Under Shirogai's sharp gaze, Smoker muttered with a grim expression:
"The strong are justice, and the weak are evil!"
Shirogai shook his head slowly, unimpressed.
"That's too shallow, Smoker."
He leaned back, voice calm but cutting.
"To be precise, the strong who control the narrative become justice.
The weak who lack voice aren't evil — they're invisible.
Only those strong enough to challenge the existing order get labeled as evil."
Smoker's fists clenched at his sides.
"What do you expect to gain by telling a Marine all this?"
His words were guarded, yet somewhere beneath that, a flicker of doubt surfaced. He didn't want to admit it, but some of what Shirogai said struck too close to home.
Still chewing on a skewer, Shirogai replied casually:
"Just passing the time. Talking. Venting, maybe."
"You don't seem like the type who vents," Smoker snapped, narrowing his eyes.
Shirogai gave a faint grin and bit into a roasted skewer, grimacing slightly as he swallowed.
"I can do anything, or nothing at all. Depends on my mood."
Outside, the howling sandstorm had quieted.
That meant the battle was over.
And the outcome was clear.
Crocodile's arrogant voice rang out over the Den Den Mushi:
"Your weak captain is finished. I didn't kill him — yet. But I've drained most of the moisture from his body. He's as good as dead."
"Tch. As long as he's breathing, that's enough for me," Shirogai replied flatly. "Keep playing villain — your little plan is already crumbling."
"Hmph!"
Crocodile ended the call with disdain.
Shirogai shrugged, wiped his mouth, and flicked a gold coin onto the table.
"Thanks for the food, old man. Next time I'm in town, I'll definitely stop by again."
The shop owner stared wide-eyed at the coin.
"Sir, this is too much! Please, take some of it back!"
Shirogai waved him off.
"I think it's worth it."
The little girl leaned over the counter, shouting with boldness that surprised even her father:
"Big brother, come again next time!"
Shirogai smiled faintly and raised his hand.
"I will."
And with that, he turned and walked away, toward the outskirts of Rainbase, the desert city once hailed as the City of Dreams.
Smoker followed closely behind, eyes cold, heart conflicted.
He wasn't foolish enough to think he could defeat Shirogai. Not yet.
But he couldn't allow this man to roam free without consequence.
He would stand in his path if it cost him everything.
"Hey, Smoker," Shirogai suddenly called without looking back, "ever thought about becoming an Admiral? I could train you."
Smoker froze mid-step.
The absurdity of that sentence almost made him laugh — a pirate with a bounty over 100 million Berries offering to train a Marine Captain?
Ridiculous.
Yet the tone was completely serious.
Smoker scowled.
"Hmph."
Shirogai chuckled.
"No answer means yes. First lesson: ditch the Sea Prism Stone on your Jitte."
"What?" Smoker blinked.
Shirogai continued walking.
"You rely on it too much. That's why your Armament Haki grows so slowly."
Smoker stiffened.
"Every time you fight a Devil Fruit user, you rush to suppress them with that Sea Stone. It's a shortcut. And shortcuts weaken you."
His words struck deep.
Smoker remembered those words.
Not from Shirogai, but from someone long ago.
Zephyr-sensei.
"Sea Stone weapons are double-edged," Zephyr had said.
"They limit the enemy — but they also limit you."
Smoker clenched his jaw.
Back then, he had brushed it off. He thought he could master both Sea Stone and Haki.
But now...
Had the Jitte been holding him back all along?
"So what?" he muttered.
Shirogai smiled.
"Next step: go fight strong people. Lose. Get beaten. Don't die."
He said it with unsettling ease.
"That's the only way you grow. Survive battles against monsters, and your Haki will evolve. Simple as that."
Smoker narrowed his eyes.
"You're one of those monsters, aren't you?"
Shirogai finally turned around and smiled darkly.
"Of course. The question is — do you have the guts to survive a fight with me?"
Smoker's breath caught in his throat.
He tried to move forward — but his foot wouldn't come down.
His whole body locked in place.
Shirogai hadn't even moved.
But the killing intent now flowing off of him was crushing.
Black and red energy radiated from his back, swirling in the air like a storm. The buildings around them distorted slightly, as if the air itself feared what was coming.
And then, though Shirogai hadn't looked back...
Smoker felt hundreds of invisible eyes on him. Black, red, violent.
Each one promised death.
He couldn't breathe.
Sweat streamed down his face.
He didn't even flinch — because he couldn't.
And in the pressure of that killing aura, Smoker knew:
If he took one more step forward, he would die.
"Even if I die…" Smoker rasped, blood filling his mouth as he bit down hard.
"I'll never abandon the justice I believe in."
His voice trembled, but he forced himself forward, foot dragging slowly toward the sand.
"I'd rather die standing, than live as a coward."
He moved.
And the moment his foot hit the sand—
"DIIIIIIIE!!!!"
The world screamed at him.
The killing intent howled, condensing into one singular death roar.
Smoker's soul felt like it had cracked.
He saw nothing but red.
...
But death never came.
...
The pressure vanished, like a storm passing over the mountains.
Smoker blinked, gasping as he realized Shirogai hadn't left — he had just stopped a few meters ahead.
Turning back, Shirogai gave him a wide grin.
"Not bad," he said.
"You've got guts. You're qualified to challenge me."
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Looks like no bonus chapters again today, enjoy the 2 daily ones instead!