Smoker Incognito

The gate guards led Smoker and Wallace through a maze of twists and turns before finally bringing them to an unremarkable warehouse behind the Marine base.

"Go in."

The guard pointed at the warehouse doors, his tone carrying a hint of warning.

"This isn't your pirate ship. Watch your manners!"

He had never heard of the White Smoke Pirates Wallace mentioned and simply assumed they were one of the countless obscure little pirate crews in East Blue.

Such pirate crews were too weak to even earn bounties and had little profit to squeeze from them, so the two guards' attitudes toward Smoker and Wallace quietly changed.

"Hmph!"

Smoker snorted and shot them a murderous glare, frightening the two small fry into stumbling several steps back.

Smoker ignored the guards after that and simply led Wallace inside.

The moment the doors opened,

Smoker's expression darkened further.

Inside the Marine base warehouse stood a huge crowd of pirates in all manner of clothing, armed with every kind of blade and gun. It was practically a gathering of monsters and demons.

Smoker and Wallace's arrival drew little attention, as the pirates were all busy shopping.

They really were shopping.

Smoker looked around and saw all kinds of supplies arranged neatly throughout the warehouse.

Food, liquor, medicine, swords, muskets—everything was available.

In front of these supplies, a small group of Marines in uniform was busily negotiating "business" with the pirates.

"What... is this?"

Smoker could not stop himself from trembling all over as he cast a devouring glare at the supplies—

Even the labels stamped on them by the Marine logistics department had not been removed.

"I had only heard that Commander Hammer did business with pirates before."

Wallace wore an equally shocked expression as he said,

"I never expected him to sell off supplies issued by the Marines directly."

Smoker said nothing. He strode over to another "stall," where a pile of nautical charts had been laid out.

He casually picked one up and examined it closely. His already grim face turned even darker.

"These nautical charts are premium goods."

The Marine beside him began explaining and promoting them without a care.

"They not only mark the route from East Blue to the Grand Line, but also show the deployment maps of several major Marine bases in the first half of the Grand Line!"

"Buy these charts, and your trip to the Grand Line will be much easier!"

"These... are all contraband, aren't they?"

Smoker asked each word slowly, his voice brimming with murderous intent.

"Of course!"

The Marine's voice instead carried a trace of smug pride.

"These are top-secret materials Commander Hammer brought from Marine Headquarters! You can't buy them anywhere else!"

"We're only clearing them out because Commander Hammer is about to be transferred!"

"You've hit the jackpot this time!"

"Hit the jackpot? Heh heh."

Smoker's voice dripped with danger, and the smoke from his cigar suddenly grew thicker.

The Marine's scalp tingled under Smoker's stare. He could only force himself to bark,

"Y-you, what are you staring at?!"

"If you're not buying, get the hell out! Otherwise—"

Smoker's expression was so terrifying that the salesman could not finish the rest of his threat.

Meanwhile, Wallace had quietly retreated into a hidden, safe corner.

He could already tell that the Jitte in Smoker's hand was itching for action.

Just as Smoker was about to erupt completely, a booming voice rang out through the warehouse.

"Everyone! Listen up!"

"I am Lieutenant Charles of Marine Headquarters, an officer stationed at the Loguetown Marine base."

The many pirates busy purchasing illegal goods immediately fell silent and turned to look at Lieutenant Charles, who had appeared before them.

Smoker followed the voice and saw a Marine officer standing before the East Blue pirates, dressed in uniform and draped in a Justice Cloak, looking every bit the part.

His murderous gaze immediately found a new target.

"You are all ambitious men seeking to challenge the Grand Line."

Lieutenant Charles casually swept his eyes over the gathered pirates before saying in a deep voice,

"You should all know the policies of our Loguetown base, right?"

"Yes, yes!"

Many pirates nodded in agreement.

"However, the subscription price for our Grand Line Transit Permit has increased slightly this time."

Lieutenant Charles said without changing expression,

"Five million Beli per pirate crew."

The pirates grew restless the moment they heard that.

"Five million Beli?"

An impatient pirate immediately questioned him. "Why has it gone up so much?!"

"Because this is your last chance!"

