Smoker felt somewhat guilty. He had insisted on agreeing to the mysterious woman's request to take care of Tashigi, but he had been away from home for a long time and rarely interacted with the little girl.
When Vic was around, things were fine; he could visit her often, and no one dared to bully her. But things might not be the same after Vic left the Navy. It's highly likely that Tashigi's situation is due to some unfair treatment. Smoker asked Tashigi about it, but Tashigi was too kind and wouldn't say anything. He investigated himself but found nothing.
"Lieutenant Colonel Smoker! What brings you here? And who is this gentleman?"
Logically speaking, Tashigi shouldn't address Smoker by his official title, as it would seem too formal. However, this was Smoker's requirement, saying that things should be done strictly by official procedures at the Marine Base, and that outsiders shouldn't think that Tashigi got in because of her relationship with him.
Tashigi's official position was earned through her own efforts in capturing pirates; she didn't rely on Smoker's connections at all. This is what makes Smoker so rigid. He corrected Tashigi's title many times before she got used to it!
Based on Vic's understanding of Smoker, he was indeed capable of doing it. How could someone who disliked backdoors make such a mistake on himself? Apart from asking Aokiji for information, he had never asked Aokiji to do anything for him. Otherwise, given his relationship with Aokiji, he wouldn't be in this predicament now.
Tashigi walked straight into Smoker's office, having forgotten Smoker's instructions to call for help and knock on the door. As soon as she entered, she saw Smoker sitting in his chair with his head down, not saying a word, and a strange man standing by the window with his back to her.
Smoker sensed something was off about Tashigi, something even the slow-witted Tashigi could feel. The figure by the window gave her a sense of familiarity, as if she had often watched that figure leave when she was at Marine Headquarters, and would only return to her residence alone after she could no longer see that figure. This feeling was very strange, and she felt that Smoker's abnormality was mostly related to this man.
" Tashigi! Do you remember me?"
Vic turned around and smiled gently at Tashigi. He had watched both Ain and Tashigi grow up. Now that he was a father himself, he felt like he was looking at a daughter when he looked at Tashigi.
Tashigi's appearance was similar to that in the original work; she wore red-rimmed glasses, had short, loose hair, and carried a Famous Sword at her waist. She was also looking at him, her eyes flashing with a thoughtful light.
When Vic left the Navy, Tashigi was still young. After so many years, Vic doesn't know if she has forgotten him.
" Mr. Vic! It's Mr. Vic! I'm so happy you've come to see me again!"
Of course I remember you. I often look through old newspapers to see your picture. Mr. Smoker also often tells me that you are my benefactor and that I should never forget your kindness!
How could I forget? I've been waiting for you to come see me! Waaaaah! Waaaah! You finally came to see me, I'm so happy! Waaaah! Waaaah!
Tashigi never forgot Vic. By the time Vic left the Navy, Tashigi was already old enough to remember things and had kept this handsome older brother who often visited her firmly in her heart!
At that time, Smoker didn't take care of Tashigi much. Vic and Rebecca took care of Tashigi's daily life. Compared to Smoker, her guardian, Tashigi had a deeper relationship with Vic.
Back then, Tashigi collected newspapers with Vic's picture on them and would look at them whenever she missed Vic. But then things changed, and the Marine Headquarters stopped circulating newspapers with Vic's picture on them. After Vic became Shichibukai, he rarely appeared in the news, and she had no idea about Vic's current situation!
Seeing Vic's face now, she was almost bursting with excitement. She rushed towards Vic, crying as she spoke, and buried herself in Vic arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Smoker, watching from the side, looked like he was constipated, feeling extremely annoyed that his daughter, whom he had raised, had snuggled into the arms of Little Yellow.
"Hahaha! My current identity is that of a pirate. I didn't come to bother you so as not to disturb you. This separation is temporary; our reunion in the future will be long-lasting!"
Vic tightened his embrace around Tashigi and said something that seemed comforting but actually carried a deeper meaning!
He hadn't expected Tashigi to keep him in her heart all this time. He'd always thought that children would become distant and forgetful if they didn't see someone for a long time, but Tashigi was clearly doing the opposite; she'd always remembered him and cared about him. Vic was quite touched. Didn't he see Smoker standing next to him, practically green with jealousy?
Just as Vic and Smoker were catching up, Buggy the Clown, who had found the rest of his body after a fantastical journey, arrived in Loguetown with his pirate crew and Alvida.
Alvida had transformed into a stunningly beautiful woman with smooth skin and a sexy figure; even the freckles on her face had disappeared, attracting many on the docks to stop and admire her!
Some porters even stared at her face as they carried their goods into the sea, many with stars in their eyes.
Alvida was quite satisfied with the men's performance. Before, she could only rely on the insincere praise of that short, cowardly Koby, but now there were plenty of men willing to risk their lives for her. It was just that the spiked club she was carrying on her shoulder looked a bit out of place, but in the men's eyes, what was a spiked club? All that mattered was her face and those two big water bags.
Buggy came to Loguetown to seek revenge on the Straw Hat Boy Pirates, and Alvida had the same goal, so they temporarily formed an alliance.
They knew that the Straw Hat Boy would eventually head to the Grand Line, so waiting at Loguetown, their last supply point, was definitely the right thing to do. This idea made perfect sense, because the Straw Hat Pirates was already on their way to Loguetown, and they would meet up soon.
Vic picked out the things he could tell Smoker and Tashigi, including the rumor that he had defeated Four Emperors.
The major event of Vic defeating Four Emperors Big Mom was not announced in the newspapers. This was partly due to the Five Elders ' intentions, and partly because the Big Mom Pirates exerted influence on Morgans. With the Five Elders' endorsement, Morgans did the Big Mom Pirates a favor.
So this major event had only been a rumor circulating widely within the Navy. Now that it had been confirmed by Vic, Smoker and Tashigi were even more excited. That was a big shot who stood at the pinnacle of the sea, yet he had been defeated by Vic. Just how strong must Vic be now?
Furthermore, Smoker recently heard some major news from Aokiji: Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, entered Vic's territory alone, where a great battle took place, and Kaido left wounded!
The specific details of the battle are unknown to the outside world. All that is known is that after that great battle, Vic's companions collected a large amount of medicinal herbs, and Vic has not been seen since.
Navy high command speculated that Vic had also been seriously injured that time, but no force dared to act rashly. Vic's seclusion was commonplace, and had been the case for years. Who knew the specifics?
Kaido certainly knew the specifics of the battle, but who dared to ask? In any case, the battle was somewhat mysterious, but most people believed that Vic had lost, since Kaido had left unscathed.
"A pyrrhic victory! Kaido indeed strong. It wasn't a life-or-death battle for us, otherwise we don't know how it would have turned out. Even so, I've had to recuperate for almost half a year. From now on, if you encounter Four Emperors's ship, run away as fast as you can. They are monsters among monsters. Don't take any chances, or hurry up and become strong enough to face the New World!"
Vic didn't tell the truth; he even kept it from Rebecca and the others. This was an important strategy, and the two sides were now on opposing sides. Who knew what would happen in the future? However, Vic still told Smoker the apparent result!
So even if Smoker leaks the result to the Navy, it doesn't matter. His performance is at the level of the Emperor of the Sea, posing no threat to the Celestial Dragons ' throne as the rulers of the world, as long as he doesn't attract a God Realm powerhouse!
Although Vic is the person in this ocean who is closest to the God Realm, he is not yet God Realm and still needs to develop cautiously for a period of time.