One Piece: I Start with a Married Woman, I Am the Evil Admiral!

Chapter 243 Rayleigh Retreats

Despite his increasingly proficient mastery of the three types of Haki, his overall combat strength has not declined significantly.

However, if one encounters a formidable opponent at the same level, especially one who is in their prime and of the same caliber, then the decline in physical function will be revealed without reservation.

If, unfortunately, they were to face an even stronger opponent, the situation would be just as it is now, with a rapid decline into a disadvantageous position almost inevitable. The possibility of turning the tide and achieving a comeback would be extremely slim.

For this reason, Rayleigh was already considering retreating.

He did indeed intend to confront Ani, firstly to seek justice for Ace, and secondly to give the captain an explanation... However, all these actions were based on a prerequisite—that is, to act within his power.

But the current situation is clearly beyond his control.

If he insists on persisting, he might really lose his life here. This is by no means the outcome he desires, after all, he longs to enjoy the pleasures of fine wine and spirits for a few more years!

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but turn his gaze to Basil Hawkins in the distance, and had to admit that this young man truly had extraordinary talent in the field of divination.

That result was incredibly accurate.

With a sudden burst of power from his legs, Rayleigh shot backward like an arrow released from a bow, his speed as fast as lightning, covering dozens of meters in the blink of an eye.

With a few leaps and bounds, he was like an agile cheetah, disappearing completely from Aini's sight in a few breaths.

As Aini watched Rayleigh's departing figure, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

It turned out that Raleigh's move was exactly what he wanted.

If Rayleigh insists on fighting him to the death, he will inevitably be defeated in the end. In that case, Aini will find it quite troublesome, since it will be difficult to let Rayleigh leave discreetly under everyone's noses after defeating him.

After all, there are many eyes watching this place at this moment. As a naval commander, even if he wants to go easy on the enemy, he has to be careful and can't make it too obvious.

While it's possible to sometimes manage to cope like Kizaru, blatantly allowing the opponent to escape is a serious dereliction of duty that neither the Marine Headquarters nor the World Government can explain away.

"shave……"

Just then, Aini gave a soft shout.

Immediately afterwards, Aini's figure vanished from the spot like a ghost.

The next moment, when he reappeared, he was already standing silently behind Basil Hawkins.

At this moment, Basil Hawkins was clearly unaware that someone was approaching from behind, still lost in his own thoughts, completely oblivious to the danger that was about to strike.

It wasn't until that figure appeared silently, like a dark cloud obscuring the scorching sun, that he instinctively turned his head as if waking from a dream.

In an instant, their eyes met, and there stood Aini, towering like a majestic mountain behind him. With his absolute height advantage, Aini looked down at him as if the whole world was in his grasp.

From his vantage point, the sun was positioned directly behind Aini's head, its brilliant rays cascading over him like a golden veil.

This radiance not only illuminated Aini's towering figure but also imbued him with an aura of divinity that was impossible to ignore. At this moment, Aini seemed like a deity descended from heaven, exuding boundless majesty and solemnity.

The invisible pressure was like a surging wave, crashing against him wave after wave, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

However, faced with this immense pressure, he was involuntarily drawn to the divine aura emanating from Aini.

The Aini before him seemed to have transcended the realm of mortals, becoming a lofty and inviolable being. This sense of divine presence filled him with both awe and an indescribable longing.

Suddenly, a strange feeling welled up in his heart. He stared at the person in front of him and thought to himself: Perhaps following this person would be a wise choice.

It is foreseeable that the journey of life ahead will be filled with endless surprises and excitement, and its excitement will probably far exceed everything I experienced as a pirate.

Just then, Enni broke the silence and slowly said, "I plan to propose to the higher-ups that you become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. But before that, you must work twice as hard to improve your strength! You know, if you become a Warlord of the Sea but can't even suppress those new pirates who emerge like a tide every year, you'll really lose all face."

Upon hearing the words "Seven Warlords of the Sea," Basil Hawkins' eyes widened instantly. He stood frozen in place, as if struck by lightning, completely unable to believe his ears.

He never expected that Aini would make such an arrangement for him.

Aini stepped forward, gently patted Basil Hawkins on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "As long as you do your job well, I will certainly not treat you unfairly. But there is one thing you must understand clearly: I abhor betrayal and going back on one's word the most."

Basil Hawkins shuddered upon hearing this. He knew perfectly well that Aini's last words were clearly directed at him, and the warning was unmistakable.

So he quickly straightened up and solemnly stated his position: "Please rest assured, sir. Now that I have joined your service, I will never betray you, even if it means sacrificing my life."

Aini's deep, abyss-like eyes were fixed on him, as if she wanted to see right through him.

After a moment, Aini spoke slowly, her words carrying an indescribable depth: "Remember every word you said today, and never forget it."

After saying that, Aini became incredibly casual, as if he hadn't just issued the warning.

Then he said casually, "The task those five old guys gave me was to completely eradicate you so-called 'evil generation.' But now, Apoo, Kira, and you, we haven't even gathered a third of the total. Sigh... it looks like I'll have to put in a lot more effort!"

As he finished speaking, Aini's lips unconsciously curled upwards, a faint smile gradually appearing. However, this smile could not conceal the excitement and anticipation in his heart.