"Wait, is that... Smoker? What's Smoker doing here?"
"What now? Did something go wrong?"
"Mock's ship is under fire! Who do we back?"
"..."
The marines onshore at the 16th Branch spotted the commotion. Chief Petty Officer Nota's expression soured.
They were so close. Mock just needed to lure the pirates in, they'd ambush them, and then... figure out the spoils.
But now? At the crucial moment? When did Smoker show up to 'support' them? Why hadn't they gotten word? What was the play now? Back Smoker, or back Mock?
Just as Nota's anxiety peaked,
"No need to fret," Robin said, looking up from her black tea. Unlike the other marines, her smile was calm. "Mock's fine. The pirates aboard his ship are already poisoned."
She'd used her abilities to check Mock's ship. Saw him realize trying to greet Smoker was pointless and just bolt. So, no, Robin wasn't worried.
The only real risk now was Smoker's unit actually arresting Mock.
Besides... Robin blew gently on her steaming tea, took a sip, and smiled. "The boss is here."
"Boss?" Nota echoed, stunned for a beat before realizing who Robin meant. While others called him Captain, Robin was the mainly the one at the 16th Branch who referred to Captain Dante as only 'Boss'.
Excitement lit up Nota's face. He spun around, scanning the area. "Where is the Captain?"
"He's already making his move."
As Robin spoke, understanding dawned on the other marines. They looked up, towards Smoker's ship. And sure enough, a figure had appeared aboard Smoker's warship.
---
The sudden marine pursuit caught Mock completely off guard.
'Weren't we on the same side?' he thought. 'Why's Smoker firing on me?'
The pirates on deck, already questioning their 'East Blue Overlord's' supposed marine collaboration, were equally stunned.
'Collaboration?' they wondered. 'Doesn't look like it! Those are real cannon balls!'
And why were they suddenly feeling poisoned? Nausea churned amidst the questions, but the violent *thump* of cannon fire shaking the deck told them now wasn't the time for answers.
Why had Mock stopped running?
"Run, Captain!" a pirate yelled. "The marines are right behind us!"
"We're poisoned! This has got to be a marine trap! No point sticking around!"
"He's right, Captain! We walked right into it!"
The pirates were all yelling for Mock to run.
They looked at Mock, standing at the railing, arms crossed, facing the pursuing warship and its cannons without a flicker of panic. Any admiration or remorse for doubting the 'East Blue Overlord' was overshadowed by the immediate danger. They'd signed on for spoils, not suicide! If they didn't run now, when would they?
'Did the 'Overlord' really think he could handle this marine 'scheme'?'
Then they looked up again at the figure in the golden cloak... and saw a smile spread across Mock's face. Their frantic hearts settled slightly. It was a confident, calm smile.
'That's right,' they thought, relieved. 'He's the East Blue Overlord! They can't catch him that easily!'
But what they didn't know was...
Mock raised his hands, eyes fixed on the figure who'd just appeared on Smoker's ship, a grin breaking out. "The boss is here!"
He barely finished speaking before the pirates echoed, "Boss?"
'The East Blue Overlord has a boss?'
The pirates, about to urge him to run again, froze. They looked towards the marine warship and saw it – a figure had indeed appeared, seemingly confronting the ship's commander.
But... 'Another marine?'
---
"Smoker. Welcome back."
"Dante Ashford." Smoker frowned, recognizing the man who'd suddenly appeared to block his path. Seeing Dante deflect his smoke attacks with just a sword sharpened his expression.
Seeing the marines deployed ashore at the 16th Branch base, and hearing the pirate Mock hail Dante like an ally from a ship full of pirates, Smoker realized his initial assessment was likely wrong.
So why had he attacked? Definitely not because that loudmouth pirate had just called him 'Smoker'. He was a marine, attacking pirates was standard procedure, wasn't it?
Smoker held up a hand, halting his men. He took the cigars from his mouth, his gaze flicking expressionlessly over Dante's sword before settling on the man's smiling face. His tone was heavy with implication. "Captain Dante. You've really played Marine HQ for fools."
'Was that Armament Haki?' Smoker thought grimly. 'Just what you'd expect from the sword prodigy Zephyr praised, the one who graduated after only two and a half years.' He mentally cursed whoever wrote Dante's file. ''Fallen off since coming to East Blue'? 'No notable achievements in years'? 'Strength hasn't improved'?!'
'If this is 'no improvement', then what the hell am I doing?'
