East Blue, 16th Branch, Colonel's Office.
"Bastards, the Arlong Pirates have been entrenched in this sea for seven years, and you know nothing about it? Who would believe that! Do you think I'm an idiot?"
Smoker's angry roar echoed in the office, scaring the branch's Marines into trembling.
Of course, they knew such a flimsy excuse wouldn't hold up, but they didn't dare to admit it.
Although Smoker and Nezumi were both Colonels.
There was a difference between Colonels.
A branch Colonel automatically dropped two ranks when transferred to Headquarters.
Even though Smoker was at the Loguetown base, he was a genuine Headquarters Colonel.
He was only demoted due to his stubborn personality, which had offended people at Headquarters.
Furthermore, this time Smoker was acting on orders from Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Great Strategist.
Not to mention ordinary Marines, even Colonel Nezumi would have wet himself if he were there.
"Colonel Smoker, all matters concerning our 16th Branch are handled by Colonel Nezumi. Why don't we wait until he returns from Cocoyasi Village before we..."
A branch Lieutenant Commander bit the bullet and tentatively spoke.
"Mr. Smoker, something's happened!"
The bespectacled Tashigi rushed in, her small face serious.
"What is it?"
Smoker frowned.
"Colonel Nezumi and his party, who went to Cocoyasi Village this morning, have completely lost contact!"
Tashigi reported.
"What!!!"
Smoker's expression changed drastically.
After investigating the 16th Branch.
Smoker had already largely determined that there was something fishy going on between Colonel Nezumi and the Arlong Pirates.
He was also prepared to make the Navy's parasite, Nezumi, pay the price.
However...
Before he was truly court-martialed and convicted, Nezumi was still a Navy Colonel after all.
No one else had the right to judge him.
However...
"Prepare the warship now, and head to Cocoyasi Village!"
Smoker ordered.
"Yes!!!"
Four hours later.
The warship arrived at Cocoyasi Village.
When the villagers learned that the shameless Marines had come again, their anger immediately flared up.
"Get out of our island, Marines!"
"We won't believe you anymore!"
"Go back and tell that stinking Nezumi to throw whatever he's got at us!"
The villagers blocked the port, shouting curses.
It wasn't until Genzo and Nojiko arrived, and Smoker revealed his identity, that the situation was finally brought under control.
"I'm sorry, Colonel Smoker, everyone has been under a bit of pressure lately, please understand!"
Genzo said.
"No problem, I'm here to understand the entire incident in detail. Headquarters is also very concerned about this!"
Smoker asked patiently.
"Alright then, I'll tell you everything I know..."
Genzo nodded, recounting everything the Arlong Pirates had done for the past seven years, as well as the matter with Colonel Nezumi.
Listening to Arkin's narration, Smoker's expression grew uglier and uglier.
He had initially thought that Nezumi of the 16th Branch was merely occupying a position without performing his duties.
He never expected that as a Marine, he would collude with pirates to oppress civilians.
If this matter were to be exposed, it would undoubtedly cause great damage to the Navy's reputation.
At this moment, Smoker wished he could flay Colonel Nezumi alive.
After a long while, Smoker finally suppressed the anger in his heart.
"Then, one last question, did Nezumi come here this morning?"
Smoker asked.
"He did, and we cursed him away!"
Genzo nodded.
"And after that? Did anything happen?"
Smoker asked again.
"No!"
Arkin shook his head in confusion.
"I understand, that's enough then. I will definitely handle the follow-up matters properly!"
Smoker said.
"Tashigi, let's go!"
"Oh, oh, oh."
Tashigi, who was chatting with Nojiko on the other side, quickly got up.
"Wait, Miss Tashigi, I have one last question, is... Kuina-chan your sister?"
Nojiko asked.
"Kuina? Who? I don't have any sisters!"
Tashigi shook her head in confusion.
"Oh, oh, oh, sorry to bother you, I made a mistake!"
Nojiko quickly said.
"Well then, I'm leaving!"
Tashigi turned and left.
"Are they really not sisters? But... they really look alike!"
Nojiko whispered.
On the other side, on the warship's deck.
"Mr. Smoker, how is it? Any news about Nezumi and his group?"
Tashigi asked.
"No! But Nezumi has most likely been eliminated. Although there's no evidence yet, the one who acted should be the swordsman who saved Cocoyasi Village!"
Smoker said.
"So what do we do next? Should we report to Headquarters?"
Tashigi asked.
"No! Wait a moment, let's talk after I've met them!"
Smoker said.
"Meet them? Mr. Smoker, do you know where they went?"
Tashigi was confused.
"I don't know, but... they're bound to go to Loguetown eventually!"
Smoker said with certainty.
...
...
A month passed quietly.
In the past month, Roland traveled to more than a dozen islands with different styles.
He spent time with Thor in various environments... and also fished in various places, gaining a lot, for example, his strength level had already broken through the three thousand mark.
The only slight regret was not encountering other main characters, especially Zoro.
Roland had always looked forward to the scene of Zoro meeting Kuina, it would definitely be very interesting.
However, if he couldn't meet them, he couldn't force it. There were even more interesting journeys awaiting them.
Although the East Blue was vast, in terms of excitement, the Grand Line was naturally the best.
That was the battleground for the strong, and also the romance of men.
He couldn't miss it no matter what.
However...
Before heading to the Grand Line, they still needed to make some preparations at the final transit point, Loguetown.
"Mr. Roland, are you really not going to visit the town? This is Loguetown, the town of beginning and end, the place where Pirate King Gol D. Roger was born and died!"
Nami asked.
"No, no, you guys go!"
Roland waved his hand, his expression serious.
It wasn't because he wasn't interested in Loguetown.
It was because the system had just given him a notification.
A 'big catch' was about to bite.
After a month, Roland had to stay on the front line of fishing for this big catch.
"Alright then, let's go!"
Nami said, then pulled Thor and Kuina off the ship.
"Here it comes! Here it comes! This is the feeling!"
Whoosh!
The fishing line suddenly tightened.
...