Upon Tashigi’s sudden exclamation, the two men engaged in banter paused. Smoker turned around with a curious expression, and Tashigi’s embarrassed face turned red. She quickly nodded in apology.
“Sorry… I’ll leave now!”
With that, without waiting for anyone else to speak, Tashigi covered her face and hurried out.
‘Embarrassing herself in front of a guest… This was truly mortifying! I’m sorry, Colonel Smoker!’
WuWu!
⊙﹏⊙|||
Smoker: “…”
He could probably guess what Tashigi was thinking, but her act of avoidance…
“What a fool!!”
However, unlike Tashigi, the others had more normal thought processes. They stared blankly at Rowen until the door slammed shut with a resounding thud, causing them to gasp in surprise.
Hiss…!!
“Hundred Beasts” Kaido!!
Even ordinary pirates might not know who this name represented, at most they might have heard of a “terrifying as a demon” Whitebeard from children’s rhymes.
But as Marines, even if they were just from the East Blue branch, they couldn’t be ignorant of the reputation of a Yonko!
“So… what was said in the previous newspaper reports was true?” Smoker clenched his fist silently, his face inexplicably darkening.
He thought of himself as one of the most talented individuals in the Marines. After all, he had once received special treatment from figures like Sengoku. He was greatly anticipated and nurtured as a Marine prodigy from the recruit camp!
And as a Marine, they knew their own business. He was well aware that sometimes Marine Headquarters deliberately distorted news reports to cover up the truth, creating an image of an invincible Marine to reassure the public.
So Smoker had always believed that even if Rowen had achieved unbelievable feats, it was at most due to the advantage of his Devil Fruit ability. It was because he, Smoker, was difficult to manage. Marine Headquarters had fabricated a Hero.
But that statement undeniably confirmed that Rowen had indeed accomplished the feats described in the news reports.
He played a significant role in the war against the Hundred Beasts Pirates! That was a Yonko, the Hundred Beasts Pirates!!!
“Hmph! Now you realize that you’re not content?”
Smoker, who had been groomed by Vice Admiral Momonga, knew exactly what this guy was thinking with just a slight movement of his hips. He wore a smirk on his face and crossed his arms.
“Have you heard about the news that Rowen is now an Admiral Candidate? I can responsibly tell you, Smoker, that he, in the previous candidate challenge, directly defeated Vice Admiral Chaton and Vice Admiral Momousagi, one against two!”
“He’s the designated future Admiral of the Marines!”
“Including this visit to the East Blue, it’s with him as the lead, and me as the deputy. Understand?”
‘Marine Admiral?!!!’ Smoker’s pupils trembled as he looked at Rowen, who wore a faint smile on his face, with a horrified expression.
Among the new generation of Marines, no one understood better than him, a Logia user like the three Admirals, the terrifying power behind the word “Admiral”. It was a power that he had once yearned for time and time again.
For a period of time, Smoker had been somewhat disheartened because his Smoke-Smoke Fruit lacked the killing power of the three Admirals. It was only Zephyr’s encouragement that helped him emerge from the haze.
Now, hearing that Rowen was already a designated Admiral, his initial reaction was disbelief. Then, a strong sense of unwillingness flooded in his heart.
At the time when he was stagnating and contentedly stationed in the East Blue, playing around on the weakest sea… someone was already chasing after him, and had far surpassed him!
The Soryu, Rowen!
“It’s all thanks to Sensei’s guidance. I’ve only put in a little insignificant effort; it’s nothing to boast about.” Rowen nodded with a smile on his face.
Smoker fell into silence…
The audit results at Loguetown base were as expected, falling into the category of significant events being neglected while minor issues persisted.
Most of the problems were concentrated in how Smoker handled things. Although he was loyal and dutiful, there were indeed some deviations in his personal abilities.
Vice Admiral Momonga issued an order for him to make corrections within a limited period. After the meeting, he pulled Smoker aside with a stern face, and discreetly handed him an unspecified amount of Belly, telling him to avoid trouble.
