Kidnapping Tashigi

"Captain Smoker..." Tashigi maintained her usual subservient posture, but Smoker wasn't looking for her. "I heard Zhou Qi is here? Where is he?"

"Zhou Qi?" Tannis blinked, then quickly understood.

Zhou Qi hasn't even been here for half an hour, and he hasn't left the living room. How did you know he arrived?

You've planted someone in my house, haven't you!

Even knowing this, Tannis dared not show his anger and could only nod obediently. "Yes, he's in the living room. Do you wish to see him?"

"Why else!" Smoker said, heading directly into Tannis's home.

"Ah? Ah!" Tannis sighed, inexplicably feeling that no matter how much money he earned, his status in this world would always be limited.

Perhaps our Tannis family really needs to explore other paths. Strength? Power? Tannis shook his head. His next generation consisted only of Kaya, who didn't seem to possess exceptional combat prowess and was instead frail and often ill.

Whether in the military or politics, there was little hope for her.

This is so difficult!

"Smoker, as a Captain, you're running around to see me instead of catching pirates. Isn't that inappropriate!" Zhou Qi asked lazily, lying on a hard wooden chair, while inwardly cursing how uncomfortable the damned chair was.

Why do those rich people like this kind of thing? Why not sit on a sofa?

"The medicine you have can save thousands of Marine soldiers. That's more useful than capturing ten thousand pirate crews!" Smoker said. "I've already communicated with Marine Headquarters. They need you to provide a batch of medicine to be sent to Marine Headquarters for testing. If it's approved by Marine Headquarters, you'll receive a steady stream of orders from the Marines!"

Zhou Qi nodded. "No problem, but my factory hasn't been built yet, so you'll have to wait a while!"

"Still have to wait?" Smoker was taken aback, but quickly realized. That's right, he had mentioned it to him before!

"How long will it take?" Smoker asked.

"I don't know, probably within a month!" Zhou Qi said.

"A month..." Smoker nodded. A month wasn't short, but it wasn't long either. The Great Pirate Era had been ongoing for so long, what was one more month?

After speaking, Zhou Qi looked at Tashigi behind Smoker.

Well, she's pretty, she's bound to catch the eye.

"Smoker, I've already discussed the shipping price with the Tannis Trading Company. Each box has 20 pills, priced at 10,000 Belly. Can you Marines accept this price?"

"I don't know, but I'll do my best to facilitate this cooperation!" Smoker said.

"What if I don't want Belly and only accept gold for settlement?" Zhou Qi asked again.

"Why not use Belly?" Smoker asked.

"Because our country doesn't have contact with the outside world. I only came here by chance due to a special ability!" Zhou Qi said. "Belly is just a piece of waste paper in my country, so of course I can't accept it!"

"Is that so!" Smoker nodded. "I'll report this issue! Do you have any other questions? I'll solve whatever I can for you!"

"Oh, I need to leave Loguetown for a trip. Why don't you send someone to protect me? After all, if something happens to me, it will affect our cooperation, won't it!"

"Aren't you a Devil Fruit User?" Smoker was speechless. He hadn't heard of Devil Fruit Users needing protection before!

"But my ability isn't suited for combat!" Zhou Qi said, rolling up his sleeve. "Look at my skinny arms, and my body that gets out of breath after just a couple of steps..."

"This..." Smoker frowned. He was indeed a bit weak.

He had never seen anyone so weak before. Even ordinary people in this world were stronger than him. He probably couldn't even beat Sengoku's sheep.

What's going on with that country of his? Only studying etiquette and not combat? No wonder they want to isolate themselves!

"You're so weak, maybe you shouldn't go out at all!" Smoker said. "Isn't it good to just make money honestly?"

"How can I do that? A true man, born between heaven and earth, how can he languish in a corner!" Zhou Qi shook his head. "Moreover, this trip is related to my family's future business empire, I cannot miss it!"

"You!" Smoker gritted his teeth. "How long will you be gone?"

"Five days!"

"Where to?"

"Tang Peach Town and Shimotsuki Village..."

Smoker frowned. He knew Tang Peach Town, but Shimotsuki Village was unfamiliar.

