East Blue.
Not far from Loguetown, a Marine warship cut slowly through the water.
On deck, Captain Smoker stood, silver hair short against the breeze. His biker jacket, the word "Justice" emblazoned across the back, was rumpled. A cigar was clamped in the corner of his mouth as he held a Den Den Mushi, his face tight with frustration.
"So, we tried our best..." he growled into the snail, "But the East Blue Overlord still got away, while I was busy with other pirates."
"...What can you tell about the losses incurred by 16th Branch?" The voice from the Den Den Mushi sounded hesitant. "We received word that 16th Branch took heavy losses, their base and a warship... destroyed by pirates!"
Smoker's face was laced with disbelief and irritation as he heard it.
"Ask him about all that!" Smoker's scowled further at the voice's tone. He snapped impatiently, "Don't waste my ti! And what about those military funds we applied for? Why hasn't Headquarters transferred them yet?"
The Den Den Mushi's voice turned earnest, almost lecturing. "The report from the 16th Branch was sent the morning after. While they are the East Blue branch that requests the most funds, it must be admitted they're quite diligent in following Headquarters regulations. Every report is tily, and even fund applications are strictly by the book."
A pause. "Perhaps Captain Dante has grown complacent since leaving Headquarters, his achievents at sea... lacking. But he still adheres to the rules."
Smoker just listened, silent for a mont.
'Rules of Headquarters? That kid?' Smoker thought, a bitter taste in his mouth. 'To hell with rules.'
He was sure there wasn't anyone else in the entire East Blue who disregarded Headquarters rules as much as that kid. The Den Den Mushi's earnestness only deepened Smoker's scowl.
If he hadn't made that promise to Vice Admiral Garp, if he hadn't seen the chaos at Conomi Archipelago firsthand, and if he wasn't still a little curious about what that kid had said back then, he would have hung up already.
"The purpose of this call is simply to get a more detailed account of the situation," the Den Den Mushi continued, the tone shifting slightly to one of reflection. "While many pirates were dealt with, it must be acknowledged that this East Blue pirate has considerable skill, managing to evade both Vice Admiral Garp and yourself." The voice paused, a note of concern entering it. "Such pirates are the most dangerous kind on the sea."
Sensing Smoker's growing irritation, the Den Den Mushi's voice beca formal again. "Captain Smoker, I am requesting important information. Please take this seriously."
Smoker just let out a puff of smoke. "What else do you want to know? Just ask!" His impatience hadn't lessened. "Ask him about the specifics, or ask Vice Admiral Garp. And just process that damn fund application I sent in!"
The Den Den Mushi sighed audibly. "Captain Smoker, as a genius sent down from Headquarters yourself, perhaps you could learn a thing or two from Captain Dante about... interpersonal relationships." The snail seed to lift its head, its eyes serious. "Marine military fund applications undergo a strict review process. They aren't disbursed simply because you want them, Captain Smoker."
Voice paused again. Before Smoker, whose face was rapidly turning a deep crimson, could explode, the Den Den Mushi spoke again, with firm tone. "According to the audit completed just recently, your branch, Captain Smoker, does not currently et the requirents for fund allocation. The official results will be sent to you. If you wish to reapply, please ensure all materials are filled out carefully and completely."
"I-" Smoker felt the color drain from his face, replaced by sheer rage. He had been ready to unleash a torrent of questions, demanding to know exactly why their application didn't et the requirents, when-
*Beep beep beep~*
The Den Den Mushi connection ended in his hand.
Smoker stared blankly at the silent snail, his scowl getting worse by the second. He was about to hurl it into the sea when-
"Captain Smoker! Captain Smoker!" Petty Officer Tashigi suddenly rushed onto the deck, looking flustered. "Our last application was returned again! HQ still says it doesn't et the requirents. It's really strange, I made sure to follow the instructions perfectly!"
She mumbled to herself for a mont before looking up and noticing the thunderous expression on Smoker's face. "Captain Smoker? Is sothing wrong?" she asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Smoker was silent for a beat, then waved a hand dismissively. He pulled the cigar from his mouth. "I'm... I'm fine", though the words barely left his lips. He took a long, heavy drag, his gaze fixed blankly on the horizon.
"Just my luck. Nothing good ever cos from crossing paths with him."
Learn from him? Learn what? How to keep a pirate as a pet? How to swindle money out of HQ? Tashigi watched him, still puzzled by his sudden bad mood. But she knew exactly who 'him' was.
"Captain Dante is still pretty good," she said, a touch defensively. "So of the things he does... well, they might seem unconventional, but he's working for justice in his own way. And even though we didn't help this ti, he still sent us gifts!" She paused, a hesitant look crossing her face. "Captain Smoker, maybe don't talk about Captain Dante like that? Oh, right."
She seed to rember sothing else. "About the gifts Captain Dante sent... what should we do with them?"
"Gifts?" Smoker sneered. "Fifty new swords, fifty crates of dical supplies, fifty crates of training resources, fifty crates of basic necessities, and ten boxes of premium cigars." He let out a humorless chuckle. "Trying to buy off, is he? Give-"
Before he could finish his thought, before Tashigi, who had already guessed his intention, could nod in resigned agreent-
"Report, Captain Smoker, Petty Officer Tashigi!" A Marine rushed up, his expression serious. "We've received a distress call from the island ahead! It's under pirate attack! Do we... do we need to respond?"
"You idiot!" Smoker roared, kicking the Marine lightly in frustration. "This is our jurisdiction! What kind of stupid question is that? Get us there now!"
"Aye, sir!" The Marine grinned sheepishly and hurried off to relay the order.
"I'm in a terrible mood right now," Smoker muttered, waving his hand again towards the sea, his eyes glinting dangerously. A grim smile touched his lips. 'Anything else can wait until I've blown off so steam.'
Ever since he'd been stationed in the East Blue, every ti he dealt with 'him', it just ant trouble.
'Well, whatever.' Smoker thought, flicking his cigar. 'At least I sent that so-called 'genius' with 'Marine Hero potential' he was talking about off to Vice Admiral Garp in Goa Kingdom. I probably won't have to see that kid again for a while.'
'Next ti... should I go support him?'
Smoker's lip curled into a defiant sneer. 'Support him? To hell with that. I'm not going anywhere near him again.'
He took another puff, watching the island draw closer. "I'd like to see," he muttered, the sneer widening slightly, "which pirate has guts to cause trouble in my territory..."
As the warship rounded the island, the sight before him made Smoker fall silent, his face instantly darkening again.
"Captain Smoker..." The sa Marine hurried back up, his expression strange. "We've already spotted the pirate ship. It's just..."
"I see it," Smoker said through gritted teeth, his gaze fixed on the approaching vessel. "You don't need to state the obvious."
"Then... should we proceed?"
"Bring us... closer!" Smoker growled, the words tight.
As Smoker gave the order, the warship steadily approached the island. Smoker didn't take his eyes off the pirate ship. His face, dark with frustration, seed to be muttering curses under his breath.
The pirate flag swaying in the wind, the ship anchored near the shore...
It belonged to none other than the newly appointed East Blue Overlord he had faced not long ago, the Mock Pirates.
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