Chapter 43: A Formidable Ally

Navy Base Warehouse, Loguetown.

Ten million Berries in cash were stacked neatly before the gathered pirates, forming a most tempting rectangular mound.

Aside from Captain Smoker of the White Smoke Pirates, more than a dozen East Blue pirates—some confident in their strength, others lost in greed—had also taken on the task of ambushing the Navy detachment.

They circled the pile of money, their faces nakedly displaying greed and savagery.

“This is the deposit. The remaining twenty million Berries will be paid after the job’s done,” Lieutenant Charles spoke in gentle tones, though his eyes concealed a deep disdain and ruthlessness.

“Wait a minute…”

“Ambushing the Navy isn’t a trivial matter.”

A pirate, wearing a twisted grin, began bargaining with Charles: “There are so many of us here. Isn’t thirty million Berries a bit too little?!”

“No problem!” Charles replied without changing his expression, handing out empty promises without hesitation. “Afterwards, Major Hammer will give each of you another five million as a bonus. Consider this thirty million as an extra reward!”

With a few words, Charles had suddenly multiplied the pirates’ promised pay several times over.

“Hahaha!” The pirates burst into satisfied laughter.

“Alright! Leave those Navy heads to us!”

Smoker silently drew on his cigar, saying nothing. Yet the anger smoldering inside him grew with each puff, the thickening smoke amplifying his fury.

A cold smirk curled at the corner of Charles’s mouth: he never intended for these pirates to see a single Berry. These lowest dregs of the weakest sea were merely scapegoats, prepared to take the fall for Major Hammer. Once Hammer’s assassination plan succeeded, Charles would coax these weaklings to march straight to their deaths.

Yet amid the pirates’ raucous laughter, another jarring voice rose:

“So, how are we supposed to split these thirty million among so many people?”

The mood instantly turned tense—over a dozen pirates exchanged glances, greed and malice flickering in their eyes.

“I’ve got the highest bounty here!” barked a three-meter giant wielding a large axe. “Naturally, I deserve the biggest share!”

“Heh…” sneered another pirate, short and wiry. “A high bounty doesn’t mean you’re the strongest.”

The pirates burst into a noisy argument over the distribution of the reward; the warehouse, which had finally been quiet, was soon in an uproar again.

Smoker, of course, paid no heed to these greedy, reckless fools.

Until—

“Gentlemen!” A pirate with a sly grin suddenly spoke up. “I say, why not split the thirty million this way—whoever kills the most Navy men, gets the most cash!”

“Agreed!” Several pirates’ eyes lit up, and another chimed in, “Count Navy heads for cash!”

“Whoever takes down more—”

His words froze, the vicious grin forever fixed upon his face.

He collapsed to the ground like a dead pig.

And Smoker, with a casual swing of his jitte, had left a fresh pool of blood on the floor.

“What—what are you doing?!” another pirate stammered, pointing at Smoker in terror.

Smoker ignored him, exhaling a thick ring of smoke. His grim, cold face shrouded in the haze looked as menacing as a demon’s.

The sound of slicing air echoed once more through the wide warehouse, reverberating in howling waves.

“Aaah!” The pirate who’d suggested counting heads barely had time to scream before Smoker smashed him to the ground.

With bloodied jitte in hand, Smoker slowly drew back, casting a cold glance at the others.

“He wants to kill us all and take the money for himself!” a terrified pirate shouted. “Don’t just sit there—fight!”

The remaining dozen pirates swallowed nervously, exchanged glances, then finally mustered the courage to brandish their weapons, standing before Smoker.

The sudden infighting left Lieutenant Charles momentarily stunned.

Smoker, however, showed no hesitation.

Black and white reversed, justice trampled, monsters and phantoms strutting openly—

Smoker’s rage at this twisted reality had already reached its peak.

He did not use his Devil Fruit powers, but instead relied on the primal, exhilarating force of his own body, launching himself at the pirates.

But these self-important pirates were no match for Smoker, even though he had yet to reveal his true strength.

In no time at all—

Those who had clamored to exchange Navy heads for money now lay crippled on the ground, powerless and groaning, their bodies soaked in dark crimson blood.

