Eat My *Ex Justice Flying Kick*!

Smoker's face was dark. Rodney's words had struck a nerve. After beating up his superior, he had been demoted and assigned to this godforsaken place. He had not encountered those powerful pirates in the Grand Line, and even his body was no longer as strong as before.

He had really been slacking off on his training lately.

Once I deal with this guy, I'll go train.

Taking advantage of the opening, Ace suddenly punched Rodney in the body, sending him flying. He rolled several times before tumbling into the sea.

"Tch." Smoker took a puff of his cigar and launched another attack.

Rodney climbed out of the sea, soaked to the bone and wearing a dark expression as he gripped his knife. He had not expected a thick-browed, honest-looking fellow like Ace to launch a sneak attack either. It had caught him off guard. But if he did not avenge this grudge, he would not deserve to call himself a transmigrator.

"Water Clone, get him." Water Clones could only be used when there was water. He had not wanted to use them, but now Ace had forced his hand.

Seawater rose, and one "Rodney" after another appeared around him before swarming forward.

"How can there be so many of him? Are they his brothers?"

"Is he an Ability user too?"

Ace knew at a glance that things had become troublesome. He had stirred up Rodney's nest.

Although each Water Clone was inferior to the original, their superb Taijutsu was still enough to cause Ace some minor trouble. After Ace smashed the first Water Clone, seawater infused with Chakra splashed over him, slowing his movements for a moment.

Smoker swiftly seized the opportunity and swung his Seastone Jitte into Ace. The scene looked so much like street thugs bullying a student that it was almost ridiculous.

Ace scrambled to his feet and ran. His crew was not far from here and would arrive soon. Knowing that staying was not an option, he immediately fled.

"You think you can run after offending me?"

Rodney sneered. He had already found a way.

He injected Chakra into the seawater beneath his feet, forming one Water Clone after another. All of them ran toward Ace.

As Ace fled, darkness loomed over his head. He looked up and saw a huge number of Water Clones pressing down on him.

"Damn it! Fire Fist!"

Flames shattered the Water Clones, turning them back into seawater.

Sizzle!

When high-temperature flames met water, they formed... steam!

A vast amount of steam clung to Ace's skin under the flames' searing heat, scalding him with steam burns and making him cry out in pain.

"Hot, hot, hot! Oof!"

Ace looked like a boiled crab, hopping around from the scalding pain as he ran forward with all his might.

Rodney had not expected this result either. Could steam actually hurt Ace?

Was it because it was water, and therefore counted as part of nature?

Hmm—

That needed further consideration.

"Charge!" Several Water Clones remained. This time, Ace had learned his lesson and did not use flames. Instead, he decided to rely on his fists.

Poof!

He smashed one Water Clone with a punch, but another grabbed his arm. If he became elemental at this moment, the same thing would happen again. He raised his other fist and prepared to strike.

"Don't even think about it!"

Another Water Clone grabbed his fist as well.

The remaining Water Clones all rushed over, then turned into seawater and drenched him.

A wave of weakness swept over him. His Devil Fruit Ability was instantly suppressed, leaving him with only his physical strength. His body also changed from its elemental form back into flesh.

"Eat my Ex Justice Flying Kick!"

Justice descended from the heavens as Rodney kicked Ace in the chest.

Bang!

Ace's entire body was sent flying. Rodney flicked his hand, and a Steel Wire shot from between his fingers. It wrapped several times around Smoker's Seastone Jitte, and Rodney yanked hard. Smoker did not stop him when he saw this, allowing him to use it.

Rodney rushed forward. Before Ace could recover, he pressed the Jitte against Ace's throat, rendering him unable to resist.

"Damn it! You actually caught me!" Ace shouted. "I won't give up! Why don't I have any strength left?"

"This is Seastone. It specifically suppresses Devil Fruit users." Rodney explained, then turned his head and asked, "Colonel Smoker, do you have Seastone Handcuffs? Holding him like this is exhausting."

"Tashigi, go get the Seastone Handcuffs!" Smoker shouted. They had a supply of Seastone Handcuffs here, though there were only two pairs, specially kept for restraining Ability users.

After all, Seastone was a scarce resource. It was only produced in Wano Country, and processing it was extremely troublesome. Smoker had these because he had brought them from headquarters. Otherwise, how could he deal with Ability users?

