Aokiji naturally felt Akira's killing intent, but he said, "Who says we can't be friends?"
"What do you mean?"
As soon as these words came out, Akira's expression changed immediately, and the killing intent on his body also dissipated all at once, looking at Aokiji in astonishment. Not only him, but even Akainu, who hadn't spoken all along, was also looking at Aokiji inexplicably.
Aokiji said, "Besides killing the two of us, you have an even better choice."
Akira looked at Aokiji, a flash of inspiration suddenly appearing in his mind, looking at Aokiji in disbelief, and asked, "You don't mean?"
Aokiji said, "Talking to smart people is simple. That's right. It's just like what you're thinking. What do you think?"
Akira took a deep breath, his eyes full of disbelief. He shook his head, and said, "No, what I'm thinking isn't important. I just want to hear you say it yourself. Aokiji, what exactly do you want to do?"
Although he vaguely had a bit of a guess in his heart, he was still somewhat unsure, because this was really too shocking.
"Kuzan!"
Before Aokiji could speak, Akainu suddenly roared, "Kuzan, you need to be clear about your identity."
Akainu was also a smart person. Although he didn't know what Aokiji wanted to do, he had a bad premonition. So, he immediately spoke out to stop him.
Aokiji just glanced at Akainu lightly, and then continued to say to Akira, "I'll join your pirate crew. You let Sakazuki and I go, how about it?"
Shock!
After Aokiji said these words, both Akira and Akainu were very shocked. Even though Akira had vaguely guessed this possibility, he was still very incredulous after getting confirmation from Aokiji's mouth, because this sounded absurd no matter how you listened to it.
"Do you think I'm easy to fool?"
Akira's first reaction was shock, and his second reaction was disbelief. Although Aokiji had indeed left the Navy in the original story, he had joined the Blackbeard Pirates. And his purpose was intriguing. So, Akira naturally wouldn't have the slightest sense of trust now that Aokiji was saying that he wanted to join the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Of course not."
Aokiji said, "It's precisely because you're not easy to fool that I'm telling you the truth. I really want to join your pirate crew. I'm not deceiving you to save my life."
Akira shook his head, and said, "I still don't believe it. You're a Navy admiral, representing the Navy's highest combat power. I don't think you can give up the position of Navy admiral, and become a pirate. After all, they're two completely different identities. It's not that easy to change."
Aokiji said slowly, "I know you don't believe me. But what I'm saying is all the truth. Today, I lost to Sakazuki. Navy Headquarters no longer has a place for me, because I won't yield to a Navy Fleet Admiral who goes against my will. Moreover, I've been a Navy soldier for so many years, always looking at everything in the world from the Navy's position. Now, the time to change has come. I want to try and see what it will be like to look at this world from the position of a pirate."
"That's really surprising. For these kinds of words to actually come from the mouth of a Navy admiral."
Akira was very surprised. However, he wouldn't really believe Aokiji. After all, this kind of thing would probably be difficult for anyone to accept. So, he said, "Not to mention whether I'll believe your words or not, if you really want to become a pirate, then why do you have to choose to join my pirate crew?"
Aokiji said, "Just like what you're thinking, I have no choice now. Moreover, joining you is also the best choice, because among those pirate crews in the New World, there probably aren't many who have the guts to let me join. Even the four pirate emperors wouldn't dare to. You're an exception."
What Aokiji said wasn't nonsense. Indeed, if it was anyone else, they probably wouldn't dare to accept him. The four pirate emperors' pirate crews were powerful enough. But to let a Navy admiral join, they really wouldn't dare to be so confident. After all, no one could figure out what Aokiji was thinking in his heart. If he was a spy sent by the Navy, it would definitely be a very fatal blow to the pirate crew.
Even if Aokiji was really preparing to defect, accepting him would be the same as offending Navy Headquarters and the World Government. Even the four pirate emperors wouldn't be willing to accept this cause and effect easily.
There really weren't many who dared to accept Aokiji on the entire sea. What Aokiji valued was Akira's courage, and the fact that the Whitebeard Pirates were currently lacking combat power in order to protect Whitebeard's territories. Having a top-tier combat power like him join would definitely be very beneficial for the Whitebeard Pirates. This was also the biggest reason why Aokiji was confident.
While Akira was pondering, Akainu, who was on the side, shouted angrily at Aokiji, "Kuzan, what nonsense are you talking about? Joining the Whitebeard Pirates? Have you gone crazy? They're pirates. You're a Navy admiral. How can you degenerate to becoming a pirate?"
