In Rainbase, Yang Tao held Chopper and walked towards Rain Dinners, Chopper showed no resistance, holding a golden apple in both hands and gnawing on it blissfully.
After testing, Yang Tao found that Chopper was very fond of wheat, apples, and carrots, but could not be tamed…
It was like encountering other players' pets in a server; they could eat what you gave them, but you couldn't tame them.
Sanji and Yang Tao passed by each other.
'Is that Chopper?'
"Hey, Chopper, where are you going?"
Chopper, who was eating the golden apple, immediately sobered up, quickly climbed onto Yang Tao's shoulder, and said to Sanji: "This kind person who brought me food said he would take me to find Luffy and the others."
Kind person?
Sanji felt a headache.
"Chopper, don't just follow anyone, be careful not to be made into venison jerky!"
"Huh?! Venison jerky, ah! I don't want that."
Yang Tao quickly comforted him: "How could such a cute Chopper be made into venison jerky? Have you forgotten, I am the good person you personally acknowledged."
As expected of a pirate's cute pet, Chopper instantly forgot about the venison jerky, and said with a smile: "You're so annoying! Stop praising me."
Sanji: "…"
Damn, he's hopeless.
Yang Tao turned to look at Sanji and greeted him with a smile: "Long time no see, Sanji."
Sanji's expression changed slightly; the impression Yang Tao left on him was too deep. At that time, on the ship, he had only spoken a single word on behalf of Gin, and the other party had almost cut him down with one stroke.
The subsequent challenge to Mihawk, the destruction of Arlong Park, and the 10 billion bounty were all like sharp swords hanging over his head.
"It's you!"
"If you haven't seen another person exactly like me, then it should be me."
"Let me pet Chopper for a while; I'll return him to you later."
Yang Tao turned and continued walking towards Rain Dinners, while Sanji's expression behind him was very complex.
'Why is this man here? Is he also one of Crocodile's people?'
Suddenly, he remembered Chopper saying earlier that Yang Tao was going to take him to find Luffy.
After a moment of hesitation, Sanji followed him.
Yang Tao didn't pay attention to Sanji following behind him. After walking for a while, he saw Tashigi leading a group of Marines standing at the entrance of the Rain Dinners Casino, looking for Smoker.
"Tashigi, Smoker isn't outside…"
"Mr. Yang!"
Tashigi saw Yang Tao walking over with Chopper, as if she had seen a savior.
"I searched everywhere and couldn't find Captain Smoker. Do you mean he's inside the Rain Dinners Casino?"
Yang Tao nodded lightly and then asked: "Did you bring a Den Den Mushi?"
Den Den Mushi, as the name suggests, are telephones in the One Piece world, but they are giant snails, with various bizarre appearances, though their function is the same.
Tashigi heard Yang Tao ask about the Den Den Mushi and immediately nodded, saying: "I did."
She instructed the Marine beside her: "Bring the Den Den Mushi over."
"Yes!"
A Marine carried a Den Den Mushi to Tashigi's side. Tashigi took the Den Den Mushi and asked: "Mr. Yang, do you want to use it?"
"Notify your superiors. Smoker has been imprisoned by Crocodile. With your strength, it's impossible to defeat Crocodile."
Tashigi was so surprised that she blurted out: "How is that possible? How dare he imprison a Navy Headquarters Captain!"
"He's a Shichibukai, but he's also a pirate. Do you think he dares or not?"
Tashigi's expression became extremely serious upon hearing this, and she immediately took the Den Den Mushi to contact her superiors.
Soon, the Den Den Mushi transformed into Aokiji's appearance: "Tashigi, what's wrong?"
Although Smoker is only a Headquarters Captain, his superior is not a Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral, but Admiral Aokiji, and it's unknown if it's because he is a Logia user.
"Admiral Aokiji, the Shichibukai Crocodile has imprisoned Captain Smoker, we…"
Yang Tao patted Tashigi's shoulder, then waved to her and said: "Give me the Den Den Mushi."
Tashigi immediately said in a panic: "Mr. Yang, this is Admiral Aokiji…"
Before Tashigi could speak, Aokiji's voice impatiently said: "Tashigi, give him the Den Den Mushi!"
"Okay, okay…"
Tashigi, looking bewildered, handed the Den Den Mushi to Yang Tao. Yang Tao held the Den Den Mushi in one hand. It was his first time using this thing, and he found it very magical, especially the vivid face of the Den Den Mushi.
"Aokiji, have Kizaru take you to the sky above Marineford."
"Why are you in Alabasta? What do you want to do?"
"Me? Of course, I'm here to watch the show. I won't say much more to you. I'll be there in a bit. If you're not there, then so be it. Anyway, Smoker isn't my subordinate."
Yang Tao returned the Den Den Mushi to Tashigi. The naturally dazed Tashigi asked: "Do you know Aokiji?"
"Of course, we met yesterday. We're close friends."
This is the art of speaking.
"Huh?"
"Don't 'huh' anymore, Tashigi. Just wait for Admiral Aokiji to come."
…
Marineford.
Aokiji, who was in his office, heard the 'close friends' comment from the Den Den Mushi, immediately hung up the phone, and got up to walk towards Sengoku's office.
Knock, knock…
"Come in."
Inside the office, Sengoku's expression became somewhat solemn when he saw Aokiji enter, because the three Admirals generally do not come to his office. If they come voluntarily, it usually means something major has happened:
"Aokiji, what's the matter?"
"Yang Tao appeared in Alabasta. He told me to wait for him in the sky above Marineford."
Sengoku frowned upon hearing Aokiji's words and muttered: "What is this guy doing in Alabasta? There's no news of him harming civilians…"
"He said he was going to watch the show, and also, the Shichibukai Crocodile has imprisoned Smoker."
"That smoking kid?"
Every Logia user is a key talent nurtured by the Navy. The future achievements of someone like Smoker would be at least a Vice Admiral, or even a Vice Admiral.
Sengoku naturally knew Smoker.
"He's imprisoned by Crocodile. It seems sending him to the branch was truly a mistake. Aokiji, go and see what that man wants to do. Prioritize safety above all else. As for the Shichibukai Crocodile…"
At this point, Sengoku rested his chin on his hands, a fierce glint flashing across his face. After a moment of silence, he said: "If he kills Smoker, then Crocodile will be executed!"
Yesterday, after witnessing the death of the Five Elders, Sengoku suddenly realized something.
Holy Land Mary Geoise was destroyed, the Celestial Dragons disappeared, and the Five Elders all died in battle. Now, it seems that apart from Fleet Admiral Kong, there's no one above him.
Once the thought became clear, he felt the world broaden.
He had been fed up with the Shichibukai for a long time. What kind of pirates dared to be on equal footing with me, Buddha Sengoku?
Aokiji showed no surprise, simply nodding and responding: "Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."