"The Great Staff Officer sure loves asking questions!"
Aramaki grinned, showing a smiling Face. However, he did not answer Taro's question and said in a flat tone,
"I'm not interested in what you want to do! And you shouldn't be too curious about me either!"
Taro frowned tightly. Aramaki had come to this sea area inexplicably, clearly having discovered something. Now he was saying this? Who was he trying to fool?
After pondering for a moment, Taro looked at Aramaki and asked,
"Did Sakazuki send you?"
Aramaki's smile faded a little. "Why would the Great Staff Officer ask that?"
Taro stared at him for a while, then revealed a slight smile.
"Your Admiral position, when it comes down to it, was first appointed by Sakazuki! This made the World Government lose a lot of Face. Although the higher-ups later issued a supplementary order, both you and I know very well that the Gorosei were just trying to save Face!"
"You being stationed at Marijoa is for the same reason!"
"A rift has already developed between Sakazuki and the Gorosei!"
"At a time like this, you wouldn't pick a side! If it were just an order from Marijoa, you wouldn't be acting this way!"
Taro glanced at the nearby ruins.
"Rahahaha!"
Aramaki laughed heartily. "I'm just a newcomer, how dare I defy the World Government's orders?"
Taro gave him a look of disdain. "What did Sakazuki tell you to do?"
Aramaki gave Taro a calm look.
"Mr. Sakazuki wants to know whose energy it was that I 'ate' last time!"
Taro calmly said "Oh" and didn't say anything more.
Aramaki was a bit curious. "Aren't you worried?"
Taro shrugged, looking completely unconcerned.
"Why should I be worried? Energy residue on the Red Line?"
He smiled faintly.
"The time you 'ate' the energy wasn't within Marijoa's territory, so what does that prove? The Navy has just stabilized. Would Sakazuki turn against me over such a small'suspicion'?"
Aramaki stared at Taro with an inscrutable look. After a long while, he finally spoke leisurely,
"Given Sakazuki's personality, even a little'suspicion' is enough for him!"
Taro smiled even more heartily.
"Indeed, it's enough!"
"However, that will only become a thorn in his side, a thorn he can't pull out right now!"
"And that's enough for me too!"
Hearing this, Aramaki was stunned for a moment, then let out a light chuckle and sighed somewhat self-deprecatingly,
"Sigh, if I had known joining the Marines would be so troublesome, I shouldn't have listened to Kake's persuasion back then. Now that I'm involved, it's hard to back out!"
Taro laughed out loud.
"The waters of this world run deep. You haven't been in the Marines long enough to grasp it all. A few months earlier, and I could have grasped it!"
Aramaki also started laughing.
"It really is deep! So, I'd better just go back to Marijoa and lie low honestly. The pretty young ladies there are much easier to grasp!"
What a Lecherous Old Man!
Taro mentally complained while showing an admiring smile on his Face and giving a thumbs up.
"Wise!"
Aramaki laughed somewhat perfunctorily for a while, then closed his eyes and began to ponder.
Taro's ability was the one he had eaten that time. However, regarding the time Marijoa was spied on, he didn't know what specific ability it was.
So, this wasn't conclusive evidence at all.
If Taro wanted, he had many ways to explain it!
And reporting such inconclusive evidence to Sakazuki would bring no benefit other than making Akainu more wary of Taro.
On the contrary, if it leaked out, rumors might spread within the Marines that Admiral Aramaki was trying to stir up conflict between the Fleet Admiral and the Navy Grand Staff Officer.
After all, it was no secret within the Navy that Akainu and Taro didn't see eye to eye!
As a newcomer to the Marines, doing this himself was very unwise!
Thinking of this, Aramaki felt a headache coming on and sighed inwardly. He knew coming out here would lead to no good! What a hassle!
Taro wasn't very concerned about Aramaki having consumed the residue of his ability.
Swinging a sword atop the Red Line wasn't illegal.
As for Akainu, that guy deep down only trusted himself anyway. Taro didn't believe Akainu would ever let his guard down around him.
The seed of suspicion had been planted from their very first meeting. A little more suspicion would just make that seed grow faster, that's all.
What Taro truly cared about was Aramaki himself. It was one thing for a Marine newcomer to have old ties with Fujitora and 'Tokikake' Kake, but to also have a significant connection with Vegapunk? That was strange!
Many recent signs indicated that Vegapunk wanted to make a big splash!
Moreover, this Doctor had been deliberately or inadvertently revealing some things lately, seemingly trying to speed up the process!
So, was Aramaki also part of the arrangement?
After thinking for a long time, Taro raised an eyebrow and asked tentatively,
"How is the progress of Dr. Vegapunk's SSG Unit?"
Aramaki slightly lifted an eyelid and glanced at Taro. After a good while, he responded,
"It seems it won't be long before it's completed!"
A flash of understanding crossed Taro's eyes.
"Oh? So, you've seen him recently?"
Aramaki shifted in his lounge chair and sighed,
"Hah, talking with you really requires extreme caution!"
He paused before continuing,
"I have indeed met Uncle Vegapunk!"
Immediately after, before Taro could press further, he waved his hand,
"Don't ask anything more. I said earlier, don't be too curious about my affairs!"
Taro frowned. "Does the SSG scientific unit count as your affair?"
Aramaki was taken aback for a moment, slightly straightened his posture, and his expression became more serious.
"If I say it doesn't count, are you going to keep asking what the SSG is?"
"If I say it does count, it confirms for you that there must be some connection between me and Uncle Vegapunk!"
He shook his head gently, a faint smile appearing on his Face.
"Well, you're really sharp for a young man!"
"Uncle Vegapank warned me to be extremely careful when dealing with you. Hah, I was still careless in the end!"
Taro wasn't in the mood for Aramaki's teasing tone and said seriously,
"So, does it count as your affair or not?"
Aramaki fell silent for a long time, closed his eyes again, and said stiffly,
"No comment!"
Then, he added,
"Don't get angry so quickly. Uncle Vegapunk will meet you, and soon!"
"Be patient, young man!"
Aramaki's tone was strange yet certain, giving Taro a flash of insight. The displeasure on his Face immediately faded.
Vegapunk had previously said in his letter that he wanted Taro to help him with a small favor at the appropriate time.
Was the time now about right?
He fell silent.
Was this timing simply because the SSG Unit was about to be completed?
Something didn't feel right!
He felt like Vegapunk had been guiding him step by step. Aokiji and Aramaki also clearly had intricate connections with Vegapunk.
Now, the three of them were in the same sea area, meeting 'miraculously' for different reasons!
This was too bizarre!
He couldn't shake the feeling that the great science boss was being controlled and pushed forward!
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