The battle between flames and smoke intensified.
Tashigi anxiously slapped her forehead.
"Damn it, Captain Smoker is fighting a powerful enemy!" The bespectacled girl waved her arm at the soldiers, "Hurry over there! Support the Captain!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The Marine soldiers broke into a run, Tashigi following close behind.
After just a few steps, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to grab her "prisoner".
Noyer was touched by her dedication, but surely she didn't think this would be enough to control him?
He easily twisted away from her hand, his figure flickering as he ran up to the rooftop, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye.
A faint voice drifted over, "I'll go check out the situation first — you'd better catch up…"
Tashigi stamped her feet in frustration and shouted through gritted teeth, "Hurry up!"
Noyer ran fast. He soon found the battlefield where Ace and Smoker were fighting. The two had just separated from their entangled elements — the Marine covered in smoke, the shirtless guy with his burning fist raised.
Smoker's gaze shifted. He immediately spotted Noyer, "East Blue hunter Noyer, are you here to help the pirate Ace?"
Ace shouted excitedly, "Noyer! We bought a ship! We can set sail now!"
Noyer speechlessly covered his face.
Dude, I'm a hunter! By shouting like that, aren't you basically proving I'm one of you?!
Sure enough, Smoker heard these words and stared at Noyer with a solemn expression, "So you have joined the pirates after all."
Noyer spread his hands, trying to explain, "Actually, I'm not…"
He wanted to explain, but Smoker wasn't willing to listen. His lower body turned into smoke, and he shot himself forward.
◆ Moku Moku no Mi: White Launcher ◆
Smoker raised his jitte with Kairōseki at its tip and swung it down forcefully at Noyer's head.
The world is so beautiful, yet you're so violent…
Noyer reluctantly raised his sword to block the attack, forcefully pushing the jitte aside with both arms. He twisted his body backward in a large arc and swung his sword down.
◇ Haki Kenbu: Senpū no Tachi ⥤ Haki Swordsmanship: Whirlwind Blade ◇
The rotational force of his body combined with his arm strength accumulated on the sword, slashing toward Smoker's exposed chest in one stroke.
Like Ace, Smoker assumed a mere pirate hunter couldn't harm him. The Marine Captain had no defense at all, still attacking on his own.
But Smoker didn't know that Noyer's blade was already wrapped in Armament Haki.
In that life-or-death instant, Smoker sensed death approaching. He instinctively twisted his body to pull back his attack — a movement that saved his life.
A shallow knife wound began to bleed on his chest, not far from his heart.
Smoker broke out in cold sweat. If he hadn't pulled back just now, the blade would have pierced straight through.
The pirate hunter Noyer could actually use Haki? Why would the East Blue have a fighter of this caliber?
As a soldier who graduated from Marine Headquarters — especially one taught by Zephyr — Smoker knew how formidable the Haki power system was. His training had focused on Devil Fruit development. He wasn't proficient in Haki and couldn't even control Armament Haki at will.
But this seemingly young kid could?!
Smoker looked at him with lingering fear. Noyer looked back with a half-smile.
"Can you listen to me now, Captain?"
Tashigi arrived with the Marines, everyone pulling out guns and aiming at Ace and Noyer.
Smoker's expression darkened, "What do you want to say?"
Noyer held up three fingers, "First, I haven't become a pirate. I'm still a hunter. Second, your Marine intelligence says Ace and I are on the same ship. Actually, his ship was lost, and he's just hitching a ride on mine. I'm not catching him because Ace has no bounty. I can't be bothered with him. Third…"
He glanced at the arriving Tashigi.
"I just helped your Marines deal with the pirates who were kidnapping children. Shouldn't you be paying me?"
Smoker looked at him thoughtfully, "So you're saying you won't catch him because he has no bounty?"
Noyer nodded confidently, "That's right."
Smoker showed a strange smile. He pulled out a wanted poster from one of his subordinates, "The pirate Ace now has a bounty. You can catch him now."
Ah… you…
Noyer stared dumbfounded at Ace's bounty.
Good grief, ฿40,000,000, and he hasn't even left the East Blue yet? Did you rob Goa Kingdom before setting out?
After looking at the wanted poster, Noyer's eyes rolled, and he acted shamelessly, "Never mind, I'm too lazy to catch him. I'm not short on money right now."
