Hearing Bai Yu's explanation, Smoker cursed silently in his heart.
Diamante's Flutter-Flutter Fruit ability allowed him to turn steel into cloth-like softness and wear it as though it were part of his attire.
Yet, the transformed material retained its original hardness—turning even steel into deceptively pliable yet deadly armor.
Back on the pirate ship, Smoker hadn't engaged Diamante directly.
Diamante had used his powers to deflect numerous attacks.
It was thanks to that ability that he managed to escape.
Smoker understood all too well—Diamante's defense wasn't truly impenetrable.
It was Bai Yu's swordsmanship—razor-sharp and merciless—that sliced through it.
And terrifyingly, that slash hadn't even been imbued with Haki.
"He's definitely stronger than before."
Smoker thought to himself, watching the aftermath.
Back on the battlefield—
After severing Diamante's right arm in a single, precise strike, Bai Yu calmly sheathed his blade.
He then placed his foot on Diamante's bleeding wound.
"Aaaargh!"
Diamante howled in agony, breaking out in a cold sweat.
"Captured by you... I've got no complaints,"
he said through clenched teeth, forcing his head up to look at Bai Yu.
"Tell me your name... I deserve to know."
"Bai Yu,"
he replied without hesitation.
"Bai Yu..."
Diamante froze.
The name echoed in his mind before his eyes widened in shock.
"It's you! The one who injured Doflamingo in the East Blue!"
He had heard of it—how Doflamingo had been ambushed and wounded by a mysterious Navy officer named Bai Yu.
He never expected they'd meet here.
"You're here for Vergo... and Doffy!"
Diamante's voice trembled slightly, his mind piecing it together.
Bai Yu was from the 188th Branch in the East Blue.
There was no reason for him to appear at the Sabaody Archipelago... unless he had business.
And now that he attacked Diamante—it was all clear.
He was targeting Vergo, who had defected from the Navy, and Doflamingo.
"Exactly."
Bai Yu replied with a faint shrug, as if it were no secret.
"Why...?"
Diamante was stunned—he couldn't understand why Bai Yu would openly admit it.
Bai Yu seemed to read his confusion.
"It doesn't matter to someone who's already dead."
From the beginning, Bai Yu had no intention of leaving him alive.
"Tell me where Doflamingo is,"
he said coldly,
"I'll grant you a painless death."
"..."
Realizing escape was impossible, Diamante fell silent in thought.
Then—he suddenly burst into laughter.
"Ahahahaha!"
He cackled wildly.
"So what if you know?!"
"You think you alone can bring down the Donquixote Family?!"
"You fool... Doflamingo is in Dressrosa—his stronghold!"
The moment Diamante spat those words, Bai Yu's gaze sharpened.
He had only been guessing.
Now, confirmation.
Diamante's expression shifted—he realized his mistake too late.
"You idiot... Even the World Government and Marine HQ hesitate to touch Dressrosa."
"What can you possibly do alone?!"
Diamante shouted in desperation.
"That no longer concerns you."
Bai Yu narrowed his eyes.
"One last question—Is Vergo also in Dressrosa?"
"Don't dream of getting anything else from me!"
"You'll never find Vergo!"
"Ahahahaha!"
Diamante laughed again, trying to conceal the truth with defiance.
But Bai Yu saw through it.
Just that brief reaction had told him everything.
If Vergo wasn't in Dressrosa, then likely...
Punk Hazard.
Shing!
No more words were exchanged.
Bai Yu drew his blade in a blur, slicing horizontally.
Diamante's head fell to the ground.
"The cleanup is yours."
Bai Yu addressed Smoker without turning back.
"Make sure no trace remains. And if there is, it should point to you."
"Report back when you're done."
With that, he left without a backward glance.
Smoker let out a bitter smile.
The wound on Diamante's body was a clean sword cut—clear and undeniable.
How was he supposed to disguise this as his own doing?
Everyone knew Smoker wielded a jitte, not a sword.
And his fighting style revolved around his Moku Moku no Mi powers.
"Might as well erase all evidence."
Smoker muttered.
Using his gaseous arms, he wrapped Diamante's body.
He hurled it back onto the pirate ship.
Then unleashed wide-scale smoke-based attacks to obliterate it.
The ship burned and crumbled until it sank into the sea, leaving no trace behind.
Once finished, Smoker turned and dashed in the direction of Bai Yu's warship.
Some time later—
On board Bai Yu's vessel, the war council assembled.
Maya, Smoker, and others stood at attention.
"As I said earlier,"
Bai Yu began,
"even if we're prioritized, the warship coating still takes a few days."
"So, I'll take Maya, Koby, and Helmeppo with me on Smoker's coated ship instead."
The others nodded.
Warship coating was essential for undersea travel to Fish-Man Island—and delays were unavoidable.
Fortunately, Smoker's vessel, stationed at Sabaody for years, had long been coated.
Bai Yu made a decisive call—he would switch ships and depart immediately with a smaller team.
"No objections here."
"All orders will be followed, Major General Bai Yu!"
The marines responded in unison.
"Then we move. Smoker, lead the way."
Bai Yu gave the command and turned to Smoker.
Without a word, Smoker nodded and walked ahead.
Before long, the team arrived at the G-5 warship.
Smoker's ship was medium-sized, just like Bai Yu's—but more refined in its fittings.
A higher budget, clearly.
"Colonel Smoker! You're finally back!"
"I thought you were—huh?! You?!"
A young woman with glasses rushed over as soon as they approached the dock.
She was about to complain when she noticed Bai Yu.
It was Tashigi.
She'd met Bai Yu once before—and never forgot.
"Long time no see,"
Bai Yu greeted her with a polite nod.
"W-Wait a sec!"
Tashigi gasped.
"Oh my gosh!"
"Where did you get that meito (famous blade)?!"
"The hilt… the sheath… the forging pattern…"
"Let me see it up close!"
As expected from Tashigi—a sword enthusiast through and through.
Her eyes sparkled as she zeroed in on Sakuragi, the famed sword strapped to Bai Yu's waist.
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