"This is really troublesome..."
Aokiji complained about the hassle of this mission.
If only another colleague of his were here, at least there would be no problem pursuing the enemy. It's inconvenient for him to chase them on his own.
But...
There's no choice but to pursue...
Because Smoker was clearly poisoned...
If there's no time to send Smoker to the Grand Line for treatment, they'll have to find a way to get the antidote from the enemy!
On the Buggy Pirates' ship.
Akihara Kagura and Karin are still here overseeing Buggy and his crew.
Akihara Kagura vigilantly watched Mihawk, as if worried he'd make a move to help free Buggy or something: "I warn you, don't attempt to rescue Buggy from here, the Navy's support will arrive soon..."
"..."
Mihawk shook his head helplessly.
This Navy member wanting a promotion must be crazy!
But...
The plan really seems to have issues...
Because the Konoha Pirates' large ship plans to set sail and leave, they don't seem to care at all about Buggy's matters. They directly hoisted their sails, and the Nine-headed Wooden Dragon surfaced from the water, intending to leave the port just like that...
However...
Aokiji obviously had no intention of letting them go.
Just as the Konoha Pirates' ship was setting sail, Aokiji stepped onto the sea, which quickly turned to ice, and his figure rapidly chased after them!
The ice quickly began to spread across the port!
The Buggy Pirates' ship was frozen in place!
Clearly.
Aokiji hadn't forgotten his mission.
The Navy Admiral continued to pursue that escaping large ship!
"The Navy will definitely win."
Akihara Kagura seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"No! Their target is the Navy Admiral!"
Mihawk's eyes suddenly became sharp, his mind racing, and he immediately leaped onto the ice, pursuing that large ship as well!
No!
The Navy will indeed win!
But Admiral Aokiji will lose!
The target of the Konoha Pirates isn't Buggy at all!
That powerful pirate crew's target is very likely Admiral Aokiji!
Mihawk immediately realized it all; this was a trap. The Konoha Pirates' secret assassination of the Heavenly Celestial Dragon was to lure over a Navy Admiral!
That pirate crew was luring Aokiji into pursuit; Aokiji absolutely couldn't be their match, and once away from land, Aokiji couldn't be their opponent!
Akihara Kagura watched Mihawk's departing figure, a mysterious smile curling at the corners of his mouth. There certainly are smart people in this world...
At least...
He guessed halfway correctly...
But unfortunately the real correct answer was given to him from the start...
Akihara Kagura glanced at his spoils, then looked at the ice on the sea, his voice becoming gentle.
"Karin, go borrow a radio snail from Log Town's branch to report to the Navy Headquarters that we've captured Clown Buggy. Hopefully, the Navy Headquarters will credit the achievement to me and not distribute it to Admiral Aokiji, who attacked randomly..."
After all...
Admiral Aokiji did indeed make a move to steal the credit!
A dignified Navy Admiral competing with a branch Lieutenant for credit!
Whether it's Buggy's bounty or the credit for capturing him, Akihara Kagura went to great lengths to reach this step, and if Aokiji wants to casually steal the credit with a gust of cold air, then don't blame the Konoha Pirates for not being elegant in their conduct!