Chapter 67

Yay, I'm back. Unfortunately though, my brain isn't fully back yet; there might be errors in this chap. Welp, regardless, thanks to all of you for waiting!

____________________

[September 21st, 1505; Marineford]

Within the centric building of Marineford that served as the base of all Marine operations, there lied one japanese-styled room. Tatami floor, a long table that spanned across the entire room—such were the features present within the room.

In addition, in front of the smoking-hot teas were the Marine Officers—the Vice Admirals and Admirals who were found sitting on top of the comfortable-looking cushions.

"...Ha..." And Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral who was seated at the front-most seat, grimaced while holding a cup of tea.

"BWAHAHAHAHA!!!" On the other hand, Garp was laughing so hard that the tears full of amusement dropped out of his eyes. Moreover, Kuzan, sitting at some distance away from Garp, was chuckling silently—evidently in approval of the same topic that Garp was amused at.

"Garp!" Tsuru, with her arms crossed, spoke up, "This isn't a matter to laugh at. Behave yourself!"

Tap.

Subsequently placing the teacup down, Sengoku opened his mouth,

"Vice Admiral Tensei."

As Garp covered his mouth to suppress his laugh to a silent giggle, Tensei, the Vice Admiral wearing sunglasses indoor, spoke up solemnly,

"A week ago, the 'Heavenly Demon' Donquixote Doflamingo... died, at the hands of Rear Admiral Smoker. Though the specific and thorough cause of this event is unknown, the Cipher Pols concluded that Smoker caught onto Doflamingo's betrayal of the World Government—albeit with apparent displeasure."

And upon hearing Tensei's words,

"...Ho."

one man, the one with a muscular physique and standard Marine cap atop his head—Admiral Sakazuki or 'Akainu,' expressed his amazement. Kuzan, as well as Bayard, narrowed their eyes at the man in response.

"Pfff..." Garp, sealing his puffed-up cheeks by placing his hands on top of his lips, seemed to be having a hard time keeping his laugh suppressed.

"...Tch," Onigumo, in contrast to Garp, frowned deeply before angrily gulping down the entire cup of tea.

"Oh~?" On Sakazuki's right, one Vice Admiral wearing a gray-coloured suit—Vice Admiral Borsalino—raised an eyebrow, "Garp-san, isn't he supposed to be your disciple?"

"BWAHAHA!!!" Garp, bursting out yet another loud laughter, replied with a grin, "You got that right!!"

Borsalino raised his hands up in amusement, "A marine who survived Garp-san's training? How scary~"

"Silence." Then, Sengoku stated in a stern voice. As all Marine Officers' eyes turned back at him, he continued,

"The World Government, regardless of the positive change that Rear Admiral Smoker managed to bring through this incident, expressed their concern for Smoker's 'rebellious' tendency."

"...What?" Garp's expression abruptly shifted to that of a frown.

"Disregarding Doflamingo's betrayal, the fact that Smoker decided to assault the 'Warlord' allied with the World Government without any report beforehand," Sengoku gazed straight back at Garp and said seriously, "raises the question of whether he truly was aware of Doflamingo's betrayal or not."

Tsuru, looking at Sengoku from the corners of her eyes, spoke up, "Then, the purpose of this assembly is to..."

Sengoku nodded in response, "To determine the proper settlement for Rear Admiral Smoker—whether he deserves the promotion for his achievement, or demotion for making a vulgar action that may have induced serious complications."

The room momentarily fell into silence, and after a few seconds, the man seated nearby Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru—Admiral Blaise or 'Seidohebi'—asked with a pleasant smile on his face, "Promotion as in... to the rank of Vice Admiral?"

Placing his hand on his chin, Blaise tilted his head, "Hm... though his feats are praiseworthy, he is only seventeen in terms of age, isn't he? I'm unsure if the showcase of his strength alone is enough for him to reach the rank of Vice Admiral."

"...Indeed. Seventeen is quite..."

"I recall that he began his career as a marine approximately five years ago. Reaching the rank of Vice Admiral within five years... doesn't this seem a little too much, Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"

Upon hearing Blaise's words, many present Vice Admirals nodded their heads in agreement. Furthermore,

Tap.

