Chapter 331: Enraged Smoker
The scorching sun mercilessly beat down on the endless sea of sand, the high temperature slightly distorting the air.
Roy walked alone through the yellow sand, his cape snapping loudly in the fierce wind. Suddenly—
His Observation Haki trembled slightly, catching a faint human presence transmitting from ahead.
"Hmm?"
Roy raised an eyebrow, his figure instantly dissipating into the sand and dust.
The next moment, he appeared at the source of that aura.
Sand and wind churned. A woman stood quietly in the midst of it, as if she had been waiting for a long time.
She had long, crystal-clear azure hair resembling seawater, shimmering under the blazing sun.
Those eyes, bright as stars, looked straight at Roy, as if trying to see through his heart.
She wore a thin white veil that danced lightly in the howling wind. The scimitar at her waist was inlaid with jewels, reflecting a piercing, cold gleam.
Roy's gaze paused slightly, a complex emotion flashing through his heart.
"Blue hair again... tsk."
He couldn't help but associate it with that goddess who was always acting foolishly.
However, he quickly suppressed that fluctuation, his expression returning to cold indifference.
"Waiting for me here on purpose. Is there something you need?"
The woman's lips curved up slightly. Her smile was calm and composed, not shrinking back in the slightest because of his coldness.
Her voice was clear and bright: "Unknown powerhouse, a pleasure to meet you."
"My name is—Nefertari Lili."
Roy's pupils shrank slightly at this moment.
...
East Blue · Loguetown
Ace, Luffy, Nami, and Nojiko bade farewell to Grandpa Rock and Grandma Irene, boarding a small warship to prepare for their return voyage.
Passing by Loguetown on the way, Luffy suggested: "Hey! Let's drop by and see Uncle Smoker while we're at it!"
Ace shrugged and smiled: "Sure, might as well say hello."
However, just as they approached the Marine Branch, they heard a heaven-shaking roar transmitting from inside: "Let go of me, Tashigi!!!"
"I'm going to slaughter those trash pirates!!!"
Luffy's eyes widened: "Whoa! Uncle Smoker is going to explode!!!"
Sweat formed on Nami's forehead: "...That doesn't sound like a welcome for us."
At the base entrance, Tashigi was holding onto Smoker's trench coat for dear life, her glasses practically falling to the ground, her voice on the verge of tears:
"Captain Smoker!! Please calm down!! Headquarters ordered you to guard Loguetown, you can't leave without authorization!!!"
Smoker was burning with rage, his entire body looking as if it were about to turn into a cloud of white smoke and charge out.
Seeing this, Ace hurriedly rushed forward and grabbed Smoker's arm: "Calm down, Uncle!"
Luffy also eagerly pounced over, hugging him tightly from the other side: "Don't explode, Uncle!!!"
Held back firmly by the two from the left and right, veins bulged on Smoker's forehead: "You two stinky brats!! Let go of me!!!"
He struggled desperately, cursing: "If I can't go to the Grand Line, I'll tear down this entire base!!!"
"Ace! Luffy! Hurry up and help me persuade Captain Smoker!!"
Seeing the reinforcements arrive, Tashigi was almost moved to tears.
After a flurry of chaos, Smoker was finally pressed down into a chair, his chest still heaving violently.
Ace shoved a glass of iced juice into his hand and smiled: "Alright, Uncle, what exactly happened? Why are you so fired up?"
"What happened?!"
Smoker slammed his fist onto the desk, shaking the glass so hard it nearly tipped over. Gnashing his teeth, he threw an intelligence report from his coat: "See for yourselves!!!"
Everyone froze for a moment. Nami and Nojiko hurriedly leaned over.
The report had a few lines of shocking, bold text written on it:
—"The 'Effort Pirates' were refused when seeking a doctor in the White Cure Kingdom, severely injuring several guards in anger!"
—"Latest News: The 'Effort Pirates' are suspected to have made contact with the Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile!"
"The Effort Pirates...? What the hell kind of name is that?" Luffy scratched his head, looking completely lost.
Smoker was so angry that white smoke billowed out erratically on the spot: "Those pieces of trash!!!"
"They actually slipped out from the East Blue under my watch!!!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he got, his voice buzzing the entire room: "I've guarded Loguetown for so many years, I haven't even let a sea cat slip past!!"
"You guys know this too—no pirate from the East Blue has ever successfully entered the Grand Line!!"
"And now look! A bunch of trash called 'Effort' suddenly pops up, and they actually escaped right from under my nose!!"
"This is simply—the ultimate stain on my entire life, AHHHHH!!!"
By the end of his rant, Smoker directly collapsed onto the desk, gnashing his teeth and wishing he could tear the report to shreds.
Ace couldn't help but facepalm: "So it's because of this..."
Nami's mouth twitched: "...What kind of bizarre reason is that."
Nojiko held back her laughter so hard her shoulders shook.
Tashigi stomped her feet in anxiety: "B... But Captain, Headquarters ordered that you must stay in Loguetown. You cannot leave!"
Smoker snorted coldly, his face gloomy: "Then let Headquarters send someone else to guard it! I'm going to personally drag those trash pirates back!!"
Helpless, Ace patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, Uncle. We'll keep an eye out for them the next time we're on a mission!"
Luffy also laughed heartily and added: "Yeah, yeah! We'll definitely help you beat up that 'Effort Pirates' or whatever they are!!"
"You two..."
Smoker rubbed his forehead, taking a long time to catch his breath. Finally, he spat out: "The title of the East Blue's Shield... must absolutely not be tarnished!!!"
He raised his head and stared at Ace, Luffy, Nami, and Nojiko. His brow furrowed tightly before a sharp glint suddenly flashed in his eyes.
"You guys... to come back to the East Blue to visit your grandparents, you must have sailed a warship here, right?"
"Huh?"
Ace froze, not having reacted yet. Nami's expression, however, changed drastically, and she frantically waved her hands:
"Vice Admiral Smoker! We wouldn't dare... That ship is a temporary mission vessel assigned to us by Headquarters. If we lend it out, we'll be court-martialed!!!"
"Cut the crap!"
Smoker violently transformed into billowing white smoke, shooting straight into the sky. The soundwave shook the entire base:
"Hurry up and start the warship!! I am definitely going to the Grand Line to personally slaughter those pieces of trash!!!"
"Captain Smoker—!!!"
Tashigi's face drastically changed. Panicking, she drew her sword and chased after him, shouting as she ran: "Please calm down!!!"
Nami was completely speechless, rubbing her forehead and sighing: "What is going on..."
Nojiko sighed. She silently took out the Den Den Mushi she carried with her and dialed Marine Headquarters.
The Den Den Mushi went ka-cha twice, transforming into the voice of Marine Chief of Staff, Tsuru.
"I understand the situation... Let him go make a fuss. Headquarters will send someone to Loguetown in the next couple of days."
Nojiko closed the Den Den Mushi, looking up at Ace: "The Chief of Staff said to let him go make a fuss."
Hearing this, Ace helplessly covered his forehead: "Sigh... Uncle Smoker's temper is exactly the same as back then. Always wanting to rush to the frontlines at the drop of a hat."
"Hehe!"
Luffy didn't take the matter seriously at all. Raising his arms high, his eyes were full of stars: "Let's go! Time to catch some pirates!!!"
"Idiot! Behave yourself!!!"
Nami slapped Luffy squarely on the head.
...
At the same time · Waters off Punk Hazard.
Amidst the endless fog, a giant ship—pitch-black with a massive dragon head figurehead—slowly broke through the waves.
The Red Force—had appeared on the horizon near Punk Hazard.
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