Chapter 80: The collapsed Aokiji , the black-faced Kizaru, and the ecstatic Smoker
Just as Smoker began to escort Ace away, Luffy's rubber arm shot out, snagging the Marine's cloak. "Hey! Smokey! Where do you think you're going? We're not finished!"
When he saw the cuffs on Ace's wrists, his rubbery face flushed red with anger. "You're taking my brother?! Let him go right now!"
His fists, already coated in Armament Haki, drew back for a punch.
Ace frantically widened his eyes, his eyebrows practically flying off his face in a desperate attempt to signal him. Though Luffy was famously single-minded, something in Ace's exaggerated expression made him pause, his fist halting mid-swing. "Huh?"
"Luffy! We have to go, now!" Ron's voice cut through the tension from behind. "The Marine fleet is closing in!"
Everyone followed Ron's pointed finger to see ten Marine battleships approaching Alabasta in a formidable battle line.
The intimidating formation, the threat of countless cannon barrels—it was the makings of a Buster Call.
"But, Big Brother! Ace... they caught Ace!" Luffy protested, still confused.
Ron flashed to his side, grabbed his arm, and started pulling him away. As they ran, he lowered his voice. "Ace let himself be captured. He has his own plan."
He then shot a meaningful look toward Ace, who was still blinking wildly in Luffy's direction.
"Huh?" Luffy tilted his head, a field of question marks practically visible above it. ???
He looked at Ron's calm face, then back at Ace's frantic winking, and finally just scratched his head. "I really don't get you guys... Whatever! Let's get out of here!"
"HEY! EVERYONE—" Luffy suddenly bellowed, his voice echoing across the ravaged plaza, "IT'S A BUSTER CALL! RETREAT!"
The shout was like a starting pistol. The Straw Hats instantly disengaged.
Zoro forced Aokiji back with a final, powerful slash and sheathed Wado Ichimonji. "Hmph. You got lucky this time."
He turned and retreated, not forgetting to haul the nearly spent Sanji along with him.
"Damn Moss-Head! I can walk on my own!" Sanji grumbled, but he let Zoro drag him by the shoulder. The blue flames on his legs had sputtered out, and he was a mess of bruises, yet his spirit remained stubbornly unbroken. "Just you wait... when I get my strength back, I'll kick your ass..."
Chopper shifted back to his Walk Point form and galloped alongside the crew. "Everyone, keep up!"
As he ran, he rummaged in his bag and pulled out several vials. "I have recovery potions here! They'll help you heal faster!"
Nami helped the groggy, recently-awakened Robin to her feet. "Hold on tight, Robin!"
Usopp sprinted backward, firing a volley of special pellets from his slingshot. "**Special Move: Smoke Star!**"
A thick, multi-colored smokescreen instantly billowed out, enveloping the entire battlefield.
Robin weakly opened her eyes, seeing her crew desperately fighting to protect her escape. A warm, genuine smile touched her pale lips. "Thank you... all of you..."
"We're the Straw Hat Pirates!"
...
At the front of the group,
Luffy mumbled as he ran, "That idiot Ace... He looks way too happy for someone who's been captured. I really don't get it..."
Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he looked at Ron with wide, curious eyes. "Wait! Big Brother Ron! Is Ace... is he getting himself captured so he can get a free meal at Marineford?!"
Ron: "..."
Nami promptly delivered a swift fist to the top of Luffy's head. *Bonk!*
"Idiot! Who would get themselves captured and taken to the Marine headquarters just for a free meal?!"
"Oww... That hurt..."
As Ron led Luffy and the others in a swift retreat from the battlefield,
A strange silence followed them. Looking back, the two Admirals, Aokiji and Kizaru, stood their ground, making no move to pursue.
Aokiji's face was stormy. He stood with his arms crossed on his icy platform, the chill around him spreading uncontrollably.
He watched the Straw Hats vanish into the distance, secretly willing these monsters to stay gone. *"Finally, they're leaving..."*
He rubbed his still-numb and aching arms, thinking of Zoro's one-track swordsmanship and Sanji's unkillable resilience. A vein throbbed at his temple. *"If that had gone on any longer, my bones would have shattered..."*
Beside him, Kizaru's expression was even more sour than Aokiji's.
He took off his sunglasses and wearily massaged the bridge of his nose. "This is... a truly massive problem now..."
Just the thought of having "captured" the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates made him feel utterly drained. *"That old man Whitebeard... he's definitely coming for me. My peaceful days are over. He's so fiercely protective of his sons..."*
The more Kizaru thought about it, the more irritated he became. He couldn't resist kicking a nearby chunk of ice. "Tch! What did I do to deserve this?!"
He looked up at the sky as if he could already see Whitebeard chasing him with his bisento, Murakumogiri, in hand. *"For this measly monthly salary... Maybe I should just take a long sick leave..."*
Smoker approached, escorting Ace. Seeing Kizaru's state, he wisely kept his mouth shut. Ace, however, was in high spirits, already mentally mapping out the steps of his plan.
Seeing the eager look on Ace's face, Kizaru's expression darkened further: "..."
The Marine soldiers on the distant battleships exchanged confused glances, utterly baffled by the scene. They had just captured a major criminal like a Whitebeard Commander, yet both Admirals looked like they'd just swallowed something vile.
Smoker, a cigar clamped firmly in his mouth, wore a stern expression, fighting hard to suppress a laugh, though his heart was practically singing.
Today was his lucky day! Not only had he successfully apprehended the former Warlord, Crocodile, but he had also "unexpectedly" captured "Fire Fist" Ace, the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates!
Even more miraculously, the ten priceless Poneglyphs were secure! Not a single one had been lost, and they had all fallen perfectly into Marine hands!
*"These are all monumental achievements..."* Smoker glanced at the ten stone tablets, his heart swelling with satisfaction.
He knew the value of these Poneglyphs all too well. Normally, these artifacts were either hidden deep within the territories of the Four Emperors or lost in ancient, inaccessible ruins.
To obtain them usually meant declaring all-out war on an Emperor!
The mere thought made Smoker's lips twitch upward involuntarily.
War with a Four Emperor meant the Marines would pay a heavy price in blood and treasure. It meant plunging the New World into chaos. It meant countless lost lives...
And now, these political and military hot potatoes had fallen into their laps without a single additional casualty!
*Ahem..."* Smoker cleared his throat, struggling to maintain his professional demeanor, though the hint of a smile still crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Through the wise leadership of the Admirals, we have successfully completed our mission."
Kizaru and Aokiji simultaneously shot him death glares, which Smoker expertly ignored. He was already mentally calculating the potential promotions. *Perhaps even a direct promotion to Vice Admiral...*
Anything beyond that—Admiral—seemed unlikely, especially when looking at the disgruntled faces of Kizaru and Aokiji...
*"The Straw Hats... they really are my lucky stars,"* Smoker mused happily.
Ever since Loguetown, every encounter with these pirates had somehow ended with a career boost. Last time in Alabasta, it was Crocodile. This time, it was ten Poneglyphs and Ace!
Tashigi, observing her superior's poorly concealed expression, leaned in and whispered a reminder, "Captain... your mouth... you're smiling again!"
Smoker jolted back to reality and quickly straightened his face into a stern mask. "All units, attention! Secure the perimeter immediately! I want every single Poneglyph accounted for!"
He paused, then added, "Oh, and place Crocodile and Ace in separate, high-security confinement!"
....
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