75 Chapter 74

<<...Did you realize what you've caused?>>

Blaise, while genuflecting in front of one Den Den Mushi, had his expression darkened.

<<Not only did you cost us a valuable card, but leaked a crucial information to Smoker. Ha... Smoker out of all possibilities...>>

The Den Den Mushi, which had a white moustache attached on its face, expressed a deep frown—reflecting the expression of Five Elders.

"My apologies."

<<Problem isn't the fact that you decided to bring Smoker down. Rather, it's the fact that you failed to conduct the mission 'thoroughly.'>> The Den Den Mushi spoke, <<You should've personally dealt with Smoker yourself.>>

"Such was my plan also, however," Blaise, said grimly, "I was being monitored for by Kuzan for couple of days."

The presence of Bayard in the Knockdown, and the subsequent announcement of Smoker's innocence in killing Doflamingo by the World Government. Kuzan, after hearing the accurate progression of the event from Smoker's own mouth, came to suspect that the involvement of the World Government in the Marine is much deeper than what he anticipated, and momentarily returned to the Marineford for his own independent investigation.

"...Your highness, the situation in Marine is currently flowing in a bizarre manner." Blaise then informed, "Smoker's act back in Sabaody Archipelago, of preventing every single slave ship under Doflamingo's control from reaching the Human Auction shop, induced a great change in the organization. The core of the younger generation including Rear Admiral Gion, Commodore Bastille, Captain Cancer, and Lieutenant Commander Doll, followed Smoker's suit and began to willingly disrupt the balance of this world. At this rate, if Smoker were to reach Flevance and turn many marines' attention to the case of Amber Lead Syndrome, the Marine may drift away from the value of 'Absolute Justice' with no way of return."

<<And is that enough of an excuse for you to openly make Smoker the enemy of us?>> The Den Den Mushi stated coldly, <<When coupled with that damn Morgans, who somehow managed to receive the information regarding Hook's death and released the news before our intervention, your decision has placed us in a huge dilemma.>>

"...Yes, I am aware."

<<I will repeat once more. If you are going to do it, do it 'thoroughly.>> Den Den Mushi narrowed its eyes at Blaise, <<Find a way to assassinate Vice Admiral Smoker without earning Vice Admiral Garp's hostility. This is an order, and should you fail to do so, the entire world will fall into chaos.>>

Blaise raised his head up. With nothing but seriousness, he nodded, "Yes, your highness."

__________

*'White Hunter' Smoker. Wanted Only Alive. 1,700,000,000 Beli.*

One day, the world received the news regarding the defection of 'Vice Admiral Smoker,' the leading figure of the Marine's new generation who was anticipated to become an Admiral in the future. Initially, they were shocked, and expressed fear that a pillar of justice has turned against them.

Then, upon reading the news carefully, their shocked turned into confusion.

<Vice Admiral Smoker was deemed as 'defected'... because he punished pirates?>

<Idiot, that pirate he attacked was a Warlord!>

<E-even then! 'Martini' Hook has long been known as the evil fellow, killing a countless number of innocent marines out of blue! If so, hasn't Vice Admiral Smoker done the justice?!>

<Past is past, and present is present! Smoker attacked an individual allied with the World Government, and this is the direct sign of rebellion! Now that I think about it, isn't he the one who killed Doflamingo as well?>

The opinions split. Some praised Smoker for daring to do justice even with pressure of the World Government. Some, on the other hand, criticized Smoker's brash act, saying that one man's ideal is not enough of an excuse to oppose the law of the world.

BAM!

And currently, in Sengoku's office, Garp was found full of rage, slamming said newspaper on Sengoku's desk.

"...I will give you ten seconds to answer me, of what the fucking hell this is." Garp's eyes blazed in a frightening manner. Sengoku, gritting his teeth, shouted back with an equal magnitude of anger,

"What else do you think it is?! Your disciple, as soon as he earns the rank of Vice Admiral, goes out and kills a man affiliated with the World Government!!" Sengoku expressed an exasperation, "The Celestial Dragons and Five Elders all-alike, they took Smoker's act as the sign of rebellion!!"

Sengoku pointed his finger at Smoker's bounty poster, "That bounty hasn't been discussed with us, not at all!! Do you understand how ridiculous the circumstance has become?!! We're not in a situation to complain of his bounty, but to be thankful of the fact that he's been wanted 'Only Alive!!!!'"

