Chapter 12: Admiral "Aokiji" Kuzan

Saboundy Island Archipelago, Area 13.

"Arara~ Looks like the information that was given to me was the correct information."

Kuzan finally arrived at area 13 and as soon as he got there, he immediately found the existence of a ship belonging to the Kuja pirate group which was currently in the area.

"What is Hancock doing on this island?" Kuzan thought seriously "There shouldn't be any reason for her to come to this place"

Kuzan had thought about this question ever since he received information that Hancock was on Saboundy Island. Until now, Kuzan still can't get an answer to that question.

Kuzan immediately released his Observation Haki ability where his Observation Haki ability was focused on the ship belonging to the Kuja pirate group.

"There isn't any? Where is she?"

Just as Kuzan's Observation Haki reached the Kuja pirate group's ship. Kuzan could not find the whereabouts of Hancock on the ship. His expression immediately contorted at this.

Kuzan immediately changed his target and he immediately released his Observation Haki ability to cover the entire area 13.

"Hmm?"

Instantly the change in expression on his face was immediately obvious. Kuzan's gaze which was previously looking at the Kuja pirate ship immediately turned towards a building located several hundred meters from his current location.

"Devil fruit abilities?… No, there shouldn't bedevil fruit abilities that can withstand Haki abilities…Then what is it? Why…Why can't I feel anything inside that building…"

Suddenly Kuzan's attention then glanced towards a building not far from the building that Kuzan was currently paying attention to.

"Those two people…"

Kuzan's face immediately showed a serious look when he saw two people who had just come out of a building where both of them looked as if they were going to war. A man currently carries a longsword plus a small bag while a woman carries a bow and a small bag.

The two people Kuzan saw right now were Silver Rayleigh and Shakuyaku.

"Mei'O Silver Rayleigh and…Former Empress Amazon Lily Two Generations before Hancock…Shakuyaku…That appearance?… What do those two want—Wait a second! Is it possible that Hancock came to this island because she wanted to meet Shakuyaku? In that case… Where is she now? Hmm? They both…"

An expression full of surprise was then shown by Kuzan looking back for a moment when he saw Rayleigh and Shakuyaku entering the building that caught his attention earlier.

"Looks like I guessed right…That building…It's not an ordinary building." Kuzan's expression was more serious than before, "There shouldn't be any chance of that building housing a bar or some kind of restaurant. Could it be…Could it be that building was the reason behind Hancock coming here?… Could it be…That building was also the reason behind Akagami's sudden movement?"

Kuzan sighed then his gaze was currently focused on the building that Rayleigh and Shakuyaku entered earlier, "I guess…I need to do a little research about that place…Wait until the two of them come out and go see…What's really inside that building"

Kuzan immediately looked for a convenient location to carry out his monitoring. In a moment he found the location he wanted. Kuzan immediately lay down casually where he could see his eyes were closed. Even though his eyes were closed, Kuzan did not lower his guard as his Observation Haki was always active. As long as he found Rayleigh and Shakuyaku coming out of the building, he without wasting much time would immediately move to inspect the place.

*******

Guilds.

"You're finally back" Allen smiled looking at Marco who had finally returned from the mission he had carried out, "Hmmm, it seems the result you got this time is inversely proportional to the result you received before"

"Hmph! Do you think I will repeat my mistake like before?" Marko asked sullenly, "I have done a lot of anticipation and always check the surroundings. There's no way those bastards did the same thing they did to me before, Yoi~"

"Hmm? Well, as long as you survive, that's good. I don't need to deal with Whitebeard. It just causes a headache." Allen then immediately confirmed that related to the mission Marko had just completed along with taking out several silver coins which were his mission rewards.

"Here is your reward and you can check other rewards on your status panel"

"Um,"

Marko immediately took the coin prize that he had just obtained and then put it in the bag he was currently using. Marko then opened his status panel where his amount of experience points had increased compared to before.

