Aokiji did not continue the chase.
He simply stood silently beside the frozen body of Saul.
"Was it worth it?"
Saul's face carried a bright, relieved smile.
"Deh la hee hee hee hee! Kuzan, I knew I wasn't wrong about you..."
A flicker of sadness crossed Aokiji's expression.
His gaze moved toward Robin, who was already rowing away in the small boat.
"Nico Robin. Be glad you survived. From now on, live quietly."
Robin bit her lip, wanting to say something, but Aokiji cut her off.
"I am not your companion. I am your enemy. If you ever stray, I will be the first to arrest you."
Robin lowered her head and continued rowing, but her eyes never left Aokiji.
She carved that moment, that figure, deep into her memory.
Then a lazy voice drifted through the air.
"Yo, Kuzan. What do you think you're doing?"
Aokiji and the still-living Saul stiffened instantly.
This was bad.
Both looked up.
A man in a black suit floated lazily above the shoreline.
His crimson eyes swept across the small boat.
Robin felt her entire body freeze, as if her blood itself had turned to ice.
That killing intent... no normal human could withstand it.
Aokiji and Saul immediately shut their mouths.
A step.
Another step.
Ezra D. Vale landed on the shore.
His gaze fell on Saul.
"Vice Admiral Saul. Nice to meet you."
"Admiral Blaze," Saul replied nervously.
His throat felt dry.
He was facing Ezra D. Vale, the Blaze Admiral.
Aokiji opened his mouth to speak, but Ezra raised a hand.
"It doesn't matter. A child like her can't make waves."
Both Aokiji and Saul froze.
Was he... planning to let Robin live?
"And besides," Ezra added casually, "didn't you just say it yourself? If she ever steps out of line, you'll catch her."
Aokiji's back straightened slightly.
"Admiral Blaze, rest assured. If she ever breaks the law, I will bring her in myself."
Ezra shrugged.
"Then everything is fine, isn't it? Now hurry up and leave. I'm about to erase Ohara completely."
Aokiji's eyes widened slightly.
"Yes, Admiral Blaze."
He cast one final look at Saul, then at Robin who hadn't rowed far yet, and turned to leave for the battleship.
Ezra focused on Saul.
"Do you need me to end your pain?"
Saul burst out laughing.
"Deh la hee hee hee hee! Then I'll trouble you, Admiral Blaze."
Snap.
The crisp sound of Ezra's fingers reached Robin's ears.
Then she saw a sight she would remember for the rest of her life.
Saul's body erupted into blazing flames.
The man in the black suit stood before him, crimson eyes glowing like a demon's.
Robin had only one thought left.
Jump.
This man. This man is a demon!
"We will meet again someday, Nico D. Robin."
Ezra whispered softly.
Then he rose into the sky above Ohara.
Spiritual pressure surged from his right hand.
From the moment he decided that his fate was tied to Imu's, he had already chosen his path.
If there was truth buried in history, he would be the one to uncover it.
"Hadō 88. Flying Dragon-Striking Heaven-Shaking Thunder Cannon."
With Ezra's chant, overwhelming spiritual pressure gathered in his palm.
A massive blast of energy descended upon Ohara.
In an instant, the entire island was swallowed by light and pressure.
Even from far away, Robin stared in shock.
"What... what kind of power is that?"
Ohara vanished before her eyes.
A swirling vortex of seawater formed where the island had once been.
Ezra spread his spiritual perception.
After confirming that Robin was the sole survivor, he nodded with satisfaction.
A moment later, he reappeared aboard the warship.
"Mission complete. Set sail."
"Admiral, don't we need to search the area?" a marine asked.
Ezra waved a hand.
"No need. If any survivors show up, I'll take the blame."
Aokiji lowered his head in quiet shame.
He had let Robin go.
Yet Ezra took the responsibility for it.
"Admiral Blaze, I..."
Ezra raised a hand to stop him.
"Just remember what you promised."
Aokiji nodded firmly and left to issue orders.
Ezra pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed Sengoku.
"Uncle Sengoku, mission accomplished."
"Well done, Ezra. Any escapees?"
Ezra paused.
"Yeah. A little girl. She was fast. I couldn't catch her."
In his office, Sengoku pinched the bridge of his nose.
This kid definitely let her go...
Definitely!
But he said nothing.
He knew this mission had never been honorable to begin with.
"I understand. Good work, Ezra."
Ezra hung up and stretched out on his beach chair.
"As expected, ever since Roger died, major events just keep happening."
Meanwhile in Marineford, Sengoku reported the results to the Five Elders.
When they heard that Ezra deliberately let a girl escape, their faces twitched.
They wanted to scold him... but they didn't dare.
"It must be reported to Lord Imu."
They hurried to Imu's chambers.
"Lord Imu, there is an urgent matter!"
"Come in."
They explained everything.
Imu raised an eyebrow.
"So Ezra let her live? Then she must still be useful to him. Give her a bounty. A small one."
"Yes, Lord Imu!"
After they left, Imu smiled faintly.
"So you intend to uncover the truth yourself, Ezra? Interesting."
Back on the warship, Ezra suddenly sneezed.
Aokiji looked over.
"Ezra, are you catching a cold?"
Ezra scoffed.
"Do you think I can catch a cold?"
"Then why...?"
"Someone must be talking about me."
Aokiji didn't think much of it.
But Ezra knew.
Imu was thinking about him.
"This is going to be tricky. What am I going to say next month...?"
Ezra muttered to himself.