HST: Chapter 69/70

Chapter 69: A Little Lesson

As time passed, the three parties with different agendas drew closer and were about to converge on an uninhabited island.

On the deck of the Wind Rider, Caelan looked toward Aokiji's direction, eyes burning with anticipation.

At that moment, the women on board also noticed something unusual about Caelan and leaned in.

"What's wrong, Caelan? Is there something off about that island ahead?"
Nami asked cautiously, a trace of concern on her face.

"Nothing serious. I've just come across a worthy opponent. Time for a warm-up."

Caelan patted Nami's head gently and spoke in a reassuring tone.

"A worthy opponent?"

Nami nodded, still not fully understanding.

Vivi, Robin, and Tashigi were equally puzzled after hearing Caelan's response.

They had never seen Caelan with this kind of expression before.

A glint flashed across Kalifa's glasses as her curiosity deepened.

Who could possibly make Caelan, who had taken down Crocodile react so solemnly?

Could it be another Warlord of the Sea?

"If it's uncertain, why don't we just avoid the island?" Nami looked at Caelan with concern.

"It's fine. Bring the ship in."

Caelan had no intention of running. He wanted to fight Aokiji.

If he missed this opportunity, the next chance to face such a powerful opponent might not come until he reached the New World and challenged Kaido himself.

Besides, Aokiji was already targeting him. Running would be pointless.

After hearing Caelan's words, the women stopped worrying.

Although his mood was different from usual, it wasn't fear—it was excitement.

Before long, the Wind Rider anchored on the island, and everyone disembarked.

On the shore, a tall figure was already waiting.

The man wore a white suit with a dark blue shirt underneath, a dark green sleep mask on his head, and a Justice coat draped over his shoulders.

"Standing while asleep?"

Nami looked at the lazy man in front of her and twitched her mouth.

If this was the opponent Caelan had been anticipating, it felt a bit underwhelming.

Robin stood stiffly beside her. Her pupils shrank and her face turned pale as she looked at the tall figure.

Caelan held Robin's hand tightly, trying to calm her racing heart.

"Admiral Aokiji!"

Tashigi cried out in disbelief.

"The highest military power of the World Government… Admiral of the Navy Headquarters. A world-famous powerhouse," Kalifa added, equally shocked.

She had thought the so-called "worthy opponent" Caelan mentioned was someone on the level of a Warlord of the Sea.

She hadn't expected it to be Aokiji—a top-tier powerhouse standing at the summit of the world.

Was this what he called a good opponent?

Kalifa glanced at Caelan, only to find that he wasn't nervous at all. His expression was calm and composed.

"The Admiral of the Navy? This lazy uncle? Are you sure?" Nami stared at Aokiji again, still a bit skeptical.

Could this man, who could sleep while standing, really be an admiral?

"Little girl, judging people by their appearance isn't very wise." Aokiji yawned as he took off his sleep mask.

His gaze swept across the group and landed on Caelan and Robin holding hands.

Aokiji smiled and greeted her,
"Long time no see, Nico Robin."

"Admiral Aokiji… are you here to arrest me?"
Robin's voice was low and hoarse, nearly despairing.

The man before her had frozen Saul twenty years ago and witnessed the destruction of Ohara.

Even though he let her go back then, Robin still carried deep fear toward Aokiji.

"I suppose so. Will you come with me quietly?" Aokiji replied casually, smiling in a laid-back manner.

"Alright… Please don't hurt them."

Robin closed her eyes and began walking toward Aokiji with heavy steps.

Just as she had told Caelan when she first joined the crew, if an unavoidable threat appeared, she would leave on her own.

These past days had been the most peaceful she had experienced in twenty years.

Precisely because of that, she didn't want to drag Caelan and the others down.

"Sigh… I brought you to this island, not to let you die." Caelan pulled Robin into his arms and rubbed her cheek gently.

"No one in this world can hurt you."

Feeling Caelan's warm embrace, Robin's heart surged with emotion, and she had no intention of resisting.

"Caelan, you're a Marine ally… Do you really intend to protect this woman?"

"She's touched the taboos of the World Government. She's the Devil's Child. Someone untouchable."

