Chapter 5.(Edited) Shadows Beneath the Surface
The Den Den Mushi at his side buzzed to life, its eyes snapping open with an insistent clack.
"Captain Smoker, sir!" The voice on the other end was steady but carried a note of tension. "We've secured the conspirators at the northeast port. It was one of Don Krieg's supply boats. We've detained all we could identify, but... there's something else."
Smoker's eyes narrowed. "What do we know about the ship?"
"It's a supply boat, sir, part of Krieg's network. Onboard is supposed to be Ax Chain Ludmila. He's got a bounty of 5 million berries."
Smoker's jaw tightened at the name. Ax Chain Ludmila—a pirate known for his violent temper, ruthless brutality, and explosive anger, especially whenever anyone dared mention his "girlie" name. A guy like that didn't sail quietly. If he was involved, there could be bloodshed.
"And his status?" Smoker asked, his voice a low growl.
There was a pause on the line before the marine continued, more hesitant now. "We... don't know, sir. We've got no confirmation that the ship is still en route,they've lost contact with the vessel itself. No one's been able to get a signal from it since the day before."
Smoker exhaled sharply, a thick cloud of smoke billowing around him. A ship like that doesn't just vanish, not with someone like Ludmila on board. Something had gone very wrong, and if Ludmila was involved, the situation could turn deadly fast.
"Is there any word on what happened?" Smoker asked, his voice hard.
"No, sir. All we know is the ship is still on course for Loguetown, but its status is unknown."It hasn't reported back since the day before. It left from Port Town sir. It's supposed to arrive soon."
Tashigi, standing nearby, adjusted her glasses and stepped forward. "Captain, if I may," she began, her voice steady but filled with the attentiveness Smoker had come to expect from her. "This should be the same boat that escaped marine pursuit from Porttown last night."
Smoker raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. "The same one?"
"Yes, sir. Based on the timing and the lack of contact, it seems highly likely. We lost them during the chase, but if it's reappearing now, we could have a second chance to catch them," she said, her eyes gleaming with the seriousness of the situation.
Smoker took a deep drag on his cigars, considering her words. Despite her clumsy appearance Tashigi was sharp—always paying attention to the details others might miss. He exhaled a plume of smoke and nodded in agreement. "You're right. And if that's the case, there's a chance that the 'inside man' the Rear Admiral mentioned could be the same one that almost got our men killed back in Port Town."
Tashigi nodded, her brows furrowing in thought. "It's possible, Captain. If this is the same man, maybe releasing the captives the pirates where keeping might have been his very reason from the beginning, sir "
Smoker let the thought linger for a moment before waving it away. "It doesn't matter right now," he said, his voice firm. "What matters is catching these pirates and saving Hiroshi's niece. We can't afford to get distracted by side concerns."
Just as the conversation hung in the air, a marine rushed up to them, his breath labored from running across the deck. He gave a quick salute. "Captain Smoker, sir! There's a ship approaching from the port side. It looks like it might be the one we're looking for."
Smoker's eyes darkened. "Good," he said, turning toward the marine. "Get all units ready. We're closing in."
Another marine approached quickly, handing Smoker a telescope. "Captain, here."
Smoker snatched the telescope and raised it to his eye, scanning the approaching ship. The vessel cut through the waves, but something was off. There was no lookout in the crow's nest. No one keeping watch—a detail that immediately stood out to Smoker, confirming what Vice Admiral Hiroshi had mentioned about their lack of crew.
Even short on men, Smoker thought. That's a mistake on their part.
He zoomed in further, carefully scanning the deck. At first, there wasn't much movement, just the usual clutter and disarray of an undermanned ship. But then something caught his eye—Ludmila, his hulking figure impossible to miss. The large ax rested casually over his shoulder, his head snapping toward the hatch. Smoker watched closely as Ludmila and a couple other pirates, looking tense, hurriedly disappeared below deck. The way they moved... it wasn't just routine.
