The Man Who Carried Justice on His Back

"Do you know something?"

Smoker frowned again; he had a feeling that Kuzan's words were implied.

Kuzan didn't answer the question immediately, but instead pondered whether or not to tell Smoker about it.

"Answer me, Kuzan!" Smoker said earnestly.

That expression also told Kuzan that it was a friend's request.

Kuzan fell silent upon seeing this, then said, "Not long ago, a Public Experiment was conducted on this island..."

"Get to the point!" Smoker interrupted.

"The Joker standing behind Caesar is Doflamingo," Aokiji said.

Upon hearing this, Smoker's pupils immediately contracted.

Doflamingo?

So, it was Doflamingo who captured the children for that evil scientist Caesar?

Upon thinking of this, Smoker's face immediately contorted with rage.

"Asshole!"

Smoker abruptly turned his head to look in the direction Doflamingo had left, and said, "How dare that bastard?!"

This guy is actually working for that evil scientist?

He deserves to die!

With that in mind, Smoker decided to go to Dressrosa and capture that bastard Doflamingo.

Seeing this, Kuzan asked, "What are you planning to do?"

"Is that even a question?" Smoker said without hesitation, "Of course, we're going to capture Doflamingo!"

As a righteous Marine, he could not tolerate such a person continuing to serve Shichibukai, so he had to arrest him!

"Don't be so impulsive, Smoker," Kuzan said. "This is more complicated than you think."

"Everyone knows he did it, so what's so complicated?"

"But you need to find a reason to convince the World Government," Kuzan said. "Otherwise, you will be punished for attacking Shichibukai!"

After saying that, Kuzan paused for a moment, then continued, "In more serious cases, you could even be dismissed and have a bounty placed on your head by the World Government!"

"Do we not know enough yet?"

"Not enough!!"

Smoker fell silent upon hearing this. As a Admiral Candidate who had trained alongside Garp for two years, he was aware of some of the shady dealings within the World Government.

Therefore, he understood what Kuzan meant.

After a moment of silence, Smoker said, "Is this your reason for leaving the Navy?"

Because they are hampered by the World Government, there are some things they cannot do.

Kuzan remained silent this time, which can be seen as an assumption that Smoker would say something.

Just as the other party said, that was precisely the reason he left the World Government.

"I understand," Smoker said. "I won't attack him immediately."

Kuzan smiled upon hearing this; it seemed this guy had grown quite a bit after two years of following Mr. Garp.

But before he could laugh for long, Smoker continued, "But Dressrosa, I'm definitely going!"

"What are you going there for?" Kuzan's smile faded, and he said, "This matter can only be handled by Admiral."

"Although you are Admiral Candidate, you are ultimately not Marine Admiral."

Strictly speaking, the other party is still a Vice Admiral.

He only held the title of a Admiral Candidate, but it wasn't a military rank!

Smoker frowned. Was this matter really that complicated?

In terms of raw strength, he's probably not much weaker than Fujitora and the others.

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Smoker said, "Is there some hidden secret here?"

Could Doflamingo be secretly doing business with the World Government?

"More or less," Kuzan said. "Anyway... it's probably a vortex there right now, so..."

"Then I'm definitely going!"

Smoker replied without hesitation, "If our navy backs down when we encounter trouble, who will protect the civilians?"

Although he didn't know what kind of trouble Kuzan was referring to, since this matter was related to Doflamingo, he couldn't just sit idly by.

As for capturing the Straw Hat Pirates?

After dealing with Doflamingo, I'll go find the Straw Hat Pirates.

Kuzan stared at Smoker in a daze, the man gradually resembling the troublemaker from over a decade ago in his mind's eyes.

Then he laughed and said, "You really haven't changed at all..."

"You are still you, so naturally I am also me," Smoker said with a smile.

Having served under Garp for two years, he has indeed matured considerably in his perspective, but... his unwavering hatred of evil has never changed!

"In that case, I won't say anything more," Kuzan said. "Anyway... be careful."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Smoker said.

This time, Kuzan didn't say anything more, he just nodded and turned to leave.

However, he stopped after taking only a few steps, then turned to look at the G5 Branch Navy who were staring at them, and shouted, "Hey, you guys!"

"Yes, Mr. Kuzan!"

"There's no need to be so nervous," Kuzan chuckled. "It's just that you've all seen me before..."

"Forehead..."

"That is..."

"What was it again?"

"How could I forget?" Kuzan shook his head and said, "Never mind."

After saying that, he turned and left without hesitation.

Navy:!!!

The Navy stared at Kuzan in shock. How could this man be like this?

"Mr. Kuzan, we will absolutely keep our meeting with you a secret!"

For their own lives, they felt it necessary to say something.

Kuzan smiled upon hearing this, waved to the crowd without turning his head, indicating that he understood.

Then, he leisurely walked to his personal mount, sat on the giant penguin, and left.

After watching them leave, the marines turned their attention to Smoker, who was sitting on the rock.

"Smoker, what should we do now?"

Smoker, who had also watched Kuzan leave, calmly exhaled a smoke ring and said, "Wait."

"Wait?"

"Um."

Smoker nodded and said, "I came here alone on a motorcycle. The warship won't arrive for a while."

He did come to the New World on a warship with Tashigi at first, but after hearing his subordinates talk about what was happening there, he rode off on his motorcycle by himself.

"Smoker, have you contacted the warships of the G5 Branch?"

"No, it was the warship I came on," Smoker said.

After he finished speaking, he glanced around the island, taking in its appearance.

Then he asked, "What's going on?"

"There's been a huge explosion here," a navy officer explained. "From what Caesar said, a woman named Monet detonated the research institute's Self-Destruct Device."

