Smoker's eyes widened in shock until they were bloodshot. After a moment, he tore the wanted poster to shreds in a fit of anger. "I don't believe it. I'm going to ask them what's going on!"
With that, Smoker sprang out of bed and headed for the door. Ye Chen hurriedly caught his arm. "Do you think I'd lie to you? Smoker, stop fooling yourself. When those Celestial Dragons died, hadn't you already guessed what would happen to you?"
Ye Chen's words struck Smoker like a bolt of lightning. He froze and stopped in his tracks.
"But those Celestial Dragons died because of you in the first place."
Smoker spun around and glared at Ye Chen, seething with hatred for him.
"You should know the Celestial Dragons don't care about that. There's a bounty on you, and everyone connected to you has been dragged into this—everyone except Onigumo. I may be a Shichibukai now, but if you go back, they still won't let you off."
"What? You're a Shichibukai?" Smoker had been immobilized by Acupoint Striking. To him, it felt as though he had slept through everything in a haze. But how could so much have changed by the time he woke up? Ye Chen, the bastard who deserved punishment most, had become a Shichibukai.
"Have Sengoku and the others gone mad?" Smoker muttered. Ye Chen didn't look as though he was lying.
"I'll explain all that in time. But there's something you need to know: I saved your life. So it's only right that you're my companion now!"
"Bullshit! I'm no companion of yours."
Smoker was furious. Ye Chen becoming a Shichibukai was shocking enough. Now Smoker was supposed to be his companion? No chance.
Smoker turned to rush out of the cabin, but Ye Chen shot out a