Inwardly, Giovanni cursed himself.
The bitter taste in his mouth had nothing to do with the blood pooling there. It was the familiar, gnawing frustration, the hatred of weakness, of once again being saved when he should have stood on his own two feet.
I'm not strong enough yet he thought.
Slow, steady footsteps echoed across the ruined bar.
Benn Beckman walked in without urgency, his presence calm yet crushing, like the steady pressure before a storm. Smoker, still clutching his bleeding wrist, felt his teeth grind together as realization struck.
Haki-imbued bullets… damn it.
He lifted his gaze and froze.
"The infamous bounty hunter, Benn Beckman," Smoker said, straightening himself despite the pain. "What is someone like you doing in the East Blue?"
Benn Beckman stopped beside Giovanni and glanced down at him briefly before looking back at Smoker. "Oh," he replied mildly, "you know me. How surprising."
Smoker scoffed. "Of course I know you. A bounty hunter who terrorized pirates on the Grand Line."
His eyes flicked to Giovanni… then back to Benn Beckman.
Unease crawled up his spine.
Benn crouched down, meeting Giovanni at eye level. Giovanni's expression was tight, frustrated and clenched with unspoken anger.
"I know what you're thinking, Gio," Benn said calmly. "You hate the fact that you had to be saved again, right?"
Giovanni said nothing.
Benn continued, his tone steady but firm. "I admire your resolve to grow stronger. But never forget this, you are part of a crew. A crew exists to protect each other. This fight was beyond your current level. You should accept help when it's offered."
Smoker clicked his tongue under his breath. So it's true.
"So that's how it is," Smoker said coldly. "Benn Beckman… you've started your own pirate crew now? Was hunting pirates getting too boring that you decided to become one yourself?"
Benn rose to his feet and looked at Smoker with faint confusion. "Started a pirate crew? What are you talking about?"
Smoker's eyes narrowed. "Didn't you just say that pirate is part of your crew?"
"Oh," Benn replied casually, "he is part of the crew. But the crew isn't mine."
Smoker stiffened. "Huh? What do you mean it's not yours?" His voice sharpened. "Are you telling me a monster like you is a subordinate to someone else?"
"I suppose you could put it that way," Benn said.
Smoker scowled. "Don't toy with me. What kind of joke is that?"
Instead of answering, Benn extended a hand toward Giovanni.
Giovanni hesitated only for a moment before taking it. Benn pulled him up smoothly, Giovanni leaning against him for support as his legs protested.
"Well," Benn said calmly, "believe whatever you want."
The two of them began walking toward the exit.
Giovanni paused and glanced back over his shoulder, offering an easy smile to Melissa and Miah. "Ladies, it seems we'll have to cut our fun short for today. I'll see you some other time."
Miah smiled back despite herself. "Okay. I'll wait on you."
Giovanni's gaze then shifted to Smoker, his smile fading into something colder. "I'll remember this moment, Captain Smoker."
Without another word, Benn Beckman and Giovanni exited the bar.
Smoker remained behind, standing amid splintered wood and shattered furniture.
A monster… with Benn Beckman as a subordinate, he thought grimly. That doesn't sit right.
His jaw tightened. I need to inform Admiral Aokiji.
Just then, a hand tapped his shoulder.
Smoker turned to see the bar manager standing behind him, her expression perfectly flat. "Can I help you?" he asked.
She handed him a sheet of paper.
Smoker blinked as he took the paper. "What's this?"
"That's the fee for the damages to the bar," she replied evenly.
Smoker choked, frantically scanning the page. He forced a strained smile. "Isn't this a bit… steep?"
The manager didn't smile. "Captain Smoker, please look around at the damage your rampage caused."
Smoker turned slowly.
The bar barely resembled its former self.
He sighed, shoulders slumping, then looked back at her. "Do you take installments?"
She stared at him, deadpan.
---
Back in his office, Smoker shut the door behind him and let out a slow breath. The lingering smell of smoke clung to the room, mixing with the faint scent of ink and old paper. His wrist throbbed dully beneath its bandage, a constant reminder of the encounter he'd rather not replay.
He reached for the Den Den Mushi on his desk and dialed.
"Buru… Buru… Buru…"
Kacha.
A lazy, unbothered voice answered from the other end.
"If it isn't Smoker. It's very rare for you to call me."
Smoker straightened instinctively. "Admiral Aokiji. I have important news to report."
There was a brief pause. Then a soft sigh.
"Smoker," the voice replied, relaxed as ever, "there's no need for the respectful tone between us. You can still refer to me as Kuzan."
"That would be inappropriate, Admiral Aokiji," Smoker said firmly. "Hierarchy must be maintained."
Another pause came, longer this time.
"…Okay then," Kuzan said at last. "Do whatever you want. So, what's the news you wanted to report?"
Smoker nodded to himself. "Right. The infamous bounty hunter, Benn Beckman, appears to have become a pirate."
There was silence.
Then another voice cut in sharply, unmistakably alarmed.
"What did you say!?"
Smoker stiffened. "Admiral Aokiji… is there someone else there with you?"
Kuzan answered casually, as if the situation weren't already spiraling. "Yeah. I'm currently in a meeting with Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Smoker immediately stood up straight, chair scraping against the floor. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, sir. It's an honor."
"Yeah, yeah," Sengoku replied impatiently. "Never mind that. Say it again. What did you just say?"
Smoker swallowed. "Benn Beckman… appears to have become a pirate."
For a heartbeat, there was nothing.
Then—
"DAMN THAT ROGER!!"
The Den Den Mushi practically vibrated as Sengoku's roar echoed through the receiver. Smoker winced, holding it slightly away from his ear as the outburst continued, the weight of the words settling heavily in his chest.
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