Smoker's expression turned ugly again. He said in a low voice, "Are you messing with me?!"
Noyer showed no fear, wearing a dangerous smile, "So what if I am?"
The sky gradually darkened, and a light drizzle began to fall. The atmosphere between them grew tense.
At that moment, Ace finally understood the situation.
It seemed that because of him, Noyer was offending the Marines and couldn't be a pirate hunter anymore. How could that be acceptable?
Ace wanted Noyer to become his companion. But since he was unwilling, Ace considered him a friend and wouldn't force him.
He had to help this guy out!
Ace looked at Noyer and suddenly started yelling like a maniac, "Ah! You! Are you trying to catch me?!"
Both Smoker and Noyer froze.
Noyer looked at him in confusion. What was this airhead trying to do now?
In the pattering rain, Ace's arm transformed into flames as he charged forward, swinging his fist at Noyer while shouting theatrically, "I won't let you catch me!"
Noyer, also a user of the Mera Mera no Mi, easily caught his fist. Taking advantage of Ace's proximity, he said in an exasperated low voice, "What are you trying to do?"
Ace chuckled, "You're a pirate hunter, so come catch me."
With that, he staggered back several steps and said "weakly", "The strongest hunter of the East Blue lives up to his reputation."
Having delivered his lines, he led Deuce and Skull in turning tail and running, even leaving behind one last line:
"Help!"
Noyer covered his face in embarrassment, then took off running after them, shouting half-heartedly, "Don't run if you dare…"
The bewildered Marines stood frozen in place.
Tashigi reported to Smoker with a serious expression, "From the looks of it, Noyer and the pirate Ace aren't allies."
"Like hell they're not!" Smoker's forehead veins bulged as he scolded his naturally airheaded subordinate.
With such crude acting, even an idiot wouldn't believe it! Even if Vice Admiral Garp himself came to watch, he wouldn't believe it!
Smoker's face turned dark as he roared, "Forget about Noyer for now! Go catch the pirate Portgas D. Ace!"
◇◆◈◆◇
Noyer chased after Ace as he fled.
That airhead kept saying things like "Come chase me" and "Come on" while letting out giggles that sounded shy like tinkling bells.
Noyer was covered in cold sweat, his toes practically digging his own grave.
Acting like this, didn't he feel embarrassed? But there was no helping it. At least they'd found a good excuse to leave the Marines behind…
If they would actually believe it…
Accompanied by rain, chaotic footsteps, and shouts, people gradually closed in around them. A massive wave of Marines was incoming.
Cold raindrops dripped on Noyer's face, making him incredibly clear-headed.
He'd always wanted to sell out Ace. But if this guy ended up with the same fate as in the original story, he definitely wouldn't be happy about it. After all, the two had spent so much time together.
Even if you raised a dog, you'd develop feelings for it, wouldn't you?
The wind on the street grew increasingly cold. As the rain fell harder, all the townspeople retreated to their homes to escape the chill.
But the Marines' passionate flames for catching criminals hadn't been extinguished in the slightest. Instead, they burned even stronger.
The Marines fought and chased Ace, their numbers growing ever larger, with Smoker naturally at the forefront. He flew up standing on smoke beneath his feet, looking exactly like Goku riding the flying nimbus.
Flying up next to Noyer, he looked at him skeptically, "You can't even catch up to this?"
Noyer lied without batting an eye, "Oh, well, I've been a bit under the weather lately…"
Smoker looked at him speechlessly. Couldn't he at least come up with a better excuse?
While fleeing and chasing, the two groups were about to run out of town.
With the Mera Mera no Mi's area-of-effect killing power, Ace's escape went smoothly.
Smoker, however, had to keep blocking attacks to protect his Marine subordinates, and his speed just couldn't pick up.
Add in Noyer slacking off…
Meanwhile, at the shore, Ace's new ship — the Piece of Spadille — was already docked at the waterfront. Someone was sitting on the ship. It was Mihar, who had just come over from Noyer's ship.
Across an incredibly long distance, Ace and his crew were still barely dots in his line of sight. But he still confidently raised his gun.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several gunshots rang out. Far away at the town's edge, Noyer suddenly sensed several bullets flying toward them at high speed!
Mihar's sniping? From this far away?
He became even more certain that this guy definitely had some skill with Observation Haki!
