clear the Admirals' suspicions.
"Best not to reveal this blueprint until the time is right," Bai Yu reminded himself.
The moment word got out, every major force—from the World Government to the Four Emperors—would come for his head.
Closing the system with a wave, Bai Yu noticed the layer of dust and sweat caked on his body.
He grabbed fresh clothes and made his way downstairs to the first-floor bathhouse.
The hotel didn't offer private showers. It had a traditional public bath—common in Water 7.
Bai Yu didn't mind. After scrubbing down, he soaked into the warm water with a relaxed sigh.
There was nothing quite like a hot bath after a battle to the death.
Clack.
The door creaked open.
It was late, and Bai Yu thought he had the bathhouse to himself.
He turned toward the sound instinctively.
The person who stepped through the steam—
—was none other than Admiral Aokiji.