Hearing this, Lise's eyes lit up.
As someone living in Loguetown, she knew all about Smoker.
He was the real deal.
Compared to him, this punk-ass Lieutenant was nobody!
She made up her mind in a flash.
"Captain Smoker—"
"Madam, weren't you just here to give me this awesome sword?"
Lancelot cut her off before she could say another word.
At the same time, he pulled a skull ring out of his pocket and started flipping it in his hand.
This was the ring he'd swiped from her son after he'd... ahem... "borrowed" him.
Lise's face went white.
She knew that ring instantly.
It was her son's.
This was Lancelot's not-so-nice way of saying, 'Remember your kid, Johnson? He's still with me.'
Then, Lancelot turned to Smoker with a big, fake smile.
"Captain Smoker, my dad is a Marine Vice Admiral. You know, stationed at the Holy Land Mariejois? Isn't it a little unfair to accuse me of 'robbing' someone without hearing both sides?"
"Marine Vice Admiral?! At Mariejois?!"
Lise heard those magic words, and her eyes went wide.
Now she finally got it.
This is why this creep could act like a total dirtbag, even right under a good guy like Smoker.
He had a Vice Admiral for a daddy at the top of the world.
At that moment, all the words she was about to say just... died.
Lise's eyes went dark.
It was hopeless.
Still, she forced a smile. "Captain Smoker, you misunderstood. I... I really did come to give him the sword!"
After saying that, she turned to Lancelot and bowed, her voice shaking.
"This sword is named 'Frost Demon.' It was made from special cold iron from under a super-old glacier. The blade is black with a blue tint and light blue patterns... It's 130 cm long... It's one of the 'Grade Blades'..."
As she finished talking, her heart just broke.
Her own father hadn't inherited any of her grandpa's talent.
If he had, this sword would be a monster in her hands.
Who would dare mess with her then?
She felt a stab of regret.
Both Frost Demon and Flame Dragon were "Grade Blade" quality.
If only her grandpa had lived longer...
Maybe he could have made them famous, like one of the legendary "Supreme Grade Blades."
But no.
They were just "pretty good swords" in the East Blue.
Far from being world-famous.
And now, she couldn't even protect them.
Lancelot grabbed Frost Demon and gave it a few test swings.
He really liked it.
"What a fine blade!"
He then turned back to Smoker and Tashigi, grinning.
"See? Lady Lise was just giving me a present! What 'robbing'? All lies, all slander... Captain Smoker, I think you need to punish whoever lied to you and clear my good name."
"You—!"
Smoker looked like he was about to explode.
He knew exactly what was happening.
But with no evidence, and the victim lying for the bad guy, Lancelot was just shamelessly twisting everything.
What could he do against this slimy bastard?
"Hmph..."
Smoker huffed and turned to leave.
There was no point in arguing.
Tashigi followed him.
After a few steps, Smoker stopped.
His eyes were cold.
He was not letting this stand.
He turned back to Lancelot. "We leave in two hours. We're hunting the Krieg Pirates. They've been tearing up the East Blue. Stay in the base and be ready."
With that, he was gone.
Lancelot just smirked.
Guys like Smoker, all "principles" and "rules," were so easy to play.
As long as there was no hard proof, Smoker couldn't touch him.
But just then, Lancelot's face froze.
A robot voice echoed in his head.
Ding!
"Host has acquired a Grade Blade-class weapon. Sword Spirit System activated."
Sword Spirit System: (Grade Blade, Great Blade, Supreme Blade).
When you get a sword from one of these tiers for the first time, you get the "sword spirit" of the last owner.
You get ALL their techniques, skills, and mastery.
If the sword is a super-rare 'Supreme Grade Blade,' you get a special bonus prize!
"Newcomer Gift Pack awarded. Claim now?"
Ding!
"Host is a Marine. Rank System activated."
Rank System: Every time you get promoted, you get a random reward.
"Newcomer Gift Pack awarded. Claim now?"
"Holy... shit..."
Lancelot was floored.
Not one, but two systems?
Even the free gifts came in pairs!
This was insane.
He was about to be so OP.
"CLAIM!"
Ding!"Newcomer Gift Pack claimed. Obtained talent: Superhuman Body."
Ding!"Newcomer Gift Pack claimed. Obtained: Observation Haki."
Host: Lancelot
Rank: Lieutenant
Talent: Superhuman
Body [You are now super strong, super tough, and super fast.]
Weapon: Frost Demon Sword
Spirit: Twin-Blade Burns
Swordsmanship: One-Sword Style.
Two-Sword Style [LOCKED! Get 'Flame Dragon' to unlock.]
Sword Techniques:
One-Sword Style: Iaido - Frost Slash, Ice Tiger, Dragon Fang
Two-Sword Style: [ALL LOCKED! Get 'Flame Dragon' to unlock.]
Combat Power: Captain
Speed: Captain
Physique: Captain
Swordsmanship: Captain
Observation Haki: Beginner
Overall Strength: Captain
These starter packs were nuts!
One gave him a "Superhuman Body" and the other gave him "Observation Haki."
Just like that, he was a badass in the East Blue.
Lancelot suddenly remembered what Smoker said.
"The Krieg Pirates, huh?"
Tsk tsk!
Lancelot knew exactly what Smoker was planning.
Smoker wanted him to go into battle and wet his pants again, just like the last time.
That way, Smoker would have an excuse to kick him out.
If he screwed up again, even if he didn't get fired, Smoker could bust him down to a deck-swabber.
Given how weak and cowardly the original Lancelot was, it was a good plan.
But now? This was perfect!
This was his chance to score points and get promoted!
Don Krieg: Bounty 17,000,000 Berries
Gin the Man Demon: Bounty 12,000,000 Berries
Pearl the Iron Wall: Bounty 5,000,000 Berries
Those three were his targets.
If he caught just one of them, he could pull some strings and get a promotion.
If he caught two? He wouldn't even need to pull strings.
Even Smoker couldn't stop him then.
Besides, with his daddy high up... a "special promotion" was basically guaranteed.
"Lieutenant Lancelot... can you please... release my son, Johnson?" Lise pleaded, looking desperate.
Lancelot snapped out of his thoughts.
His eyes landed on Lise, and his lips curled into a cold smirk.
"If I hadn't stopped you, you would've sold me out to Smoker, wouldn't you?"
"N-no, I wouldn't..." Lise lied, terrified.
But Lancelot just stepped closer.
He reached out and tilted her chin up with his fingers, lightly brushing her lips.
"I'm fuming right now."