On the main ship, Vergo stood on deck with his eyes closed, thinking about how to speak with Caelan naturally once they met.
Smoker and Hina were off to the side talking.
"What kind of person is this God Slayer, anyway?"
Hina asked curiously.
From what she knew, Smoker had met Caelan once back when he was stationed in the East Blue.
Caelan was the newest legend on the seas, and stories about him were spreading everywhere.
"When I first met him, it was during a mission to recruit him," Smoker said.
"At that time, Caelan had just taken down the Krieg Pirates, who had a 17 million bounty, and the Arlong Pirates, with a 20 million bounty. He had cleared most of the East Blue."
"I even wanted to challenge him back then."
Smoker bit down on two cigars and exhaled smoke, his tone filled with melancholy.
He never imagined that during such a short period of time, Caelan would become this powerful—punching through the Shichibukai, kicking around the Admirals, and shaking the Grand Line.
Every time he read a newspaper, he wondered if the stories were fake.
Now that they were about to meet, Smoker wanted to see for himself just how strong Caelan had become.
"Hina is curious. Why didn't you fight him back then?"
Hina looked at Smoker with interest.
He was a world-famous God Slayer now. Just saying you'd fought him once was enough to brag for a lifetime.
Rumor had it that a clown named Buggy kept boasting about surviving a fight with Caelan and was worshipped by a bunch of pirates for it.
"I wanted to spar with Caelan. But just when I was about to challenge him, he ran off with my subordinate, Tashigi."
Smoker let out a long exhale, his tone filled with regret.
Just thinking about his glasses-wearing, slightly airheaded subordinate made his chest ache.
If he'd known back then how insane Caelan would become, he definitely wouldn't have let Tashigi go with him.
How was Tashigi doing now?
Probably still clumsy and weak, like always.
All that was in the past now. Nothing but a fading memory.
"Ugh…"
Smoker sighed and looked over at Hina beside him.
All of a sudden, she seemed a lot more attractive. His lonely heart started to stir.
In a daze, he remembered the time they'd sat at the same desk in Marine training camp.
Why hadn't he realized back then?
Now that they were grown, reconnecting was so hard!
"Hina's getting annoyed. Stop looking at me like that!"
Hina crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Smoker with disdain, her whole body covered in goosebumps.
She had always seen Smoker as a brother. That kind of stare was just creepy.
She didn't want their friendship to turn into something weird.
"…"
Smoker looked devastated and turned his gaze up toward the sky.
But as he glanced back at Hina, a tiny spark of hope still flickered in his chest.
They were comrades. A work romance might develop naturally over time.
And Caelan was now a wanted man, an enemy of the World Government.
As a loyal Marine, Hina would never get stolen away by Caelan.
This one's a sure bet!
Meanwhile, Hina was thinking about something completely different as she stared at the sky.
What kind of person is Caelan?
Why would someone so devoted to justice and hunting down pirates choose to go against the World Government?
And what about her friend, the former Admiral candidate, Gion Momousagi?
Why had she chosen to follow Caelan?
She would be seeing them both soon. She had to figure this out.
Just as the two of them were lost in thought, Vergo opened his eyes and shouted, "Everyone!"
His voice was loud and commanding, ringing out over all ten warships.
"Yes, Commander Vergo!"
More than three thousand Marines responded in unison from across the fleet.
Smoker and Hina immediately stood at attention and looked toward Vergo.
Seeing their reaction, Vergo felt quite satisfied.
He cleared his throat and said seriously, "Comrades, what we're about to face is the legendary God Slayer. Are you afraid?!"
"Not afraid!"
"Not afraid!"
"Not afraid!"
The Marines shouted back without hesitation.
Sailors stationed in the New World had long since grown used to life-or-death battles.
"Good. You're brave," Vergo said.
"But this time, the God Slayer did something good. He saved kidnapped children."
"For that, we recognize his contribution. We are not his enemies today."
"But the next time he breaks the law, we will bring him to justice!"
"Do you agree?!"
Vergo shouted, his tone righteous.
The Marines were quiet for a moment, then roared back:
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
Their voices echoed across the sea.
They respected Caelan's actions and admired Vergo's leadership.
If they had to fight Caelan, there would be countless casualties.
But Vergo had spared them from that fate.
Even if Headquarters decided to punish him later, every sailor present was moved by Vergo's sense of duty.
Even Smoker and Hina looked at Vergo with newfound respect.
Vergo smirked inwardly at the Marines' reaction.
These fools were always so easy to manipulate.
A few words of encouragement and they were already full of gratitude.
He wasn't avoiding conflict out of compassion. He just didn't want to anger Caelan and ruin the chance to trade for Caesar.
Bringing along so many Marines was nothing more than insurance.
These naive soldiers didn't even stop to wonder: Why bring the entire force if the children are already safe?
[I just need you all to buy me time,] Vergo thought.
He glanced around the deck, eyes calm but calculating.
No number of ordinary Marines could stop a Four Emperors–class monster.
But Caelan was soft-hearted. Maybe he would hesitate to strike if there were Marines in the way?
Still, as Vergo watched the dedicated Marines around him, he felt reassured.
This one's a sure thing.
(To be continued.)