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Loguetown — Harbor District
"Are there a lot of Marines heading toward me? Is Smoker on his way too?" Aero's voice came crisply through the Den Den Mushi.
"According to the intel Kael just brought back, half the Marines stationed in Loguetown are headed straight for the shipyard," Dylan reported. "And yeah your favorite problem, Captain Smoker, is coming too. Be careful."
Dylan had compiled everything Kael and Gin had scouted during their recon. And honestly, things on his end weren't looking much better either.
---
Shipyard — Loguetown
"Got it. I'll be cautious," Aero replied. His eyes drifted toward the Seastone fragments embedded in the hull of his newly acquired ship. A confident smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Smoker's weapon is troublesome but not for long. What's your situation?"
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The Dove — Shoreline
Dylan looked at the edge of the deck, where a squad of Marines clad in white shirts and navy trousers was already swarming the ship. Some had climbed aboard. Others aimed rifles from the shore.
"Things are under control here," Dylan said. "But it looks like Smoker's sealed off the entire port. Our flagship might already be in their hands."
"...?!"
"Alright," Aero exhaled, "Just make sure Kael doesn't blow up the Dove.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll let him know," Dylan replied, glancing over at Kael who looked just a little too excited to start throwing explosives.
Dylan ended the call and walked over, clapping Kael on the shoulder.
"Get down there," he said calmly. "Clear out the Marines at the dock. Try not to wreck the damn ship."
Kael nodded, bent his knees, and launched himself into the sky using [Moonwalk].
The Marines on shore were already aiming when they spotted the airborne pirate. Moments later, the entire port erupted in gunfire, explosions, and screaming.
Dylan didn't hesitate.
"Set sail," he ordered.
He trusted Kael to catch up later.
Meanwhile, Gin held the deck, spinning his metal crutches with lethal precision to knock back the few Marines who had boarded.
The reason they kicked Kael off the ship wasn't just about the fight it was because they were scared his custom-made Buggy Bombs might blow the Dove to hell and ruin the escape plan.
---
At the shipyard, Aero's steel-hull ship had completed its test sail. Other than being slow, it was seaworthy and solid.
He climbed aboard, pulled the sail rope, and set it in motion.
The ship creaked as it began to drift toward open water.
From land, the shipwright waved enthusiastically at Aero.
He didn't know who Aero was, and frankly, he didn't care. His wallet was full, and the problem ship he couldn't sell for months was finally out of his yard.
But then...
His smile froze.
His eyes locked on the dozens of rifles pointed directly at him.
The entire dockyard was surrounded.
And then, emerging from the ranks of armed Marines, a tall man with a bare chest, shaggy white hair, and a lit cigar pushed through the crowd.
He exhaled a puff of smoke and held up a wanted poster.
"Seen this pirate?"
The shipwright glanced at the poster and froze.
It was Aero.
The guy he'd just sold a ship to.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. He gulped them down, forced a clueless expression, and shook his head like a wind-up toy.
"Never seen him before in my life!"
Behind the white-haired man, a short-haired woman with dark green hair and red-rimmed glasses, Tashigi, stepped forward.
"That can't be right. I saw him walk in here!"
The man didn't respond. His eyes scanned the shipyard one last time.
"We're leaving," Smoker said coolly.
"What?! Captain Smoker!" Tashigi exclaimed, confused. "He's here I'm sure of it!"
Before Smoker could reply, a Den Den Mushi on his belt crackled to life.
"Colonel! We—BOOM!—Aaaaaughhh—!"
The line went dead.
Smoker's jaw tightened. He didn't need confirmation. The Marines he'd sent had been wiped out.
Then, the Den Den Mushi crackled again.
"Moshi moshi? That you, Captain Smoker? Sorry, we're heading out now. If you wanna check on your men, you'd better hurry. We're not babysitting them for you."
Click.
The line went silent.
Smoker stood still, teeth clenched, anger bubbling just beneath the surface.
"Get to the harbor. NOW."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marines quickly pulled back from the dockyard.
Tashigi adjusted her glasses. Her expression had changed the moment she heard the screams over the line. She followed the others without another word.
Smoker's body dissolved into white smoke and surged forward, soaring past the gates.
"Aero… you dare humiliate me?!"
"You're dead. I'll chase you to the ends of the sea if I have to!"
His furious voice echoed across Loguetown like rolling thunder.
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