He could not keep pressing the Jitte against Ace forever. What kind of image would that give?

He was a colonel, after all. He had to maintain some dignity.

"Waaah! I can't use any strength! What is this supposed to be?" Ace had been thoroughly betrayed by his Devil Fruit this time. He was unfamiliar with his abilities, and although their power was immense, his excessive reliance on his elemental form had allowed Rodney to outmaneuver and humiliate him.

Now that Seastone was involved, there was no way he could escape.

"Stop struggling, Ace. You can't get away."

"I'm not going to meet that rotten old man!" Ace shouted. He had only just gone to sea. If he were taken back, Luffy and everyone in the village would definitely laugh at him. No, absolutely not! I carried Sabo's share with me into the sea as well!

"Of course I'm not taking you to see Vice Admiral Garp. I'm taking you to prison, where you can be properly disciplined. Your future is a Marine prison!"

"Captain?! Hurry and let go of our captain!"

The Spade Pirates came over to check on things, unwilling to leave him alone. They had never expected their usually powerful captain to be brought down here today.

They hurriedly pulled their triggers and fired their bullets.

Smoker simply stood there, allowing the bullets to pass through his body. Though he had been labeled the weakest Logia user, he was still a Logia user, after all. Without Haki, they could only be completely crushed by him.

Rodney's reflexes were also extremely sharp. With a few quick movements, he dodged the bullets fired at him.

"Everyone! Run! You're no match for them!" Ace was truly moved when his crew came to rescue him, but against these two men with their bizarre methods, his crew stood no chance. They had to escape!

"Do you really think I'm not here?" White Snake! His arm transformed into smoke and curled toward the pirates like a snake. Seeing this, the ship's doctor Deuce threw out a tube of green serum. It shattered on the ground, stirring up a huge cloud of green smoke. When the smoke cleared, everyone was gone, leaving Smoker furious.

"You have a clever crewmate," Rodney said.

Deuce had wisely chosen to run first instead of blindly offering himself up to Smoker. Logia users were practically bugs in the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line.

Ace let out a sigh of relief and fell silent. He knew that today he would either go to prison or return to meet the old man. But prison was far better than facing Garp.

There was a chance of escaping from prison. If he went back to the old man...

Although he could escape, it would still be incredibly frustrating.

Before long, Tashigi returned with the Seastone Handcuffs and personally put them on Ace. Rodney tossed the Jitte back to Smoker and hoisted Ace over his shoulder.

"Hey, Rodney, what do you think you're doing?"

"Obviously, I'm taking him to see Vice Admiral Garp. I told you I would."

Smoker's expression darkened. "I don't care whether he sees Vice Admiral Garp or not. He has to go to prison now. Vice Admiral Garp can visit him afterward."

"Huh? Sorry, but the old man wants to see his adorable grandson, and I have to fulfill his wish." Rodney spoke with a solemn expression.

Smoker said disdainfully, "Give me a break. With your profit-before-everything-else nature, you bounty hunters chase fame and fortune. You're only a little better than pirates. You must have gotten something from Vice Admiral Garp. Hand him over."

As he spoke, smoke began billowing from his body. His meaning was obvious: You won't hand him over? Then I'll take him back!

Smoker would never show mercy to pirates. Who cared whose grandson Ace was?

Even if he were Fleet Admiral Sengoku's grandson, Smoker would treat him the same if he caught him. Was being a vice admiral enough to grant someone special privileges?

Even the Marine Hero was no exception!

Although he respected Garp deeply, respect was one thing. His mission and responsibilities were another.

"Hahaha, you're right. The Six Powers really are an irresistible temptation, Smoker. Farewell!" Rodney threw a smoke bomb with his free hand. Smoker charged into the smoke, only to discover that Rodney had already carried Ace to the harbor. To his astonishment, Rodney was walking across the water.

"Damn it! Where's my Bilong A?"

"Reporting! It's here!" His men immediately pushed over his amphibious motorcycle.

Smoker injected smoke into the motorcycle, twisted the throttle, and gave chase.

Rodney took one look back and cursed. "Eight Inner Gates Formation—Gate of Opening! Open!"

He lifted the restrictions on his brain and unleashed one hundred percent of his physical ability!

He accelerated sharply, kicking up huge waves across the sea. His speed far surpassed Smoker's, leaving only his back in sight.

"That bastard! I'm definitely putting out a bounty on him!"