The sea breeze blew, and the ocean was calm.
At the forefront of the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Vice Admiral Smoker, the frontline fleet has been deployed." A clear voice sounded beside Smoker's ear.
"Mm, I understand."
Smoker, who was frowning as he read the report in his hand, turned to reply.
The owner of the voice that had just reported to him was none other than Tashigi, dressed in a sharp Marine uniform.
Unlike the naïve girl she had been years ago.
The current Tashigi bore a distinct sword scar on her face, and the capable aura unconsciously radiating from her body showed that she had been tempered into a seasoned warrior on battlefields of blood and fire.
Sizzle!
He lit the match in his hand.
"Whew~~~~~"
A thick cloud of smoke slowly drifted from Smoker's mouth as he tilted his head back.
He took the document Tashigi handed him and silently flipped through several pages.
Smoker raised his head and looked through the lingering smoke at the close companion who had followed him all this way, his gaze complicated.
As a core member of Sengoku's faction.
Although Sengoku had not revealed many specific details to Smoker, Smoker was both a high-ranking Marine officer and one of Sengoku's trusted men.
Based on the things Sengoku had deliberately hinted at from time to time.
Smoker had already vaguely guessed what Sengoku and the others intended to do.
After all, there were not that many coincidences. Everything was merely a carefully calculated scheme.
If it had been in the past, for the justice preached by the World Government, Smoker might have fiercely opposed what Sengoku was about to do.
But now, after enduring the cruel, merciless beating dealt out by the entire world.
When the World Government's true face had been laid bare