"Something's going on," Smoker muttered under his breath, lowering the telescope. The air around him felt heavier, thick with the sense that danger was closing in. "Ludmila is up to something."
That nagging feeling in his gut, the one that always surfaced before things went south, settled over him like a fog. The ship was moving steadily, but Smoker could tell—Ludmila wasn't just running. He was preparing.
Without hesitating, Smoker barked, "Full speed ahead! I want us on top of them before they get the chance to act."
"Aye, Captain!" the helmsman shouted, spinning the wheel.
The marine ships picked up speed, slicing through the waters as they closed in on the target. Smoker watched as the pirates aboard the supply ship started to stir, their movements growing frantic. It didn't take long for them to notice the three marine vessels barreling toward them.
The pirates, scrambling with wide eyes, dashed to their positions—some fumbling to adjust the sails, others rushing about in confusion. A frantic scene of desperation unfolded as they realized there was no time to escape.
Smoker allowed a small, tight smirk to form on his lips. "Too late for that," he muttered, his eyes narrowing.
But then, before the pirates could even think about making headway, something unbelievable happened. Right in front of the marines' eyes, the entire ship vanished into thin air. One moment it was there, sails billowing in the wind, and the next, it was simply... gone.
The panicked pirates, who had been frantically trying to man the ship, suddenly found themselves suspended in the air for a moment before plummeting into the ocean. Their screams pierced through the chaos as they splashed down into the churning waters below, panic spreading like wildfire.
Smoker's eyes widened, the cigars hanging loosely from his mouth as he processed what had just happened. "What the hell—?" he growled, gripping the rail tightly, his eyes scanning the now-empty space where the ship had been.
But even in the midst of the chaos, his sharp gaze was drawn to the largest remaining object—a crudely constructed raft. And on it, a group of people who clearly didn't look like pirates. Especially not the small figure of a child huddled among them.
Smoker's eyes locked onto the girl. Her face was unmistakable from the photos he had received from Vice Admiral Hiroshi. "That's her. That's the niece."
But that wasn't all. His attention shifted, drawn to a figure falling near the raft—a man wearing a gas mask. Even from this distance, Smoker felt a chill as though the stranger's attention was fixed on him, radiating a silent, unnerving intensity.
"Sound the alarm!" he bellowed, his voice booming across the deck. "Men overboard! Rescue the civilians first!" His voice carried with the authority of a seasoned commander, spurring the marines into action. "Prepare the boats and get those people out of the water!"
Beside him, Tashigi's hand hovered over her sword as she stared at the empty space where the ship had been moments before. "Captain... how is that even possible?" Her words barely rose above a whisper, the disbelief stark on her face.
Smoker didn't look at her. His jaw was clenched, forcing himself to stay focused. "Questions later, Tashigi, the civilians come first," he commanded, his voice sharp and unwavering. "Whoever that gas-masked man is, we'll deal with him later. Right now, we get those people out of the water."
———
The wind roared in Charlie's ears as he plummeted toward the ocean, gravity pulling him faster than his mind could catch up. In the last moment before impact, his eyes locked onto the horizon, and there, far off in the distance, he saw them—three marine ships cutting through the waves, their sails full and speeding toward his location.
At least the slaves and Rika will be saved, he thought, a brief flicker of satisfaction cutting through the chaos in his mind. All of this... wasn't for nothing.
Then, with a bone-rattling splash, he hit the water feet-first, the cold shock of the ocean enveloping him as he plunged below the surface. The world around him muffled, dark, and unfamiliar. For a moment, he was suspended in the water, his mind disoriented as he drifted downward.
Charlie blinked, getting his bearings, forcing his arms to push through the weight of the ocean. He kicked his legs, propelling himself upward, desperate for air. But before he could even breach the surface, a shadow darted toward him.
The crazed pirate.
The same one he had fought just moments earlier, his eyes wild with hatred. The man lunged at Charlie, his hands wrapping around his neck, squeezing with a force that made Charlie's head pound. Even underwater, the pirate's strength was terrifying. Panic surged through Charlie's veins as his lungs screamed for air, and pain burned through his chest.