Charles gave the troublemaker a cold look.

"Once the Loguetown garrison changes, you won't be able to get through so easily anymore."

"Easily?"

The pirate continued to challenge him.

"A five-million-Beli toll can be called easy?!"

The other pirates could no longer hold back and nodded in agreement, making the scene even more chaotic.

"Heh heh."

Charles sneered and said,

"Want to bypass our Loguetown Marine base and head directly to the Grand Line?"

"Feel free to try!"

Loguetown was the gateway before Reverse Mountain, controlling the end of the sea route from East Blue to the Grand Line.

For pirates without sufficient strength, trying to evade the Marines and force their way through Loguetown waters was practically walking into a tiger's jaws.

After hearing Charles's words, most of the pirates sheepishly shrank back.

They had no intention of risking their lives to test the strength of Commander Hammer from Marine Headquarters and the Loguetown Marines.

The pirate who had spoken out found himself in an awkward position, with Charles's threatening gaze constantly fixed on him.

After a moment of silence, he decided to go all in. He erupted and shouted at the other pirates,

"Isn't it just a bunch of Marines?!"

"There are so many of us here! Why should we obediently hand over our money to them?!"

Bang!

With a thunderous crash, Charles suddenly moved and stomped the insolent pirate into the floor, smashing a human-shaped crater into the solid concrete.

The pirate immediately spat blood and could not utter another word.

"Sigh, there's always some hotheaded fool like this!"

"We take money to get things done. At least we won't take your lives! Why insist on courting death?"

Charles slowly withdrew his foot from the half-dead pirate, his heart filled with contempt and disdain.

Trash from East Blue, the weakest sea, dared dream of charging into the Grand Line?

Such ants, ignorant of the vastness of the world, had no value beyond offering tribute to Commander Hammer.

In the past, Charles would restrain himself somewhat for the sake of the "shop's reputation." But now that he and Commander Hammer were about to be transferred away, why would he care about his attitude toward these pirates?

"I am merely a lieutenant."

Charles's voice was full of pressure.

"I assume no one wants to force Commander Hammer to act personally, right?!"

The pirates all lowered their heads.

"So."

Charles's face remained icy. "Does anyone still not wish to buy a Transit Permit?"

The pirates fell completely silent.

"Yes!"

A voice overflowing with fury rang out from behind the crowd.

The pirates turned around one after another and instinctively made way for the man.

Smoker gripped his Jitte tightly, his cigar burning hot as he emerged from the crowd through wisps of smoke.

"Good, good!"

Charles laughed in fury.

"Since you want money but not your life, don't blame me for—"

"Handling this according to the law!"

The air immediately filled with the stench of gunpowder, and a battle was on the verge of breaking out.

At that moment, another Marine hurried over.

"Lieutenant Charles, Commander Hammer urgently needs you!"

"He's not far outside. Please go to him immediately!"

"..."

Charles froze slightly, then glared fiercely at Smoker.

"Just wait there! I'll be back soon."

With that, Charles turned and left the warehouse.

About a minute later, Charles quickly returned to the warehouse.

His face had become much uglier, and none of his former ease and confidence remained.

"What?"

Smoker said angrily, "Are you going to 'handle this according to the law'?"

"No..."

With much of his imposing manner gone, Charles carefully sized Smoker up.

Biker jacket, massive exposed muscles, close-cropped silver hair, huge cigar—

This was definitely an unruly, formidable pirate, the kind who would dare kill Marines in a rage.

"Since you refuse to pay."

"I have a job. I wonder if you dare take it?"

Charles looked around before returning his gaze to Smoker.

"Not only will you not need to pay anything, there's also a reward of thirty million Beli?!"

"What job?"

The pirates were immediately stirred into greedy excitement by the number thirty million.

Smoker, meanwhile, clenched his Jitte tightly, ready at any moment to give this Marine scum a blow.

"Kill Marines!"

A hint of viciousness flashed through Charles's eyes.

"In a little while, help us ambush and kill a Marine squad!"

"Ambush a Marine squad?"

Smoker's expression immediately became rather strange.

After hesitating for a moment, Smoker said in a low voice,

"I'll take this job!"