"Martini Hook is the plunderer of countless towns!!" Garp roared without a control, "He brutally murdered many marines!!! He interrupted hundreds of Marine operations!!! If erasing a malicious man such as him is not the justice, than what is?!!"

Sengoku, in contrast to his usual calm self, seemed very close to exploding. He, opening his mouth, was about to let out another enraged remark, however,

"Calm down, two of you." Tsuru, standing by their side, then spoke up with her arms crossed, "Garp, I am aware that you are flabbergasted of the fact that your disciple is wanted. Sengoku, I am also aware that you are remorseful of the fact that Garp's disciple placed your son in danger. But both of you need to think critically, especially in the current situation."

As two men turned to her, Tsuru continued,

"For one, Smoker's destination was already decided prior to his departure. Yet, he came to encounter Martini pirates 'by chance' in the New World. Then, a fight occurred. From this sequence of events, something seems fishy."

Garp, while calming his breathing down, asked, "...And?"

"By name value alone, as well as from what we've seen out in the public, 'Martini' Hook's strength lies above that of Smoker's. In addition, Smoker's route was known to many in Marine, yet Hook's location was unknown. From my perspective, it wasn't Smoker who tracked Hook down, but rather, the other way around."

Sengoku whispered with a frown, "Are you saying that a Warlord, allied with the World Government, attempted to kill Smoker and his division?"

"That's the most plausible theory. And if we were to think with that as a basis," Tsuru closed her eyes in thought, "Hook received the information of Smoker's travelling route—by someone in Marine. And this hasn't been the first time something like this happened."

Tsuru revealed two sheets of paper and placed them on the table. Garp and Sengoku, gazing upon them, realized that they were the profiles of Dalmatian and Masterson—the deceased Marine Officers of the past.

"After the victory over 'Overflowing' Sasaki, they were raided by the Martini pirates. It seemed like a coincidence back then, but now that I think about it, the fact that Martini pirates attacked them at the perfect timing, when they were wounded from the battle against Sasaki, seems too strange to be coincidental."

"A spy? In Marine?" Sengoku, feeling a little nauseous from the current situation, sat back down in his seat.

"And furthermore, there is the death of Vice Admiral Sidecha." Said Tsuru.

Sengoku, stiffening up from Tsuru's mentioning of Sidecha, came to accept, "...Hook was the one who attacked Smoker."

"...I'm going." Garp then said in a low tone, before turning around and starting to walk away.

"To where?" Tsuru asked with her eyebrow raised.

Garp, stopping momentarily and shifting his eyes at Tsuru, stated, "To the place that I believe my apprentice will be at,"

'Rubeck island.'

__________

"1.7 Billion Beli. Wanted Only Alive. But disregarding that, the fact that a bounty's been placed on him means..." An orange-haired man, Bayard, muttered with a light smile on his face, "that he's officially an enemy of Marine."

Currently, he stood on top of his docked ship with his division, full ready to depart. On the left, there lied two more Marine Warships, all ready to sail also. Those Warships belonged to Onigumo and Tensei, the ones who witnessed Smoker's danger back in Knockdown.

"That little mongrel..." Onigumo snarled, "I knew he would defect one day."

"Doflamingo wasn't a weak individual, but nonetheless, a manageable one. However, Hook in contrast..." Tensei grimaced, "The more we stall, the stronger White Hunter will get."

The three Vice Admirals raised their hands up, ready to order their ships to depart. Just then,

"Oi!!!"

a voice was heard from their back, interrupting their call. The three Vice Admiral turned, and came to see Bastille, a wounded man who was barely standing through the support of crutches.

"Where do you think you're going-dara?!!"

Bayard's eyes narrowed, "Judging by your nuance of speaking, you seem to be aware already."

Bastille, gritting his teeth, shouted at his lungs, "Smoker hasn't committed any wrong!!! Do you even have a strand of righteousness remaining in you, to blatantly begin the chase right after the release of his bounty poster-dara?!!"

"Commodore," Onigumo, with his hands on his back, growled, "Have you lost your mind, to exhibit such rudeness in front of your superiors?"

Bastille, not daring to bow, growled back, "If said superiors are the mere dogs of the World Government, then—"

BANG!

However, Bastille's words didn't get to be completed, As Onigumo shot Bastille on the shoulder with a pistol in his hand.

