Chapter 53 “Captain Smoker!”

"What's going on?"

"What happened?"

"Huh?"

Everyone widened their eyes, staring at the scene in disbelief. The execution platform had collapsed.

"Moonlight, you're here!" Luffy leapt down from mid-air, catching his straw hat as it fluttered to the ground. He looked toward Moonlight, who was slowly emerging from the crowd, and exclaimed in surprise.

"That guy… always so timely!" Zoro sighed in relief, watching Moonlight's appearance.

"I almost thought our captain was done for!" Usopp also let out a breath, still reeling from the scare. He genuinely believed Luffy was about to die.

"This guy… always shows up at the last second. Not bad." Sanji set his ingredients aside, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and nodded approvingly.

"Moonlight!" Nami's face lit up with joy.

"Was it him?"

"He's with the Straw Hat crew?"

"So impressive!"

The onlookers murmured in awe, finally understanding what had happened. It was the swordsman Moonlight who had sliced through the execution platform. His swordsmanship was terrifying.

"Damn it, it's him!"

"He dared to ruin my plans. Kill him!"

"Damn rubber kid, you won't get away!"

Buggy the Clown and his crew, having landed on the ground, spotted Moonlight and shouted in fury. Both Buggy and Alvida's pupils shrank; Moonlight had left a lasting impression on them. This powerful man had thwarted their plans time and time again. Enraged, Buggy ordered his crew to charge at Moonlight and the others, seeking revenge for their earlier defeat.

The square instantly descended into chaos.

"Not good, the Navy is here!"

"Run, it's White Hunter Smoker!"

"Damn Navy, they're trying to capture us all!"

At that moment, a large number of Marines appeared in the square. They had been observing the situation for a while but hadn't acted due to the overwhelming number of pirates present. Now, they had assembled their forces, aiming to capture everyone in one fell swoop. The already chaotic square plunged further into pandemonium with the Marines' arrival.

"This isn't good, it's the Navy!" Nami and Usopp's faces turned pale.

"We've achieved our goal. Since that's the case, let's leave before more Navy reinforcements arrive," Sanji suggested.

"Agreed," the group nodded, no one objecting.

But just as they were about to make their escape, a sudden plume of smoke appeared, revealing a man in a white Justice coat with a cigarette in his mouth and a ten-pronged jitte on his back. He blocked Luffy and the crew's path, glaring coldly. It was Smoker, the Marine captain.

He had been watching Luffy for some time, and they had crossed paths before.

"Bounties of thirty million and fifty million. The Straw Hat Pirates aren't leaving here today!" Smoker declared icily.

"This isn't good, it's him! He's really strong. Everyone, fall back—I'll handle this!" Luffy stepped forward, shielding his crew.

"A troublesome figure, and a Marine captain at that," Zoro remarked with a smile, but his attention was drawn to Tashigi. The resemblance between her and that person was uncanny, making it impossible for him to look away.

"Not good, Buggy the Clown is coming!" Usopp shouted as Buggy broke through the Marine defenses, leading his crew in pursuit. They were determined to bring Luffy down.

With Smoker blocking the front and Buggy charging from behind, the crew was trapped in a dire situation.

Moonlight stepped forward, extending his hand calmly. "Luffy, take everyone and leave. I'll handle this. Meet me at sea in ten minutes."

His tone was firm, brooking no argument.

"Moonlight, I'm counting on you!" Luffy nodded, full of trust. He knew how strong Smoker was and sensed that the chaotic situation would only get worse. If anyone could turn the tide, it was Moonlight. Without hesitation, Luffy led the crew toward Smoker's position, preparing to break through.

Zoro and the others nodded in agreement, fully trusting Moonlight's capabilities. Together, they charged forward, not caring about Smoker's smoke-filled form or his readiness to attack. They believed in Moonlight.

"Do you think I'm invisible?" Smoker sneered, releasing a torrent of smoke from his body, intending to ensnare the Straw Hats.

But before the smoke could reach them, Moonlight appeared suddenly.

"Bang!"

The smoke dissipated instantly as Smoker was knocked to the ground, with Moonlight's foot pressing down firmly on him.

"Captain Smoker!" Tashigi gasped in shock.

"How is this possible? Captain Smoker is a Smoke-Smoke Fruit user; how could anyone strike his true body and pin him down? This must be a joke!"

"Is this guy another Devil Fruit user?"

The surrounding Marines were stunned, staring at Moonlight in disbelief.

"Moonlight!" Luffy and his crew were both surprised and overjoyed. They hadn't expected the formidable Marine captain to be defeated so easily. Reassured, Luffy led the crew toward the port, with none of the Marines daring to stop them.

"Damn it, why is this happening?" Smoker growled, struggling fiercely against Moonlight's foot, which felt like an unmovable weight. No matter how much he struggled, it was useless, fueling his anger even more.

"It's Haki!" Buggy exclaimed, having caught up with the scene. He knew that Devil Fruit users, especially Logia types like Smoker, were usually untouchable unless confronted with Haki. But to find such power here in the East Blue? It was unbelievable.

"Haki!" Alvida and the others were equally stunned. While Buggy, having sailed on Roger's ship, was familiar with it, the others were clueless.

"Conqueror's Haki!" Moonlight smirked, interrupting their confusion. His eyes narrowed, and an aura of blue malice erupted from him, spreading across the area.

Within a three-hundred-meter radius, everyone caught in the Haki's influence—except Buggy, Smoker, and Tashigi—stood frozen in place, unable to move as if paralyzed.

The square, once filled with chaos and noise, fell into an eerie silence.

Moments later, all those affected by the aura collapsed to the ground, unconscious, foaming at the mouth, or left in a daze. In the blink of an eye, the entire square—housing over a thousand Marines and pirates—was completely cleared.