Who told him to become the Pirate King!

Chapter 2: SWORD Force!

"My ancestors shed blood for the World Government and rendered meritorious service to the Marine Headquarters!"

Strom snapped out of his daze, completely disregarding the identity of the person in front of him, and directly questioned him.

"What did I do wrong to deserve being expelled from headquarters?"

For the Navy.

Storm couldn't say he liked it much, nor could he say he disliked it much.

After all, this is a world where everyone is trying to be the worst.

In Storm's eyes, "navy" was just an identity, a job.

Since it's work...

I don't have a cold, but what the heck is this about being fired for no reason?!

"You did nothing wrong."

Aokiji scratched his messy, frizzy hair.

"And you weren't fired, you submitted your resignation."

Do you want to listen to what you're actually saying?

Storm looked at Aokiji with amusement.

Is there any difference between "being fired" and "submitting a resignation"?

Does this mean that after Storm voluntarily submitted his resignation, the Navy Headquarters did not need to pay him any additional salary?

Does the world government have a "Labor Law"?

Through Storm's reaction, Aokiji finally realized something.

"Didn't Professor Zephyr explain the reason to you?"

Aokiji lowered his head and held his forehead, a chilling white aura emanating from his body.

"Oh dear, really, he's the one who recommended you here..."

Zephyr's recommendation?

Storm glanced at the letter in his hand, then raised his hand in acknowledgment.

"Professor Zephyr simply wrote a letter of recommendation, saying that Kuzan would explain everything."

"Ara la la".

Aokiji uttered his signature catchphrase once again.

"They just keep giving me extra work, it's so troublesome!"

Putting aside the facts, isn't this your own problem?

Storm secretly grumbled to himself.

He had no intention of getting involved in the "conflict" between the two generations of admirals.

Without a word, he stepped forward, placed the letter of recommendation in front of Aokiji, and then quickly retreated to his original position.

Aokiji glanced at Storm, then opened the letter and read it quickly.

Storm had no idea what Zefa had written in that letter of recommendation.

He only observed that the white, cold aura emanating from Aokiji was becoming more and more abundant.

The temperature in the general's office also dropped lower and lower.

Storm could almost see the white mist rising from his own breath.

"New recruits!"

With a shout, Aokiji suddenly raised his head and stared at Storm.

"You once publicly insulted the Celestial Dragons, the world's nobles, by calling them pigs during recruit training?"

When Aokiji asked the question, his expression was as cold as an unyielding block of ice.

If you ignore the ugly green plaid eye mask the other person is wearing on their forehead.

So at this moment, Aokiji still looked quite intimidating.

"First of all, it wasn't made public; it was said in a private conversation."

Storm smirked and confessed to the "crimes" he had committed.

"Secondly, this is not an insult, but an objective description."

"Finally, I didn't say 'Celestial Dragons are pigs,' I said 'Celestial Dragons are scum who are even worse than pigs.'"

There are naval forces on the high seas that insult the Celestial Dragons.

For example, Monkey D. Garp.

This old man can openly insult the Celestial Dragons even in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

But so what?

That's Garp!

He himself is a naval hero, his son is a revolutionary army leader, and his grandson is about to become a pirate boss.

What's wrong with criticizing the Celestial Dragons?

No world governments have any objections!

But Storm was just a rookie marine.

He insulted the Celestial Dragons, and his boss found out.

Storm sighed inwardly.

Good heavens, this will affect my career...

Is Aokiji going to "exile" me to the Shikai branch?

In that case, it would truly be—

That's awesome!

Aokiji's expression grew increasingly serious, and the biting cold seemed to freeze the entire general's office.

But in the next instant, the spring breeze thawed the ice and snow.

"Hahaha!"

Aokiji burst into a loud laugh.

"New recruit! Now I understand why Instructor Zephyr recommended you to the SWORD unit!"

"You're very interesting!"

SWORD unit?

The Navy Headquarters' secret special forces unit—the Sharp Blade Unit?

Storm gleaned a crucial piece of information from Aokiji's words.

He quickly connected all the known information—

Zephyr directed him to Aokiji so that he could recommend him to join the SWORD unit?

"By the way, recruit—no, Vongola? I'll just call you Storm!"

Aokiji wiped away the ice crystals that had appeared on his face from laughing, and put on a serious expression again.

Do you know about the SWORD unit?

I know, but not much.

Storm pretended to be a newbie and shook his head.

"SWORD Unit, or rather, the Sharp Blade Unit."

Seeing this, Aokiji spoke up to introduce them.

"This is a secret special unit established by headquarters, and its strategic position is roughly equivalent to that of the SSG led by Dr. Vegapunk."

"Members of the Sharp Blade Squad, simply put... are naval personnel who have submitted their resignations."

"The mission of the Sharp Blade Squad is to fight pirates, to fight all pirates, including the Pirate Emperor!"

"Apart from that, the Sharp Blade troops are not required to follow any orders."

"This is a 'guerrilla force' that can move freely."

Aokiji finished explaining the general situation of the Sharp Blade Squad.

He then calmed down and gave the other person some time to process and understand.

To be honest.

The information Aokiji provided was largely consistent with the intelligence Storm possessed.

The only thing that surprised him was that the strategic importance of the Sharp Blade Force could be compared with that of the SSG!

SSG stands for "Special Science Group".

This organization may sound unfamiliar, but it actually possesses formidable combat power.

[Pacifista], [Laser Gun], [Bubble Shield], [Green Blood], [Seraph]...