"Tang Peach Town is famous for its Tang Peaches, and Shimotsuki Village has a swordsmanship dojo. I plan to apprentice there and learn swordsmanship!" Zhou Qi explained.

"Swordsmanship?" Smoker shook his head. "What can a rural dojo teach you? If you want to become strong, why don't I train you!"

He was also from the last Marine elite training camp, so his teaching level was definitely above average.

"How can that be? Swordsmanship is my dream!" Zhou Qi quickly shook his head. "A true man should wield a three-foot sword and achieve unparalleled accomplishments. I've dreamed of becoming a peerless swordsman who roams the land helping the needy since I was young. Now that I finally have the opportunity, how can I give up so easily?"

"Then you can't just find any teacher!" Smoker said. "Join our Marines. We also have swordsmanship traditions, and the world's only Sword Saint, Momousagi Gion. She's a great beauty!"

"Sorry, she's probably 40 years old this year!" Zhou Qi shook his head. "Besides, how could a Sword Saint have time to teach me? I have no foundation at all. This kind of rural dojo is more suitable for me..."

Smoker sighed. For the first time, he found himself quite clumsy with words.

If only he were Garp, he could just tie the person up and take them away, regardless of whether Zhou Qi agreed or not.

Unfortunately, he wasn't.

Sorry, Marshal. This person seems unwilling to join the Marines.

"Fine, then I'll send a Lieutenant Commander to protect you!" Smoker nodded helplessly. "There aren't many decent pirates in the East Blue right now, so a Lieutenant Commander should be enough!"

"Can you send her to protect me?" Zhou Qi shook his head, then pointed at Tashigi behind Smoker.

"Huh?" Smoker was stunned, and his expression immediately darkened. "Are you sure you just want her to protect you? No other intentions?"

"Of course, I do!" Zhou Qi shrugged. "A beautiful lady is a fine thing for a gentleman to desire. Who wouldn't be moved when they see a pretty girl? And between a cute female Marine and a rough guy, who wouldn't know who to choose?"

I'm lustful, I'm honest, I deserve praise!

Smoker was speechless. Seeing Zhou Qi's righteous look, he had nothing to say.

The key was that he was Tashigi's superior, not her father. He couldn't say much if her subordinate was being pursued!

After thinking for a moment, he said in a gruff voice, "Tashigi's strength is insufficient; she can't protect you!"

Zhou Qi ignored him and looked at Tashigi. "I heard the owner of the swordsmanship dojo in Shimotsuki Village is a great Sword Saint!"

"Huh?" Tashigi's eyes widened. "Really?"

"More than that!" Zhou Qi shook his head. "He also has a Great Grade Sword!"

Tashigi immediately turned her head. "Captain, I, I want to go..."

Smoker rubbed his forehead. "Tashigi, with your current strength, you can't handle a mission like this..."

"Captain, I believe my strength is already very strong!" Tashigi gripped Small Night Rain tightly. "Seriously," she said, "and this is a Great Grade Sword, one of only twenty-one in the world!"

Smoker's mouth twitched. "Have you considered that he might be lying to you?"

Tashigi blinked, then turned to ask, "Are you lying to me?"

"I told you, it's what I heard!" Zhou Qi said. "But I won't let you go for nothing. I can give you a famous sword from my country, Dragon Spring. Although it's not on any famous sword rankings, it's because our country has never had much interaction with the world. In my opinion, our Dragon Spring is no less than any other fast sword!!"

"This..." Tashigi was stunned, then immediately turned to look at Smoker.

Captain, I want to go...

"Moreover, our country has quite a few famous swords. The Ten Great Famous Swords: Xuanyuan Sword, Zhanlu Sword, Chixiao Sword, Tai'a Sword, Seven Star Longyuan Sword, Gan Jiang, Mo Xie, Fish Intestine, Chunjun, and also Wild Goose Feather, Miao Dao, Green Dragon Crescent Blade, Shadow, Exorcise Evil, Kunwu..."

Tashigi was already starting to drool.

