The moment Akainu removed his cap, the atmosphere changed entirely.
His already grim, corpse-like face grew even darker, his presence so oppressive that Snow, Star, and the Marines behind them instinctively took several steps back.
No one could really blame them. Akainu had killed more men than they could count.
As the rising star and core figure of the Navy's hawkish faction, he didn't even need to release his aura—his very existence radiated lethal intent.
"If the two of you still insist on fighting," he said flatly, magma bubbling from his arms, "then I'll have no choice but to stop you by force."
As his words fell, the air filled with smoke and heat.
The black magma pouring from his fists hissed and roared, melting the surrounding ice in an instant.
Steam rose in thick waves, shrouding everyone in a suffocating fog.
Kuzan glared at Brian, eyes filled with hatred.
Then, with a frustrated snarl, he turned away.
Akainu's arrival had snapped him back to reason.
He loathed Brian with every fiber of his being, but he understood the situation.
If it came to a real fight, Akainu would side with Brian—because Brian's brutality still carried the backing of "official justice."
Brian was, after all, executing a government order.
Kuzan, on the other hand, had already crossed the line once by sparing Saul and helping Robin escape.
If he resisted further, he'd be branded a traitor.
Besides, the battle had made one thing painfully clear—Brian's strength far exceeded his expectations.
Kuzan couldn't win. Not yet.
So he turned his back.
He would grow stronger.
And when the time came, he would personally deliver justice to Brian for Saul's death—and for all the innocent blood spilled on Ohara.
As Kuzan's silhouette disappeared into the mist, Akainu also began to turn away.
"Hey, Sakazuki," Brian called lazily, his tone laced with mockery.
"Aren't you going to avenge Karl? I remember that monkey said he used to follow you around."
Snow and Star went pale.
My lord, are you insane?!
Of all the things to say—he just had to bring that up!
The two brothers had never witnessed Akainu's full power firsthand, but they'd heard enough stories to know he was a walking natural disaster. A monster in human skin.
And Brian had just poked him with a stick.
Akainu froze mid-step.
But he didn't turn around.
Brian's senses sharpened immediately.
His Observation Haki expanded outward, locking onto Akainu's presence, measuring his pulse and breath.
Calm.
Completely steady.
No flicker of anger.
Brian frowned. What the hell?
Had the monkey lied to him? Was Sakazuki never planning to avenge Karl at all?
He distinctly remembered that Karl had once been one of Akainu's subordinates.
"Did Borsalino set me up?" Brian muttered, half to himself. "Did that lazy bastard just make that up to spook me?"
Akainu finally spoke, his voice low but unshakably firm.
"My comrades are those who uphold justice. Nothing else matters."
He turned his head slightly, the molten glow of his face half-lit by the flickering magma on his shoulders.
"Anyone who truly enforces justice is my ally—even you, Brian."
Brian stared at him, utterly speechless.
For a long moment, he just gaped, eyes wide, mouth half-open like he couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.
Then, five seconds later, he blinked and let out a half-disbelieving snort.
"Sakazuki… you're kidding me, right? 'Justice'? Don't give me that self-righteous crap. You really mean to tell me you're not going to take revenge? Right now's your best chance!"
But Akainu didn't answer.
He simply walked away, silent and unyielding, his heavy footsteps echoing across the melting ice.
Brian exhaled through his nose.
"Tch. Pretentious bastard. 'Comrade of justice'? What are you, twelve?"
Muttering to himself, he waved to Snow.
"Go find some booze and meat. Lots of it. I need to thaw out before I turn into a popsicle."
Hours later, while Ohara remained locked beneath the endless frost, Spandine finally landed on the island with a team of CP agents.
"W-w-w-what the hell—how can it be this cold?!"
He was shaking so badly his teeth chattered, clutching his coat tight around him.
"You idiots! Take off your jackets and give them to me! Now!"
Reluctantly, his subordinates stripped off their coats, handing them over with frozen fingers.
Spandine bundled himself in the layers, still shivering as he trudged across the ice.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He kicked the frozen ground.
Clang! Clang!
The sound was like striking steel.
The ice was flawless—thick, solid, and unyielding.
Given its hardness and depth, it would take months to melt.
And at such subzero temperatures, even Marines couldn't endure for long, let alone frail scholars.
In Spandine's mind, that could only mean one thing:
The scholars and civilians of Ohara—those who hadn't already burned—must have all frozen to death. There was no chance of survivors.
"Thank the heavens, Rear Admiral Brian!" Spandine cried, spotting Brian near the ruins of the Tree of Knowledge.
"You're alive! Praise the gods, I prayed so hard for your safe return!"
Brian looked up, meeting his eyes—and instantly saw the flicker of disappointment that Spandine failed to hide.
He smiled thinly.
"You didn't happen to pray I'd die in Kuzan's hands, did you?"
"Wh-what? No! Of course not, sir! How could you say such a thing? I swear, I would never—ever—"
Brian smirked.
"Cut the act. If prayers worked, my grave would've sprouted weeds three meters tall by now."
Spandine's forced grin froze on his face, his eyes darting away.
Brian gave a small gesture. Snow stepped forward, dragging a heavy metal case and setting it on the ice.
"Open it," Brian said casually.
Spandine obeyed immediately, fumbling with the latch.
When the lid came up, his eyes widened.
Inside were neatly stacked bundles of cash—crisp, freshly printed notes that filled the air with the scent of oil and ink.
"One hundred million berries," Brian said, lighting a cigar.
"From now on, whether you're in CP9 or anywhere else, any information you get—comes to me first. I'll call on you for favors from time to time.
Consider this…" he gestured at the box, "a token of friendship. A start. There will be more, of course. I'm very generous with the people who work for me."
Spandine blinked.
Is he trying to buy me?
The thought crossed his mind immediately.
He was greedy—no question—but his position was sensitive.
The intelligence he handled often involved classified government secrets, the kind no one was allowed to sell.
Brian's smile didn't waver.
"I believe in only two things," he said softly.
"Power—and leverage."
Then his eyes narrowed.
"So, if you don't take the money… you might just end up dying a patriot today. Shot through the heart in the line of duty. A loyal servant of the World Government."
The threat hung in the frozen air like smoke.
As soon as the words left his lips, Star silently raised his pistol—
and aimed it straight at Spandine's back.
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