One Piece: Investing In Whitebeard At The Start.

"I didn't expect to run into a ship this late at night."

"Looks like a new vessel."

"Could it be a pirate ship?"

Aokiji shook his head. Pirate ships always fly their unique flags—every crew wants to be known across the seas. But the ship ahead had ordinary sails, nothing distinctive.

"It must be a merchant ship!"

Aokiji stopped on the sea, observing the vessel moving steadily. He sat atop his bicycle—one of a kind, since he was the only person in the world who could ride a bike across the ocean.

"Well, I haven't eaten in three days… Might as well check it out."

With that, Aokiji turned his bicycle and headed toward the ship—unaware that it belonged to Vane. As he pedaled, the sea beneath his wheels froze, forming a trail of solid ice in his wake.

Just two days ago, Aokiji had received word from Navy Headquarters: Rhett Vane wasn't in Alabasta. His colleague, Akainu, had been misled—and considering Akainu's fiery temper and unwavering belief in absolute justice, that wasn't good news. To Akainu, pirates are pure evil and must be eradicated.

Aokiji was surprised—he hadn't expected Vane to be bold enough to stir up trouble at Enies Lobby. CP9 had been wiped out, and even Rob Lucci—considered CP9's strongest in 800 years—was killed.

Since then, Enies Lobby had become a fortress under tight World Government control. All news had been suppressed to preserve their image.

But on a sea so vast, how could they find one man?

Is that reckless kid simply drunk on power he shouldn't have at his age?

Kalifa, standing watch, spotted Aokiji approaching and her face paled. She turned and rushed inside the ship.

"It's Aokiji!"

Vane had just been getting ready to sleep when Kalifa burst in. He sat up slowly.

"What a coincidence," he muttered.

There was no Rayleigh this time, but Vane didn't think he'd lose. His physique was now comparable to Whitebeard in his prime. Admirals weren't easy, but unless it was someone like Akainu ready to fight to the death, they couldn't take him down.

Whitebeard had the Tremor-Tremor Fruit—but his terrifying strength didn't come from the fruit alone. Even without powers, he was a monster.

Last time, Vane had fought Kizaru. He had been hesitant, inexperienced, and newly empowered. But now things were different.

He had spent most of this time training—refining his combat instincts through countless battles, including the CP9.

He wasn't afraid of Aokiji anymore.

Even on the sea—Aokiji's domain thanks to the Ice-Ice Fruit—Vane had a trump card: the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

"He may be able to freeze the sea, but I can shake it apart."

Vane grinned.

"What now?" Kalifa asked anxiously. She hadn't expected him to be smiling.

"What now? Go back to sleep. I'll handle it."

"Also, keep training. We'll be entering the New World soon, and if you're weak, you'll hold us back."

Kalifa mumbled, "Let's wait until Aokiji leaves. If we get caught, we're all going to Impel Down."

"Go to sleep. You're getting annoying. Trust your captain."

Vane stepped outside and spotted Aokiji on his bike—less than a hundred meters away.

This ship was new. He couldn't afford to let anything happen to it.

Over the past few days, Vane had mastered Moonwalk. He leapt into the air, stepping into the sky.

"It's kind of like standing on water in the Naruto world… or maybe just flight."

Moonwalk was tricky—it required constant stepping on the air with both feet.

"Huh?"

"That's…"

"Vane?"

"It really is!"

Aokiji was stunned to see him. What were the odds?

Vane approached rapidly with Moonwalk.

"Well, what a surprise," Aokiji called lazily. "Looks like I caught a lucky break."

"I didn't expect to see you either," Vane replied, "but I guess we're doing this."

"That ship yours?" Aokiji asked.

"It's called The King. Feel free to pass that along to Navy Headquarters."

Vane landed about thirty meters from Aokiji.

"I'm taking you back," Aokiji said, his tone darkening. "But you won't just be locked up in Impel Down. Your punishment will be far worse."

"Is that so? I'm heading into the New World."

Vane thrust his fist forward. The air cracked like shattered glass.

"Is that the Tremor-Tremor Fruit? Or something even stronger?"

Aokiji froze. Kizaru had said this power rivaled Whitebeard's—it might even be a replica of it.

The ocean beneath Aokiji trembled, rising like a massive landmass from the sea.

A tidal wave surged forward. Thirty meters high, it rushed toward Aokiji, threatening to engulf everything.

"…He's that strong?"

Aokiji's surprise gave way to grim seriousness. His clothes were soaked as the water overwhelmed him. Dismounting his bicycle, he steadied himself on the ice beneath.

In front of him, the sea had risen unnaturally. The monstrous wave loomed high.

"A copy of a young Whitebeard… terrifying."

"Ice Time!"

From Aokiji's hand, a thin line of frost shot out like spider silk, piercing through the tidal wave. In moments, the freezing power spread outward, transforming the colossal wave into ice in five seconds. The freeze extended outwards, covering a 200-meter radius of sea.

From above, it looked like a perfect frozen circle.

Vane struck the ice wall with a punch empowered by the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, shattering it instantly. Without missing a beat, he struck again—breaking through layer after layer until he burst forward toward Aokiji.

"You should go back and carry out your brand of justice, Aokiji."

Vane's punch stopped just thirty centimeters from Aokiji's face, the air between them cracking ominously.

"Are all the young ones this crazy now?" Aokiji muttered, eyes narrowed.

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