As a father figure, he truly worried about Smoker.
Thanking Vice Admiral Momonga with utmost sincerity, Smoker, holding the money, flew back to the base building. In the guest room he prepared for the Headquarters visitors, he found Rowen.
At this moment, Tashigi had just left. This little girl was firmly convinced that Rowen was a formidable swordsman. Although it was abrupt, she still hoped that Rowen could guide her in Sword Technique.
Rowen had a face full of question marks about this.
Sword Technique?
“My Sword Technique is simply ‘Cut, Cut, Cut’! With the speed of Thunder-Lightning Human and the sharpness of Thunder Cloud Sword, in a close-range fight, even without using other abilities, many world-renowned great swordsman wouldn’t be able to withstand my sharp and swift slashes. So, there’s no need for me to bother learning some flashy Sword Technique.”
Teaching that would be pointless! So, after some elaborate storytelling, Tashigi finally believed that Vice Admiral Momonga was a Sword Technique master even more skilled than Rowen.
Recalling Vice Admiral Momonga’s stern expression during the review meeting, Tashigi approached him with the determination of one headed to the execution grounds, seeking advice.
It was then that Smoker transformed into a mass of White Smoke and flew in. Rowen poured himself a drink, turned on the television, and relished the rare moment of rest he’d had in two months.
Seeing him fly in, Rowen pulled out a high-quality cigar from the gem-encrusted golden box and tossed it over.
“Help yourself!”
Only then did Smoker realize he hadn’t lit a cigar in hours.
He glanced at the golden box with gem inlay on the table but didn’t say a word. He quietly pulled out a lighter…
Zi Zi!
At that moment, an electric current flashed through the air. Just as he was about to take out the lighter from his pocket, the cigar ignited on its own.
Smoker stared in astonishment at the lit cigar. After a moment of silence, he brought it to his lips and took a puff.
The fragrance of the high-quality cigar wafted through the small lounge. Even non-smokers wouldn’t find it choking. The rich aroma was refreshing, harmless to the body, and even invigorating.
This specially made cigar was a top-notch product that Fujitora prepared for entertaining government officials and nobles from various countries. Its flavor was incomparable to the low-grade ones Smoker used to smoke two at a time.
The slight dizziness eased Smoker’s heavy heart. He casually leaned back on the spacious sofa and took a deep breath.
“Rowen… Vice Admiral, if I want to ask for your help in persuading the Fleet Admiral to transfer me back to the Grand Line, would that be possible?”
Transfer back to the Grand Line?
“Why do you suddenly have this idea? Is life in Loguetown too peaceful for you?”
Rowen looked at him with amusement as he asked this question. After all, if it weren’t for Luffy escaping from him to the Grand Line, who knows how many years Smoker would have spent in Loguetown.
Even after being “reassigned” to the East Blue for so many years, Smoker’s personality hadn’t mellowed. He was still the troublesome thorn in many people’s sides.
So, for Rowen, Smoker’s sudden desire to return to the Grand Line was quite puzzling.
Understanding Rowen’s confusion, Smoker nodded and explained.
“Yes, it’s too peaceful here!”
“Compared to the Grand Line, the East Blue is as calm as a stagnant puddle. In the past, I only stayed in Loguetown because I didn’t like those stuffy superiors. At least here, there are no meddlesome officials giving orders. I make all the decisions myself.”
“If Vice Admiral Momonga hears this… he’ll definitely be furious!” Rowen suddenly said with a meaningful tone, causing Smoker to instinctively shrink back.
Among the sixteen Vice Admirals, none could surpass Vice Admiral Momonga in terms of conservatism and adherence to tradition.
Smoker awkwardly took a puff of the cigar and decided to skip this topic.
“But now it’s different!” Smoker raised his head and looked at Rowen earnestly. “Becoming a Marine Admiral is also my dream!!”
(End of this chapter)
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