Status Panel

Name: Marco

Title: -

Fellowship: -

Level: 1 [1,550/3,000]

Status

Strength: 5

Speed: 5

Defense: 5

Stamina: 5

Free Points : 0

Ability :

Tori-Tori No Mi Model: Phoenix [S]

Armament Haki [A]

Observation Haki [A]

Equipment :

Skills :

Friend :

Animal :

"By the way, you don't seem to be intending to carry out the return mission. What is it?" Allen asked with great interest.

"It's not that I don't intend to go on a mission. It's just that it's already lunchtime and I need to replenish my energy along with my stamina" Marko said casually, "At the same time, I want to contact Oyaji and ask about their current whereabouts"

"Hmm, what do you think about their process? Are they currently carrying out the ship coating process or maybe they are just starting?"

"Who knows? There are many uncertain factors in New World that maybe they are still on their way or maybe they have already started the process of coating the ship" Marko replied, "It's just that, based on their previous location, they should still be on their way by now. But, there's a chance they've already started layering. During yesterday's journey, they were assisted by wind power which made their ship move quickly, there is a possibility that they are now close to the Red Line and have started layering"

"Hmm, erratic factors, huh?" Allen muttered under his breath then rubbed his chin, "I guess, perhaps, it's time for me to also prepare for moving from this place."

"Moving? What are you going to do now?" Marko asked with a frown "Why not wait a bit? Until Oyaji and the others arrive"

"You know, I'm not a power that favors anyone and I'm free to do whatever I want"

"..."

Marko immediately became speechless hearing this.

"But, well, that's just my thought, and as long as my current place is no longer able to accommodate the number of people who come and become adventurers. I will be closing this place and will be moving to a new location soon" Allen said casually, "Don't worry, the location will be told by me to you guys and I can't cover it up. Even if I cover it up, you will find my whereabouts easily even though later information about this place will soon be known by many parties."

"...Then you're not leaving now?" Marko asked with a slightly doubtful tone.

"No, currently this place can still accommodate that number of adventurers. But…"

"But?" Marko frowned.

"Hancock will start moving," Allen said, "Should be tomorrow she will start inviting her troops to come to this place and as long as the troops invited by her are in large numbers. It's not impossible that the troops under him will immediately fill this place and he can be the reason for me to close this place."

"...What if Hancock doesn't bring her troops?" Marko asked back, "You're not closing this place quickly, are you?"

"Hmm? Are you planning to hold her back?" Allen asked with great interest.

"As long as you allow it, I will do it," Marko said seriously, "I will not allow you to leave before Oyaji registers to be an adventurer in this place"

"Oh? You have a strong determination" Allen was a little surprised by Marko's statement, "Well, you are free to do whatever you want."

"You allowed it? Wouldn't that just interfere with your business?"

"Not really." Allen shook his head and said, "I'm fine with that. You are free to restrain each other provided it is done outside of the guild building. As long as you do it within the guild, then, I will act. However, if that action was committed outside the guild or in a dungeon, I have no right to detain you."

"…The thing I'm forbidden from doing is forced exploitation of this place of mine" Allen immediately continued, "For example, there's someone who wants to make me submit to them or perhaps wants to take over this place completely by making me their subordinate. Well, as long as someone dared to do that, well, they'd have to pay the price themselves. I will of course make a move and it is not impossible for me to destroy their power. "

"I see" Marko then reconfirmed "You absolutely won't make a move while I restrain them or I won't get punished for this act committed by me, right?"

"Well, do whatever you want as long as you don't break anything mentioned by me before."

"Good"

Marko was very happy to hear that.

"By the way, where do you want to have lunch?" Allen asked with great interest, "Is it inside the dungeon or maybe outside?"

"Do you think I can afford to buy the food in the basement?" Marko's face immediately darkened at the thought of that, "Even though my money right now is quite enough, still, the food there is very expensive!"

"That means you will be buying food outside, right?" Allen asked without noticing the sullen look on Marko's face, "Can I have a snack?"

"Trip?"

