Chapter 260: Existing Problems
"Issho?"
Axel could not help exclaiming in surprise.
Aokiji was not surprised by his reaction at all.
He had heard about that incident before. Garp's grandson had also been involved in the attack on the Celestial Dragons. At the time, Aokiji had even said, "Isn't that pretty cool?" right in front of Sengoku, and had been scolded for it afterward.
Because of that, his memory of the matter was rather clear.
"Is he also in the nearby sea area?" Axel asked.
"Yeah..."
Aokiji nodded, then said in a lazy, helpless tone, "He's a very troublesome opponent. Sengoku really assigned me a bothersome chore, even though he knows I hate this kind of thing the most."
"It seems Mr. Issho is still doing well."
Axel's expression softened slightly.
"I wonder how he is now."
"Well... you could say that."
Aokiji shifted slightly on the lounge chair.
"What is Issho to you?"
Axel thought for a moment.
It had been over a year since he and Issho parted ways.
During the time they had traveled together, Issho had felt like a gentle elder to him. After being separated for so long, Axel did feel a sense of longing.
"An elder, I suppose."
After a pause, Axel added, "Or maybe a mentor."
To regard a criminal as an elder or a mentor, if someone like Akainu heard this, a lecture would be inevitable.
It might even be treated as a crime.
However, Aokiji's attitude did not change in the slightest. He was still as lazy as ever.
"Then what kind of person do you think he is?" Aokiji asked.
"A pure-hearted uncle with a bad gambling habit, I guess."
"Pure-hearted?" Aokiji sounded puzzled.
"It means his moral integrity hasn't dropped below the baseline yet."
Axel's expression turned a little interested.
"Well... to put it another way, he's an old virgin with a young physiological age."
"Uh... is that so?"
Axel knew what Aokiji actually wanted to ask, so he added, "He's a decent middle-aged man. At the very least, everything he does is for the sake of justice."
He looked at Aokiji.
"I think his actions are more upright than most Marines."
Aokiji pondered for a moment.
"It really is... a troublesome chore."
After several clashes, Aokiji himself had also felt that Issho did not seem like some heinous criminal.
However, if he did not arrest Issho, then maintaining world order would become nothing more than empty talk.
No matter what kind of person Issho was, to uphold peace and justice, Aokiji had to take action.
The reason he asked Axel was actually because he wanted to hear that Issho was a criminal.
That way, he could feel that what he was doing was not wrong.
After a long while, Aokiji pulled his sleep mask back down and said, "A word of advice."
Axel looked at him.
"There's a problem with your fighting style."
Axel was momentarily dazed.
Then confusion rose in his heart.
Regarding the battle earlier, he did not think there had been any problem.
From any perspective, his combat could be considered a standard example of the weak fighting the strong.
It could even be written into a textbook for others to study.
Every move and every technique had its reason.
It was precisely because of those skills and methods that he had survived in such a situation.
Just as Axel was about to ask what exactly the problem was, snoring came from the lounge chair.
"..."
"Uh... never mind."
Because Aokiji was accustomed to traveling slowly, it took about a day of sailing before they reached their destination.
Hartlepool Island.
During that time, Axel asked many questions.
For example, why Doberman had not moved.
According to what he learned, it seemed Sengoku had been worried that the overly aggressive Doberman might spark a conflict with Whitebeard or the Seven Warlords if deployed directly.
Or perhaps it was because Aokiji had been in the nearby waters.
Either way, Sengoku ordered Doberman to wait for commands at the Marine base.
However, Aokiji never explained what was wrong with Axel's fighting style.
It was not until he delivered Axel that he gave a response before leaving.
"If you want to know the problem, ask Teacher Zephyr."
Axel was stunned.
This was completely shifting the blame onto Zephyr.
It felt like finally completing a main quest, only to be told that the person who gave it was actually just a minor NPC, and that he needed to find someone else for the real answer.
That sudden disappointment was enough to crush the soul.
Axel stepped onto the island.
Before he could even properly set foot on the shore, Marines poured out in formation, lining up in two neat rows and surrounding the entire coast.
"Salute!"
At the command, the entire Marine formation performed a standard military salute in perfect unison.
Axel stared blankly at the scene, unable to understand what was happening.
"What is this...?"
The formation split down the middle.
Doberman walked out from between the lines of Marines and answered Axel's question.
"This is for Rear Admiral Axel."
Doberman's voice was stern and clear.
"For your contribution to the Marines this time. You cleared out the underground trade in the nearby waters and restored order during this period."
"Furthermore, you went to Dressrosa alone to face a Seven Warlord of the Sea, bringing glory to the Marines and peace to the residents."
If Sengoku had been the one saying this, Axel felt he would have added, "Do you think I would actually say that?"
If it were Garp, he would probably have started swearing already.
Although Axel knew that if this were only to show respect, it would not be this grand even here, he still pretended not to understand and said bashfully, "I'm not as amazing as you say."
"However..."
Axel knew the main point had arrived.
"You violated Marine discipline."
Doberman's voice suddenly sharpened.
"You disregarded the Marines and the residents, acted on your own, and caused even greater destruction."
"At the same time, regarding the Dressrosa incident, you must give Headquarters an explanation."
His gaze was severe.
"We are Marines, not pirates. Direct destruction of this nature is unacceptable."
Under Doberman's reprimand, the surrounding Marines looked at Axel with weary and reproachful expressions.
Because Axel had destroyed the local underground trade, many pirates had been drawn in by the treasures flowing out from those deals.
That led to a series of chain reactions, and many Marines had lost their lives in battle.
Ultimately, all of this had been caused by Axel.
Some understood Axel's methods.
Others blamed him.
It was not as though doing something righteous would automatically earn the support of every Marine soldier.
Many people wanted to protect their own lives before upholding justice.
Not all Marines believed in Absolute Justice.
Many simply thought that becoming a Marine would give them a safe harbor in this chaotic sea.
Axel sighed.
This time, in order to deal with Doflamingo, he had not cared too much.
He had also not considered things as thoroughly as he usually did.
Those considerations were shackles.
When facing someone like Doflamingo, worrying about them would only be like spinning a cocoon around himself.
He did not run away.
Nor did he say anything to excuse himself.
"This matter is indeed my responsibility."
Axel's voice was calm.
"I am willing to bear the blame."
"For this, I am willing to resign from my position as Rear Admiral and return to Marineford."
The moment Axel said this, the way many Marines looked at him changed significantly.
After all, Axel's actions had been far more dangerous than theirs, and he had done those things for the sake of justice.
They had no real reason to blame him.
But if they knew what Axel was thinking, they would probably lose their composure and start cursing.
Because what Axel was thinking now was very simple.
Finally.
I can get rid of these troublesome matters and leisurely go back to visit Teacher Zephyr.
Doberman did not agree.
Instead, he said, "I agree with your methods."
"In my view, your way was correct."
"However, the rules of the Marines must be followed."
His tone remained firm.
"I will not revoke your rank. Your judgment will be left to Marineford."
"This is also why I stopped you here."
Doberman turned his gaze toward the surrounding Marines.
"Escort Rear Admiral Axel onto the warship and send him to Marineford."
.....
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