Kuzan seemed to see a reflection of his former self in the young man before him.
So confident, so resolute, so...
Well...
Never mind, I wasn't that handsome.
...
If... you were to witness the dark side of the world, scenes that would shatter your current beliefs, could you remain this steadfast?
A strange bitterness welled up in Kuzan's heart.
Absolute justice can evolve into a weapon.
Under the World Government, the Marines find compassionate justice difficult to uphold...
Even someone as strong as Mr. Garp cannot break through these constraints.
...
But... at least the current you is someone worthy of trust!
Kuzan raised his hand, releasing an extremely cold aura from his palm.
Ice crystals rapidly spread across the ground, forming six crystalline ice walls that joined at the top, enveloping the two of them.
The soft light reflected by the ice walls illuminated the surroundings. With a gentle wave of his hand, he condensed a smooth ice table and two chairs in the center of the cool, tranquil ice chamber.
Griffin glanced around the ice chamber. The outer walls resembled his own Six-Staff Ice Prison, though less ornate, yet the construction speed and strength far surpassed his own Ice Release.
...
Kuzan was being modest. With just one look, Griffin could see his extraordinary control over ice elements—it was as if he were the master of ice in this space.
Perhaps...
If he were to confront Kuzan, some of his own Ice Release techniques might be restricted.
...
A peculiar thought suddenly crossed Griffin's mind.
If I were Sasuke, having just gained new power, I'd definitely want to test myself against someone with the same attribute like Kuzan, right?
Hmm... I'm fine though. I'll just think about it, not actually do it.
...
Kuzan sat on the ice chair, his voice echoing in the confined space: "No one can eavesdrop here. What we discuss next involves top secrets—you must not speak of it to anyone."
He hadn't been this serious even when admitting to releasing Nico Robin.
Now...
Griffin frowned slightly: "Does it concern me?"
Kuzan nodded: "You could say so..."
"Griffin, when you froze Kari, were you certain his functions had completely stalled?"
So that's it...
Griffin pondered for a moment: "I reviewed the files on the incident involving Saint Luo and studied him carefully."
"My thinking at the time was that if even Admiral Kizaru's attacks could only damage but not completely eliminate him, then sealing was the only option."
"Millennial Ice Coffin is my strongest sealing ability. Actually... I'm not sure whether I truly sealed him at that time, or whether he allowed me to seal him."
Kuzan frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"
...
"Just like how I learned his sword techniques through combat..."
Griffin's eyes lowered: "I felt like he was also intentionally making contact with my attacks, adapting to my abilities!"
"The words he spoke before leaving—my intuition tells me he wasn't lying!"
...
'Next time your techniques won't work on me. I'll enjoy our struggle, just like our ancestors did...'
Kuzan's mind flashed back to the recorded footage, his frown deepening.
"So that's how it is... He's even more troublesome than imagined."
"According to the latest intelligence, Kari has appeared in the Golden City, causing great panic among the Celestial Dragons who frequent there for entertainment."
Kuzan sighed helplessly and said, "The Five Elders have given me a direct order to cooperate with someone from above in forming a team to hunt Kari."
"Until Kari is captured, I probably won't have any free time..."
"Let me be direct."
"Griffin, I want you to look after Nico Robin for me!"
...
...
"Why me?"
Kuzan looked directly into Griffin's eyes and said firmly, "Because you're the only one I can trust and entrust this to!"
He couldn't ask Garp to do something like this, Smoker was stationed in Loguetown and couldn't leave his post. Other than them, Kuzan had no other options.
Even with Griffin, he only dared to make this request after confirming Griffin's character.
...
Kuzan had already learned about Griffin's preferences beforehand. He took a bankbook from his pocket: "I haven't saved much money - there are 460 million Berries here. If it's not enough, I can catch a few..."
"I'll help you."
Griffin smiled faintly, ignoring the bankbook Kuzan offered.
From his sleeve gradually emerged an ancient-looking spear tip, with faint black glimmers.
"You've already paid the reward, haven't you?"
...
Looking at the high-purity Sea Stone embedded in the spear tip, Kuzan suddenly smiled and shook his head.
"That was given to you by Smoker, it has nothing to do with me."
Griffin rolled up his sleeve and retracted the spear tip: "Then consider this you owing me a favor. A future Admiral's favor isn't something that can be measured by mere Berries."
"I'm more greedy than your investigation suggested."
...
Greedy...
Watching Griffin's retreating back, Kuzan lowered his head with a faint smile.
Why do I feel this should be called...
A promise between men!
Meeting you was truly a good thing, young Griffin...
——
——
——
"What is this?"
At Marine Headquarters' Fourth Harbor, Griffin pointed at a black hemispherical floating object about two meters in diameter by the pier, while carrying a backpack more than ten times his size.
It looked like an eggshell that had been split in half.
Kizaru gestured, calculating that with the backpack's height, Griffin was several heads taller than him.
"Young Griffin, I wanted to ask you... is it really necessary to bring so much stuff for just one week?"
Griffin shook the backpack and nodded seriously: "Of course! I specifically asked the sister from the logistics department to prepare a week's worth of ingredients for me. When traveling, I can't stand eating food I'm not used to."
...
That person from logistics is old enough for me to call auntie, I can't believe you said that...
When they first met, Kizaru had sensed something familiar about Griffin. Now he understood.
When it comes to thick skin, you surpass even me.
Sighing, Kizaru said helplessly: "The food there is no worse than headquarters. You should return this to that... person from logistics."
He pointed at the black eggshell and said: "That place is a top-secret location. Even you can't know the route. I need to put you inside this sphere to take you there."
"Please don't increase my workload~"
...
Griffin immediately turned to leave the way he came.
"Then I'm not going. I'll tell Teacher Zephyr you're trying to abuse me."
"Not even allowing me to bring food, tsk!"
Of course Griffin knew where he was going. Hidden within this large pack of frozen meat were things he wanted to leave on that island.
...
...
"Come back!!"
Kizaru rarely, very rarely, expressed such intense emotions with such a shout.
"I... I'll carry it for you, alright!"
——
——
Whoosh——————
High above the New World, a bright yellow streak of light cut swiftly through the clouds.
Kizaru held a specially crafted black sphere that blocked perception in his arms while carrying an oversized backpack on his back—so stuffed it was nearly bursting, and even taller than he was. To describe this appearance...
It was somewhat comical.
Kizaru pushed himself to his absolute maximum speed, arriving at his destination twice as fast as usual.
Tap—
The light coalesced into human form on the ground as Kizaru landed inside a highly mechanized base.
This was the production site for the Marines' high-tech weapons, including the Seastone Warships.
It was also the place where Akainu and Kuzan would later battle for the position of Fleet Admiral...
Punk Hazard!!
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