One old-looking individual with a long, grey-coloured beard: Admiral Hanazumi or 'Haironezumi,' added on, "This old man seconds Admiral Blaise's opinion. A youngster should build up more experiences out in the sea prior to receiving the heavy duty as a Vice Admiral."

In response to these Marine Officers who seemed against Smoker's promotion, Garp snorted,

"Heh—!"

Then, while taking a bite of a rice cracker in his hand, Garp exclaimed, "Since when has the meritocratic society of Marine adopted such a conservative mindset?"

"Garp, crumbs are falling," Commented Tsuru, to which Garp responded by looking down at his suit and forming an O-shaped mouth.

"Agreed," Kuzan then followed up calmly, "Adding on to Garp-san's words, I've been sailing in the New World quite frequently for the past year. The three Catastrophes' forces—especially that of Big Mom and Kaidou—are getting far too large even with our efforts. Age renders Smoker questionable? I tell you, strength is what matters the most above all currently, and in my eyes,"

Kuzan swept his eyes across many seated nearby him,

"he seems more qualified than many of you here."

BOOM! Onigumo, gritting his teeth in response to Kuzan's statement, barked, "That puny kid? More 'qualified' than us, you say?"

Kuzan lifted up his cup of tea and replied coolly, "Indeed."

Next to Onigumo, Bayard's eyebrow twitched. Though the orange-haired Vice Admiral was masking his displeasure as best as he could, he was slowly failing in doing so—until his eyes met the eyes of his own brother, Admiral Blaise. Widening his eyes, Bayard's expression quickly returned back to a poker face.

On the other side of Onigumo, the Marine Officer with many scars on his face, Vice Admiral Doberman, was huffing and puffing rapidly, evidently angered by Kuzan's claim.

"Why, do you believe that your eyes have gotten more astute after attaining the position of 'Admiral candidate,' Kuzan?" Onigumo growled, "I tell, you, that you, as an outsider who wasn't present at Knockdown island during the incidence—"

"Onigumo."

A deep and charismatic voice interrupted Onigumo's angered shout. Onigumo subconsciously shut his mouth, and everyone's eyes immediately turned to the man who just spoke up: Sakazuki.

"Whether you were there or not doesn't matter," Sakazuki said while frowning at Onigumo, "A scum like Donquixote Doflamingo, regardless of what the World Government says, is better dead than alive. And I believe that Rear Admiral Smoker did a fine job in imposing 'Absolute Justice' to those filths of the sea."

Sakazuki raised his hand up,

"I am in favour of Rear Admiral Smoker's promotion." Away from Onigumo, Sakazuki gazed at two other Admirals, "Age, strength, whatever. The core value of Marine isn't to become the World Government's dogs, but to kill every single criminal off of this world."

"Hm..." Hanazumi stroked his chin with a feigned thoughtful expression. Blaise, on the other hand, stared back at Sakazuki with the same, robotic smile on his face.

Garp and Kuzan, wondering what Sakazuki was planning in his mind, narrowed their eyes at the man with distrust within them.

Sengoku, after the room has returned to that of silence, spoke up once more, "Then those in favour of Rear Admiral Smoker's demotion, raise your hands up."

Hanazumi, Onigumo, Doberman, and few other Marine Officers raised their hands up. However, many others, looking at Sakazuki with underlying fear within them, kept their arms still.

"And those in favour of promotion, raise your hands up."

Upon Sengoku's call, Garp, Kuzan, Tsuru, Sakazuki, and many more—far more in contrast to the number who agreed on Smoker's demotion—raised their hands up. Sengoku, closing his eyes, stated firmly,

"A promotion it is."

Opening his eyes back up, Sengoku said to Garp,

"Tell him to return back to the Marineford."

__________

__________

"...We're back." Hancock whispered as she gazed at the familiar island of Amazon Lily, which lied in the middle of Calm Belt.

A gentle hand, of an older woman from Amazon Lily, was placed on top of Hancock's head, "Yes. Yes, we did."

Amazon Lily—the state of the island was quite a bad sight, however. The trees stood with withered leaves and frail branches. At a larger scope, the island seemed dry. Smoker, noticing these qualities, then turned to women from Amazon Lily and stared at their bandage-covered wounds.

