Tracking Down Smoker

"Some interesting news?" Kid inquired while approaching Kai who was holding the newspaper and reading it with intrigue.

Kai turned his gaze to Kid and responded "Crocodile was defeated…" he stated, throwing the newspaper to his brother.

"The Warlord Crocodile was defeated…by a Marine Captain? Seems fishy to me, why would they want to get rid of him all of a sudden?" Kid questionned.

Kai feigned ignorance "They probably want to coverup for something like usual. Well, that doesn't matter to me because I'm planning to save him" he declared.

Kid raised an eyebrow when he heard that "Oh yeah? Why would you want to do that?...What are we gonna gain other than pissing off the World Government? Don't get me wrong, I'm in even if it's just for fun, Hahaha!" he said, laughing in excitement.

When Saga heard their conversation, he also joined them.

"I've got some information about him if you're planning to make him your ally, it might be a good idea to do so" Saga chimed in. Since he used to be a Marine previously, he has a lot of information about pirates including the Seven Warlords of Sea "'Desert King' Sir Crocodile, he is known to be extremely intelligent and cunning, an experience pirate who fought Whitebeard in his early days and wields the powerful Sand-Sand Logia Fruit…" 

"…Though, from what I know about him he doesn't seem to be someone who would work for other people, so forget about making him your subordinate" Saga stated. 

Kai already knew all this information. The main reason he wants to ally himself with Crocodile is because of his intelligence, management and leadership skills. Crocodile was able to build 'Baroque Works', an entire organization while keeping the World Government completely in the dark about what he was doing.

Not even speaking about how he fooled the people of Alabasta and made himself a hero in their eyes, and in the manga he founded the Cross Guild and persuaded the 'Strongest Swordsman in the World' Mihawk to join him. Kai is gonna need someone with his skills to back him up in the New World.

After all he is planning to take down all the Four Emperors of the Sea. 

"…We are going to rescue him before he gets transported to Impel Down. The problem now is how we track down Smoker's ship, we only have Hina's Den Den Mushi…" Kai questioned while thinking of a way to do that. With Hina's Den Den Mushi he can call Smoker, but if he can't come up with a plan to find out his location then it will be useless.

"Actually, you can" Saga said, before he explained to them the way to do it "Marines use a Black Den Den Mushi to eaves drop and wiretap calls between pirates or other outlaws. If you have it, and have the number of the Den Den Mushi you want to track down, you can listen to all their calls…But typically, only higher ranking marines and Cipher Pol have it"

"I think we do" Gin said.

"What?" Saga was a little surprised.

"We do?"

"We took it from that Vice Admiral's ship a few weeks ago if you remember"

Saga nodded his head "Right, I wouldn't be surprised if a Vice Admiral's ship or higher has it. Then we can use it to track down our target"

"Alright, let's get to it," Kai said. Saga, Gin, Kid, and he quickly headed down to the storage room, grabbed what they needed, and, within half an hour, tuned in to every Den Den Mushi call Smoker made.

But they had to wait 8 more hours before Smoker made a call.

"Aghh!…I'm tired of waiting for this guy to make a call" Kid complained while lying on a couch.

"Then don't. We only need one person to keep an eye on the Black Den Den Mushi," Kai calmly replied, sitting in a chair near the table where they were setting it up. "I'm just curious, and there's nothing else to do, honestly," Kid remarked before the Den Den Mushi suddenly started ringing. "?!... He's finally trying to make a call!" Saga exclaimed, approaching the Den Den Mushi.

Purupurupurupuru!...Purupurupur--*Click* He answered, and the transmission was heard.

<Mushi Mushi!>

<…This is Commodore Smoker>

'He must have been promoted after Arabasta incident' Kai thought while listening carefully to the conversation.

<Commodore, how's the transportation of prisoners going?>

<Normal…nothing out of the ordinary happened, we are currently passing by Pucci Island. We'll arrive to Headquarters in a couple days>

<Report back if you face any troubles>

<Got it…-->

--*Gatcha* Smoker ended the call right after saying that.

Kai swiftly grabbed a map, searching for Pucci Island as mentioned by Smoker. "Pucci Island, one of the Islands linked to Water 7 by the Sea Train," Kai said. "That's not too far from our location, we're near the Long Ring Long Land. We can catch up to them quickly if we move now"

"Then let's get going!!" Kid exclaimed with enthusiasm. He left the room, headed to the ship's deck, and informed Heat and Killer about the next destination.

…

…

…

Sometimes later,

[A Certain Sea in Paradise], 

A Marine Warship sailed smoothly through calm waters and sunny weather. On the ship's deck, Ensign Tashigi observed the sea for signs of danger, while other sailors focused on their duties.

