After spending quite some time disembarking, Tashigi led thirty elite soldiers from Smoker's unit into formation and marched straight from the docks toward the Loguetown Marine base.
Garen and Nami stayed close at Tashigi's side as they moved, making them look from afar like the leaders of this Marine squad as well.
The Marines had no objections to this. After all, Garen was a righteous partner who could laugh and chat with Vice Admiral Garp, and he was also a senior whom their superior, Sergeant Tashigi, greatly respected.
The Marines marched quickly, and no fool along the way dared block this group of elite soldiers. Garen's party soon arrived before the Loguetown Marine base.
Before coming here, Tashigi had assumed that the furious Smoker had already turned the place into a battlefield. But what she saw now was—
The Loguetown Marines had formed two neat columns facing each other in front of the base, as though they were welcoming honored guests.
Standing before the Marines was a middle-aged Marine officer wearing a Justice Cloak. He was Commander Hammer, the man in charge of the Loguetown Marines.
He wore a harmless, amiable smile, though there was a faint hint of ingratiation in it.
"Are you all the Marine Headquarters soldiers who have come to Loguetown to take over the garrison?"
Commander Hammer casually looked over the group from Marine Headquarters before him, and his gaze immediately settled on Garen, who wore the white suit uniform of a field-grade officer.
He slowly walked up to Garen and offered a courteous salute.
"I am Commander Hammer, the current commanding officer of the Loguetown Marine base!"
"Uh?"
Tashigi found this rather strange and could only respond from the side.
"I am Sergeant Tashigi of Marine Headquarters."
"We are subordinates of Colonel Smoker from Marine Headquarters."
Hammer glanced at Tashigi upon hearing her speak.
She was a quiet little girl with neat, obedient short hair and a pair of unfashionable square glasses. No matter how he looked at her, she did not possess the bearing of a Marine officer.
Hammer looked down on her somewhat, but he still nodded politely in response.
Then, the scene fell into an awkward silence.
Tashigi was secretly wondering where Colonel Smoker had gone, while Hammer waited for the "Smoker" before him to state his position.
However, Garen naturally had no intention of stepping forward to exchange pleasantries with Commander Hammer.
Seeing Garen's utterly impassive face, Hammer's heart skipped a beat.
This man was so utterly uncompromising.
It seemed this "Smoker" had indeed noticed the problems in Loguetown and was unwilling to even maintain superficial politeness.
If he made even the slightest mistake, the two sides might immediately come to blows.
Commander Hammer had no confidence in defeating a Logia-type colonel from Marine Headquarters in a direct fight.
He could only force himself to gather his emotions and put on a smile so warm it bordered on fawning.
"Colonel Smoker!"
"Forgive me for failing to welcome you properly, and please pardon any shortcomings in my hospitality!"
As he spoke, Commander Hammer bowed slightly to Garen with a rather servile manner, then extended his hand in an attempt to shake hands with "Smoker" as a greeting.
"Uh?"
Garen froze slightly.
Tashigi and the other Marines all showed strange expressions as well.
Commander Hammer's outstretched hand hung awkwardly in the air, and even his ingratiating smile stiffened on his face.
Panic immediately rose in his heart.
This Smoker was actually giving him no face at all?!
No!
He had to trick him into sitting down at the negotiating table, or he would not even have a chance to resist!
"Um..."
Just as Tashigi was about to explain the situation and ask about the whereabouts of the real Smoker—
The smile on Commander Hammer's face became even more genial.
Not only was he not angered by "Smoker's" rudeness, he lowered himself until he seemed more like a servant.
"Lord Smoker!"
"Whatever the issue is, let us go inside and sit down to discuss it!"
Cold sweat covered Commander Hammer's forehead, but he still gritted his teeth and persisted.
"I have prepared a few modest gifts for you. I hope you will honor me by taking a look."
This was practically open bribery.
But driven into a corner by "Smoker's" repeated cold responses, Commander Hammer could only resort to the most clumsy method.
"Gifts?!"
But the one who spoke was not the "Smoker" in Hammer's mind. It was the pretty Orange-Haired Girl beside "Smoker."
Excitement was already gleaming in her eyes.
The clothes Nami had changed into aboard the warship were the standard white shirt uniform of an ordinary Marine soldier. Compared to Tashigi, who wore regular clothes, she looked more like a Marine instead.
