Galette Comes Looking

"This is so damn frustrating." Smoker stomped hard, his chest full of anger with nowhere to vent it.

But he knew better than anyone that this was currently the only way to completely destroy the Shichibukai. Still, watching villains run rampant right before his eyes left him deeply unwilling to accept it.

"Frustrating is still better than having countless more Dressrosas appear in the future," Fujitora said calmly. "This, too, is for the sake of justice."

If today's events proceeded smoothly, then the possibility of abolishing the Shichibukai would be even greater.

"I understand." Smoker raised his eyes and said with a complicated look, "I'll cooperate with you. It's just acting. I can still manage that much."

As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately switched states. Anger once again covered his face, and he shouted sternly, "Damn these rules! Are we supposed to just let that bastard keep committing crimes as he pleases?!"

Those words were half true and half false. They were both an act for others to see and the genuine resentment in his heart.

The Marines standing in the distance exchanged glances, feeling more and more that their two commanding officers had been bound hand and foot by the identity of the Shichibukai and the background of the Celestial Dragons.

Then anger appeared on their faces as well.

But as for whom that anger was directed at, that was hard to say.

"Outwardly, we'll maintain the status quo." Smoker walked to Fujitora's side and said in an extremely low voice, "When we have to stop them, we'll make a token move, but we absolutely won't truly obstruct the Straw Hat group, right?"

Although he very much wanted to take action now and capture the Straw Hat Pirates, he also knew Fujitora was right, so he could