Liam Ross stood frozen under Akainu's burning stare, the weight of the Vice Admiral's presence pressing down like molten steel. Every instinct screamed at him to move, to defend, but he forced himself to stay calm. Behind his calm eyes, his mind spun like a set of gears in overdrive.
"Vice Admiral," Liam said carefully, his tone strained yet steady, "I'm not Emperor Tian. The reason I managed to dodge your attack just now is because…" He hesitated, his voice faltering halfway. His brows furrowed slightly as if struggling with something he didn't wish to reveal.
Akainu's cold smirk deepened. "What's the matter? Run out of lies already?"
Before Liam could answer, a familiar, icy voice broke through the tension.
"If you want to prove your innocence," Aokiji said, stepping forward with his covert action unit, "then show us something solid. Convince us that you truly aren't Emperor Tian."
The crowd thickened. Sailors gathered from every corner of the ship, murmuring with curiosity. The atmosphere turned suffocating, every gaze locked on Liam.
He looked up, expression conflicted, then sighed. "Even if I tell you the truth, would you believe me?"
"That depends," Aokiji replied calmly. "Let's hear what you have to say."
Drawing in a deep breath, Liam lifted his head. "The reason I dodged Vice Admiral Sakazuki's punch wasn't luck. It's because… I could sense the danger before it happened."
A ripple of surprise spread through the sailors. Even Akainu and Aokiji exchanged a look.
"You're saying you've awakened Observation Haki?" Aokiji asked, his eyes narrowing in scrutiny.
If that was true, it would explain Liam's reaction speed. But according to their reports, Liam had shown no signs of Haki before. Was he lying or had he somehow awakened it in secret?
Liam scratched the back of his head, putting on a confused, innocent look. "I'm not sure if that's what you call it, sir. My senses just got sharper. I can kind of feel the movement of things around me like my body reacts before my mind does."
He delivered the line with perfect naivety, his tone genuine enough to sow hesitation. In truth, he was using his Observation Haki deliberately while pretending not to understand it. If he wanted to survive this, his acting needed to be flawless.
At the same time, he sent a mental command. His clone, stationed in the underworld city far away, began to move.
Akainu's fiery eyes narrowed. "When did this heightened sense of yours start?"
"After witnessing the battle between Vice Admiral Spider and Red-Haired Shanks," Liam replied smoothly. "Something clicked inside me. I started feeling… more aware. Stronger, even."
The explanation was mystical enough to sound sincere and unverifiable.
The crowd exchanged uncertain glances. Akainu's frown deepened, but Aokiji looked slightly intrigued.
"If you don't believe me," Liam continued quickly, "ask my superior officer, Captain Tross. I told him about this the next day."
Aokiji nodded to one of his men. "Bring Tross here."
A few minutes later, Captain Tross was led to the deck, still half-asleep. When questioned, he confirmed Liam's statement word for word. The murmurs around the deck grew louder.
It was true Liam had mentioned this change days ago. That didn't clear him completely, but it cast doubt on the accusation.
Aokiji studied Liam's face, eyes cool and unreadable. Then, without warning, he lifted a finger.
A sharp blade of ice shot forward.
Liam's Observation Haki flared instantly he sensed the attack before it even left Aokiji's hand. But instead of dodging cleanly, he deliberately moved a fraction too slow. The ice blade grazed his shoulder, slicing through his jacket and skin before embedding itself into the deck.
A breath of frost spread across the wood, freezing it solid.
Liam fell backward, landing hard. He widened his eyes, feigning shock and fear, clutching his bleeding shoulder. Inside, however, he was pleased his performance was flawless.
Nine point nine out of ten, he thought smugly. Can't give myself a full score. Gotta stay humble.
Aokiji lowered his hand, his voice calm. "Looks like you really did awaken Observation Haki."
Liam looked up at him with wide, pitiful eyes. Aokiji scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "My bad. Had to be sure."
Akainu, however, wasn't satisfied. His glare burned hotter. He'd noticed something else Liam had dodged his attack perfectly, yet when Aokiji tested him, he'd taken a hit.
Is he mocking me?
The Vice Admiral's fists clenched. The magma on his arm began to bubble and hiss.
"Don't play dumb," Akainu growled. "Even if you can use Observation Haki, that doesn't prove you're not Emperor Tian."
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, I swear I'm not him!" Liam said, voice cracking with feigned desperation. "You've got the wrong man!"
Akainu's tone was sharp as steel. "Whether you admit it or not doesn't matter anymore. You're the prime suspect. And for the sake of Navy justice, I can't take chances."
The heat rising from his arm intensified. Glowing magma dripped onto the deck, searing holes through the wood. The sailors nearby flinched, sweat beading on their brows.
That was Akainu's justice absolute and merciless. To him, hesitation was weakness. If there was even a one-percent chance Liam was the enemy, he would strike.
Aokiji's gaze flickered between them, his expression conflicted.
Liam stayed still, trembling on the outside, calm on the inside. His clone had already reached its destination. Everything depended on timing now.
Just as Akainu's molten fist drew back for the killing blow, a shout cut through the chaos.
"Vice Admirals! Urgent report from West Blue Headquarters!"
A lieutenant sprinted onto the deck, panting, clutching a Den Den Mushi in his hands. "The West Blue branch is under attack by Emperor Tian! They request immediate backup!"
The entire deck froze.
Akainu turned sharply. "What did you say?"
"Confirmed, sir!" the lieutenant said, holding out the communicator. "We received a live feed!"
The Den Den Mushi projected the scene in the air a man in a Navy uniform, face hidden behind a grinning white mask, manipulating the earth itself to destroy an entire marine outpost.
Aokiji's brows lifted slightly, while Akainu's eyes widened in fury.
"It's him," Akainu growled. "Emperor Tian!"
The masked figure on the screen smiled mockingly as the ground erupted beneath the marines.
And in that moment, Aokiji's cool voice broke the silence.
He glanced at Liam, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Well, looks like our sergeant has an alibi."
Liam hid his satisfaction behind a trembling facade, lowering his gaze to mask the faint curl of triumph in his smile.
The plan had worked perfectly.
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