"Come on. We can't just stand by and watch."
Covered in bandages, Smoker dragged his battered body out of bed without hesitation.
"Captain Smoker, you're seriously injured. You can't move around yet."
The doctor beside him hurriedly reminded Smoker of his injuries, afraid his wounds would reopen and make his condition worse.
"As a Marine, I can't lie down and rest with things the way they are."
Smoker lit two cigars, spoke with a serious expression, then put on his clothes and walked out.
The Marines beside him sensed their commanding officer's mood as well. Their expressions solemn, they followed Smoker straight to Roger's tavern.
"Owner, another whole roast lamb, five hot dishes, five cold dishes, and ten more bottles of fine liquor."
"Certainly. Coming right up."
This was already Kazu's third time ordering. Perhaps his good mood had improved his appetite as well.
After all, his Conqueror's Haki had improved considerably. Even someone as even-tempered as Kazu would be happy for days.
Speaking of which, the pirate world really was a world where the mind ruled over matter.
Changes in one's state of mind could affect one's spirit, strengthening or weakening Haki.
Moria, who had once fought Kaido, and Crocodile, who had managed to escape after fighting Whitebeard, were prime examples.
Losing one's drive could not only weaken Conqueror's Haki or even make it disappear, but do the same to Armament Haki and Observation Haki.
Creak~
The tavern door was pushed open. Smoker immediately spotted Kazu sitting by the window and walked straight over.
"Not bad. You're awake already."
With a piece of steak between his teeth, Kazu looked up with a smile at Smoker, who had rushed over.
Kazu couldn't figure out why Smoker had come to see him. Was he still dreaming of arresting him?
"Her Kazi."
"I hope you'll continue enjoying your stay in Loguetown peacefully like this, without doing anything to hurt civilians."
"I may be no match for you, but the Marines as a whole are immensely powerful. You wouldn't want trouble whenever you sail the seas from now on, would you?"
Smoker was no fool, of course. Knowing he couldn't beat him, he could only invoke the Marines' authority in the hope of making Kazu exercise restraint.
Although Kazu had behaved quite well so far and indeed hadn't harmed any civilians in Loguetown.
But what if something suddenly went wrong in his head? By then, the losses would be irreversible.
As the captain of Loguetown's Marine Branch, he couldn't pin all his hopes on a pirate's kindness.
Kazu paused briefly at Smoker's words. Why did that phrasing feel so familiar?
Madam, you wouldn't want...
Pah, pah, pah! Damn you, Smoker. I'm a man through and through, and you can still use that line on me?
"I'm someone who yearns for freedom. As long as nobody provokes me, I'll happily travel and have adventures."
"Rather than coming all this way to warn me, you'd be better off warning everyone else not to provoke me."
Kazu set down his fork and chopsticks and stood, looking at Smoker without taking his warning to heart in the slightest.
After speaking, he even reached into Smoker's coat pocket, took out a cigar, and tucked it behind his ear for the time being, to smoke after his meal.
Smoker frowned. Although he hadn't received the answer he wanted most, this one would do.
He didn't even bother about the cigar. Seeing Kazu sit back down to continue eating and drinking, he turned and left with his soldiers.
"Captain Smoker, what do we do next?"
The soldiers beside him breathed a sigh of relief. They had prepared themselves to fight and be killed. Now that they didn't have to fight, keeping their lives was certainly the best outcome.
"Send a few men to watch the Blond Hair Pirates' members from a distance. Their main task isn't to arrest them. If they see some fool trying to provoke him, stop them immediately and report to me at once."
Smoker had no choice. He planned to personally play babysitter for a few days. As long as Loguetown stayed safe, that mattered more than anything else.
If the pirates still hadn't left after a few days, the powerful fighters from Marine Headquarters would arrive in Loguetown. Then Kazu would no longer be free to do as he pleased.
Still uneasy, Smoker took out his Den Den Mushi and dialed a number.
Buru buru buru, buru buru buru~
"Moshi moshi."
"Smoker, you've actually found the time to call me. Now that's rare."
The person on the other end of the Den Den Mushi sounded casual, which Smoker paid no mind to.
"Kuzan, I hope you'll come to Loguetown in person."
Smoker then briefly described Kazu's strength and his current situation.
"Although I've already reported the situation in Loguetown to Marine Headquarters, whoever they send might not be able to catch this fellow. His moves are extremely strange. They should be some kind of Devil Fruit ability."
The Den Den Mushi perfectly conveyed Smoker's serious expression and tone to Kuzan.
"Hey, hey, he's just a rookie pirate from the East Blue. Is he really that strong?"
"You know, I only recently became an Admiral. I've got a mountain of things to deal with. Even my sleeping time has been cut down quite a bit."
Hearing Aokiji's words, Smoker flared up and shouted, "You can sleep whenever you want, but this fellow is far too dangerous. Nobody knows when he might do something irrational."
"Aren't you mainly responsible for the Four Seas?"
"This is part of your job anyway, isn't it?"
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Aokiji scratched the back of his head. There was nothing wrong with that argument.
Sakazuki was mainly responsible for the New World, hunting down pirates there and protecting a small number of Affiliated Nations.
Most of the World Government's Affiliated Nations were in the Four Seas, where the climate was more stable and the pirates weaker, making it suitable for nations to develop.
With a stable environment, they could also have more money to offer in tribute to the World Government, thereby securing its protection.
Aokiji was responsible for maintaining stability in the Four Seas, while the last of them, Borsalino, put out fires.
If the Celestial Dragons called, he was the first choice. After all, he was the fastest.
He was also responsible for the Science Unit and was the only Marine Admiral directly connected to Vegapunk, the world's foremost scientist.
"Well, well!"
"Looks like I'll have to make the trip."
"Get some good liquor ready. It's been a long time since we had a drink together anyway."
After hanging up, Smoker felt a pang of sorrow.
Kuzan had once been such a fine Marine officer. Ever since the Ohara Incident in the West Blue, his close friend had grown increasingly dispirited.
Damn it. Damned pirates. Damned World Government.
Elsewhere, Carlmand and Behrens were also on their adventure.
"Carlmand, this..."
"Are we really going in here?"