Smoker: An Admiral's Business Is My Business!
While the Marines was holding a meeting at G-3, in a certain sea area of New World.
Onboard the Moby Dick.
Kozuki Oden was pacing back and forth on the deck, holding a Den Den Mushi in his hand, looking somewhat anxious.
"Oden, what are you doing? You're making me dizzy..." Marco sat under the mast, holding a newspaper, looking helplessly at Kozuki Oden circling around him.
"I can't get through... I can't get through to the Den Den Mushi!" Kozuki Oden stood in front of Marco and said anxiously.
"What kind of Den Den Mushi can't get through?" Marco asked, puzzled.
"My son and my retainers, didn't I tell you before? They suddenly contacted me not long ago, which means they crossed the portal of time and space to come to this era, but now I can't contact them anymore!" Kozuki Oden scratched his head and said.
"When was the last time we made contact?" Marco asked, his expression turning serious.
"It's about time they left Fish-Man Island and entered the New World. Logically, they should be able to reach our territory by now, but I haven't been able to contact them for the past few days..." Kozuki Oden said, frowning.
"Do you have any Vivre Card or anything like that?" Marco asked.
Kozuki Oden breathed a slight sigh of relief, took out his son Momonosuke's Vivre Card from his pocket, and showed it to Marco, saying, "Ever since they returned to this era, the Vivre Card has been able to make contact again. Look, it's still moving..."
There's nothing wrong with this Vivre Card; there's no burning or anything like that, which proves that Momonosuke is still alive and well. Moreover, the Vivre Card is twisting and turning in one direction.
It is clear that they were indeed living in this era.
"If there's nothing wrong with the Vivre Card, then it means he's safe. You don't need to worry so much. The atmosphere in the New World is so chaotic. Maybe they're just trapped somewhere right now. They can't contact you without the Den Den Mushi's signal. Maybe they'll be able to get out of there after a while..." Marco reassured Kozuki Oden when he saw that there was nothing wrong with the Vivre Card.
Kozuki Oden nodded and said, "I guessed that was the case too..."
To be honest, his retainers and Momonosuke shouldn't have any enemies, unless Kaido inexplicably discovers them and chases them out of Wano Country to intercept and kill them.
But if Kaido makes a move, Momonosuke's Vivre Card won't be completely intact.
Therefore, after much deliberation, Kozuki Oden suppressed his anxiety and said, "Let's wait a little longer. If we still can't get in touch after some time, I'll look for it using the Vivre Card..."
"Yes, I can come with you sometime." Marco laughed and said, "By the way, come read the newspaper, the World Conference is really interesting..."
"What's the meaning of this? Has something interesting happened again?" Kozuki Oden asked.
"King Neptune of Fish-Man Island went to Mary Geoise to attend the World Conference, and there he clashed with the King of the fishing kingdom of Mary Geoise. The King of Linster said that sooner or later he would keep all the people of Fish-Man Island in his fish tank. Then Donquixote Doflamingo, the King of Dressrosa, stood up for King Neptune in Mary Geoise and gave the King of Linster a good beating..." Marco laughed heartily.
Upon hearing Kozuki Oden chuckled and said, "These people are really interesting... but I didn't expect King Neptune to attend the World Conference..."
"And this, there's been an internal conflict in Alabasta, which might be related to the Sand Crocodile that are based there. Look, this article also mentions the turmoil in the East Blue. It seems that the CP Agency is fighting the Revolutionary Army in the East Blue, and they're locked in a fierce battle. You know, that's a landmark sea area of World Government, known as the Sea of Peace... and now it's in chaos too. Tsk tsk, this world is getting more and more turbulent," Marco remarked.
Meanwhile, on the Vendalace Island in the New World.
This is the Smoker of Crush Strike, Shichibukai.
After being suppressed by the Marines on Hachinosu Island, it has now been taken over by Gecko Moria, Shichibukai. Its original characteristics Pirate Paradise have undergone a complete transformation, and it is no longer a chaotic Lawless Zone.
