In the shrouded black mist, Alvida's pale face, her ink-black wavy hair, and crimson lips twisted grotesquely. From beneath her violet cloak, countless tentacles crawled out, coiling tightly around Tina's legs.
They wound upward like writhing vines, constricting tighter and tighter, as though intent on strangling her.
No matter how much strength Hina exerted, she could not break free. That suffocating terror overwhelmed her—until finally, she woke with a jolt from the nightmare.
Her eyes flew wide open, her breath ragged. Above her stretched a gray-white ceiling. She felt her long pink hair, the nape of her neck, even her back—drenched in sticky, clammy sweat.
It took her a long while before she realized she had returned to reality.
From nearby came the faint sound of pages turning and a pen racing across paper—soft but swift.
Turning her head, Tina saw she lay on a sickbed. On the bed beside hers sat Tashigi.
Wearing her glasses, her forehead and body wrapped in bandages, Tashigi hunched over a small tableboard set across her bed, writing furiously with full concentration, oblivious to the fact that Tina had awoken.
When Hina shifted to sit up, the creak of the bed finally drew Tashigi's attention.
"Captain Hina, you're awake?!"
Her surprise turned to joy. She dropped her pen and paper, pushed aside the table, threw off her blanket, and, barefoot on the cold floor, rushed to pour Hina a cup of warm water.
Hina's lips were indeed parched, her throat dry and itching. She accepted the water gratefully and swallowed a few mouthfuls, then gave Tashigi a nod of thanks.
Tashigi smiled shyly and sat down at the edge of her bed.
As Tina set the cup aside, she suddenly noticed the palm of her hand—muddied black. She frowned and rubbed at it with her fingers, but the stain would not come off.
"What's wrong, Captain Hina?"
Hina clenched her fist to hide it, not letting Tashigi notice, and instead asked another question as if nothing were amiss.
"How long was Hina unconscious? What has happened during that time?"
Tashigi's expression shifted. She had awoken a day earlier, so she knew far more than Tina did. Without hesitation, she laid out everything—their subsequent actions, and their bitter failures.
Hina listened silently, lips pressed together.
Just like during the Reverse Mountain battle, there were reasons for their failure—but even Admiral Aokiji Kuzan had failed to capture Davy Jones. And CP9? Most of its members had been annihilated; the organization now existed in name only.
This outcome deeply shocked Hina.
Neither Marine Headquarters nor the World Government would be able to accept such a result.
But what was done was done. The past could not be undone. Hina could only sigh quietly.
Hunting down the Davy Jones Pirates would only grow harder from here—let alone unraveling the many mysteries shrouding Davy Jones himself.
Tashigi, hearing Hina's sigh, sank into gloom as well.
Hina immediately sensed her change in mood. She reached out and gently took Tashigi's hand.
"What were you writing just now?"
"I…"
Before Tashigi could reply, a rough, weathered voice cut in from the doorway.
"She stayed up all night—writing this after-action report. Recording every scrap of intel on the Davy Jones Pirates. Including new faces aboard their ship. Like Crocodile."
Tina's brows rose in surprise as she looked toward Smoker, who leaned against the doorway.
"Crocodile? The missing Warlord of the Sea? What's he doing with Davy Jones' crew?"
"You're asking me? Who the hell am I supposed to ask?"
Smoker scowled, his body tense with irritation. Instinctively he reached for a cigar, but seeing the two wounded women in the room, he restrained himself with visible effort.
The news left Tina momentarily stunned.
Beside her, Tashigi timidly voiced her own thoughts.
"Crocodile most likely joined the Davy Jones Pirates. At the very least, he must have forged some kind of alliance with them."
A pirate crew already formidable beyond belief—now reinforced by a former Warlord of the Sea…
Hina gave a small nod. Her gaze drifted back to Tashigi. Sure enough, the younger officer's eyes were ringed with dark circles. Smoker had told the truth: she had stayed up all night writing that report. Hina's brows drew together. She squeezed Tashigi's hand in admonishment.
"What report can't wait until your health recovers? And staying up all night? Do you not know how damaging that is? For women especially, sleepless nights are an enemy."
"But… Marine Headquarters needs our report…"
Smoker cut her off sharply.
"Headquarters doesn't need you to hand in a report in a day or two. Even if Davy Jones' crew slipped past an Admiral, they're not the Navy's immediate priority. The focus remains the Four Emperors."
Even the slightest sortie or patrol from one of the Four Emperors' crews triggered massive deployments from Headquarters.
Compared to that, no matter how unpredictable Davy Jones was, his threat still did not outweigh the Emperors.
Smoker's glare fixed on Tashigi.
"We don't need you to produce a report in a couple of days. And it's not like you're the only one who can write one! You're wounded! So why force yourself to stay up all night? I already chewed you out for this yesterday—yet you're still at it today?!"
His words trailed off abruptly. Because he saw Tashigi's eyes redden, tears spilling over as she began to sob.
Smoker's mouth hung half-open. He froze, torn. He wanted to comfort her—but tender words would not come. He wanted to keep scolding her—but his heart wasn't that cruel. At a loss, he scratched at his silver hair, then strode out heavily, leaving the room.
The instant he was gone, Tashigi could hold back no longer. She pulled off her glasses, buried her flushed face in her hands, and trembled as sobs wracked her body.
Tina shifted closer, gathering her into an embrace, gently stroking her short hair.
Only after a long while did Tashigi finally speak again.
"Captain Hina… I feel so useless. In battle, I only dragged you down. You were gravely wounded and fell unconscious because of me. And now… even the report isn't needed from me anymore…"
"You know Smoker—that's just how he speaks. But it's not disdain. It's his way of caring."
"I know… That's why it hurts even more…"
Tashigi clutched tightly at Hina's sleeve, burying her face against her shoulder.
"Captain Smoker, and you, Captain Hina—you've both placed such expectations on me, always taking me with you, always cultivating me. I'm willing to work twofold, tenfold harder to repay that faith… But why… Why is it that even then, I still can't surpass those villains?"
"If all my doubled and redoubled efforts still can't defeat them, then… what meaning does my effort have?"
Hina understood. This battle with the Davy Jones Pirates had shattered Tashigi's spirit, leaving her doubting herself entirely.
A dangerous sign. If left unchecked, such despair could push a once-promising Marine down a path of ruin—or even corruption.
"Tashigi, Tina needs to correct you. Smoker and I didn't choose to nurture you out of pity, or mere hope. We did so because you have ability. Because you're diligent and reliable. That is why we placed our expectations on you. Don't mistake cause and effect."
"Second—failure in this battle wasn't yours alone. Smoker, myself… even Admiral Aokiji Kuzan bore responsibility. Listening to your report, Tina realized—the only true deadweight was Spandam."
"And lastly: effort doesn't guarantee the results you desire. That truth runs through all of life. But at least now, you know your shortcomings. With a clear mind, the right direction, steadfast resolve, and relentless work, Hina believes you will become an exceptional Marine. Smoker believes it too."
"So listen to him, Tashigi. Take care of yourself. The road of justice we walk is long—far too soon to speak of final failure."
Nestled in Hina's embrace, Tashigi grew still. At length, she gave a slow nod.
Hina gently patted her back, then glanced toward the doorway.
There stood Smoker, half-hidden, watching intently. Catching Hina's eye, he received her soft smile and small nod.
He exhaled in relief, clicked his tongue, and finally fished out a cigar. Stepping into the courtyard outside, he lit up at last.
Pls drop some power stones supper me at my
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