Aokiji looked at Caelan with interest, curious to see what he would choose.

"At the age of eight, she single-handedly sank five warships and earned a bounty of 79 million Berries."

"For the next twenty years, she constantly changed affiliations to escape the World Government's pursuit. Everyone who sheltered her met a bad end."

Aokiji continued rambling, trying to sway Caelan.

"She's been a devil since childhood, a harbinger of disaster. I'm telling you, she also…"

Robin's face changed drastically at those words, and for a moment, she even contemplated giving up.

"You can shut up now." Caelan interrupted with clear irritation. He was speechless.

The more Aokiji spoke, the more exaggerated it got. Destroying five warships at age eight? Was he talking about Robin or Big Mom?

"Robin is my crewmate. No one gets to force my people to do anything against their will."

Caelan held Robin tightly, his tone solemn like a vow.

Robin felt the warmth from his chest and looked up at Caelan's chiseled profile.

"That's right! Robin is one of us! She's not the monster you're making her out to be!"
Nami and Vivi said firmly.

After spending so much time together, they knew Robin was gentle and dependable. To them, she was already family.

Even Tashigi glared at Aokiji. Their common enemy had made her side with Robin too.

The once-imposing admiral now looked like a villain peddling slander.

"What a heartwarming scene. Almost makes me not want to interfere."

"However, as a Navy admiral, I can't ignore someone who's an enemy of the World Government."

Aokiji looked at Caelan standing protectively in front of Robin and smiled wryly.

He had come to see if Robin had truly found a safe haven.

Now it seemed she had indeed joined a good crew.

Very well. He'd give them some space to escape.

"If you want to fight, then let's fight. No need for more talk." Caelan met Aokiji's gaze head-on, without the slightest fear.

The power coursing through his body was already eager to be unleashed.

"You're a little too overbearing, young man."
Aokiji's brow furrowed slightly, his voice turning cold.

That kind of attitude could endanger Robin.

Not everyone on this sea was as lenient as him.

Aokiji decided to teach Caelan a lesson first, then let them go.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 70: Different Level

At that moment, it was noon.

Aokiji and Caelan stood facing each other, the battle about to begin.

Right now, aside from Caelan and Aokiji, there wasn't another soul on the island.

Nami and Robin had returned to the Wind Rider, watching the battlefield through telescopes. Though they now possessed strength at the level of Marine commodores, they still couldn't get close to a battle of this caliber.

But they had absolute faith in Caelan.

"You trust him that much?" Kalifa glanced at the girls' expressions, visibly confused.

Even Robin, who had been so terrified just moments ago, now appeared calm—almost as if she was certain Caelan would defeat Aokiji.

"There's no reason to doubt." Robin answered evenly, without turning her head.

This was the man who sided with and sheltered her. Of course, she trusted him.

The other girls nodded in agreement with Robin's words.

From Arlong in the East Blue, to Crocodile in Alabasta, to Enel in Skypiea.

No enemy had ever been able to stop Caelan's advance.

Kalifa couldn't understand their blind faith and decided to enlighten them.

"Maybe you don't understand what it means to be an admiral."

"That's the highest combat power of the World Government. Only three such men exist in each generation. Especially this generation—the strongest in history. Each one is capable of fighting the Four Emperors!"

After saying that, Kalifa looked to the girls, expecting to see panic on their faces.

"Yes, he's strong. But Caelan will beat him."
Robin replied indifferently, eyes still fixed on the battlefield.

The other girls were even more extreme. They didn't react at all.

"Sigh…"

Kalifa sighed and fell silent.

Once the battle was over, they'd understand just how absurd their confidence had been.

These top-tier fighters were the kind of monsters even the Four Emperors had to take seriously. How could Caelan possibly defeat one?

…

Doflamingo arrived late, floating high above the uninhabited island.

He had originally come to teach Caelan a lesson, but now, from up in the sky, he had lost all interest in stepping in.

"Well, well. He actually picked a fight with Aokiji. Poor Caelan." Looking down at the two figures facing off below, Doflamingo laughed mockingly.

Even someone as arrogant as him would never consider going against an admiral.

Any one of the three admirals could kill him instantly.

