As the Moke pirate ship sailed further away and Cocoyasi Town gradually vanished over the horizon, Smoker, leaning against the gunwale, felt his agitated mind slowly begin to settle.
He took the cigar from his mouth, flicked away the ash, and turned to look at Vice-Admiral Garp. Even on a pirate ship, Garp remained remarkably relaxed, lounging on a deck chair as if he were on a luxury cruise.
Smoker's brow furrowed. This mission had been a series of absurdities.
They had come to investigate Captain Dande for collusion and embezzlement. The evidence was conclusive; an immediate arrest and trial would have been the standard procedure.
Yet, the mission lead—the Hero of the Marines—had not only formed an alliance with the suspect but had seemingly agreed to join in on swindling the Navy's budget.
It was beyond ridiculous. Smoker couldn't fathom what the old man was thinking. Moreover, there was a nagging question in his mind...
"Gahaha!"
Garp's sudden laughter broke Smoker's train of thought. He was lounging with his legs crossed and arms behind his head, staring at the sea. "The mission is over, Smoker-boy. Why do you still have that sour look on your face?"
"..." You're the one who caused it, Smoker thought. He took a deep breath and donned a serious expression. "Vice-Admiral Garp, do you realize exactly what you did back there?"
"Of course~" Garp replied casually, picking his nose. "I'm planning to scam the Navy for money alongside Dande."
"..." Why are you so proud of it?!
Smoker opened his mouth to protest, but Garp cut him off.
"Ah, wait. I shouldn't say that out loud. What if someone investigates me? Retract, retract~!" Despite his words, Garp showed no hint of fear. He grinned. "You're just not as fun as that Dande kid, Smoker. You look like you have something on your mind."
"I will keep my silence for now as agreed," Smoker said coldly. "But if that man ever violates the core tenets of Marine Justice, I will report everything—including your actions today—directly to the Fleet Admiral."
"Don't worry! If that happens, I'll promise I've never met the guy!"
"..." Smoker's eye twitched. He ignored Garp's nonsense and pressed on. "There is one more thing. I want to know about... the God Valley incident."
"I don't know!" Garp snapped instantly.
"..."
Is he playing with me? Smoker's fist tightened as Garp's eyes wandered and his nose-picking intensified—classic signs of a blatant refusal to talk. Smoker felt a sudden urge to punch the legendary hero, though he knew he'd likely lose an arm in the process.
What exactly happened at God Valley? All Smoker knew was the official record: Garp had saved the Celestial Dragons and earned the title of Hero. But Dande had brought it up to silence Garp, and Garp had shut him down immediately. Now, he was shutting Smoker down too.
"Smoker-boy," Garp's voice suddenly turned grave, dropping the playful act. "As a Marine, there are some things you are luckier not knowing. Don't dwell on it. Just uphold the Justice in your own heart."
Before Smoker could push further, Garp's grin returned. He stretched lazily and shouted toward the helm. "Hey, Moke kid! Bring out some food! I'm bored!"
"Coming right up! Want some Cocoyasi specialty orange jam and canned oranges?" Moke's booming voice echoed back. "They're grown with... uh, spring water and special dirt! And some machine-thing... hand-rubbed! Anyway, they're delicious!"
"???" Garp blinked, confused by the description.
Suddenly, a crew member nearby shouted in frustration, "You idiot Captain! The Boss told us to promote it like this: 'Irrigated with natural mineral water from primeval forests, every orange seedling is meticulously selected and nurtured with healthy organic fertilizer!'"
The crewman continued, sounding like a professional salesman: "'The orchards are located on gentle hilly slopes, surrounded by mist and rain, making the oranges sweet, plump, and refreshing! Every jar of jam is hand-crafted by eight master blenders. Master craftsmanship, great heritage, top-seller!'"
"???" The trio of Marines stared in stunned silence. Even Smoker was pulled out of his brooding by the sheer absurdity of the pitch.
"Right! That's the one! I forgot the words, but it's good!" Moke laughed, unbothered by his subordinate's scolding. "Want a taste?"
"Gahaha! That sounds incredibly fancy! Bring it here!"
A moment later, the Marines were tasting the oranges. Their eyes lit up. It was genuinely good... but perhaps not "eight-master-blenders" good.
"Not bad, but that advertisement is a total lie," Garp laughed, pouring juice into his mouth. "That Dande kid really is a swindler through and through!"
"Hmph," Smoker grunted, looking at his own can. Before he could speak, a Den Den Mushi began to ring.
Purupurupuru...
It was Garp's. He answered it casually. "Ah, Sengoku! What's up?"
Smoker and Tashigi immediately straightened their backs, their expressions turning solemn at the mention of the Fleet Admiral.
"What's that noise? Are you eating again? Can't you be serious for once?" The Den Den Mushi, now wearing a tiny seagull hat, sounded exasperated. It sighed. "How did the mission go?"
"Mission? What mission?"
"You bastard! Did you forget already? I told you to investigate if Dandé Dande is colluding with pirates!" the Den Den Mushi roared. "The Bureau of Approval is suspicious of his budget requests, but Zephyr insists his student would never do such a thing. They're arguing so much it's giving me a headache!"
"Gahaha! I'm just kidding~" Garp picked his ear. "I remember. It's handled."
"Handled?" Sengoku's voice calmed slightly. "And? Is the 16th Branch swindling funds or working with pirates?"
"Of course not!" Garp's voice suddenly became booming and filled with "righteousness." "Captain Dande's reports are completely accurate.
The Moke Pirates are a group of extremely vicious criminals. The 16th Branch's current equipment is simply no match for them. Even I found them... a bit troublesome to deal with."
"Why are you being so serious all of a sudden? That doesn't sound like you... Wait, are you telling the truth?" Sengoku asked suspiciously. "The Moke Pirates? Even you found them troublesome? They only have a thirty-million bounty. And why does your Den Den Mushi look like it's sweating so much?"
Sengoku's voice grew stern. "You didn't slack off, did you?"
"Gahaha! No way! It's just been a bit hot in the East Blue lately. Anyway, the guy managed to escape from me." Under the judgmental glares of Smoker and Tashigi, Garp didn't flinch. "You know how it is. Pirates are slippery."
"I suppose... but for you to say that..." Sengoku mused. "If they escaped you, it's no wonder the 16th Branch couldn't catch them. It seems a 'Great Pirate' is emerging in the East Blue."
"Exactly! Not simple at all!" Garp grinned. "We need to raise that bounty!"
"Raise it? Thirty million isn't enough for an East Blue pirate?"
"Not nearly enough," Garp said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the nearby Moke.
Moke felt a sudden chill run down his spine. He had a very bad feeling about this.
Garp bared his white teeth in a wide grin and gestured grandly. "For a Great Pirate like this, it has to be at least fifty million!"
Moke: "..."
Fifty million?! What the hell is this old man trying to do to me?!
*If you want to read more, join my Patreon for 60+ Advanced Chapters / MasterStudios(Luffy Pfp)
*Bonus chapter for every 40 Power Stones
*Bonus chapter for every 10 Reviews/Comments