He glanced at Mock's pirate ship, now slowly closing the distance, and said coldly, "Shouldn't you give me an explanation?"
But Dante just laughed, smoothly deflecting the question. "Captain Smoker, your support is greatly appreciated!" he declared righteously. "If it weren't for your timely intervention, the 16th Branch would have suffered grievous losses against the notorious Mock Pirates!"
Before Smoker, teeth clenching on his cigar and eyebrows climbing, could respond, Dante clapped him on the shoulder with feigned seriousness. "Come now, let's head ashore and strategize further on how to deal with the vicious Mock."
Just then, a rough voice piped up from Mock's nearby ship. "Boss, what's the plan now?" Mock sounded slightly resentful. "Smoker jumping in like that threw me off. Almost forgot my lines!"
"..."
Smoker glanced at the equally silent pirates who had apparently just boarded his warship, then turned his flat stare back to Dante, whose expression was now carefully neutral.
'This guy...' Smoker thought, grinding his teeth slightly. 'Does he really take me for a complete idiot?'
---
A short while later, with the 'assistance' of the 16th Branch marines, Dante escorted a stone-faced Smoker and the captured pirates ashore.
Tonight's operation had hit a snag, but in the end... the result was mostly a success. As for Smoker, thanks to Dante's agreement with Garp, he wouldn't cause trouble for now – as long as Dante played his cards right.
After his men led away the groggy pirates – who were now cursing Mock for having no pirate decency and siding with marines – Dante turned to Nota. "Have the men keep a close watch on the prisoners. No surprises."
They'd figure out how to deal with them tomorrow. He'd already handled the Krieg Pirates. These remaining crews were mostly small fry, perfect training fodder for Kuina.
"Robin, could you lend a hand as well? Keep an eye out, prevent any mishaps."
"No problem, Boss~"
With Robin's assent, Dante turned. He saw Mock mournfully inspecting his battered ship. Dante considered it a moment. "Leave it, Mock. I've got a new one lined up for you. This old tub's seen better days, time for an upgrade. You can handle the transfer details."
Mock's sadness vanished instantly, replaced by a wide grin. He hurried over. "Boss! What kind of ship? Is it big? Flashy?"
"Krieg's flagship. Think that's big enough?"
"That triple-decker galleon? You're giving that to me, Boss?" Mock's excitement bubbled over, but then he remembered his duty, snapping to attention. "Your orders, Boss! What's next? Which crew are we duping this time? Got any tricky lines for me to memorize? Mock is ready!"
"Relax. Just some loose ends to tie up."
After briefing Mock, Dante turned back to Smoker, flashing a smile. "You came all this way, after all."
"What do you want?" Smoker asked flatly. He might have agreed to Garp-san's request to keep quiet about this mess for now, but that didn't mean he'd cooperate with pirates.
Just as an impatient Smoker opened his mouth, likely to refuse any involvement, Dante patted his shoulder again, his voice ringing with false sincerity. "These pirates are formidable! Captain Smoker, I sincerely hope you'll assist the 16th Branch in apprehending these criminals!"
---
Meanwhile, further down the shore, the pirates who'd been directed to land there found themselves immediately surrounded the moment they stepped onto the beach.
Marines swarmed them. And the woman leading the charge... she was unbelievably strong! No one could get near her. Sword in hand, she cut a swathe through their ranks, pirates falling left and right.
Staring at the wall of marines and the terrifying swordswoman at their head, a single, sinking thought hit the pirates: 'Could it be... we walked into a trap?'
'Where's Mock's ship? Where's Krieg's?' Panic set in. Then, suddenly-
"Mock's ship! Look, it's Mock's ship!" someone yelled. Hope flickered as the desperate pirates looked out to sea.
There it was. A battered pirate ship, pursued by a marine warship firing relentlessly, sailed into view through the smoke and spray. And on its railing stood a figure, arms crossed, golden cloak gleaming in the moonlight. Even under cannon fire, he wore that same calm smile, fearlessly approaching the shore.
It was him, Mock, the 'East Blue Overlord'.
Just as shock and surprise washed over the trapped pirates, they saw Mock throw his head back, letting out his signature laugh.
"Wahaha! Brothers! I'm here to save you!"
A roar went up from the pirates.
They didn't notice the figure standing stiffly on the deck of the pursuing marine warship behind Mock. Smoker's face was thunderous as he chewed grimly on his cigars, muttering something under his breath.
Whatever it was, it didn't sound pleasant.
==========
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