"That's... Captain Smoker? Why is Captain Smoker here?"
"What do we do now? Did something unexpected happen?"
"Mok's pirate ship was attacked. Who should we help now?"
"..."
The marines stationed along the shore of Branch 16 also noticed the scene unfolding before them. Commander Udo's face instantly dropped.
Everything was almost wrapped up. As long as Mok brought the pirates over, they could all charge in together and settle things. After that, they would just divide the spoils as planned.
But now, something like this had to happen at such a critical moment?
When did Captain Smoker arrive as reinforcements?
Why didn't they receive any notice?
What are they supposed to do now?
Help Captain Smoker, or side with Mok?
At that moment—
Just as Udo was panicking—
"No need to worry." Robin, who was still calmly sipping her tea to the side, lifted her head.
Unlike the anxious marines, her face carried a serene smile as she said, "Mok is fine. The pirates on his ship have already been poisoned."
She had just used her ability to check the situation on Mok's ship. When she saw that Mok realized it was pointless to try and greet Smoker and immediately fled, she no longer felt the need to worry.
Now the only thing that mattered was making sure Smoker's marines didn't actually arrest Mok.
Besides...
Robin gently blew on her steaming black tea, took a small sip, and smiled as she said, "The BOSS has already arrived."
"The BOSS?"
Hearing Robin's words, Udo was momentarily stunned. But after just a second, he understood who Miss Robin meant by "Boss."
Unlike the rest of them who called him "Captain" or "Chief," Miss Robin was the only one in the 16th Division who always referred to Captain Chacher as "Boss."
Immediately, a look of excitement appeared on Udo's face. He glanced around anxiously and asked, "Where's the Captain?"
"He's already made his move!"
As Robin finished speaking, the Marines seemed to grasp something, and they all raised their heads to look in the direction of Captain Smoker.
Sure enough, they saw a figure already standing on Smoker's warship.
…
The sudden Marine pursuit left Mok completely dumbfounded.
Weren't they supposed to be on the same side?
Why was that Smoker guy firing cannons at him?
The pirates on board who had previously doubted the so-called alliance between the East Blue Overlord and the Marines were also frozen in shock.
An alliance?
This doesn't look like one!
That was real cannon fire from the other side!
But then why were they all suddenly poisoned?
The confused pirates wore pained expressions, but when they felt the ship violently shake, they realized now wasn't the time to be asking questions.
Why had Captain Mok, who was fleeing just moments ago, suddenly stopped?
"Run, Captain Mok!" a pirate suddenly shouted. "The Marines are on our tail!"
"We've been poisoned—this might be a Marine trap. There's no point in continuing this!"
"That's right, Captain Mok! We might've walked right into a Marine scheme!"
One after another, the pirates shouted at Mok to run.
Staring at the captain standing at the edge of the ship, arms crossed, calmly facing the Marine pursuit and their cannon fire, they couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and guilt for having doubted the East Blue Overlord just moments before.
But now wasn't the time for that.
They had only come along for the ride—they weren't actually looking to die here!
Still not running now—when else would be the time?
Could it be that the Overlord of the East Blue is absolutely confident in dealing with the Navy's scheme?
He lifted his head again, looking at the figure wearing a golden cloak. As expected... the pirates on Mok's ship suddenly saw a smile on his face.
The anxious hearts of everyone seemed to calm down once more.
It was a smile of confidence and composure.
Of course, he is the Overlord of the East Blue. How could he be captured so easily?!
What they didn't know was...
At that moment, Mok raised both hands and stared at the figure that suddenly appeared on Smoker's ship. A joyful smile instantly spread across his face. "Boss is here!"
As soon as the words fell.
"Boss?"
The Overlord of the East Blue has a boss?
Just as the pirates were about to continue persuading him, they all froze again and turned their heads toward the Navy warship.
Sure enough, they saw a figure who had suddenly appeared on the opposing warship, seemingly blocking the commanding officer.
But...
"Another... Navy?"
...
"Captain Smoker, welcome back again."
"Dande Chacher." Smoker frowned as he looked at the man who had suddenly appeared and stopped him.
Especially when he saw that this Captain Chacher had interrupted his ability with just a single sword—Smoker's expression grew even more serious.
When he saw the Navy troops stationed along the coast of the 16th Branch, and the pirate Mok—who was still waving and greeting him while standing on a pirate ship—Smoker began to suspect that maybe... his earlier assumptions were wrong.
As for why he made a move?
It definitely wasn't because that annoying guy called him "Smoker." It was simply because, as a Marine, isn't it normal to take action when encountering pirates?
Smoker raised his hand to signal his subordinates to stop, then removed the cigar from his mouth.
He glanced at the sword in Chacher's hand with a blank expression. Finally, his gaze fell on Chacher's smiling face in front of him, his tone carrying a hint of something deeper.
"Captain Chacher, you really played all of Marine Headquarters for fools, didn't you?"
Was that Armament Haki?
No wonder he was praised as a swordsmanship genius—graduating after just two and a half years of training, even receiving compliments from Instructor Zephyr.
At that thought, Smoker inwardly cursed the Marine records department again.
Fell into decadence after coming to the East Blue? No achievements for years? His strength hasn't progressed at all?
If this guy hasn't progressed, then what the hell does that make him?
No progress?
Glancing coldly at the Mok Pirates' ship slowly approaching from a distance, he said, "Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
But—
"I'm truly grateful for your support, Captain Smoker." Faced with Smoker's doubts, Chacher laughed it off and smoothly changed the subject, declaring righteously, "If it hadn't been for your help, Captain Smoker, the 16th Marine Branch would've suffered heavy casualties under the Mok Pirates' assault. There would've been countless deaths and injuries."
Before the scowling Smoker could even raise an eyebrow to speak, Chacher pulled him aside with a serious face and said, "Come on, let's go ashore and continue discussing how to deal with the vicious Mok Pirates."
Just as he finished—
A rough voice called out from behind.
"Boss, so what are we doing now?" The tone held a trace of complaint. "You didn't tell me that Captain Smoker was joining in. I almost didn't know how to keep the act going!"
"..." x2
At this moment.
Smoker silently glanced at the pirates already aboard the warship, who were just as silent. Then he looked expressionlessly at Chacher, who also wore no expression.
This guy... does he really think I'm some kind of idiot?
**********
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