"Ah!!"
Tashigi let out a sharp cry and instinctively pulled away from Reno.
Reno stepped on Smoker's head, pressing his face intimately against the ground.
"Bastard..."
Smoker's face twisted as he frantically activated his Smoke-Smoke Fruit, trying to turn his body into smoke.
But to his horror, the ability he had always been so proud of refused to work.
How was that possible?!
Could Devil Fruit Abilities fail too?!
"Don't waste your strength."
Smoker's struggle made Reno want to laugh.
But this was all Oda's fault. The earlier someone appeared, the more unfortunate they were.
In the current East Blue, no one even knew what Haki was.
This scene, far beyond his understanding, instantly threw Smoker into a panic.
"Y-You... what are you trying to do?!"
Tashigi cried out again. Her delicate hand holding Kashu trembled slightly with fear.
Yet her adorably dazed face was filled with determination.
Reno pressed down again, warping Smoker's face as blood streamed from his mouth.
"Please, don't hurt Smoker-sama anymore."
Tashigi's voice began to choke up, tears slowly sliding down her cheeks.
As Smoker's little follower, she had accompanied him on every mission.
Whenever danger arose, Smoker had always disregarded his own safety to stand in front of her.
Seeing Smoker beaten so badly, Tashigi could not bear it.
"I already told you. Join my pirate crew and become my crew member," Reno said expressionlessly.
Tashigi stared at Reno through misty tears, her lips trembling.
"Tashigi, don't—"
Smoker had barely forced out a few syllables before Reno stomped on him again.
The hard ground cracked apart, spiderweb-like fissures rapidly spreading in every direction.
"I'll agree. Just don't hurt Smoker-sama anymore."
Kashu fell from her hand as Tashigi helplessly crouched on the ground.
"That's more like it." Reno nodded in satisfaction and withdrew his right foot from Smoker's head.
He then walked over to Tashigi and carefully helped her up.
Tashigi's delicate body stiffened, but she did not dare resist in the slightest.
"Don't worry. He's only a little injured. He'll be fine after resting for a few days."
He had never planned on killing Smoker anyway.
"Reno, let me go—"
"Enough!!" Reno's face darkened as he said coldly, "Smoker, I'm letting you off today for Tashigi's sake. If you dare keep talking nonsense, it won't be as simple as getting injured."
Tashigi's face changed drastically. She hurriedly stood in front of Reno and said without looking back, "Smoker-sama, stop talking. He really will hurt you."
"Tashigi!!!" Smoker's voice suddenly rose several octaves.
"Lord Reno, let's leave this place quickly." Tashigi urged him anxiously.
Having followed Smoker for so many years, she knew his temperament all too well.
He even dared disobey orders from Marine Headquarters, much less submit to a pirate.
But she absolutely could not stand by and watch Smoker die before her eyes.
Seeing Tashigi take his arm of her own accord, Reno could not be bothered to pay Smoker any more attention.
He led Tashigi toward the harbor.
By now, it was about time to regroup with the girls.
Badly wounded, Smoker felt utterly powerless and could only watch as Reno took Tashigi away.
Intense humiliation surged through him. He clenched his fists and silently swore that he would definitely rescue Tashigi.
Tashigi followed closely behind Reno, her thoughts racing.
Smoker-sama should no longer be in danger. She needed to find a way to escape this devil.
"What are you thinking about?!"
Seeing Tashigi glance around, Reno asked with an amused smile.
"Ah, n-nothing, I... I..."
Her little scheme exposed, Tashigi immediately panicked and began to stammer incoherently.
Reno forced back a laugh.
How could there be such a silly yet adorable Marine?!
Still, her expression changed rather quickly. Just moments ago she had been crying pitifully, and now she was already plotting something.
Reno put on a stern face. "If you don't want Smoker to die, then don't even think about running away."
Boom!!
That casual sentence instantly exploded in Tashigi's mind.