Several Marine soldiers suddenly fell down for no apparent reason. Smoker's expression grew even uglier. Why would there be a sniper too? Why was this pirate crew of only four people so troublesome?!
With Mihar's long-range fire support, Ace finally led Deuce and Skull back to the shore, returning to the Piece of Spadille. Raising the Spade Pirates flag that hadn't been hoisted in quite some time, he gave the order and they set sail once more!
Ace stood at the ship's edge, cupping his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, and shouted, "Sorry, Captain! The Spade Pirates are setting sail!"
"Damn pirates!" Smoker's heart burned with anger at his shouting.
But when it rains, it pours.
At that moment, another Marine rushed up, "Report, Captain! Loguetown's defenses are severely undermanned. Many pirates have already surfaced to attack the townspeople!"
Smoker ran to the shore, watching Ace's group gradually sail away.
To capture that man, he couldn't succeed alone — he'd need enough troops to contain him. No battleship had been deployed yet. By the time one was ready and they set out in force, the pirates behind him would inevitably raid his base.
He calmed himself, thought for a moment, then made his decision. He couldn't chase anymore.
As Loguetown's garrison commander, he knew his responsibilities. Between pirates he couldn't catch and pirates currently threatening the townspeople's safety, he knew which mattered more.
But he was still unwilling to let it go!
Smoker turned his attention to a certain "pirate hunter".
Noyer appeared calm on the surface, but inside he felt uneasy. He'd just thought about sailing away, so why was this big smoke-pipe staring at him?
Smoker walked up beside him, "You're a pirate hunter, right? Anytime you bring the pirate Ace to me, I'll give you double the bounty."
Noyer cursed silently: You guys still owe me money!
『 Ding! Host has Befriended the Important Figure "White Hunter" Smoker! Rewards: Top Quality Cigars ×10 Boxes! 』
The sudden system notification startled Noyer. He asked internally, "System? Aren't you upgrading?"
…
No response.
Well, it seemed the system upgrade didn't interfere with issuing rewards.
Noyer smiled at the old smoke-fiend Smoker, then boarded his own ship and chased after Ace and his crew.
Tashigi asked her Captain hesitantly, "Will he really go catch pirates?"
Smoker's face was grim. He shook his head, commanding his soldiers to turn back toward town, "I'm not counting on him to catch pirates. But I gave him a promise — just to make him remember he's a hunter and not to get mixed up with criminals! Let's go. Return to town and arrest those pirates! Also, Portgas D. Ace's bounty needs to be increased…"
◇◆◈◆◇
The rain intensified. Thunder roared through black clouds overhead. The storm at sea grew fiercer. Against the boundless ocean, Noyer and Ace's ships looked like tiny boats.
Noyer caught up with Ace's ship. Using his navigation skills, he piloted the vessel and commanded everyone forward, casually tossing one of the Log Poses into Ace's hands.
Reverse Mountain wasn't far from Loguetown. He'd bought several sea charts at a street corner in town and easily plotted their course.
After being battered by the rainstorm for what felt like ages, everyone on both ships finally saw something different.
A massive red rocky landmass rose from the ocean floor, standing majestically in the storm. Even enormous waves crashing against the Red Line couldn't wear away a single edge.
Noyer gazed at the Red Line. Its height pierced straight into the clouds — awe-inspiring. Its scale was unbelievable. This was the continent that divided the world, a treacherous place that human strength could hardly overcome.
His heart filled with shock. Seeing it with his own eyes, he felt his worldview from both lives was about to shatter.
Moreover… Was the Red Line really just coincidentally dividing the entire world?
The Grand Line and the Red Line formed a cross-shaped intersection. To become the Pirate King — to reach the final destination of Laugh Tale — one needed to pass through the Red Line's obstruction twice…
Suddenly, an absurd idea popped into Noyer's mind.
Could the Red Line be artificially created? Perhaps to protect the secret of that final island — Laugh Tale. The secret that Joy Boy left behind.
He shook his head vigorously, looking at the Reverse Mountain entrance already in view, and said self-mockingly, "I'm overthinking. If it was for protection, what's the point of opening a hole at Reverse Mountain and adding a stairway?"
◈◈◈
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want more chapters of this novel or enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations: MrBlackWing (you know where to search)
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)