Instead, it is an orderly and highly developed commercial hub, connecting the territories of Kaido and Big Mom Pirates. It serves as a trade transit station and is loved by many merchant caravans, making it extremely prosperous today.
Hachinosu Island transformed into a bustling commercial center, Smoker Vendalace Island gradually replaced Hachinosu Island's role.
It has become the largest pirate Pirate Paradise in the New World, and the Smoker's forces have also developed significantly as a result.
During this period, he frantically recruited pirates who came to join him, expanding the power of his pirate crew. In the New World, they had become the fourth Great Pirate force after Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom.
That's right, the fourth largest, if there's no extra competitive pressure.
Most pirates, after arriving in the New World, will usually be arrogant and challenge themselves, causing trouble for the veteran strongmen of the New World. Afterwards, they will be beaten up. If they are lucky, they can survive; if they are unlucky, they will be killed on the spot.
Unless an exceptionally powerful individual emerges, these people are theoretically incapable of defeating the veteran powerhouses of the New World.
These veteran powerhouses basically refer to the Great Pirate crews and the Shichibukai.
Smoker didn't face much competitive pressure because he was a veteran Shichibukai that attracted pirates to join him. Meanwhile, other Shichibukai like Doflamingo and Moria had basically left the pirate camp. They were all busy with their own affairs, trying to clean up their act, and were too lazy to recruit... or even looked down on pirate bloodlines. So, these Shichibukai forces basically didn't recruit pirates anymore.
Now, all of this benefited Smoker. Those pirates who wanted to join the Shichibukai and gain protection had no choice but to join him. As a result, he gradually grew stronger in the pirate camp and began to show signs of becoming the fourth pirate boss.
At this moment, in the center of Vendalace Island, at the main base of the Crushing Pirates, Smoker was sitting under a tree enjoying the shade.
On either side of him were sexy, slender bikini-clad beauties. The two stunning women leaned against him, one holding pastries and the other fruit, laughing and feeding Smoker.
Not far away in the courtyard, a large group of Smoker were having a party. A bonfire was burning, the aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air, and passionate music filled the entire courtyard. A large group of beautiful women were twisting their alluring bodies and dancing everywhere, making it a lively and bustling place.
Just then, a pirate underling rushed in from outside the courtyard gate, carrying several sealed letters with sealing wax. After looking around, he immediately approached Smoker.
"Boss, a secret letter from the Marines has arrived Shichibukai." The pirate underling quickly reported this after arriving at Smoker's side.
Smoker, not yet present, asked, "Did this come from Marine Headquarters?"
"No, it came from General Bann Ortolan, the Governor-General Admiral of the New World," the underling quickly replied.
Just moments before, Smoker had been nonchalant, but upon hearing the name Ortolan, he abruptly sat up from the large sofa, shooing away the beautiful women beside him with both hands, and said with a serious expression, "Marine Headquarters matters are none of your concern, but Admiral Bane's matter must be taken very seriously..."
Since helping Ortolan resolve the issue with the Red-Hair girl, Smoker has officially formed an alliance with Ortolan, sharing common interests. He has since received many benefits from Ortolan; in short, Ortolan is willing to involve him in some peripheral matters.
From that time on, Smoker began to refer to Ortolan as 'Admiral', no longer daring to be as casual as before.
The mere benefits he received on the periphery were enough to make him drool, and he now desperately wanted to truly enter the inner circle of Ortolan's interests.
With a favor promised by Ortolan beforehand, this matter is not difficult; he only needs an opportunity now!
After tearing open the envelope and glancing at the letter inside, Smoker with some confusion, "Where is Archino Island? Why is Admiral Bane summoning us to assemble there?"
However, what happened to Admiral Ben is now Smoker's problem!
Whatever the reason, just obey the Admiral's orders and that's it!