Chapter 105
(Some edits made in chapter 101, since we now have more info regarding God Valley!)
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"...It's been a while since I saw you smoking," Commented Tensei as he gazed at Borsalino, who was sitting at the edge of one Marine Warship while biting on a cigarette.
It was a bizarre scene for numerous Marine Warships, containing multiple Vice Admirals and two Admirals, to sail back with no casualty or achievement whatsoever. With Tensei being the sole one with notable signs of injury, the marines generally seemed confused about what happened.
"Thought I should at least find something enjoyable before confronting Sakazuki." Said Borsalino, with his eyes staring at the vast sky and sea ahead, "Did you notice, Tensei? That Smoker, he's become..."
"I hate to admit it, but... monster, yes." Mumbling, Tensei looked back at where the Foolshout lied, and frowned, "If he were to remain in Marine four years ago... tch, the one sitting in the title of an Admiral would've been him, and not me."
During the first loss against Smoker four years ago, Tensei was humiliated. Then, upon hearing what happened in the Impel Down in hospital, he was shocked that Blaise, the powerhouse whose strength was thought of to rival Sakazuki's, was defeated by Smoker. Finally, upon the encounter against him for the second time today... Tensei felt nothing but a dread—the feeling that he only attained against someone like Kaidou of the 'Beast.'
"Justice... justice is wrong, he said." Immersed in his thoughts, Borsalino whispered. Turning around, Borsalino then gazed over the marines who were heeding their roles in relived demeanours.
"Money... yes. Money is important as a human being, but justice..."
Borsalino raised his head up and stared at the blue sky.
"...Why did I join the Marine in the first place again?"
During the Rocks Pirates' era, crimes were thrilling just as ever as today. The difference, however, is that if today's pirates are aspired by Gol D. Roger's One Piece, those in the past were fuelled by pure hatred against the World Government. Just as Shiki once said, pirates back then were unlike the ones today.
Viewing them as threats, the World Government forcibly conscripted numerous individuals into the Marine to strengthen their military force, and said conscriptions were done mostly in countries not a part of the World Government.
By giving strong soldiers to the World Government, those countries were to become a member of the World Government and attain the right to join Levely—the 7-day-long conference that dictates the future direction of the world. In addition, being a member of the World Government meant gaining human rights,
"Human rights... ah."
Borsalino's eyes widened as if he remembered something that he shouldn't have forgotten,
'To be a human, I had to join...'
The cigarette, currently held between his fingers, fell into the ocean as his grip loosened—though he didn't notice this, being far too occupied with his thoughts.
"...Borsalino?" Tensei, confused by the fellow Admiral's antics, called him, though no response came back. He then watched, as Borsalino slowly took off his glasses and placed his hand over his face.
Tensei sighed, "So even you are capable of feeling tired." Reaching up to Borsalino, he took out a cigarette of his own and lit it aflame, "I, on the other hand, am confused at this moment. Additional support from the World Government was supposed to come for this mission, however, even now, we haven't received any information regarding them—"
"A-Admiral Kizaru!! Admiral Kurouma!!"
Then, one Marine Officer whose eyes are hidden by his marine cap hurriedly ran to where Tensei and Borsalino were, holding onto a Den Den Mushi,
"It's a call from Vice Admiral Maynard!!"
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"...Maynard reporting in here."
Standing on top of the deck of one Marine Warship, Maynard said as his eyes glazed over the disastrous scene in front of him.
"I am currently seeing... the destroyed bits of World Government ships all over the sea."
"Cough cough...!" Sitting by the side were wet and injured Cipher Pol agents, huffing heavily as their eyes trembled in horror, "A... a huge ship-like thing... it was bubble-coated when we saw it. Abruptly, he... he came out from that and proceeded to attack us by himself alone..."
Maynard, after briefly looking at their state stoically, said toward the Den Den Mushi,
"'Demon Heir' Douglas Bullet... they say."
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"I can't believe that we agreed on this! Look at how many troubles we had to go through for this... this..." Angrily barking in the middle of the ocean was Arlong, glaring at one envelope that Fisher Tiger passed on to Smoker.
"It's from queen Otohime of our Fish Man island. After hearing how you helped our kind out in the past, she's been wanting to see you ever since," Said Fisher Tiger, dully, "I was holding on to that letter for a year. After all, up until recently, we weren't even able to hear news about you."
Raising his eyebrow, Smoker accepted the envelope, "A year? Can this even be considered valid then?"
"No, of course not." Snorted Arlong, "Why the hell did Otohime decide to use that precious paper even, for a mere human like you?!"
"Keep your mouth shut, Arlong!" Annoyed by Arlong's remark, Jinbe growled, "Can't you understand that the only reason why we managed to drive those marines away is thanks to this man over here?!"
Arlong glared back at Jinbe, "No, how about you shut up instead, huh?! Why must we, the superior race, bow down to a human and invite him to our homeland?!!"
Ignoring Arlong's demeanour, Fisher Tiger simply huffed while crossing his arms,
"Whether it's valid or not is for you to decide, White Hunter. After all, that letter is nothing but a simple invitation."
Opening up the envelope, Smoker read through it,
"Dear benefactor of our kind, I, Otohime, sincerely thank you as the queen of my kingdom... I was wondering if you would be willing to take the time to visit us and give support to my campaign..." Smoker paused, "Campaign?"
'This is...'