Allen immediately took out several items where it a ring and also a lump of gold that weighed one kilogram. Allen then immediately pushed the two items in front of Marko.

"Use this gold to exchange money and help me buy some delicious snacks on Saboundy Island. You can use the rest of the money to eat." Allen then pointed towards the ring he had just taken out, "This is space storage equipment."

"Space storage equipment" Marko's gaze immediately showed interest in seeing the ring.

"You can use that to store purchased snacks. How to use it is quite easy. You only need to bring the ring closer to the item you want to keep then issue an order through your mind. The ring will automatically start working as long as you give the order to load items." Allen said, "The ring itself has a storage size of five cubic meters. It's not very big but enough to store a variety of snacks. I will lend you the equipment and upon returning, you must return it to me"

Marko immediately took the ring and used it on one of his fingers. He then started trying to use the ring by inserting the gold that was in front of him into the ring. Instantly the gold went straight into the ring which immediately made Marko's expression change.

"Excellent…" Marko looked at the ring then his gaze fell on Allen, "How do I get it out?"

"You just order it through your mind by imagining the item you want to take out. The item must be the item stored in the ring. As long as the item is not there, the item can't come out"

Marko nodded and immediately gave it a try. He quickly took out the gold he had just put in and put it back in the ring.

"This is very good stuff" Marko smiled and then looked at Allen. "Allen, how about you sell this thing to me? I can buy it at a high price. What do you think, Yoi~?"

"Forget it. I'm not interested in your money." Allen waved his hand, "If you want it, use your strength to get it in the dungeon. I have no intention of selling anything to adventurers."

"You cheapskate~"

"Whatever you want" Allen shrugged his shoulders, "I'll be waiting here and I hope you can come back soon. I want to try snacks that are from this world soon"

"Hey! Do you think I am your maid?" Marko asked with a frown,

"Hmm? Don't you want? Well, then—"

"Forget it" Marko immediately dismissed him, "I'll go do it. I also benefit from here. At least, I don't have to spend money to buy food."

"You are quite intelligent"

"I don't want to hear that from you," Marko said sullenly "Okay, I'll be going then. I will come soon to bring the snacks you want"

"Um,"

Marko quickly walked straight out of the guild.

*******

Area 13.

"Huh?"

Kuzan who was lying down casually suddenly felt someone coming out of the building. Upon sensing that person, Kuzan immediately opened his eyes and then turned his attention to the person who had just left the building he was currently observing.

"That guy…Marko?!"

An exclamation full of surprise immediately left Kuzan's mouth followed by a change in expression that was completely different from before.

"Marko, what are you doing—Wait a moment" A thought suddenly appeared in his mind, "Whitebeard's sudden move…Is it possible that the move wasn't made to come to Fish-Man Island but to this island?"

Kuzan's breathing quickened at the thought. Simultaneously he also saw Marko who at this time had begun to mobilize his devil fruit abilities where he immediately turned into a Pheonix and sawra fly into the sky.

"There's no mistake, that person is Marko." Kuzan's gaze immediately glanced toward the building he was currently observing, "That building…Could it be that building that was the reason behind the movements of the two monsters? Was that building also the reason behind Hancock's coming to this place?… What exactly was inside the building that made these two monsters willing to come to this area?"

"Ararara~ Looks like this mission is more troublesome than expected" Kuzan scratched his head with an irritated expression then he immediately took out the den-den mushi that he had brought before.

Kuzan immediately contacted one of them and the communication lines quickly connected.

"Hello, Sengoku here"

"Sengoku-san, it's me, Aokiji"

"Aokiji?" Surprise was immediately seen on the den-den mushin's face where the den-den mushin's face followed by the face behind the call, "What's wrong? Is there anything you found related to the sudden movement made by Akagami?"

"Yeah and this is more troublesome than expected"

"More troublesome?" Sengoku immediately narrowed his eyes, "Explain!"

Kuzan took a deep breath and his expression immediately became serious, "Sengoku-san, I think the analysis that you two thought earlier with Tsuru-san, was wrong. Whitebeard…That monster, his current movements have nothing to do with Fish-Man Island."

"Nothing to do with Fishman Island?" Sengoku is getting serious hearing this.

"Well," Kuzan nodded and continued, "Currently, I'm in area 13 of Saboundy Archipelago Island."

"Area 13? What are you there for?" Sengoku asked with a bit of confusion.

"Glazed previously submitted a report to me upon arriving here. The report states that currently, the Kuja pirate group is on this island."

"Kuja pirate group?" Sengoku frowned, "What are they doing there? There should be no reason for them to come there."

"I think so too. Because of that, I felt strange when I received the report and immediately came to this region to carry out monitoring regarding their activities." Kuzan paused and continued, "The decision that I made turned out to be a big one. This decision also allowed me to find out the reason behind the movement of Whitebeard and Akagami as well as the reason behind the arrival of the Kuja pirate group on this island."

"What's that?" Sengoku asked back.

"This is related to a building that is in area 13"

"A building?" Confusion enveloped Sengoku upon hearing this.

"Well, it relates to a building. The building is quite strange and maybe also unique. When I try to use my Observation Haki to sense things inside the building…I can't feel anything there"

"Huh?" surprise immediately appeared inside Sengoku upon hearing this.

"What is felt by me is just an endless darkness. It is impossible to see anything inside the building using Observation Haki. Besides…" Kuzan paused and continued, "That place itself has been visited by quite several people and those people aren't ordinary people but each of them has influence and a big name."

Sengoku didn't reply but waited for Kuzan to explain further.

"Former Vice Captain of the Roger Pirates - Mei'O Silver Rayleigh, Former Empress of Amazon Lily Island Two Generations Before Hancock - Shakuyaku, then who I just saw before walking out of the building, First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates Group - Marko"

Sengoku's breath immediately became very fast hearing this. His eyes opened very wide because of the shock of the information that Marko had just given him.

"Earlier I saw Rayleigh and Shakuyaku walking into the building. As long as they were only wearing normal clothes, I would probably assume it was a normal place. However…" Kuzan paused for a moment and continued, "Their appearance was not normal because at that time, Rayleigh was carrying a sword plus Shakuyaku was carrying an arrow. It's a look to want to jump into the fray and not go hang out in a bar."

"..."

"Then, recently, I saw Marko walking out of the building. I can see the clothes he's wearing look like they're taking all kinds of damage that might be gotten through battle. The battle that Marko experienced shouldn't be fought on this island since as long as that person fights, there's a chance we'll find out soon enough. But…"

"There is no information about the battle from him" Sengoku continued.

"Well," Kuzan nodded and continued, "Rayleigh, Shakuyaku, and Marko's whereabouts. This may also be the reason behind Whitebeard and Akagami's sudden movements. It shouldn't be an ordinary place, because if it was a regular place, there's no way Rayleigh and Shakuyaku would have come there looking as if they were going to battle. Besides that, it was also impossible for Whitebeard and Akagami to move as long as it was an ordinary place. Compared to having to come all the way here, they would definitely choose to stay. As long as it is known they leave the new world. Big Mom and Kaidou will definitely try to move to take their territory."

"You're right" Sengoku nodded seriously, "This place shouldn't be an ordinary place, it's impossible to move those two monsters…"

"Kuzan" Sengoku suddenly called him back with a different nickname, "I will send Tsuru to help you there and you two will monitor this place directly. As long as you two find that Rayleigh and the others are out of that place. Take that time to get into that place and see what's in there. We need to know what is in there to make the two monsters move to this place simultaneously."

"Good"

The communication link between the two was quickly cut off.

"Arara~ At least I'm not the only one carrying out this task. With the help from Tsuru-san, this task will be much easier than before. I can completely leave this task to him."

Kuzan then saves his communication line and returns to lying relaxed in his previous place while also releasing his Observation Haki ability to monitor all movements made in the place that is currently his focus point.