But the commanding officer "Smoker" had not spoken, while a female Marine soldier dared to interrupt so improperly. This was clearly quite unreasonable.
Hammer found it strange, but he could only say to Nami tactfully.
"That is right!"
"You have all traveled a long way and must be exhausted. I specially prepared a few small gifts for Colonel Smoker to welcome you."
Hammer secretly glanced at "Smoker" again and spoke even more softly.
"Lord Smoker, please do not worry."
"They are merely some local specialties I collected in the East Blue. They are not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."
"This..."
Garen still could not react. He had not yet prepared himself to play the role of a Marine colonel.
Garen's "indifferent" response left Commander Hammer utterly at a loss, and the stifling atmosphere nearly made him unable to breathe.
Fortunately, an angelic Orange-Haired Girl came to Commander Hammer's rescue.
Nami walked up to Garen with a beaming smile and casually patted "Colonel Smoker" on the shoulder.
"Colonel Smoker~~"
"Since they mean well, we should not disappoint them!"
The corner of Garen's mouth twitched slightly as he looked at Nami helplessly.
The Cat Burglar's pale orange eyes, like amber, were already shining as brightly as LED lights, filled with dazzling golden gleams.
"Hey!"
Tashigi walked over with a face full of astonishment and questioned her.
"What are you trying to do?"
Nami looked deeply at Tashigi, then said meaningfully.
"I understand what you are thinking."
"But it will be easier to resolve these matters once we get inside."
"Leave things here to me and 'Colonel Smoker'!"
Commander Hammer immediately understood the situation before him.
This somewhat playful Orange-Haired Girl was probably "Colonel Smoker's" true confidante.
As for that quiet girl with glasses, she still behaved rather rigidly. She presumably had not yet been properly trained by "Smoker."
Well, well, Smoker!
Hammer cursed inwardly.
He kept a cold face and pretended to be above it all, leaving all the dirty talk for his subordinates to say!
Yet an even more ingratiating smile bloomed across his face.
"This lady is right!"
"Whatever the issue is, let us go inside, sit down, and discuss it slowly!"
Tashigi remained silent, complicated emotions flickering in her eyes as she clearly assessed the situation.
The Marines behind her also wisely refrained from speaking out of turn.
After the real Colonel Smoker had departed early, there had been no news from him at all. This Marine base before them likely had serious problems.
If they rashly entered, the soldiers might encounter a crisis they could not handle.
Letting the powerful Ippon Ken Dou Swordsman, Senior Garen, enter first to investigate was not a bad choice.
"All right..."
Tashigi's expression turned solemn as she spoke seriously to Nami.
"We will wait outside for now. You two should go in and have a proper talk with Commander Hammer first."
"No problem!"
The smile on Nami's face became even more captivating.
Without the slightest hesitation, she walked to Garen's side and gently linked her arm through his.
"Colonel Smoker, let us go!"
Before Garen had fully gotten into character, Nami impatiently tugged him by the arm toward the base entrance.
"Uh... all right."
Garen could only blankly allow Nami to lead him into the Marine base as he played the role of Colonel Smoker.
The improper intimacy between Nami and "Colonel Smoker" shocked Commander Hammer greatly.
While maintaining a fawning smile beside them, he asked softly.
"May I ask, who might you be, miss?"
"Me?"
Nami was not intimidated in the slightest and casually made up an identity for herself. "I am Colonel Smoker's adjutant."
"I see."
Hammer responded aloud, but inwardly sneered.
An adjutant?
A low-ranking Marine soldier wearing the basic white shirt uniform could be the adjutant of a Marine Headquarters colonel?
But upon looking again at "Colonel Smoker's" behavior, he seemed to faintly show protectiveness and compliance toward this beautiful female soldier.
Commander Hammer immediately came to a realization.
Both of Smoker's adjutants were pretty, charming girls—one quiet and timid, the other lively and playful.
They had none of the bearing of elite soldiers from Marine Headquarters. They had put all their points into feminine charm.
What kind of adjutants were these? They were obviously—
So this was the kind of Smoker you were!
Good.
As long as a man was greedy for wealth and women, he would not be difficult to deal with.
Commander Hammer relaxed considerably and inwardly sighed with genuine feeling.
Colonels really knew how to enjoy themselves!
PS: A new week—please send some recommendation votes~
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