"Phew—"
Smoker lit another cigar. Another call, another "good news, bad news" situation.
That was exactly how Kuzan put it last time.
The so-called good news then was that Hawk had survived.
The bad news? That brat had been promoted to Rear Admiral!
The memory still made Smoker's stomach churn.
He steadied himself and asked, "Kuzan… you sure this time's actually good news?"
"Absolutely. Very good," Kuzan replied lazily.
"Alright, out with it."
"You've been reassigned back to the Grand Line."
"Hmph—"
"So headquarters has finally recognized my potential, huh?!"
Smoker gave a self-satisfied grunt, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards.
It was about time they pulled him back to the Grand Line.
What pirates were even left in the East Blue now?
None.
Hawk had slaughtered them all.
But still if he was going back to the Grand Line, maybe his rank should be catching up too.
If he made Rear Admiral at HQ, wouldn't that put him on the same level as Hawk?
"Hey, Kuzan…"
"Don't tell me the bad news is that my rank's not moving?"
"You'd better work something out. I need to hit Rear Admiral fast!"
"I refuse to let that brat Hawk stand above me!"
"Hah can't do it, Smoker~"
"…What's that supposed to mean?"
Smoker's heart skipped a beat. He instantly caught the wrong note in Kuzan's tone.
Damn it.
The bad news was aimed squarely at him!
"The bad news is you've been transferred to G-3 Base… under Hawk's command."
"…"
The line went silent.
All the pride, all the anticipation on Smoker's face froze solid.
The cigar between his teeth snapped clean in half, one piece falling to the floor.
Hawk?!
That brat who humiliated him back in Cocoyasi Village?
The one who left him twiddling his thumbs in Loguetown for three whole months?
From now on, every time he saw him, he'd have to stand at attention, salute, and call out
"Rear Admiral Hawk, sir?!"
Was there no justice left in this world?!
No order, no law?!
"Puuh—!"
The blood rushed straight to Smoker's head, bursting out of his throat as a furious roar.
"KUZAAAAN!!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
The veins on his hand bulged as he gripped the transponder snail.
"Have the top brass lost their damn minds?! Making me serve under some newly promoted Rear Admiral?! On what grounds?!"
"…"
"Smoker, calm down," Kuzan's voice turned serious.
"This transfer order was signed personally by the Fleet Admiral. I agreed with it too."
"You'd better not think about resisting."
"…Why?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Oh, one more thing about the fleet assigned to G-3."
"Three brand-new colossal warships."
"Five large battleships."
"Ten mid-class warships."
"!!!"
Smoker's pupils shrank.
His gaze darted to the lone mid-class warship moored in the harbor outside his window his only possession at Loguetown.
And Hawk's G-3 Base… was getting three colossal warships?
Five large?
Ten mid-class?!
That wasn't a base fleet.
That was a task force to challenge a Yonko!
"Kuzan, you're not joking, are you?" Smoker's voice cracked dry.
"You know me. I never joke like this."
"Smoker, listen. Work well under Hawk. That's my advice as a friend."
"This order if you dare defy it not even I could save you."
"I've got a mountain of paperwork to finish. Hanging up now~"
Click. Click.
The line went dead.
"…"
Smoker stood frozen in place, motionless for a long while.
Kuzan's last words echoed over and over in his mind.
Paperwork…
That lazy bastard actually went off to handle paperwork himself?
What in the world was happening?
"Colonel Smoker…"
Tashigi spoke up nervously at his side. "What should we… do?"
"Phew—"
Smoker exhaled deeply, blowing out all the frustration boiling in his chest.
"Hmph—what do we do?"
He raised his head, his eyes burning with a rare, conflicted resolve.
Kuzan wouldn't screw him over. Which meant…
"Pass down my orders!"
"Everyone assemble!"
"Prepare to set sail for G-3 Base in the Grand Line!"
"I want to see for myself just what kind of earth-shattering stunt Hawk pulled at HQ!"
"Yes, sir!"
——
Meanwhile
Out on the Grand Line, a medium warship cut across the waves.
On deck, a striking female officer leaned casually against the rail.
Her long light-pink hair streamed in the sea breeze, a few strands clinging to her fair cheeks.
Buru-buru-buru~
The transponder snail at Hina's waist chimed.
She lifted it slowly, listening as the voice on the other end delivered its orders.
Moments later, she answered in a cool, crisp tone.
"Hina understands."
Click.
The line went dead.
"…"
Hina slid a slender lady's cigarette between her lips.
Rear Admiral Renn Hawk?
The name surfaced in her mind, a man who had shaken the very foundations of Naval Headquarters in recent months.
A newcomer promoted from the East Blue, fought over publicly by two Admirals, with even the Fleet Admiral stepping in personally.
Now, he was taking command of the heavily armed G-3 Base.
Even Smoker, the hotheaded classmate who bowed to no one, was being sent under his command.
Things were getting… interesting.
She turned, her sharp gaze landing on her vice-captain standing at attention.
Her voice was cold and decisive.
"Turn the ship."
"Destination G-3 Base."
"Yes, ma'am!"
——
Time flew quickly.
In the blink of an eye, Hawk had already spent a week at HQ.
All procedures were complete.
The soldiers of the former 16th Branch had received their new appointments, effective immediately.
Marineford, Naval Headquarters.
At the docks—
A massive fleet lay in wait, anchored across the harbor.
At the head of the formation stood three colossal new warships.
The giant banners snapping in the wind bore one bold, unmistakable character—"Hawk."
The towering hulls looked like floating fortresses, their ramming prows gleaming sharply in the sun.
Along the sides, countless gunports yawned dark and menacing toward the sky.
Behind them lined up five large battleships and ten medium warships, all gleaming with fresh coats of paint and the proud insignia of the G-3 Division.
The fleet resembled a monstrous steel leviathan, radiating a suffocating pressure.
Today marked the day Rear Admiral Renn Hawk would lead his fleet to G-3 Base.
Thud… thud… thud…
Heavy, commanding footsteps approached from afar.
The Marines standing guard on the pier straightened unconsciously.
"My god… what is this turnout?"
"Look! The Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Vice Admiral Tsuru! And all three Admirals are here!"
"Not just them…"
"Every Vice Admiral at HQ is present too?!"
"It's confirmed. Other than those on assignment…"
"Every single high-ranking officer in the Navy is here!!!"
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