"A marine who doesn't comply to one's superior, is a marine without any usefulness." Onigumo stated, "Rest in your bed and reflect on your attitude, Commodore."

Bastille coughed out blood while falling to the ground. Finding his body has weakened, Bastille couldn't do anything but watch as three Marine Warships began sailing, toward the distant horizon.

'Smoker...' Bastille thought before his consciousness faded away, 'Just what is going on-dara...!!!'

__________

__________

The weather in Calm Belt was sunny and clear. Its sea below was still and unmoving, and without considering the presence of countless Sea Kings who harboured below, this area seemed mundane.

Throughout this sea, one Marine Warship was found sailing at a rapid speed. On its deck, many marine soldiers stood their guard with nervousness and desperation written on their faces. And at the inside of that ship, in commander's room, four Marine Officers: Smoker, Aramaki, Rosinante, and Hina were found sitting with dark expressions.

On the table was a newspaper that they received an hour before, along with Smoker's bounty poster.

"...This is ridiculous. We all know that it is. Martini pirates—they were the ones who attacked us! And after finding out that they were the World Government's slaves... damn it!" Rosinante cursed, "Even if we left them alive, they would've reported the World Government of how we got to know their secrets! Besides, leave them alive and let them conduct more wrongs—wait, those wrongs are then the works of the World Government—UGHHH!"

Rosinante held his head and expressed his frustration. Hina, who was biting her lips with her hand placed on her chin, whispered,

"...Is this the justice? Wanted and condemned for the act of punishing the criminals... this doesn't seem right. In the first place, why was the Warlord system established? Hina confused."

Aramaki, not speaking up, simply leaned back on his seat with his arms crossed. However, judging by the deep frown on his face, he was without a doubt in a foul mood.

Smoker, who was in a deep thought, finally opened his mouth,

"...This is the turning point."

Smoker extended his hand and reached for his bounty poster, "At one glance, our situation seems bleak. However, this was eventually meant to happen, with my ideal differing from the World Government's."

Gazing at his bounty poster, Smoker asked to his three fellow marines, "What do you think of the Absolute Justice?"

"Maniacal," Said Hina.

"Stupid as hell," Said Aramaki.

"Hypocritical," Said Rosinante.

Smoker was initially shocked by the reveal from Hook's death. However, he has calmed down now. Though the current situation wasn't good when looked from a narrow scope, Smoker viewed this as a chance to weaken the influence of the World Government over the world.

"Hina, do you remember what I said to you back then?"

Smoker, standing up from his seat, gazed at the outside through the small window in the room. Hina, looking at the same window, seemed to be reminiscing the long past when Smoker ate his devil fruit.

"'I desire to save the helpless ones who are unable to do anything in front of ruthless power.'" Hina said with a light smile, "Hina remembers."

"Then you must also remember," Smoker stated, "When I said that justice is a set standard by the victors."

Smoker momentarily closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Aramaki, Rosinante, and Hina. The three of them were the ones he's spent a lot of time with. And he knew, that they were good people whom he could trust.

So Smoker revealed his fangs—the intent that he's been hiding for years.

"I will be blatant. I have been, and still am, planning to subvert the world." Smoker raised his hand up and pointed at the sky through the window, "I aim to destroy the hypocritical union named the 'World Government.' This is the sole way to achieve my goal of helping the weak ones."

Hina's lips quivered from a shock. On the other hand, Aramaki and Rosinante looked at Smoker with seriousness, remembering all kinds of evil-doings of the World Nobles that they've witnessed up until now.

"And here lies your choice." Smoker looked at each one of them and said, "Jump with me into one hellish experience, or leave this ship and claim that you were threatened by me. I won't condemn you for choosing the latter option, but know that once you step in, there is no stepping out."

Upon Smoker's statement, no one answered. Instead, the three of them simply looked at Smoker with a deadpan.

Hina then said, "...Must you hear our answers to know our standing?"

"...Hah," Smoker grinned as the three of them looked back at him with nothing but loyalty, "I suppose not."

Walking to the side, Smoker reached out for the Den Den Mushi. Then, placing his free hand in his chest pocket, Smoker too out the white Den Den Mushi—the one that he received a year and some more ago.

<<Purururu— >>

And upon calling,

<<...Smoker, I've been waiting for your call.>>

A deep, masculine voice was heard from the Den Den Mushi. Smoker said in response,

"It's been a long time, Dragon."

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