Even with his status as a former Celestial Dragon, he dared not act rashly in front of them.

He didn't know how Caelan had provoked Aokiji, but the outcome was obvious—Caelan was finished.

"Alright then, let me enjoy the end of this little bounty hunter." Doflamingo fastened dozens of threads to the clouds and wove them into a hammock.

He lay sideways on it, gazing down at the battlefield.

His rage toward Caelan had completely cooled. Now he just wanted to see Aokiji beat him into the ground.

…

"Brace yourself."

Aokiji looked at Caelan and gave a calm warning.

Before showing leniency, he would go all out.

He needed to teach this arrogant kid just how wide the gap was between him and the top of the world.

"No need for words. Just come at me!"
Caelan's fighting spirit surged. His eyes glowed with excitement.

"Hmph."

Aokiji exhaled deeply, and an overwhelming wave of cold began to spread.

The ground started to freeze.

Rocks turned into icebergs radiating chill.

The trees and animals across the island froze solid in an instant, becoming deep blue ice sculptures.

In a matter of seconds, the entire island had turned into a silent, frozen wasteland.

Even the sea surrounding the island formed patches of ice flowers.

Back on the Wind Rider, the girls felt the frigid air and shivered.

"This is the strength of an admiral… the power to change the world in an instant."

Robin stared at the frozen island, her voice serious.

Twenty years ago in Ohara, she had seen Aokiji freeze Saul.

That scene had left a scar in her memory.

But this—this was a hundred times more terrifying.

It also meant Aokiji was taking this battle seriously.

"Now… do you still believe Caelan can win?"
Kalifa felt a strange sense of satisfaction as she spoke.

Since boarding the ship, she'd been subjected to constant training from Caelan.

Now that she had the chance to see him suffer a setback, she couldn't help but feel a little pleased.

There was no way Caelan could beat a monster with the power of a natural disaster!

"Of course. I've always believed in him."
Nami and Vivi responded firmly, without hesitation.

"You're so annoying." Robin, clearly fed up with Kalifa, activated her Flower-Flower Fruit.

Several arms sprouted from the deck, pinning Kalifa down and covering her mouth.

Kalifa struggled, eyes wide.

"If Caelan really loses, we can't be sure of your loyalty."

"When the time comes, you can quietly sink to the bottom of the sea." Nami glared at Kalifa and warned coldly.

Kalifa instantly quieted down. The thought of mocking Caelan vanished.

This woman didn't look like she was bluffing at all!

Tears welled up in Kalifa's eyes. She could already imagine her own corpse drifting at sea.

Caelan, no matter what happens, please win!

Kalifa cried out in her heart.

Above the island, Doflamingo sat upright in his hammock.

He tightened his pink feathered coat, shivering slightly.

"Ice-Ice Fruit… awakened?"

Doflamingo stared at the frozen world below, visibly unsettled.

He had awakened the String-String Fruit himself and immediately recognized the telltale signs.

Changing the environment, turning everything into his domain—this was a disaster-class ability!

"Isn't this a bit much… just for a guy like Caelan?"

Doflamingo was puzzled.

This level of power should be reserved for facing the Four Emperors.

Even he didn't think he was worth Aokiji using such force.

Caelan had clearly violated some natural law of the world.

"Well, no matter. Just witnessing this scene makes the trip worth it."

Doflamingo stared intently at the battlefield, not wanting to miss a thing.

It was rare to see an admiral unleash his full power. Even rarer to witness a battle comparable to those of the Four Emperors.

To miss any part of it would be a sin.

As for Caelan, Doflamingo already considered him a dead man. No need to keep watching him.

…

On the uninhabited island now transformed into a frozen realm, Caelan stood across from Aokiji, enduring the extreme cold.

"It's… very refreshing."

Caelan smiled as he felt the chill swirling around him.

"You really are something, Caelan."

Aokiji looked at Caelan, who seemed completely unaffected, and let out a sigh.

From his Observation Haki, he could sense that Caelan's blood and energy were like a blazing sun. His fighting spirit was soaring.

Aokiji no longer held the casual attitude from before. He became serious.

Caelan… was not on the same level as Crocodile.

(To be continued.)