This series of groundbreaking inventions and creations are all related to the special science class.

The Special Science Class almost single-handedly supported the Navy Headquarters' scientific forces!

Its status is evident.

The elite special forces are nowhere near comparable to the special science corps...

But then again.

Aokiji knew the Sharp Blade Corps inside and out.

Does this mean that he is the highest-ranking officer in the Sharp Blade unit?

Just like Kizaru commands the Marine Headquarters Science Unit.

However, after leaving the Navy, Aokiji became the tenth giant captain of the Blackbeard Pirates.

If Aokiji is the highest-ranking officer of the "guerrilla" unit, the Sharp Blade Corps.

So...

Is he an undercover agent?

A series of thoughts flashed through Storm's mind.

Just then, Aokiji continued speaking.

"Stromb, Professor Zephyr spoke highly of you in his letter, saying that your personality is well-suited to the Blade Force."

At this point, Aokiji paused and casually listed a few points from the recommendation letter.

"Self-discipline, hard work, not blindly believing in authority, and having one's own unique concept of justice."

There's one more thing that Aokiji didn't mention.

That is, Storm has an absolutely clean family background!

Storm's ancestors for three generations were all in the navy.

Even at Navy Headquarters.

There are few and far between marines like Storm, who are talented and capable, and who are ensigned the "Duck Flag".

The Sharp Blade Unit is a classified special forces unit.

Its unique nature dictates that the identities of military personnel must be "absolutely pure."

Storm's family background was precisely what ensured this "purity".

Aokiji gazed at Storm and extended an invitation.

"Recruit Vongola Storm, would you like to join SWORD and become a member of this top-secret unit?"

Storm remained very calm and did not rush to agree.

Joining the Sharp Blade unit had both advantages and disadvantages for him.

Well known.

The righteous navy only needs to obey orders and act as the World Government's lackeys.

However, for elite units that can disregard orders and act freely, there are many more things to consider.

Before answering this question.

After a moment of silence, Storm asked.

"I still have a few questions to answer."

Aokiji nodded, indicating that it was perfectly acceptable.

"Ask away."

Storm asked first.

"The Sharp Blade Unit is a top-secret special forces unit. How high is its level of secrecy?"

Aokiji gave a simple response.

"Within the Navy, only the Marshal and the Admiral are qualified to know the full list of members of the Sharp Blade Force."

Storm pressed on.

"What about the world government?"

"government?"

Aokiji gave a rather subtle expression.

"The government will not know about the existence of the Sharp Edge Force."

Huh? Really?

Storm was incredibly surprised.

How could the Sharp Blade Unit be so independent?

Even the World Government is unaware of the existence of Razor?

With intelligence severely lacking, Storm has no choice but to temporarily believe Aokiji's account.

He quickly asked a third question.

"If the Sharp Blade Squad can attack a Pirate Emperor, what about the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

Generally speaking.

Without permission from the highest level—the Five Elders.

Even the Navy Headquarters cannot easily provoke a conflict with the Pirate Emperor.

Even minor frictions can lead to larger-scale wars.

However, the Blade Force can directly attack the Four Emperors!

This is what makes the Sharp Blade Unit so special!

That being the case.

The Seven Warlords of the Sea are "official pirates" officially recognized by the World Government.

Are they also within the strike range of the Sharp Blade Force?

Aokiji gave Storm a deep look.

As a naval admiral.

How could Aokiji not be aware of the harm that the "Seven Warlords of the Sea" system poses to the Navy and to justice?

But that is, after all, the policy of the world government!

A special policy implemented to stabilize the order of the seas and divide the pirate camp!

The Navy Headquarters has no right to comment.

But the Sharp Blade Squad...

Aokiji nodded slowly.

"Can."

The Sharp Blade Squad can even fight the Four Emperors, so why can't they fight the Seven Warlords of the Sea?

As for resisting the policies and orders of the World Government...

"But I need to warn you in advance, Storm."

Aokiji said seriously.

"Headquarters will not be responsible for the actions of members of the Sharp Blade Unit, and they may be discharged from the military at any time."

If there is an order from the World Government.

The Navy Headquarters might even proactively erase the existence of members of the Sharp Blade Squad!

"One last question."

Storm ignored Aokiji's warning and instead gave a relaxed smile.

"Will my salary increase if I join the Sharp Blade unit?"

"Of course! The benefits and perks of the Sharp Blade Squad are absolutely among the best in the entire Navy!"

Aokiji also smiled.

"Welcome to the Sharp Blade Squad, Vongola Storm."

Storm didn't reply, but silently raised his hand in a military salute.

He boarded the ship of the Sharp Blade Unit!

Since Storm is willing to join the Blade Force.

So Aokiji didn't say anything more.

He cut through the mess quickly and decisively.

"To make a long story short, the Sharp Blade Force is currently tasked with a very important mission."

"Just recently, the landscape of the new world has undergone a very dramatic change."

"Following the Whitebeard Pirates, the Beasts Pirates, and the Big Mom Pirates, another pirate crew has risen."

The Red-Haired Pirates, known as the "Iron Wall Pirates"!

"A fourth Pirate Emperor has appeared in the New World—Red-Haired Shanks!"

"Stromb, the task of the Blade Force is to spy on the movements of the pirate emperors of the New World."

Your task is—

"Become a great pirate, delve into the New World, and infiltrate the ranks of the Four Emperors!"

Storm tilted his head, gave himself a thumbs-up, and pointed it backwards.

I'm going to deal with the Four Emperors?

(End of this chapter)