Beside her, Commodore Smoker stood with a neutral expression, smoke billowing from the two thick cigars he smoked. Glancing at his wristwatch, he turned to Tashigi.

"I'll check on the prisoners below. Keep everyone alert," he said. Tashigi nodded before he descended to the ship's brig, where prisoners were held.

The damp air hung heavy in the ship's brig, the metallic scent of the ocean permeating the confined space. Crocodile, the once-dreaded Warlord of The Sea, leaned against the cold iron bars, his eyes a dangerous mix of boredom and simmering resentment. The sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor, announcing the arrival of Commodore Smoker.

Other than Crocodile, Mr. 1, also known as Daz Bonez, and several other former Baroque Works members were also confined in the same place.

Smoker entered the brig with an air of authority, his jitte casually slung over his shoulder. Crocodile, though confined, eyed him with a predatory gaze "You've fallen quite a long way, Crocodile. From a Warlord of the Sea to a prisoner"

"Well, Captain Smoker--…No, I should call you Commodore Smoker now, what brings you down here?"

"Just making sure you're uncomfortable…Who would have thought that someone like you would be taken down by a brat in a straw hat"

"Ku-ah-ah-ah-ah!!... Ah, yes. Straw hat, the unexpected variable…and to think that they will give you credit instead of him, the World Government really has no shame"

Smoker leaned against the opposite set of bars, his perpetual scowl deepening "Don't get too comfortable in here, Crocodile. You'll be in a much worse place in a few days"

Crocodile chuckled, a dry and humorless sound "I've broken out of tougher places"

Smoker's expression remained stoic "I wouldn't be so sure. You're headed to Impel Down, where pirate scum and the low lives of this world are locked away forever"

Crocodile's gaze narrowed, but before he could retort, the ship trembled under an unexpected impact. The sudden turbulence sent everyone off balance, and alarms blared through the ship.

"What the hell is going on?" Smoker growled, regaining his footing. 

Crocodile smirked, the situation providing a welcome distraction "Looks like someone out there doesn't want me to have a cozy cell in Impel Down"

Smoker shot him a glare "Don't think for a second I'm going to let you use this chaos to your advantage"

As if on cue, the ship's intercom crackled to life. A frantic voice relayed the situation – they were under attack by pirates. Smoker's jaw tightened. "This so sudden, are you the one responsible for this?!"

"Me? I've been locked up here all the time…" Crocodile, uncharacteristically, looked intrigued. "Well, Smoker, seems like you've got your hands full. Maybe we can continue this conversation after I've been freed. Assuming, of course, you survive this little pirate raid"

Smoker shot him a withering glare before rushing out of the brig, leaving Crocodile to his own devices.

"Could it be Galdino or Bon Kurei?" Daz Bonez questioned while glancing at Crocodile's direction.

"Who knows"

…

On the upper deck, sailors armed themselves, cannons poised, awaiting Smoker's command.

"Who the hell is it?!" Smoker demanded, closing in on Tashigi, who inspected the approaching pirate ship through a spyglass.

"It's the Eustass Pirates! Approaching from the rear and firing cannons!" Tashigi reported with a serious expression.

Smoker's demeanor shifted upon hearing the name "Eustass Pirates? What do those rookies think they're doing?" Surprised that they were behind the attack without any apparent connection to Crocodile, he ordered, "Don't let them close in on us!"

"We can't risk prisoners escaping in battle. We have to retreat. I'll inform Headquarters,"

…

On the Victoria Punk, Bonney observed the Marine Warship from atop the main mast.

"They're trying to escape," she remarked.

"I won't let you run away Smoker…" Kai muttered to himself, he walked to the ship's rear before addressing Killer who was standing before the helm "…Just keep steering the ship straight and leave the rest to me!" 

"Got it!!" 

Kai cracked a smile as he summoned a large cloud from his arms, and from it he unleashed a powerful wind burst towards the sails that propelled the ship forward and increased its speed dozens of times.

"Damn! Your ability is really useful!" Kid exclaimed as the Victoria Punk rapidly closed in on Smoker's ship. 

"Yooo, Smoker!!...What don't you step aside and let me take Crocodile without anyone getting hurt!!" Kai confidently declared, leaning on the railing.

Smoker, shocked by their quick approach, warned, "Stop the nonsense and stay out of my way…otherwise I'll be forced to arrest you and your crew as well" he narrowed his eyes and shot a hostile look at Kai while saying that. 

"I guees I'll have to do it the hard way" Kai cracked his knuckles, realizing the need for a quick resolution before Marine reinforcements arrived.

"I will kick your ass quickly before reinforcement arrives"