This is it, he thought, the edges of his vision darkening. I'm going to die here.
But then, through the fog of pain and panic, a thought pierced his mind. The pirate had lost his biggest advantage—his speed. In the water, his movements were sluggish, uncoordinated.
Charlie didn't hesitate. With a quick motion, he summoned his hunting knife from his inventory. The blade appeared in his hand in a flash of light, and with a surge of desperation, he thrust it upward. The steel pierced the pirate's chin, driving through his skull.
The pirate's grip slackened instantly. The last thing the pirate saw was Charlie's face, his crazed expression freezing in a grotesque mix of hatred and disbelief as his body went limp, drifting down into the dark abyss.
Charlie gasped, trying to regain control of the remaining air in his lungs, noting how much energy he had expended just fighting off the pirate. I'm losing power fast...
He needed to act. Without thinking, Charlie quickly stored his clothes in his inventory, the extra weight was dragging him down after all. Feeling his body lighten, he started gaining speed as he fought his way toward the water's edge.
Almost there, he thought, hope blooming in his chest as the light from above grew brighter.
His chest burned, his lungs screaming for air as he kicked desperately, clawing toward the dim light above. Just as he neared the surface, something clamped around his ankle, yanking him down with relentless force.
Panic shot through him. There, clinging to his leg, was the other pirate, his eyes wide and hysterical, as though the sea itself had driven him mad. The salt water must have washed away most of the pepper spray, and now, Ludmila's bloodshot eyes gleamed with murderous intent. Charlie's heart skipped as he noticed the heavy chain looped around Ludmila's other hand, connecting him to the massive ax pulling them both down.
He's mind raced. That chain... it's going to drag us both down!
Ludmila's expression was wild, a silent scream of rage as bubbles escaped his mouth. He wasn't trying to win a fight anymore. No, he was ready to die—and he was going to take Charlie with him.
Panic surged through Charlie as he kicked and thrashed, trying to shake Ludmila off, but the pirate's grip was ironclad. The weight of the ax, heavy and cumbersome, was dragging them both toward the bottom of the ocean. The light from the surface grew dimmer, fading with every second.
I'm not dying here. Not like this.
In a final, desperate move, Charlie did the only thing he could think of.
"Oracle!" he screamed in his mind. Is there any way to save me? Anything at all! No matter the cost!
———
Rika clutched Charlie's baton tightly.Just moments ago, when panic threatened to take over, he had shown her how to use it in case of emergency and then handed it to her. Her knuckles white against the cool metal, her wide eyes staring at the spot where he had disappeared beneath the waves. Around her, the freed captives huddled together, some crying, others muttering quiet prayers of gratitude as the marines' boats drew closer. Yet, for Rika, it was as if the world had shrunk down to a single, haunting image—the red stain on the surface, spreading and fading, like a nightmare that wouldn't end.
The voices of the marines reached her ears, sharp commands mixed with frantic shouts, yet the sounds felt distant and muffled. She couldn't tear her gaze from the ocean, her thoughts swirling around Charlie. Onii-chan... His face floated in her mind, the man who had saved her from that hell. He had appeared just when she'd given up hope, like a hero from her mother's stories.
Mother... She swallowed hard, the familiar ache returning. Her mother was gone. Taken by the same pirates who had thrown her into this nightmare.
The marine boats reached the raft, and the sound of voices—commands being shouted, footsteps on wood, ropes being thrown—filled the air. A hand reached out to help her, but Rika barely registered it. Her mind was too full of Charlie's actions—of the moment he had jumped into the fight, the way he fought with everything he had for them, willing to lay down his life.
He was there when I thought no one else would come.
The baton in her hands felt impossibly heavy, the weight of everything sinking into her small frame. He saved me. He saved all of us.
A pair of strong hands lifted her from the raft, but she felt numb, her body moving on its own. The voices around her blurred into a distant hum, the world spinning in and out of focus. All she could think about was how he had held her, how he had promised her everything would be alright.