"...What happened to you guys?" Hina, grimacing upon sighting the island, asked. One among the Amazon Lily inhabitants replied with sorrow,

"A man capable of handling sand. We were simply living through our daily lives, and he suddenly came in flying from the nearby island named Rusukaina—that island filled with inexplicable monsters." This woman, shutting her eyes tight, continued, "Naturally, being able to survive from that island meant that he is strong, however, we still underestimated him. After all, he was one while we were many, and all men we saw up until then were weak and worthless."

'...Crocodile,' Smoker noted to himself, 'So he is alive after all.'

"We were beaten, and that man left. Then, before we were given the chance to recuperate, another one with that strangely wiggling sword came with a huge number of other men. That one was much weaker, but our injuries disabled us from retaliating."

Two Marine ships were now at the shore, and one by one, the inhabitants of Amazon Lily got off the ship. They, pushing their pride as warriors aside, looked at the marines with nothing but gratitude and then bowed,

"...Thank you."

It was short, yet sincerity-filled words. And the marines, smiling in response, turned away; that was all that they needed.

"Smoker-san."

And then, Hancock, standing at the shore, spoke up timidly. Smoker, returning his gaze to the beach, found that the teen was looking at him,

"...Thank you for saving me."

Hancock, in Smoker's eyes, seemed far different than the 'Pirate Empress' of the canon. And Smoker was aware—that those harsh events in the canon Hancock's life served as the motivation for her to grow strong.

'Hancock and her sisters didn't receive marks from the Celestial Dragons. They weren't given the excessive tortures that will traumatize them for life.' Smoker, looking at Hancock, thought, 'Then, will the canon "Pirate Empress" be no more? Will she simply remain as a woman with the power of Love Love fruit, and nother more—'

"And," Hancock then asked hopefully, "How can I become as strong as you?"

Smoker's thought until now ceased.

'...I guess that some aspects of canon are simply meant to be,' Smoker chuckled in amusement, 'Those eyes of her... I see nothing but a desire to become stronger.'

"...Strong, you ask?"

Hancock gulped. All the other women of Amazon Lily too leaned in to listen to what Smoker had to say. After all, they believed that strength was just as valuable as beauty was to a woman.

Smoker then said,

"Every day, run around the entire Amazon Lily 1000 times, do 100000 finger-push-ups against a cliff, 100000 sit-ups and pull-ups with 10000-ton additional weight on you, climb up the cliff thrice, plank for 3 hours with a boulder at your back, get thrown into the air with enough strength such that the friction from air resistance sets you aflame, and get hit by 1000 cannonballs. Once you grow accustomed to that, get beaten up by a big-fisted man 1000000 times."

"...Huh?" Hancock, frozen in confusion, muttered.

Similar to Hancock, everyone seemed dumbfounded, with their eyes popped out and jaws dropped open. Smoker then chuckled, "Hopefully, that helped."

"""AS IF!!!"""

…

The marine ships has now departed from the island. Hancock, even as the others hurriedly returned to their island and enjoyed their reunion with others, kept her eyes locked on the departing ships. Within her eyes, there was the sight of one white-haired Marine Officer's back which proudly displayed the justice coat. His right hand was raised up and waving at her, and Hancock, unconsciously gulping, raised up her own hand slowly and waved back at him.

Will slavery completely be terminated after this? Probably not. Celestial Dragons—they will definitely find other means to achieve their disgusting desires, Smoker believed.

If so, were Smoker's doings for the entire year pointless?

'Bwahaha...'

Smoker grinned,

'Absolutely not.'

And there it was, the resolution to his year-long endeavour. Within the still sea of Calm Belt, the weather was sunny and bright. Two marine ships, basking under the sunlight, were leisurely and triumphantly sailing by. Though tired and exhausted, the marines within the two ships smiled, feeling accomplished.

'And now,' Smoker, erasing a smile on his face, walked down the staircase of the ship and into one room that consisted of metal bars that constituted a cell. Behind those bars lied Senor Pink, the man who raised his head up and looked at Smoker with hollow gaze upon the latter's entry. Smoker, crouching down to match the pirate's eye-level, thought,

'what to do with you...'

Senor Pink, frowning slightly, bickered,

"What,"

and gave a middle finger to Smoker, much to his amusement.