"I've never changed since enlisting. I've always hated evil and never tolerated it in my sight."
"Pirates, who burn, steal, and plunder—committing all manner of evil—are tumors that must be eradicated from these seas."
"Seeing so many pirates gathered together like this is disgusting. How could I possibly let this chance to wipe them all out pass by?"
"As for that idiot Altair? Letting him be happy for a bit is just a side effect."
Onigumo looked down at him coldly:
"And you—trying to resist an order to fire on pirates? What, do you have someone inside you're trying to protect?"
"Protect?!"
Smoker laughed bitterly through his anger. "Of course I do! Absolutely! I'm the base commander appointed to Logue Town! Aren't all the residents here under my protection?!"
"Civilians?"
Onigumo looked at him in disbelief, letting out a cold laugh. "Those people keep coming in waves. Nobody cares how many die. Forget civilians—even if it's my long-serving subordinates, anyone who dares obstruct me from wiping out pirates and executing justice will be fired upon without hesitation!"
"Just like now—"
"You!"
Onigumo's mouth twisted, and his eyes flashed with anger. He lifted his right foot and forcefully kicked toward Smoker.
"You're just a colonel! You got praised once by Master Zephyr, and now you think you can boss me around?!"
Thud!
The kick hit with immense force, laced with the intense haki of observation and armament.
Smoker hadn't expected the strike. Caught off guard, the blow landed squarely on his chest, sending him flying several meters before crashing into the wall. Clutching his chest, blood gushed from his mouth.
Nearby Navy soldiers were drawn to the commotion, their eyes wide with shock.
"Don't worry about him! Are the cannons loaded and ready? Fire at will! Cover the entire plaza—every pirate there, none shall escape!"
Onigumo ordered coldly.
"Yes, Vice Admiral!!!"
The three warships responded with a thunderous roar.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Over fifty cannons fired simultaneously, the orange-red flames from the muzzles illuminating Onigumo's eyes, gleaming with pleasure.
"Hmph."
The frustration that had built for almost a month finally found release.
Onigumo cast a cold glance at Smoker on the ground. "Looks like you didn't listen to a word I said before. As your senior, I'll give you another lesson!"
"For the Navy, if you want to pursue your own sense of justice, there can be no mercy. Fools like you, clinging to naive fantasies, should do as Master Zephyr did—retire quietly!"
"Now, shut up and stay out of my way!"
Onigumo strode toward the bow, his white cloak of justice billowing behind him. "If you dare stay here and hinder my purge of pirates, don't blame me for being ruthless. Military law will handle you!"
Purge pirates? Execute justice?!
Smoker struggled to rise, clutching his chest, his eyes bloodshot. He looked toward the plaza, where the cries of the townsfolk pierced his ears, each one stabbing his heart.
This is Onigumo's justice?
A justice that indiscriminately mixes civilians with pirates and unleashes slaughter?
"What a joke!!!"
This is a town he had fought to protect. How could he just stand by and do nothing?!
Wham!
Smoke suddenly erupted, engulfing the entire deck of the warship in gray-white mist.
Smoker's elemental form surged like a raging sandstorm, sweeping up all the gunners loading the cannons.
"Smoke! It's so thick!"
"I can't see! What's happening?!"
"Cough… cough, help! I can't breathe!"
The coughing echoed across the deck, some gunners even fainting from suffocation. Onigumo lost his line of sight, growing furious.
"Are you crazy, Smoker?!"
"Tell the other two ships to cease fire immediately!"
From within the thick fog came Smoker's deep voice: "There's still time to send soldiers to help the civilians. As for the pirates, I'll personally handle them. I swear, not a single one will escape!"
"Not a single one?"
Onigumo's gaze swept the area coldly, as if searching for something. "Hmph. Now you're talking conditions? Do you think hiding in the smoke…"
Swish!
He vanished, appearing in the southern sky a moment later. His right hand shot forward, seizing Smoker's neck through the thick smoke.
"I found you at last!!!"
"Grr…" Smoker's body gradually solidified. Red-faced, he struggled, his hand ready to fight.
But Onigumo, seemingly pulling Seastone handcuffs from nowhere, snapped them onto Smoker's wrists.
Weakness instantly flooded him. Onigumo left no gap, covering his right fist with armament haki, smashing it into Smoker's cheek!
At the same time, his knee drove into Smoker's abdomen like an elbow.
Shh!
Smoker's face twitched violently, his vision blurred, and the smoke emanating from him withdrew rapidly.
Thud!
Onigumo threw Smoker onto the deck, splintering the wood and leaving a huge crater.
The entire sequence was fast, ruthless, leaving no room for retaliation.
Landing gracefully from above, Onigumo lit a cigarette, not even glancing at Smoker, and coldly ordered:
"Continue the order—fire!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
New gunners filled the gaps instantly, and the smoke drifted away in the sea wind, restoring visibility.
Onigumo glanced to the distance, noticing figures gradually appearing on the rooftops on the plaza's west side.
Hmm?
Wanting to stand up and resist?
He snorted. If they were Grand Line pirates, he might take them seriously. But here in Logue Town of the East Blue? Who could withstand the bombardment?
His three ships' firepower was top-tier, far surpassing any East Blue branch.
"Divide half the firepower to target those few on the rooftops."
Onigumo said casually.
"Yes, Mr. Onigumo!"
Hmph.
Want to stick your neck out?
He loved crushing these presumptuous fools.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The three warships fired again, covering the entire plaza while half the shells rained down on the few figures atop the roofs.
Hmm?
Shanu, having just stepped onto the rooftops, looked up at the scene, eyes narrowing slightly.