And now he's gone...
She felt something warm wrap around her—a coat, maybe?—but she didn't look up. Her vision swam, the tears she had tried so hard to hold back finally spilling down her cheeks. A soft voice spoke beside her, but she couldn't make out the words.
Mama's gone... now him, too...
Her body shook, the exhaustion and trauma of the past few days crashing over her all at once. She had been fighting so hard—fighting to survive, to stay strong—but now, everything felt too heavy.
Tears blurred her vision completely, and she could no longer see the faces of the marines as they rescued the others. She barely registered the marines lifting the remaining people from the raft, their voices urgent but calm.
He can't be gone. He promised... But the thought felt hollow. The ocean was merciless, and she knew that promises couldn't bring people back.
"Hey, are you alright?" a gentle voice asked, cutting through the fog in her mind.
Rika blinked, lifting her gaze for the first time. A woman was kneeling in front of her, her sharp glasses and concerned expression breaking through the haze. It was the first face Rika had been able to focus on since Charlie had disappeared.
It was Tashigi. The marine lieutenant's brow furrowed as she placed a hand on Rika's shoulder, her voice soft yet firm. "You're safe now. We've got you."
But Rika couldn't hold it in any longer. The tears flowed freely, and her small body shook with quiet sobs. "Onii-chan... he... he saved me..." she whispered, barely able to form the words.
Tashigi's face softened, and she pulled Rika into a gentle embrace, letting her cry into her shoulder. "Shh... it's okay. You're safe." Her voice was a soothing balm, a reminder that, despite the emptiness, she wasn't alone.
But for Rika, the grief was an anchor, and even as she clung to Tashigi, the image of Charlie in the water stayed fixed in her mind. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks as exhaustion claimed her, pulling her into the darkness.
———
The early morning sun cast a soft glow over the docks, though Smoker barely noticed it. His mind was focused on the man walking beside him—Vice Admiral Hiroshi, who had arrived more than half a day before his ship. Alone. Smoker had heard stories about Hiroshi's strength in his prime, but seeing him now—after traveling the entire distance using Geppo and Soru—confirmed that even in his so-called "old age," the Vice Admiral was still a force to be reckoned with.
Smoker took a long drag from his cigars, the smoke curling lazily into the air as he led Hiroshi through the base, debriefing him. "We've rescued your granddaughter, Vice Admiral," Smoker began, his voice steady. "She's safe, physically unharmed, but..."
"I'll see her soon enough," Hiroshi cut in, his tone gruff with impatience. His eyes, sharp as ever, flicked toward Smoker. "What about the rest? Tell me everything."
Smoker nodded, leading him toward the makeshift medical area. "There were seven captives total on the ship, including your granddaughter. According to the civilians, Don Krieg's crew planned to sell them to a contact from Sabaody Archipelago. Slave trading is one of the primary income streams that's allowed him to gather such an armada."
Hiroshi's jaw tightened at the mention of slavery. Smoker pressed on, his voice grim. "We captured four of the pirates, but the rest are either dead—killed by the man with the gas mask—or drowned when the ship vanished. As for that man..."
"That's the thing," Smoker grunted, recalling the testimonies of the civilians. "According to the rescued, he's a Devil Fruit user. They described his abilities like a Paramecia—something with storage, similar to Capone 'Gang' Bege. Apparently, he can store objects, even large ones like the ship, but he needs skin contact to do it, and it takes time."
Hiroshi raised an eyebrow, but Smoker continued, his tone growing more serious. "The way they described him... he was ruthless. Every pirate he fought fell into a trap. He was always a step ahead, anticipating their moves, setting them up before they even realized it. But the civilians aren't exactly unbiased. They think of him as a hero for saving them."
"Efficient," Hiroshi muttered. "But if he's a Devil Fruit user, the ocean's already taken care of him."
Smoker nodded grimly. "Most likely. There's no trace of him now, and given all we know, it's doubtful he survived. If he's at the bottom of the ocean,without any outside help there's only one outcome."
