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Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: First Encounter with Smoker

Smoker carefully examined the two people before him.

Pirates who landed in Loguetown to head to the Grand Line were relatively well-behaved during the day, but at night, they became a major problem.

After drinking too much, the pirates showed their true colors.

He had received a report from his subordinates and was preparing to go out and capture pirates. Out of habit, he activated his Observation Haki to check if any pirates were lurking near the base. Over the past year, there had been pirates who targeted the Marine base.

But Smoker didn't expect to actually find someone in the night sky.

"Are you Devil Fruit users?"

There were countless types of Devil Fruits, and no complete encyclopedia existed yet. Smoker felt that Reddy and his companion's ability to fly seemed familiar, but he couldn't be sure what kind of fruit it was.

"No."

"Bounty hunters?"

"No."

"Pirates?"

"Also no."

Smoker frowned.

Not wanting to reveal their Devil Fruit abilities was normal.

So he shifted to questioning their identities, but they were neither bounty hunters nor pirates.

Were they merchants, then?

"Major Yakovich knows me."

Reddy shrugged, his hands in his pockets.

"Don't cause trouble!"

Hearing that Major Yakovich knew Reddy, Smoker lost interest in them. After leaving a warning, he dissolved into smoke.

Bill was furious, but Reddy stopped him.

Reddy smiled. "He's the White Hunter. Ever heard of him?"

"That's the White Hunter?"

Bill's expression changed drastically.

As a rising star in the Marines and a user of the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, Smoker's reputation as the White Hunter had spread across the seas.

Bill muttered, "I didn't expect the Marines to send the White Hunter to East Blue."

But it made sense.

Loguetown held special significance.

With pirates in East Blue becoming increasingly rampant, without a strong figure stationed in Loguetown, the World Government's authority would only weaken further.

"Then I..."

Bill gulped.

He believed that even in the Grand Line, his strength would be enough to stand his ground. But facing the White Hunter Smoker, he had no confidence.

That was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user!

"Don't worry, I'll handle it for you."

Reddy knew what Bill was afraid of. After all, Bill still had a bounty on his head—though it was only three million Berries, it was still issued by the Marines.

"Thank you, Lord Reddy."

Loguetown was in chaos.

Some pirate crew members, drunk beyond reason, had ignited the malice in other alcohol-addled pirates like sparks setting a wildfire.

"I'll conquer the Grand Line, One Piece is mine!"

A pirate captain pulled his bloody knife from his opponent's body and loudly declared his ambition, drawing cheers from his nearby crewmates.

"Kill them!"

The pirate captain, fueled by alcohol, roared, "These idiots aren't worthy of entering the Grand Line!"

At that moment, a trail of white smoke rushed down the street.

The smoke spread rapidly.

Shouts of alarm rose one after another.

"You'll conquer the Grand Line?"

Smoker materialized his upper body, puffing smoke from two cigars, his eyes filled with disdain.

Soon, the smoke condensed.

Smoker stood in the middle of the street, surrounded by pirates who had passed out from lack of oxygen.

Only then did a group of Marines arrive in a hurry.

"Arrest them."

Smoker exhaled smoke and turned his attention to another street.

The situation there was even worse.

Someone had set a fire, turning half the sky red.

"Hmm?"

Smoker suddenly looked up at the night sky.

The next second—

A massive amount of seawater poured down from above, drenching the burning street.

Smoker immediately turned into smoke and flew into the air.

By now, the fire on the neighboring street had been extinguished, and the pirates were left dazed and soaked by the seawater.

"Him?"

Smoker immediately recalled the two men from earlier, but it was hard to believe a Devil Fruit user could control seawater.

The seawater falling from the sky was far more impactful than Smoker's own methods.

The troublemaking pirates, sobered by the sudden deluge, stopped fighting and fled in all directions.

"Commander Smoker, the pirates have escaped."

After hearing his subordinate's report, Smoker ordered them to clean up the battlefield and arrest the surviving pirates. Meanwhile, he turned into smoke and flew into the air, using Observation Haki to search for Reddy.

"Hmm?"

Smoker was surprised.

Instead of hiding, the man was openly talking to a Marine Major.

"Major Yakovich... so they really do know each other."

Earlier, Smoker hadn't believed it, but stopping the pirates took priority. Now, he was convinced.

With that thought, Smoker flew over and materialized in front of Yakovich.

"Commander Smoker, this is Dr. Reddy."

Yakovich was a disciplined soldier. Seeing Smoker, he immediately stood at attention and introduced Reddy.

Smoker studied Reddy, puffing smoke from his cigars. "Whoever you are, you just saved Loguetown."

Reddy smiled. "I helped you because I have a small request."

Smoker and Yakovich were taken aback.

Was it really okay to be so direct?

Smoker exhaled smoke. "What request?"

"I have a friend..."

Reddy smiled and honestly explained Bill's situation.

Bill wasn't as reckless as he appeared. His bounty of only three million Berries after all this time at sea proved that.

Golden Lion Shiki demanded an annual tribute of one hundred million Berries.

For Bill, this was an enormous sum, so his targets were usually merchant ships, with the occasional big catch like the noble Sivedia.

Pirates killed, looted, and committed all kinds of atrocities... Oh, but Bill only robbed merchants—wealthy ones with connections—and nobles. That made it fine.

In this world, merchants were almost always tied to nobles.

"Impossible!"

Smoker refused without hesitation. "A pirate is a pirate. The only good pirate is one behind bars."

Reddy kept smiling.

Smoker's teacher was Admiral "Black Arm" Zephyr, who famously didn't kill. Influenced by him, Smoker's stance on pirates was firm but not as extreme as Akainu's.

That left room for negotiation.

Reddy said plainly, "I need him to protect some children for me."

Yakovich's heart stirred, finally understanding Reddy's intentions, and he spoke up in support. "Commander Smoker, the children Dr. Reddy mentioned are Ark and the others."

Smoker was surprised.

He knew about the orphans living in the estate outside the Marine base.

Though he hadn't interacted with them, he knew their character was commendable. Even in the chaotic yet orderly Loguetown, they never stole or caused trouble and even took in younger orphans.

"Why don't you take them away from Loguetown?"

Smoker was curious. With Reddy's ability to control seawater, he could easily take care of dozens of orphans even in the Grand Line.

"Three years!"

Reddy held up three fingers. "In three years, I'll take them away. But during these three years, I might not be able to protect them properly, so I've arranged for Bill to watch over them in secret."

"Why not protect them openly?"

"They need to experience the cruelty of this world."

"Why?"

"My kindness isn't for those who drift with the tide."

Smoker paused, seeming to understand but also not quite, and irritably blew out smoke. "I don't care what you're planning. If that pirate dares show his face in front of me, I'll arrest him."

Reddy smiled.

So as long as Bill didn't appear, he wouldn't be arrested. Understood.

"Then... goodbye."

Reddy gave a Patton-style salute and turned to leave with a smile.

Yakovich hesitated, then called after him, "Where are you going next?"

"Water 7..."

Reddy looked back, still smiling. "Also, Commander Smoker, here's a free piece of intel: Golden Lion Shiki is also in East Blue."

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