Aokiji said to Akainu calmly, "I haven't gone crazy. As for whether I've degenerated or not, who can say for sure? Sakazuki, I lost to you. You're about to become Navy Fleet Admiral. You and I have different ideals. I can't obey orders under you. So, it's better to go our separate ways. You go continue your justice, and I'm also going to find a justice that suits me. I want to try the path of a pirate."
"Bastard, you've really gone crazy."
Akainu shouted angrily, but Aokiji completely ignored him, only staring at Akira, and asked, "What do you think of this choice?"
Akira squinted his eyes, and said, "It sounds like a good choice, but it's not that simple. One side is the lives of two Navy admirals, and the other side is the joining of a Navy admiral. It seems like there are benefits on both sides. But I'm a person who is suspicious by nature. I can't completely trust you at all. So, I'm really not sure what to choose."
"Should I be conservative, or should I be adventurous?"
Akira's gaze was fixed on Aokiji, and Aokiji was also looking back at him without flinching. From his eyes, Akira couldn't see the slightest bit of nervousness or retreat, as if he wouldn't have much of a reaction no matter which one Akira chose. Perhaps it could be said that he had already made all the preparations.
The choice that Aokiji had proposed was really making it difficult for Akira. Just like what Aokiji had said, it was hard to say what the result would be if he killed Akainu and Aokiji. But being injured was certain. As for how serious the injuries would be, even if Akira had absolute confidence in his strength, he wouldn't dare to guarantee it.
More importantly, it was indeed an important period for the Whitebeard Pirates now. If something went wrong with him, it would definitely be a fatal blow to the Whitebeard Pirates, and even more bad things might happen. This was also Akira's concern.
Actually, thinking like this also represented that he was gradually leaning towards the choice that Aokiji had proposed. After all, even if he killed Aokiji and Akainu here, with the World Government's ability, they definitely had a way to find two people to replace their positions.
There was no need to worry about not being able to find someone for the position of Navy Fleet Admiral either. So, doing that wouldn't have a big effect on the Whitebeard Pirates in essence.
On the contrary, if Aokiji joined the Whitebeard Pirates, then they would definitely have an immediate super-strong combat power. After all, Aokiji's strength was there. Among the Whitebeard Pirates, even Marco and the others weren't Aokiji's opponents besides Akira. This combat power was especially important for the Whitebeard Pirates. So, Akira was hesitating.
The only problem was Aokiji's credibility. Although Aokiji had said it nicely, he was a Navy soldier of several decades after all. His loyalty to Navy Headquarters was also very high. Becoming a pirate rashly, Akira didn't even have 10% trust in him, to say the least. Not to mention the others of the Whitebeard Pirates. They probably couldn't wait to kill Aokiji to vent their anger.
"What should I choose?"
Akira really hadn't fallen into such a difficult choice before. In the past, he had only done things according to his preferences. If he felt that it was right, he would definitely do it. But just like what Aokiji had said, he was the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates now. There were countless people below him waiting to eat with him. He couldn't just think about himself like in the past. He had to think about his brothers more.
"Alright!"
Suddenly, Akira shouted loudly, staring intently at Aokiji, and said, "Your words have still touched me. However, I still don't trust you. I need you to make a promise to me. No matter what happens in the future, you must never do anything that is detrimental to my Whitebeard Pirates. As for how you treat others, I won't care about anything."
"As long as you promise, I'll let Akainu go!"
"No problem. I can guarantee it."
Hearing Akira agree, Aokiji's expression didn't have much of a change, as if he had already expected Akira to make this kind of choice, and had also given a definite answer.
"Kuzan."
Aokiji didn't have a problem, but Akainu's problem was big. He roared, "Kuzan, you're betraying the Navy. You're betraying your justice of several decades. Are you really sure you want to become a pirate, and also join this bastard's pirate crew?"
Aokiji said to Akainu calmly, "Sakazuki, my path as a Navy soldier has ended. The path that I'm going to take next will probably be disapproved of by countless people, and be scorned by countless people. But I will still firmly continue walking on it, because this is the path that I've chosen myself. Saving your life is the last thing that I can do for the Navy."
"Shut up. I don't need your protection. Death God, come on. Although I'm injured, that doesn't mean I don't have combat power. We didn't exchange blows during the Summit War. Let's have a life-and-death battle here today..."
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