"Ha... yes. One to unite Fish Man and human together, she said... quite hopeful, isn't she," Remarked Fisher Tiger, dryly, "Frankly speaking, I am reluctant, especially after getting a glimpse of your strength."
With a cold sweat on his back, Fisher Tiger stared at Smoker seriously, "I cannot trust you, White Hunter. I find that there is no guarantee that your hospitality is genuine, and if you were to secretly harbour a malicious intent to our kind, there would be nothing that can do to stop you."
Jinbe's eyes slightly widened as he looked at Fisher Tiger, "Big bro Ti..."
"Exactly!!" Nodded Arlong as he clenched his hands.
With his eyes locked on the letter, Smoker said, "Then why deliver this letter to me in the first place?"
In response, Fisher Tiger sighed, "...Because I made a promise to queen Otohime, that I will have that letter read by you."
Folding the letter back in the envelope, Smoker scratched the back of his head. Giving a light chuckle, his eyes swept through the tensed-up Sun pirates, before he spoke to Fisher Tiger,
"You've had one hell of an experience against fellow humans, didn't you."
Fisher's Tiger's face darkened as he looked down. Folding the envelope and placing it in his pocket, Smoker stated with a grin,
"Well then, tell queen Otohime that I currently am too busy to attend, unfortunately. However, do tell her, that I sincerely appreciate her invite, and that I definitely will come in the future to hear more about that campaign of hers."
"H-heh, pretty smart for a human," Muttered Arlong as he made a forcible grin. Upon hearing Arlong's statement, Smoker's grin died down.
"And you," Pointing his finger at Arlong, Smoker bickered, "Human this, human that, what are you even? A Celestial-Dragon-wannabe?"
"WHAT?!" Arlong growled, "Don't compare me to those—"
"Your captain is called a hero due to his courageous act of rescuing thousands of slaves in Mariejois, for his act of rebellion against Celestial Dragons. And you, talking about how your folks is superior than others and all that shit... reminds me of Celestial Dragons advocating themselves as gods."
With narrowed eyes, Smoker leaned in toward Arlong and said,
"I think if that's how you'll be in the future, I might as well just kill you here."
Numerous fish men pirates stopped breathing. All of a sudden, the tension began to arise in the atmosphere.
"Y-You..." Arlong, whose body began trembling from the sheer pressure onto his consciousness, stuttered his speech. Just then,
BOOM!
Jinbe, who was standing next to Arlong, punched the latter to an extent where the latter was blasted into the ocean. Huffing, Jinbe said, "We apologize for his idiocy. But I can promise you that he isn't as bad as you think... just foul-mouthed."
'...Is it?' Wondered Smoker, knowing that Arlong will become a terror that befalls unto the Cocoyasi village.
"...Aren't you being excessive, White Hunter," Fisher Tiger then stepped in, glaring at Smoker in caution and subtle fear, "Resorting to killing simply because of a future that you haven't even seen yet. Do you believe that you are the justice? Is everything that you do correct, even if you were to shed countless blood of others?"
Standing still, Smoker closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, before scratching the back of his head for the second time. Then, opening his eyes back up, he responded, "My apologies."
Smoker loosened up his facial expression, giving up on the thought of killing Arlong—for the time being at least.
"...I simply wish for a world where no one has to be enslaved, the world where everyone can get food, shelter, clothes, and all necessities that they need to live without a problem. That world includes your folks also, the fellow humans. And... to achieve that righteousness, I will gladly kill—be it thousands, millions, or more."
Splash!
As Arlong revealed his bruised face from the surface of the ocean, Smoker gazed at the former and continued,
"I'm not necessarily against the hatred, for it is your right to seek revenge for discrimination that you faced in the past. However," Smoker pointed his finger up at the sky, "The targets of your hatred must strictly be placed on that World Government, and not the innocents who have been suffering just as much as you. If you fail to adhere to this, you are no different than the Celestial Dragons in my eyes."
"..." The entire Sun pirates were silent as Smoker's words ended. Among them, Fisher Tiger looked shaken, with his eyes hovering on the empty air.
Without further ado, Smoker waved at them and turned around, "With that said, I'll be going now. Until next time then, Sun pirates."
His form began to fade in white smoke that dispersed and slowly flew into the air. Watching Smoker's transformation into smoke, Fisher Tiger finally muttered,
"...Thank you for your help, White hunter."
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"There is no doubt; Demon Heir must be heading to the Fish Man island, for whatever reason!" Having lost his calmness, Maynard was found shouting into the dial of Den Den Mushi, "It will be a disaster without a doubt!! You know that for the past four years, there were at least five identified cases where countries being destroyed were identified—all caused by that madman!! Don't you remember that in the first place, I was chasing after Nightshade to check any potential connection with him with Douglas Bullet?!! So how come we aren't going to—"
<<Fish Man island is not a part of the World Government, Vice Admiral Maynard.>> From the other end, Tensei said coldly, <<I won't repeat it twice. We will retreat and assemble in the Marineford. Is that clear?>>
In frustration, Maynard bit his lips. His clenched-up fists shook violently, showing just how livid Maynard was. But eventually, he mustered a word out,
"...Yes, sir..."
The call was then cut, and the Den Den Mushi closed its eyes. Maynard, with his legs losing strength, fell on his butt, uncaring of the fact that his subordinates were watching him.
"I... until when must I keep on submitting like this... damn it..."
And for some reason, the only thing he could think of at this moment was,
"...Smoker."