Uncle Akainu?
Listening to Luffy tentatively call out this title made Aokiji's eye twitch.
"It's Aokiji, Aokiji, but that was my past name. From now on, just call me Kuzan."
Aokiji corrected helplessly, crouching down to rub Luffy's head.
This little rascal, having been played around by Old Man Garp, was bruised and swollen, his eyes looking like light bulbs, so it was normal for him to mistake people. He didn't bother to argue.
"Alright, it's rare to see you here."
Garp laughed heartily as he put his arm around Aokiji's shoulder, "Come, I'll treat you, join me for a drink! We'll talk about that brat's training later!"
Luffy felt as if he was being pardoned and quickly wanted to slip away, yet was caught by Garp's glance as he turned around: "Try running away and see what happens?! I'm going to rest, not you, keep at it!"
His fist, four times larger than Luffy's head, clenched powerfully.
Luffy instantly wilted, his face crestfallen, as he continued to try to gather that elusive Armament Haki on the rock.
...
In Machino's tavern.
"So, what are you planning next, kid?"
Garp gulped down a large mug of ale and smacked his lips as he asked, "I'm old enough now, retiring in this little mountain village is fine by me, but you, you're still in your prime; surely you have to find somewhere to go?"
Forty-four years old, the best age for striving.
Aokiji stared at the liquid swaying in the cup, silent for a long time:
"I don't know, what do you think?"
"How about taking a stroll in the New World?"
Garp sneakily glanced at the face of his most proud disciple, "Compared to Borsalino and Sakazuki, you probably haven't clashed with that kid yet?"
Saying this, Garp seemed unsure, his gaze dropping lower.
——Hmm, no missing arms or legs, so it seems not.
"So between you two, there's no dealings, and no grievances."
Garp poured himself another drink, chuckling, "Go meet him! Don't be misled by the World Government's negative publicity; once you get to know him, you'll find that kid is quite a decent person... Hmm? Why are you staring at me like that, don't believe it?"
"...I don't doubt that."
Aokiji shook his head wryly, raised his glass for a sip, "I just didn't expect you, old man, to recommend Endgame. I originally thought you'd advise me to find Teacher Zephyr."
"Zephyr? His Neo Navy?"
Garp put down his glass, suddenly looking a bit complex. He paused, sighed and said:
"If little Tsuru followed him in leaving, the old man would think it's not a bad idea for you to go to the Neo Navy, but just him alone..."
Garp shook his head and downed another mouthful of alcohol, "That old guy's too stubborn; his temper is getting harsher and his methods more extreme. You two don't share the same ideology, going there would only lead to conflict."
Aokiji remained silent.
It was indeed predictable.
He knew Teacher Zephyr too well. Since his family was killed by pirates, the former Non-Killing Grand Admiral had become increasingly radical, his hatred for pirates nearly warping his sense of justice.
Now, this hatred has even extended to Navy Headquarters; establishing the Neo Navy will likely be more aggressive than before.
"But the Neo Navy, its biggest problem isn't this."
Garp thought for a moment, "Perhaps it isn't a bad idea to take a look at Zephyr. Don't take what the old man just said too seriously, compare more and more; what you sense and want to choose on your own is your best path."
Aokiji hesitated, nodding, downing his drink.
The icy beer sliding down his throat gradually calmed his chaotic thoughts.
Right at this moment.
The tavern door was suddenly pushed open, a figure wearing a straw hat swaggered in triumphantly.
"Grandpa! I think I've grasped a bit of a trick!"
Luffy chuckled, showing off his pitch-black arms, "Look, here! Not bad, right? Shouldn't you reward me with a feast now? I'm starving!"
Garp's eyes lit up, overjoyed.
"Oh? You can already manage Armament Hardening?"
He sprang up, grabbed Luffy by the collar and dragged him out the door, "Come! Let the old man test you out!"
"Huh? Test? Now, shouldn't I fill my belly first and then... ow, it hurts!"
"You little brat! How dare you deceive the old man! This is clearly ink, you rascal, you've learned bad things from that Red Hair, starting to fake it now! The more I think about it, the angrier I get; wanting meat? Have a punch from the old man first!"
"Aargh——!!!"
Listening to the wails and watching the bickering back of grandfather and grandson as they left, Aokiji couldn't help but smile.
He looked down at his empty glass and softly murmured, "Seeing with your own eyes... that's a good idea."
"Excuse me, miss, could you settle the bill?"
Aokiji stood up and waved towards the bar.
"Total bill, after waiving the change, is 2.7 million Belly, thanks." Machino handed over the invoice with a cheerful smile.
"Huh?"
Aokiji paused working his wallet, dumbfounded, looking up.
So much?
After waiving the change, it's still 2.7 million Belly?
What's happening here, I clearly only had two bottles of ale, right?
"Mr. Garp, after coming back to the village, drank to drown his sorrows for a while; he has recently started to get better again."
Machino blinked, a bit puzzled, "Altogether, he has a tab for over a thousand bottles of alcohol; he said when he came in that you'd be settling it all, isn't that right?"