Hiroshi's eyes narrowed. "A shame," he muttered, his expression unreadable. "I would have liked to meet him."
They walked in silence for a moment before Hiroshi's voice cut through the air again, quieter but filled with an unspoken weight. "And my daughter? What of her?"
Smoker hesitated, the question he'd been dreading finally surfacing. He blew out another cloud of smoke, his eyes hardening. "We don't have any information on her yet, Vice Admiral. From what I've gathered, this wasn't the only supply ship Don Krieg has. There's a possibility she was on another vessel. Your granddaughter is the only one who may know more, unfortunately she hasn't woken up yet"
The air between them grew tense as Hiroshi processed the news. His fists clenched at his sides, but he kept his composure, his gaze focused on the path ahead. "So Krieg's is …" Hiroshi muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
Smoker nodded. "We'll keep digging. If she's out there, we'll find her."
Hiroshi's expression remained unreadable, but the anger simmering beneath the surface was clear. "See that you do, Captain."
Smoker watched as Hiroshi stepped into the room, his presence commanding yet softened by the sight of his granddaughter. Rika sat by the window, her small frame dwarfed by the chair, staring out at the sea with an emptiness that made even Smoker's chest tighten. She was clutching the baton that man had given her, her fingers wrapped around it tightly.
At the sound of her grandfather's voice, Rika didn't move right away. Her eyes shifted slowly from the window to Hiroshi, but for a long moment, it was as if she didn't recognize him. There was no light in her eyes, no sign of the little girl she must have been before all this. Smoker had seen that look before—the hollow gaze of someone who had seen too much, too soon.
Her fingers tightened around the baton again, as if holding onto it would keep her from falling apart. Smoker could see it in her trembling frame—she was trying to hold herself together, trying to be strong. But that strength, whatever she had left, was hanging by a thread.
The baton slipped from her hands, clattering to the floor, and in that instant, Smoker knew the dam had broken. Tears welled up in her eyes, her face crumpling as the weight of everything she had been through came crashing down on her at once.
"Grandpa..." Her voice was barely a whisper, shaky and fragile, as she took a few unsteady steps toward Hiroshi. But the moment she reached him, the floodgates opened.
"Grandpa!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms, her small body shaking with sobs. "He saved me... Onii-chan... he saved me... I thought... I thought I'd never see you again..."
Smoker's eyes flicked between the two of them. He had seen plenty of emotional reunions in his time, but this one was different. He didn't need to hear the rest. This was a moment for them, not for him.
With a final glance at Hiroshi and Rika, he quietly stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him. The cool morning air hit him as he leaned against the wall outside, drawing in a deep breath.
He pulled out a cigar, lighting it with a flick of his lighter as his mind drifted back to the more pressing matter: Don Krieg. Smoker now had valuable information about Krieg's supply lines, enough to form a plan to intercept them before they sold their next batch of slaves. Before all his information become invalidated.
As he puffed on his cigar, his mind began to race through potential strategies—who to contact, where to focus his efforts, how to coordinate with other Marine captains to cut off Krieg's network. But something nagged at the back of his mind, distracting him.
That damn blinking red dot.
It had appeared in the corner of his vision since yesterday, right after they'd rescued the civilians. Smoker had brushed it off as a trick of the mind—maybe from the stress of the fight, the exhaustion. But even after a full night's sleep, it was still there. Still blinking. Still persistent.
Smoker growled in frustration, reaching up and swiping his hand at it, expecting it to vanish.
But instead, it grew.
The red dot expanded in front of him, growing larger until it filled his vision completely. Then, bold red letters appeared, hovering in mid-air as if projected directly into his mind.
"[Welcome Smoker, You have been invited to the System]."
Smoker's cigars nearly fell from his mouth as his eyes narrowed, his teeth clenching in annoyance.
"What the hell...?"
[AN] Changed Strength: from Charlie's appraisal to Threat level: