Taro's words struck a chord with Vice Admiral Tsuru's heart. The Old Lady nodded with satisfaction, "At least you little rascal have a conscience and know how hard I work!"
Taro proudly raised his head, putting on a smiling face, "Of course!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru also revealed a slight smile, "Hmm, good. Since that's the case, you should go to Punk Hazard!"
Huh? This island sounds familiar!
Taro was stunned for a moment, then the smile on his face gradually stiffened.
Holy crap, isn't this the place where Aokiji and Akainu dueled!
"Your reactions are as sharp as ever! Figured it out?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru noticed the change in Taro's expression. First, she praised him, then continued, "They've already been fighting there for several days. Go and keep an eye on things."
Taro wore a look of misery. Damn it, I just got out of the wolf's den and now I'm walking straight into the tiger's lair, delivering myself on a platter!
"Can I not go? Two Admirals dueling—no matter the outcome, they definitely won't want any interference. Having other people present, I'm afraid it's a one-way trip!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru actually nodded in agreement, with a matter-of-fact expression, "Precisely because it's a one-way trip for others that we're sending you. You don't need to interfere. Just stay far away and watch!"
Taro decisively shook his head, wanting to refuse, "That's still very dangerous! Besides, what's there to watch... Huh? Watch?"
Taro remembered the word "watch" that Aokiji had asked Grant to relay. His heart stirred. Could it be that he wants me to watch this duel?
"What? Have you thought of something else?" Vice Admiral Tsuru frowned, sensing things weren't that simple.
This Taro fellow, whenever he acts like this, he's definitely thinking about some crooked, unorthodox ideas!
This was the conclusion the Old Lady had drawn from experience.
Sure enough, after being stunned for a while, Taro put on a righteous and heroic expression, nodding heavily, "Since you've asked, even if it's a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, I must go!"
I can also make a trip to White Earth Island while I'm at it. Didn't Robin also send a message wanting to see me?
Vice Admiral Tsuru revealed an 'as I expected' expression, "You brat, you're definitely thinking of something bad again!"
"Grandma Tsuru, how can you say that? Is it wrong for me to follow your orders?" Taro wore a cheeky, grinning face.
Vice Admiral Tsuru rummaged in a drawer, pulled out an Eternal Pose, and tossed it to Taro, saying disdainfully, "Always so unserious! They've probably been fighting for three or four days already. Hurry up and get there!"
Taro caught the Eternal Pose and chuckled, "I'll set off first thing tomorrow morning. It's been so long since I've seen you, I'll stay and have a good chat with you!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru gave Taro a sidelong glance, motioning for him to sit down. After thinking for a moment, she said softly, "Taro, there are many rumors in the military now, suggesting that you should fill the vacant Admiral position. You..."
Taro had just touched the sofa when he sprang up in shock again, "No, I don't want to be an Admiral!"
Thinking the Old Lady had the idea of making him an Admiral, he immediately became a bit anxious, "I just want to be like Vice Admiral Garp. I'm already a Headquarters Vice Admiral, and I'm perfectly satisfied with that!"
"Besides, even if someone is to be promoted to Admiral, it should be Vice Admirals Gion and Kake's turn. They've been Admiral candidates for a long time!"
As he spoke, he curled his lip again, "Moreover, the new Fleet Admiral will have his own considerations. This is all just baseless speculation."
Then, he reiterated once more, "Most crucially, I've never even thought about becoming an Admiral! This point, I must emphasize again! Grandma Tsuru, please don't do me harm!"
Taro's reaction was so intense that it left Vice Admiral Tsuru slightly stunned.
Her heart was filled with mixed emotions. Even at a time like this, he could still prioritize the greater good of the Marines. Yet, such a Taro still couldn't earn the World Government's trust.
In an instant, the Old Lady thought of many things: that already destroyed, insane pirate crew and that pirate named Wang Zhi, whose strength wasn't exactly top-tier.
She thought of her old friend Monkey D. Garp, and then of her beloved subordinate from twenty years ago, the Giant Race Vice Admiral Haguar D. Sauro.
Finally, she stared at the Dai D. Zhou Ze before her, sighed silently, and said, "Taro, your prestige in the military..."
Old Lady, you still haven't given up!
"Vice Admiral Garp has much higher prestige in the military than I do. If he doesn't become an Admiral, naturally, I won't either. Grandma Tsuru, if you keep talking, I'll also submit my resignation!"
Taro quickly cut off Vice Admiral Tsuru's words, speaking with absolute certainty.
"Alright, let's not talk about that then. Tell me about your recent situation. You and Tashigi..."
You Old Lady, what's going on with you today!
Taro's mouth twitched: "..."
... The New World, an uninhabited island, Punk Hazard.
This island is very close to the Red Line, belonging to the first island chain of the New World.
It was once a Marine research base, holding some criminals.
Four years ago, the "Gas-Gas Fruit" user M. Caesar Clown conducted inhuman experiments on the island, leading to a toxic gas leak that turned the entire island into a dead land.
The Marines consequently expelled him from the Marine Science Division and arrested him.
However, not long after, that guy escaped from the prison ship and is now whereabouts unknown.
While flying towards Punk Hazard, memories about this island surfaced bit by bit in Taro's mind.
Taro remembered that Caesar, this mad scientist and Vegapunk's former colleague, should have already returned to this island by now and been conducting those inhumane experiments again for about a year.
Since I'm here this time, I might as well deal with this guy too!
After crossing the magnificent Red Line and flying for another hour, Taro arrived above Punk Hazard.
He didn't choose to land directly but observed the island's situation from several thousand meters in the air.
At the very center of the island, a huge, empty area had appeared, bearing the marks of intense battle.
The entire circular area was half frozen with absolute zero frost and half scorched with all-consuming magma.
Judging from the scene, Aokiji and Akainu's battle had indeed already begun. However, it probably hadn't yet reached the life-or-death struggle stage.
Taro remembered that this battlefield later cut through the island, causing seawater to pour in and form a huge lake.
But the problem is, where are the two main protagonists?
Taro didn't see the figures of the two Admirals, which puzzled him greatly. Were they taking a break?
After searching from the air for a long time and still finding nothing else, Taro slowly landed at the edge of the island.
Observation Haki instantly spread out, expanding into the island. Taro's Internal Energy surged wildly.
However, apart from a few faint life reactions, Taro detected nothing unusual.
Those limited life reactions also seemed to be emitted by prisoners who had lost sensation in their lower limbs due to the gas leak incident.
That Caesar guy isn't here either?
What on earth happened here?
Taro was now even more filled with doubts. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, and his expression kept changing.
After pondering for a long time, Taro leaped towards the island's interior, preparing to investigate.
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