Smoker stood in the midst of the carnage and turned a cold gaze back to Lieutenant Charles.

Charles’s expression grew uglier by the second. From Smoker’s display just now, it was clear that this little-known White Smoke Pirate captain’s strength far surpassed his own.

He had intended to find weak pirates as scapegoats for the “murder of the Marine Headquarters Captain,” but instead had stumbled upon a true nightmare.

Seeing the bloodshot fury in Smoker’s eyes, Charles’s tone instantly softened:

“Bro—brother! All the pirates’ reward money—it’s yours! Take it all!”

Smoker was unmoved, as if addicted to the slaughter, unwilling to stop.

Charles was terrified, his soul almost leaving his body.

Just then, an orderly burst in, oblivious to the bloody scene, and hurriedly reported to Charles:

“Lieutenant, sir! There’s a fight in the conference room—Major Hammer requests you bring reinforcements immediately!”

Smoker paused, the killing intent in his eyes diminishing.

“What?!” Charles’s face darkened instantly, panic overwhelming him even more than Smoker’s earlier glare.

Their entire survival plan depended on Major Hammer catching his target off-guard and assassinating Headquarters Captain Smoker.

If Hammer was already fighting Smoker, then the assassination had failed completely.

Which meant…

They now faced an enraged Logia Devil Fruit user—a Marine Headquarters Captain.

“This is bad…”

Charles gritted his teeth, instinctively wanting to flee.

But Major Hammer’s grip on his key subordinates was always tight and terrifying—their fortunes, families, and crimes all held in Hammer’s hands. Charles hesitated for a long time, but lacked the courage to defy Hammer’s orders and escape alone.

He tried to comfort himself: since Major Hammer could still fight Smoker, it meant the target must have been injured during the assassination attempt. Otherwise, given a Logia’s invincibility, Hammer would never have had the chance to send for reinforcements.

So perhaps there was still a chance to turn the tide.

……

After a moment’s thought, Charles steeled himself. He clenched his jaw and adjusted his weapons.

Suddenly, a thought struck him…

He turned to the powerful, blood-soaked, unruly “great pirate” and said:

“Come with me. Let’s kill that Headquarters Captain together! Take as much money as you want when it’s over!”

......................................................

At that moment, Major Hammer’s situation was dire—much like the steel blade before him.

Though he had been suppressing Garen’s strength throughout, it had only delayed the inevitable.

Blood oozed from his wounds, his stamina ebbed, and sweat soaked through his clothes…

It was Hammer’s first time fighting such a drawn-out battle.

His opponent, meanwhile, seemed untouched—full of energy, not a hair out of place.

Hammer wanted to run, but it was too late.

He was too exhausted to use “Soru” or any other high-speed martial art; his legs had grown weak, and he couldn’t outrun that strange man who could accelerate at will.

Only now, forced to his limits, did the ever-proud Hammer remember to sacrifice his subordinates in order to wear down his enemy.

But ordinary corrupt marines stood no chance against Garen’s blade.

Meanwhile, Tashigi, who had been waiting outside, heard the commotion and led her men into the base, tying up most of the forces Hammer could command.

Hammer could only hang on, praying his trusted and capable Lieutenant Charles would arrive soon.

“Decisive Strike!”

Garen, for the umpteenth time, raised his gleaming greatsword and brought it down hard upon Hammer.

A familiar clang of metal rang out as Hammer barely parried the blow.

But now, Hammer’s arms shook uncontrollably, his muscles burning with pain.

“Major Hammer, I’m here to help!” Lieutenant Charles’s voice rang out, “And I brought a powerful pirate as backup!”

Hammer instantly felt relief.

“Backup?” Garen’s heart sank. He’d only been able to tangle with Hammer by relying on his own stats and regenerative abilities. He’d finally worn Hammer down, bit by bit—he couldn’t handle another “powerful backup” showing up.

Worried, Garen turned toward the newcomers…

“Uh…”

A strange look crossed Garen’s face.

“Your backup is certainly… powerful…”