"My country is now at peace, with no wars. These precious swords naturally have no use, and are now displayed in museums for people to visit. If you want to see them, I can take you!"

Before Tashigi could speak, Smoker had already extended his hand. "Stop talking, or I'll want to go too! It's not a question of whether I allow it or not, but her strength is indeed insufficient..."

"There's a poem in my hometown: 'A precious sword's edge comes from sharpening; plum blossoms' fragrance comes from bitter cold.' You've always protected her so well but haven't given her enough tempering. When will she be able to stand on her own?" Zhou Qi asked. "Besides, you're a base commander who can't just leave. Tashigi's dream is to collect all the famous swords held by pirates. Will all these pirates who possess famous swords willingly come to Loguetown to be suppressed by you?"

"This..." Smoker's heart trembled, and he was stunned for a moment.

Tashigi, however, quietly lowered her head. "Captain, I, I won't go. I don't care about this..."

Smoker raised his hand and gently stroked Tashigi's hair. Suddenly, he said, "What he said makes a lot of sense..."

"Huh?" Tashigi was taken aback. "Captain, you don't want me anymore?"

"Of course not, but following me, you truly can't achieve your dream..." Smoker said.

"I don't care about that!" Tashigi quickly shook her head. "And I believe in you, Captain, you won't be confined to a small town like Loguetown!"

Smoker shook his head. You have no idea how many people I've offended at Headquarters. Wanting to leave? How difficult that is!

He didn't know that he would actually run away from Loguetown four years later.

"Actually, you don't need to make it sound like a farewell!" Zhou Qi said, feeling a bit speechless from the side. "You don't need her to retire. Once we start cooperating, my company will become like a military factory. You can send a factory representative to ensure product quality, wouldn't that be reasonable?"

"Hmm?" Both Tashigi and Smoker were stunned.

"Besides, what's my ability? Teleportation portals! As long as she wants, I can send her back anytime. Returning to the base will be more convenient than going home..."

"This... It seems so..."

"Also, even if we encounter an opponent we can't defeat, can't I open a door and summon you?" Zhou Qi finally revealed his true intentions. While Tashigi could bring joy, his ultimate goal was still Smoker!

If it were just a business cooperation with the Marines, Smoker probably wouldn't see him again after the contract was signed.

But now, your beloved subordinate is in my hands. If I encounter difficulties, can you just stand by and do nothing?

Smoker, however, hadn't grasped the special significance of that statement yet.

He just felt that it was indeed true. Even if they encountered enemies they couldn't defeat, summoning him would be the same!

Looking at it this way, this Door-Door Fruit ability was incredibly useful. The user himself might not be strong, but he could potentially summon a group of powerhouses at any time!

Such a person must be kept within the Marines. Otherwise, what if he was recruited by pirates like the Whitebeard Pirates? Wouldn't that allow them to visit Marine Headquarters anytime they pleased?

"In that case, Tashigi, I order you, starting today, to become the Marine representative stationed at, stationed at, wait, what's your factory called?" Smoker asked.

"Hmm, Morning Star Pharmaceuticals!" Zhou Qi replied.

"Oh, then Tashigi, starting today, you are the quality supervisor for the Marines stationed at Morning Star Pharmaceuticals. You will be responsible for supervising the quality of the medicine and for Zhou Qi's safety. Do you understand!"

"Yes!" Tashigi saluted and then stood behind Zhou Qi, holding Small Night Rain.

"Tsk..." Smoker inexplicably felt a pang of sadness, a feeling like his prize cabbage had been snatched away.

However, thinking that Tashigi could return anytime she wanted, he didn't feel as bad.

Besides, with Zhou Qi's combat power, even if Tashigi let him have one hand, she still wouldn't be able to defeat him. So, he wouldn't be able to bully Tashigi.

"That's settled then. Do you have any other requests?"

"No more!" Zhou Qi shook his head. "You should report the price first..."

"Alright, I'll be going then!" Smoker waved his hand. He came with two people, but left alone...

He still felt like he had made a good deal, as he could use Tashigi to win over this Zhou Qi.

He never considered the possibility that it might be like a dog eating a meat bun, gone and never to return.