Pirates: Invincible from the Start

Smoker always had a cigar in his mouth. As soon as he finished one, he lit another.

Puffing on his cigar, he turned to Tashigi and said calmly, "Besides, when have you ever seen me let a pirate go without a fight?"

He paused, then snapped at her fiercely.

"Stupid woman!"

Hearing Smoker scold her, Tashigi reined in her nerves.

This was a pirate with a seventy-million-Beli bounty—the highest bounty in the East Blue at the moment. Of course she was nervous!

But being nervous did not mean she was afraid.

She looked up at Smoker's fierce expression, a hint of admiration flashing through her eyes.

With Captain Smoker here, surely even Silver Hair Kuta would not be able to get through Loguetown easily!

Ever since Captain Smoker had arrived in Loguetown, very few pirates had managed to get past the formidable obstacle he posed and sail on to the Grand Line.

And despite the fierce expression Captain Smoker usually wore, she knew that deep down, he was actually a very gentle man.

Tashigi adjusted her glasses and straightened her back, her eyes firm,

then spoke loudly to Smoker.

"Understood, Captain Smoker."

"Good. As long as you understand."

Smoker walked over to Tashigi, ruffled her hair, and said seriously,

"We're Marines. Our duty is to capture pirates. Pirates should be nervous when they see us, not the other way around."

"And it's not as if this pirate is invincible, is it?"

Though he often scolded Tashigi, he had always treated her like a younger sister.

This foolish woman might usually seem like an airhead, but she was actually strong and brave. When facing pirates, she fought valiantly without ever backing down.

During training, she never shied away from hardship and worked harder than most men.

Like him, Tashigi also had