However.
Before they could arrest Chacher.
Udo, who had been waiting on the ship for a long time, immediately ran toward Captain Chacher as he stepped off the ship, anxiously saying, "Captain Chacher..."
But before he could finish his sentence.
"It's fine, I already know," Chacher said, patting Udo's shoulder. "Since you're here, help arrange for the new recruits in Cocoyasi Town."
He had already instructed Nojiko and the others. So, even though the Marine inspection team's sudden appearance here made everyone a bit tense, no one panicked and rushed forward to stop them.
Then, Chacher raised his head, smiled at the three in front of him, spread his arms, and warmly said, "Welcome, Inspection Team, to provide your guidance!"
However.
"..."
In response to his enthusiasm.
Garp was grinning, Tashigi was fuming, and Smoker was coldly staring at him.
Dande Chacher, Captain.
His eyes seemed to carry a faint hint of disappointment.
The genius of the Navy Headquarters.
But now, he had fallen so low.
Could he still live up to the teachings of Zephyr-sensei?
It should be known that Zephyr-sensei had once specifically pleaded for him; otherwise, this guy would have already been sent to a military tribunal!
Smoker spoke with a chilling tone, "Dande Chacher..."
However.
Before he could finish.
At this moment.
"Come, come, come, everyone, please get down in an orderly manner!" Captain Mok of the Mok Pirate Crew—Mok suddenly shouted with his loud voice, "Don't be afraid, I've told you all before, I'm not a slave trader. As long as you come here, you'll have enough to eat. When the time comes, you'll definitely thank me!"
As Mok's words finished, under the puzzled gazes of Smoker and Tashigi, the refugees who had been staying in the ship's cabin, previously thought to be captured as slaves, slowly walked down.
Their eyes still held fear and despair, but they continued walking toward the dock under the guidance of the Mok Pirates.
And just then...
Just when Smoker and Tashigi thought that these refugees, captured as slaves, were about to be handed over here...
Suddenly.
A group of people from the village walked toward the dock.
They wore brown guard hats and brown guard uniforms, with the leader's hat adorned with a windmill.
Was that the island's security team?
What were they doing here? Had the Navy's 16th Division already infiltrated the area?
As the two of them wondered...
They saw.
The security team marched in neat formation toward the terrified refugees, and quickly split into three rows, surrounding the group of refugees.
What were these people up to?
Tashigi and Smoker's expressions changed, thinking that the security team was going to take action against the refugees. They stopped paying attention to the soon-to-be-captured Captain Chacher.
Just as Tashigi was about to draw her sword...
"Don't make any rash moves," Smoker said, slapping Tashigi's sword hilt and pushing her Shigure back into its sheath. "It seems like things aren't as we thought."
With that, Smoker stared intently at the scene ahead.
Sure enough.
The security team didn't take action against the refugees. Instead, their actions were completely different from what they had imagined.
"Alright, that's enough!" One of them, who seemed to be the leader, shouted loudly after counting a certain number of refugees. "Let's go eat first! Come, follow me!"
And then...
"We're going to take a bath first!"
"Is anyone feeling unwell? Anyone feeling unwell, come to my line!"
Under the organization of the security team, all the refugees scattered in a confused but orderly manner.
"???"
Eating?
Bathing?
Tashigi looked around in confusion. "What's going on here?"
With the hilt of her sword in hand, she had no idea what to do. But soon, it seemed like she realized something. She turned her head and looked behind her, letting out a tense and alarmed cry, "Where's Captain Chacher? Did he escape? Did we fall into a trap?"
"Don't panic. That guy can't get away," Smoker said with a frown, glancing around.
He quickly noticed that the guy was indeed no longer there.
But Smoker wasn't worried. The 16th branch had already been secured. Could a mere Navy Captain escape from him and the Navy heroes?
On the contrary...
"Where's Vice Admiral Garp?"
Where did Vice Admiral Garp go?
As soon as the words left his mouth...
"I'm here!"
A familiar voice came from not far behind.
Tashigi and Smoker quickly turned around, and sure enough, they saw Vice Admiral Garp standing not far away.
However, instead of standing beside him as expected, Vice Admiral Garp had somehow ended up beside a street vendor. He was accompanied by the frowning captain of the Mok Pirate Crew, Mok, who was holding a sesame bun and happily munching on it, "Not bad, really delicious!"
"..."
What is this guy doing?
Smoker, with a dark expression, walked up and looked at Vice Admiral Garp, who was eating heartily. "What are you doing? Do you even know we have a more important mission right now, Vice Admiral Garp?!"
"Don't worry, Smoker kid," Garp waved his hand casually, grinning. "You know, this pastry is pretty good. Want a piece? It's on me~."
"This old man sure knows how to eat. This is a special pastry from the Goa Kingdom, a royal secret recipe from the Goa royal family. It cost me a lot to get it," the street vendor, who was kneading the dough, said with a smile. "Even Navy hero have said this pastry is good!"
After he spoke.
"..."
Smoker and Tashigi both had dark expressions.
Does the Goa Kingdom even sell pastries?
Don't joke around!
What's more, the person in front of them is the Navy hero himself. He's using Vice Admiral Garp's name to sell pastries, and you can see Vice Admiral Garp is getting angry, right?
Never mind, these things don't matter!
"Vice Admiral Garp..."
However.
Before Smoker could say anything.
Garp frowned, staring seriously at the vendor, and said in a stern tone, "How could the Goa royal family's trash have such a delicious pastry recipe!"
"..."
This is what you're arguing about!
Smoker twitched his mouth, looking at Garp, who was about to start debating with the vendor. He quickly darkened his face and said, "Vice Admiral Garp, don't forget our mission!"
Even Tashigi helplessly said, "Vice Admiral Garp..."
"Just."
"I know, I know," Garp said, waving his hand nonchalantly, then shoved a biscuit into Tashigi's hand, grinning as he added, "I didn't lie to you guys, it's really good. Don't worry, someone's treating us. That kid, Chacher, said he'll cover all our expenses here in Cocoyasi Village."
Smoker, who was about to say something, was interrupted by Garp's cheerful eyes that seemed to glimmer slightly. Garp continued munching on the biscuit while scanning his surroundings.
"Smoker, kid, don't be nervous, take a look around first."
With that, hearing the words from Vice Admiral Garp, Smoker calmed down, though he still curled his lips in disdain.
Around here?
What's so special about a small village?
After all, he came from the Navy Headquarters. What hadn't he seen on the Grand Line?
However...
After just one glance, the expression on his face shifted from disdain to solemnity, as if he had just seen something shocking.
The village before him...
It was filled with cleanliness, vitality, and the smiles on people's faces.
Such scenes were common in the affluent royal capital and the Sabaody Archipelago, but here, it made both him and Tashigi, who was still eating her biscuit, freeze in place.
"Here..."
Before Smoker could finish speaking...
"It seems we've come to an interesting place," Garp said as he grabbed another pancake and took a big bite. Then, he grinned at the sulking Mok.
"Hey, Mok kid, you better take us around here. Otherwise, I might just arrest you~"
*******
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