One piece: Dark Smoker

The warship quickly caught up with the Celestial Dragons' ship.

Zephyr stood up. "Smoker, come with me to meet the Celestial Dragons!"

Smoker looked disgusted.

"What? I have to go too? You're an Admiral, you go, that should be enough!"

Veins popped out on Smoker's forehead.

"Stop complaining! You'll have plenty of chances to see these guys. Are you going to avoid them forever?"

The young man really needs to grow up...

Smoker couldn't argue with Zephyr, so in the end, he was dragged along.

Boarding the Celestial Dragons' ship felt less like a ship and more like a moving palace.

Everything was golden and extravagant, radiating luxury and decadence.

Zephyr's ship used to be flashy in the captain's quarters, but this ship was opulent through and through.

Guided by CP agents, the two arrived at the Celestial Dragons' room.

As soon as they entered, they heard yelling and stomping.

"Worthless!! Absolutely useless!!"

"How dare you make me feel bumps!?"

The slave, who had been recently brought in, lay on the ground.

Bancroft was screaming in rage, his foot grinding down on the slave's head.

Although the slave was stronger, after carrying the Celestial Dragon around without enough food, his strength finally gave out, causing him to stumble, which enraged Bancroft.

Now, the slave could only tremble on the floor, too scared to cry out or even scream in pain.

Nearby, a beautiful woman with an hourglass figure and scant clothing stood, holding fine food and drinks, smiling as if nothing happening around her concerned her.

But a closer look showed her eyes were lifeless, like a walking corpse.

Smoker and Zephyr were silent.

After a while, Bancroft seemed to tire out and pulled out a gun, shooting the slave in the head.

The woman, hearing the gunshot, suddenly went pale, and a shiver ran through her.

Bancroft frowned, then shot her as well.

"Dispose of them!"

"Yes, sir!"

A few agents and servants emerged from a hidden door, expertly cleaning up the bodies and blood before retreating.

Only Gerneka stayed behind.

Bancroft plopped onto a soft couch, downing a glass of wine in one gulp.

"Black Arm, I hear your warship tried to act on its own? Is the Navy going to defy God's orders?"

The Celestial Dragons were idiots in everything they did.

But when it came to ordering people around and making accusations, they were gifted, as though their bloodline was made for it.

Faced with the Celestial Dragons, even Zephyr had to lower his head.

"Honorable Bancroft-sama, I'm not sure where you heard such rumors, but I assure you, there's no truth to it!"

"Are you questioning me?!" Bancroft growled.

"I would never, sir…"

"Never?! What do you mean by 'never'?!! You Navy dogs are getting more and more bold!!"

"You don't come to serve me, and now you're going after pirates? Do you even know who I am?!"

Zephyr clenched his fist, but his tone remained calm.

"Bancroft-sama, please, let me explain!"

"I don't want to hear it!"

Bancroft pulled out a gun and pointed it at Zephyr. "You just need to answer me right now, what's more important to your Navy—serving me or hunting pirates?!"

"Of course, hunting pirates!!!"

Smoker's shocking response made everyone turn their heads toward him.

Bancroft: "?!!!"

Zephyr: "?!!!"

Bancroft trembled, his eyes wide, glaring at Smoker.

"Im... impudent! What did you say?!!"

Gerneka stepped forward, his body covered in Haki, looking like a vicious dog ready to pounce.

"I said we should go after the pirates!!"

Smoker's eyes flashed with intensity, his presence cold and imposing.

Suddenly, he pointed at Gerneka and shouted, "What do you think the Celestial Dragons are?!"

"Uh? Huh?!"

Gerneka was caught off guard, his brain short-circuiting as he didn't know how to answer.

Before he could respond, Smoker waved his hand.

"The Celestial Dragons! They are the rulers of this world, they are gods of this world!!"

"Protecting the lives of the Celestial Dragons and upholding their dignity is the Navy's highest mission!!"

Zephyr: "?!!!"

Gerneka: "?!!!"

Bancroft's eyes sparkled with interest.

"Hm? Keep going!!"

"Yes, Bancroft-sama!" Smoker continued. "The filthy pirates approaching a god are blasphemers!!"

"Whether they know it or not, no matter their intentions, the moment they appear on an island that the Celestial Dragons are about to step on, it is undoubtedly a death sentence!!"

"As the Navy, we cannot allow such a thing to happen!"

"This is not just my opinion, it is the belief of the entire Navy!"

As Smoker spoke, he gave Zephyr a meaningful glance.

Zephyr understood.

"That's right! If the CP is the shield of the Celestial Dragons, protecting them from attacks..."

"Then the Navy must be the sword of the Celestial Dragons, actively striking and cutting down any threats!"

"Any potential threat to the Celestial Dragons must be strangled in its cradle!"

"Hahaha, well said! Very well said!"

Bancroft cheered, then turned to Smoker.

"So... Marine, what do you think we should do?!"

Smoker's eyes flashed with sharpness.

"Anyone who offends a god... dies!!"

"We must get there first and eliminate any hindrances in your way!"

Bancroft nodded in approval.

"Good! Then, by my decree, go and wipe out those dirty pirates!!"

"Yes, sir!"

With the order from the Celestial Dragon, Smoker and the Navy rushed to Pumiso Island.

Zephyr was kept on the ship by Bancroft, guarding his own life closely.

Smoker's group moved quickly to intercept the Fang Pirates.

But because of the Celestial Dragons' interference, the precious time they had carefully planned was wasted by several hours.

Smoker was growing more anxious.

[Ol' didn't send any reports for a long time. I have no idea what happened on Pumiso Island.]

[We must hurry…]

Soon, they arrived at Pumiso Island.

The Fang Pirates were long gone.

The town on the island was engulfed in flames and black smoke.

The streets were littered with dismembered bodies, blood staining the road, with some young women in tattered clothes, covered in wounds, leaning against walls with hollow looks in their eyes.

Some survivors, ignoring their own pain and sorrow, were desperately trying to save people and put out fires.

When the warship docked at the pier, all the Marines stared in shock at one direction, unable to speak.

There, a pole stood tall.

Hanging from it was a body, covered in cuts and burns, both arms and legs severed, eyes and nose reduced to bloody holes. The body had clearly been tortured beyond belief.

The sea breeze blew, making the body sway.

Smoker and the Marines felt a chill run through their entire bodies.

[Or…]

[author] For more chapters, feel free to follow me on Patreon using the button below or via the link:

(40 Chapters Ahead)

patreon.com/Void36 [/author]