Seven days had passed since the Krieg Pirates were wiped out.
A Marine warship flying the Seagull Wrench Flag sailed at full speed toward the main island of the former Krieg territory.
Smoker stood at the bow, gazing into the distance. Thick cigar smoke obscured his gloomy face, making the already tense and heavy atmosphere even more stifling.
After dealing with the corrupt Marines in the East Blue's sixteen branches, Smoker had originally planned to return to Loguetown and resume guarding the seas.
But before he could set off, he received a shocking report through the Marines' intelligence network:
The Krieg Pirates, the largest pirate crew in the East Blue, had been destroyed, and a knight named Garen had become the new ruler of that lawless land.
The moment Smoker heard the news, he turned the ship around without another word and sailed straight for the waters of the former Krieg territory.
"Are we there yet?!"
Smoker shouted as he turned around for who knew how many times.
His dark expression and irritable tone left the ship's navigator breaking out in a cold sweat every time he answered.
"Colonel Smoker, please calm down."
Tashigi fearlessly stepped in front of Smoker, shielding her comrades from his intensely oppressive, inexplicable anger.
She tried to soothe him in a soft voice:
"The intelligence report never said that Senior Garen became a pirate!"
"Hmph!"
Smoker unceremoniously blew a huge cloud of smoke from his nose and mouth before snapping angrily:
"If he went into a pirate den and claimed territory for himself, then what else is he?"
"Wait a few more days, and I might be seeing his wanted poster!"
"Impossible!"
Tashigi, usually as gentle and mild-tempered as a little rabbit, now confronted her superior head-on with a faintly angry tone:
"A man capable