"An explosion powerful enough to destroy an island?" Smoker frowned. "Then how did you survive?"

He was well aware of these guys' capabilities, so he didn't think they were capable of surviving such a terrible explosion.

Then, as if he had just realized something, he said, "Was it the Straw Hat Crew who did it?"

If I remember correctly, when that Vice Captain was reporting the situation to him, he did mention that the Straw Hat Pirates had saved their lives.

However, the specifics of how the rescue was carried out were not detailed.

Looking at it now, this should be it.

"Yes."

The Marine honestly replied, "It was that Sunglasses Man from the Straw Hat Crew. He used the power of the Moku Moku no Mi to protect us all."

At this point, his expression became complicated, and he continued, "You could say that without him, we would all be dead."

Without the Straw Hat Pirates, none of them would have survived!

"I see."

Smoker's expression became complicated. These Straw Hat Crew guys are really something...

After shaking his head, Smoker said, "By the way, where did the Straw Hat Crew end up?"

Actually, we don't know either.

The Navy explained, "All we know is that they left with Law and Caesar."

"Luo..."

Smoker thought for a moment and understood Law's idea: had he formed an alliance with the Straw Hat Crew?

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to act together.

'To form an alliance with the Straw Hat Crew, Law even gave up his title of Shichibukai...' Smoker frowned, thinking, 'What exactly is his purpose?'

Could it be because of Doflamingo?

After a moment's thought, Smoker looked at his men and asked, "What exactly is going on with that Caesar?"

"Also, has Law Straw Hat Pirates?"

Do you know their purpose?

He now desperately wants to know what the Straw Hat Crew and Law are up to.

"We don't know much."

The Navy said awkwardly, "All we know is that the evil scientist experimented on children and also planned to use us for weapons testing."

"And then... the person standing behind him was the Joker."

"As for the alliance you mentioned..."

The naval personnel exchanged glances, then said, "They haven't mentioned it, but from what we've observed, they do seem to have formed an alliance."

"But we don't know what the purpose is."

Judging from the behavior of those two pirate crews, they do seem to have formed an alliance, but their specific purpose remains unclear.

After all... those people had never mentioned this matter to them.

"That must be an alliance," Smoker said, frowning. "What exactly is their purpose?"

At this moment, Smoker became intensely curious about the Straw Hat Crew's motives for allying with Law.

What was the enemy's purpose in capturing Caesar?

To get something in return from Doflamingo?

But are those kinds of guys so easy to extort?

Besides, the Straw Hat Crew doesn't seem like the kind of pirate group that would do something like that... at least not from what he knew.

'Of course, it's also possible that the Straw Hat Pirates have undergone some changes after two years,' Smoker thought to himself.

After all... a pirate is a pirate!

"Perhaps it's so we can work together to deal with the Joker," one of the navy officers speculated.

"To deal with the Joker, huh?"

Smoker narrowed his eyes. Were these two groups planning to use Doflamingo's head as a stepping stone?

That doesn't make sense!

Law is already Shichibukai; he has no need to do something like that.

Therefore, Smoker always believed that there was some deeper meaning behind this.

He didn't believe the Straw Hat Crew would form an alliance with someone else just to deal with a Shichibukai.

After thinking for a moment, Smoker said, "Do you think the Straw Hat Crew will go to Dressrosa?"

"This..."

The navy officers exchanged glances, then wore rather embarrassed expressions; they had no idea this was coming.

With their brains, it's quite impressive that they could even think of those things.

Seeing their expressions, Smoker decisively gave up.

It seems that thinking about this kind of thing is still too difficult for these guys.

Just then, a navy officer excitedly shouted, "Smoker, our warships are here!"

As he spoke, he pointed towards the sea, where a huge warship was sailing towards them.

Standing at the bow of the ship was Tashigi, who had also studied for two years!

Tashigi, now sporting a single ponytail, has eyes that are many times sharper than before!

"Heh, so you've finally arrived."

Smoker stood up from the rock and strode towards the warship, shouting, "Everyone, get on the warship immediately!"

"Yes!" the G5 Branch navy personnel replied in unison.

Although this was their first time meeting this legendary Admiral Candidate, the fact that he was willing to confront Doflamingo for their sake already earned their respect.

Therefore, they are naturally willing to obey the other party's orders.

Soon, the power strip was lowered, and everyone quickly ran towards the warship.

Smoker himself looked at the destroyed island behind him with a complicated expression, seemingly lost in thought.

"Smoker, how could you run off alone?" Tashigi said somewhat displeased as she approached Smoker. "You could have at least waited for us."

"If I had waited for you all, I would have had to come here to collect their corpses," Smoker replied bluntly.

If he had arrived even a little later, that bastard Doflamingo would have already turned against his future subordinates!

At that time... none of these guys will survive!

As for Kuzan?

That guy arrived later than him, so he's no longer being considered.

"Collect the corpse?"

Tashigi paused for a moment, then turned to look at the destroyed island and said, "What... happened here?"

When Smoker left, he didn't explain anything too complicated to Tashigi. He simply told her that Punk Hazard needed support and then left, so she knew nothing about it.

"An explosion occurred, destroying this place..."

Smoker briefly explained the situation, then asked, "Tashigi, have the children arrived at the G5 Branch?"

"What child?"

Tashigi paused for a moment, clearly not understanding Smoker's meaning.

"Then it seems there aren't any."

Smoker nodded, then said, "Let's go back and check on the children's safety first, and resupply at the G5 Branch while we're at it."

"After that... we're going to Dressrosa!!"

"Yes, Smoker!"