The next morning, at dawn—
Cocoyashi Village Coast.
"Cocoyashi Village. This is the place."
Smoker couldn't wait and jumped off the ship, ready to grab a few villagers and ask questions.
"Hey—don't rush, Smoker," Karl said lazily as he walked down the gangplank.
As he did, Raven somehow produced an orange and dropped it into Karl's hand. Karl took a bite.
Sour.
"Is it sweet?" Ain asked.
Karl's expression turned serious. He gave Ain a thumbs-up.
"Cocoyashi Village oranges—sweet! Here, you try."
Before Ain could react, Karl stuffed the orange toward her mouth.
The moment the juice touched her lips, Ain frowned deeply.
"I'll beat you—"
"Peh! It's so sour! You lied to me!"
Karl burst out laughing, then turned to Nelson.
"You don't need to come ashore. No need for so many people. The ship's in your hands, Nelson."
"Roger that, Major General Karl! Leave it to me!"
Growing impatient, Smoker urged,
"Hurry up already!"
"What are you rushing for? Are you the commanding officer, or am I?" Karl replied coolly.
Smoker instantly shut up.
Fine. You win.
To be honest, Cocoyashi Village was fairly large.
There weren't many people in sight, but vast orange groves stretched everywhere, heavy with fruit.
After walking for about ten minutes, they finally reached the village proper.
But something felt… off.
The villagers' eyes carried a faint sense of hostility when they saw the three Marines.
No one greeted them. No one spoke. Everyone just continued their work in silence.
"This atmosphere is strange," Ain said quietly.
"The villagers seem to hate the Marines."
Smoker sneered.
"This is under Captain Nezumi's jurisdiction. If the residents hate the Marines here, then that rat is definitely corrupt."
If he were stationed here, this would never happen.
So in Smoker's mind, Nezumi was already guilty.
"Everything needs evidence," Karl said calmly.
'You think,' 'you feel,' 'you conclude'—that won't do."
"We need solid proof. We speak with evidence only."
"Understood," Smoker exhaled deeply and nodded.
"Ain, Smoker—you two ask the villagers why things are like this."
"Got it."
Smoker quickly approached a villager and put on what he believed was a friendly smile.
"Hello, I'm Smoker, a Captain from Marine Headquarters. We're here to investigate Captain Nezumi of the 16th Branch."
"Do you know anything about his conduct?"
The moment the male villager heard Nezumi's name, terror filled his eyes.
"I—I don't know! Don't ask me!"
He waved his hands frantically and ran off without looking back.
Smoker scratched his head.
"Damn it. That stinking rat must've used some dirty methods… Whatever, I'll ask someone else."
"Hey! I'm Smoker from Marine Headquarter—"
After questioning several people in a row, the result was the same.
Either they refused to speak or hurried away.
No one gave Smoker or Ain a chance to investigate.
But Smoker didn't give up.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
In a corner, he spotted a man covered in scars, wearing a windmill hat.
Dressed like some kind of local security officer.
Smoker immediately walked over.
The man—Genzo—turned pale and tried to run.
A puff of white smoke flashed by.
The next second, a far more terrifying man blocked his path.
"I'm Smoker, Captain of Marine Headquarters," Smoker said firmly.
"You're a local law officer, right? I have a few questions. Please cooperate."
Genzo swallowed hard and looked up.
"I'm Genzo, patrol officer of Cocoyashi Village. Wh-what do you want to ask?"
Seeing hope, Smoker smiled.
"We suspect Captain Nezumi is a corrupt Marine, possibly involved in embezzlement and worse."
"This is his jurisdiction, so we want to understand the situation from the locals first."
Genzo's eyes shone with sudden excitement.
The heavens have finally opened!
"Th-this… is that really true?"
Smoker nodded solemnly.
"Absolutely. But I need you to tell the truth. Everything you say may be used as evidence against Captain Nezumi."
"Of course!" Genzo said quickly.
"What do you want to know?"
"Why are the villagers so afraid of the Marines? Everyone I spoke to looked terrified."
Genzo sighed bitterly.
"That's not their fault. Arlong is simply too powerful."
"Arlong?" Smoker frowned.
"A pirate?"
Genzo's expression tightened.
"Yes. A Fish-Man pirate crew from the Grand Line. Incredibly strong—we couldn't resist at all."
"About a year ago—more precisely, in the year 1512—they came here."
"They forced us to buy our lives every month. Adults pay 100,000 Beli. Children, 50,000."
"If we can't pay… we're killed."
"We had no choice but to live under Arlong's rule."
Smoker clenched his fists.
"And the Marines? They did nothing?"
Genzo gritted his teeth.
"Because the Marines are working with them."
"The Captain you mentioned—Nezumi—was bribed long ago. He let Arlong and his men run wild."
"What?!!! That bastard!!!"
Smoker's anger exploded.
He had thought Nezumi was just skimming money—but colluding with pirates?!
That wasn't just corruption. That was betrayal.
A calm voice spoke beside him.
"Calm down."
Karl had appeared silently at Smoker's side.
Smoker took several deep breaths before barely suppressing his fury.
"This is my superior," Smoker said.
"Major General Karl of Marine Headquarters."
Genzo looked at the tall, handsome officer with righteous bearing and immediately bowed deeply.
"Sir, please—please save our village! We really can't hold on any longer!"
Before Karl could speak, Smoker slammed his chest confidently.
"Don't worry! Real Marines would never stand by and watch this happen!"
"Where is Arlong? I'll wipe them out right now!"
Karl nodded slightly.
That was the correct move.
If Nezumi was colluding with pirates, then they should deal with the pirates first—and obtain ironclad evidence from them.
"But—but Arlong is too strong," Genzo said anxiously.
"There are only a few of you. You can't possibly defeat them."
Smoker let out a cold laugh.
"Pirates with bounties over 100 million aren't even my opponents. How strong can Arlong be?"
"A pirate who only bullies people in the East Blue?"
Genzo thought Smoker was bragging. He scratched his head anxiously, wondering how to persuade this overconfident Marine.
Shing—
Karl suddenly drew Raimei and slashed toward Smoker.
Of course, there was no Armament Haki—otherwise Smoker would've been dead.
"What the—"
"Oh! Hahahaha!" Smoker burst out laughing.
"See that, Officer Genzo?"
"I, Smoker—am invincible!"
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