Grievance welled up inside her, and Tashigi began sobbing again.
This time, she was truly despairing.
Seeing Tashigi react so strongly, Reno awkwardly rubbed his nose. Had he been too harsh just now?!
Forget it. He would explain things to Tashigi later.
Reno brought Tashigi to where Merry was docked.
Other than Nami, the girls had already bought everything on the list and loaded it onto the ship.
"Brother Reno, you're back. Huh?!!"
Kaya happily waved from the deck, but she soon noticed the despondent Tashigi.
"Captain, who is this?" Makino asked in confusion.
"Her name is Tashigi. She's a Marine, but from now on, she's also a member of the Reno Pirates."
Reno gave them an explanation.
The girls rolled their eyes and pursed their lips as though they were used to it.
There was no need to ask. He had definitely snatched her.
Look how wronged the girl looked.
During their time together, they had already noticed a pattern.
Whenever Reno went somewhere, he would definitely bring back a beautiful woman he had snatched.
Looking at the aggrieved Tashigi, they thought of themselves as well.
"Tashigi, don't be afraid. The captain won't hurt you."
Makino skillfully took on the role of an older sister and helped the somewhat disheveled Tashigi into the room.
She should comfort her first.
"Hey, wait for me!!!" At that moment, Nami hurried over.
"Nami, why did you buy so much?!"
Nojiko looked in surprise at the dozen or so bags of various sizes in Nami's hands.
"Hehe, I couldn't help myself." Nami scratched her head awkwardly.
She could not help it. They were all beautiful clothes and jewelry, and she truly had trouble choosing.
So she simply bought everything she liked.
"Now that everyone's here, let's set off!!" Reno created a small Island Cloud and slowly lifted Merry into the air.
"Reno, stop right there!!!"
Suddenly.
An angry, booming voice came from the distant sea.
Vice Admiral Garp had arrived late!
Please send flowers, monthly passes, and rating votes. Thank you, everyone.
Chapter 34: Guiding Tashigi Into Successfully Joining the Pirate Crew!
Following the voice, Reno saw a warship with a distinctive dog-head figurehead speeding toward the harbor.
On the ship's side, Vice Admiral Garp, wearing a Justice Cape, roared furiously.
Had he beaten the grandson, and now the grandfather had come for revenge?!!
As Reno controlled the Island Cloud to rise rapidly, he laughed. "Garp, I'm leaving first. The next time I see Luffy, I'll treat him well."
"Bastard, do you think you can get away just like that?!!"
"Bogard!!" Garp shouted.
Aide Bogard immediately understood and handed Garp a cannonball.
Garp grabbed the cannonball and hurled it with all his might.
Colt Meteor!!!
One of Garp's signature techniques.
Countless pirates had once met their end beneath this move.
The solid cannonball streaked through the air like a black meteor, carrying a sonic boom as it flew toward Reno.
This attack was far more powerful than a cannonball fired from a warship's main gun.
Garp crossed his arms, brimming with confidence.
"Old man, you won't give up until you hit the Yellow River."
Wave Slash!!
Reno instantly drew his blade and slashed!
It was also Golden Lion's famous technique.
A golden Wave Slash dozens of meters long tore through the air, wrapped in refined Armament Haki, and directly split the incoming cannonball in two.
"Hahahaha... Garp, until we meet again!!"
Amid a burst of laughter, Merry rose into the sky and vanished.
"Bastard!!!"
"How does that brat know Golden Lion's technique?!"
Garp looked up in the direction where Merry had disappeared, his expression shifting repeatedly.
Having dealt with Golden Lion countless times, he recognized Golden Lion's swordsmanship at a glance.
Had Golden Lion gone into hiding and taught a disciple to come out and wreak havoc again?!
"Vice Admiral Garp, what should we do now?!" Bogard asked quietly.
"Get me the Den Den Mushi. I'm going to report this intelligence to Sengoku."