Loguetown Branch Chief's Office.
"Buru… Buru .... Buru…"
Smoker sat in a reclining chair, a cigar pinched between his fingers, smoke curling around his calm yet thoughtful face.
He casually spun the dial of the Den Den Mushi.
After three crisp rings, the call connected.
"Hey, Smoker. It's rare for you to call me first."
A lazy voice came through from the other end, tinged with a hint of indifference, as if none of this mattered.
On the other end, Kuzan lounged leisurely somewhere in Marine Headquarters, sunlight spilling over him, adding an extra layer of drowsiness to his already relaxed demeanor.
"Kuzan, I need your help with two things."
"Oh? You're asking me for help? That's even rarer!" Kuzan instantly straightened his posture, stretching lazily as his expression grew more serious.
This proud, headstrong friend of his, who never paid much attention to Marine orders, was actually reaching out to him—now that was unusual.
"Didn't you say you could stop all pirates at Loguetown?"
"Running into trouble now?"
"Cut the crap!" Smoker said.
"First, I need to be transferred out of Loguetown. As for where, I haven't decided yet."
"I'll have an answer by the time I reach Headquarters," Smoker added.
"Second, I'll be leaving Loguetown soon. Send a Marine Headquarters captain to take charge here."
"These are small things. If you want a transfer from a branch chief position in the East Blue to HQ, it's easy for me to handle." Kuzan chuckled lightly.
After all, as one of the three Marine Admirals, transfers between Headquarters and branches could be arranged at any time.
But then, Kuzan's tone suddenly turned grave.
"The question is, what exactly happened?"
"Smoker..." His voice lowered, carrying an uncharacteristic seriousness.
"You know I don't like dealing with troublesome things, but if you're desperate enough to ask for my help, something big must've happened, right?"
"You're one of the few friends I have. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"So, I need to know the details!"
"Kuzan," Smoker's voice came through again, even more solemn.
"Have you ever seen a slash that splits the sky?"
"..."
On the other end, Kuzan fell silent for a few seconds, his mind racing.
'A slash that splits the sky?' Clashes of Conqueror's Haki could achieve that, but Smoker specifically mentioned a slash—that was different.
It had to be from a swordsman.
On these seas, there weren't many swordsmen capable of such a feat.
In his prime, Golden Lion Shiki could do it.
In his prime, Gold Roger could do it.
And then there was... But they were all figures from the previous era, their powers long diminished by the passage of time.
In this era, among those who could still accomplish such a thing, Shanks was always under Marine surveillance.
That left only... Kuzan's eyes suddenly widened, his tone shifting.
"'Hawk-Eyes' came to the East Blue?" He paused, his shock seemingly intensifying.
"Who did he fight to split the sky?"
Smoker exhaled a slow ring of smoke, a faint, mischievous smile on his face as he pictured his friend's reaction.
He was usually so lazy and unflappable, always appearing indifferent.
Today, he really wanted to hear Kuzan's shock.
"No, neither of them."
"Then who?" Kuzan's tone was already brimming with curiosity.
"Someone I never expected." Smoker deliberately kept him in suspense.
"..." Kuzan exhaled a cold breath in exasperation.
His friend was definitely not the type to act this way—he was straightforward and couldn't keep secrets to save his life.
'Who the hell had corrupted him?!'
"By the way, Kuzan, Dragon has appeared in the East Blue."
"..." Kuzan's brow instantly furrowed, his entire demeanor suddenly turning serious.
"Dragon? His hometown is in the East Blue. What could he be doing there?"
"That's right, and Dragon already achieved his goal here—though the cost was rather steep!" Smoker leisurely took a drag from his cigar, waiting for Kuzan's reaction.
"Cost?"
"Yes. That man—with a single slash—not only split the skies but also left Dragon severely wounded."
"The world's most wanted criminal, fleeing in disgrace!" Smoker took another satisfied puff, anticipating Kuzan's response.
'Be shocked by this news, my friend.'
"!!!"
Kuzan abruptly stood up, his expression instantly turning grave with a flash of astonishment in his eyes.
"Dragon was severely wounded by a single slash?" His voice carried an unmistakable tremor.
Who was Dragon? The world's most wanted criminal—the son of his own mentor, Vice Admiral Garp.
His strength was something Kuzan knew well.
He was absolutely not someone an ordinary person could challenge.
"Impossible. Anyone capable of severely wounding Dragon in a single strike—even if it was a sneak attack—must be at the level of an elite vice admiral at minimum." Kuzan took a deep breath, his thoughts racing.
"There's no way the Marines would be completely unaware of such a strong individual!"
"Smoker, are you messing with me now?" Kuzan's voice suddenly turned calm and heavy, laced with a rare wariness.
"How could someone like that appear on these seas without the Marines knowing anything about it?"
"What the hell have all the Marine branches been doing?!" Kuzan's tone grew even more intense.
"Where are all the intelligence divisions?"
"And what about the World Government's spy agencies?"
Smoker smirked slightly, his tone nonchalant.
"Mhm, mhm, mhm."
"Everything you're saying makes sense, Kuzan."
"The problem is—he is a Marine!"
"!!!"
Those words struck Kuzan like a thunderbolt.
Instantly, his eyes widened, his pupils constricting sharply, his heartbeat nearly stopping.
"A Marine?"
"How is that possible?"
"Who is it?" Kuzan's voice suddenly rose, filled with unprecedented urgency.
His mind raced, desperately searching for any clue in this revelation.
"There haven't been any new Vice Admiral candidates submitted for approval recently!" Kuzan pressed on, his tone tinged with anxiety.
"The newly promoted Captain from Marine HQ—Mike!" Smoker exhaled a slow smoke ring, his tone casual, but those words pierced Kuzan's heart like a razor-sharp blade.
"Mike?!!!" Kuzan's face paled instantly.
His eyes bulged, his mouth slightly agape, as if he couldn't believe the name he had just heard.
"Borsalino's new adjutant?" He muttered to himself, his voice laced with unconcealed astonishment.
As one of the Marine Admirals, Kuzan naturally kept close tabs on personnel changes around his fellow Admirals.
Though he hadn't attended recent meetings, he was well aware that after the evaluations, Kizaru had promoted a branch captain to serve as his adjutant—that captain was none other than Mike.
"Yes, it's him!"
"Are you serious?"
"Would I lie to you?"
"That slash—I saw it with my own eyes."
"..."
For a moment, Kuzan's heartbeat nearly stopped.
Holding his breath, he listened as Smoker continued.
"That slash split the sky and divide it in two."
"Above the scar—hell."
"Below the scar—paradise."
"That technique he used is called—Mugetsu!!!"
"Kuzan, I'm planning to board his ship back to headquarters..."
"Along the way, I intend to ask that kid for some pointers... on how to get stronger!"
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