Gawain instinctively took a step back at the sight of the approaching navy.
By now, he had stalled Smoker's pursuit for several hours.
If, after all that time, Kuro still hadn't figured out a way to escape or conceal their whereabouts, then as the vice-captain, Gawain would have to consider finding someone more competent for the role.
With that thought in mind, he turned to leave—only for his gaze to pause on a familiar silhouette through the drifting white smoke.
Gin.
Badly wounded, the man lay limp on the ground, his strength utterly spent. Blood seeped from his injuries, forming dark pools beneath him.
Only the faint rise and fall of his chest proved that he was still clinging to life.
"What a lucky guy," Gawain muttered, curling his lip.
In the next instant, both he and Gin vanished from the spot.
Raven Harbor
As the battle died down, the lingering smoke gradually thinned. From the warship, Tashigi led a contingent of marines onto the port.
"Colonel Smoker, what's the situation?" she asked.
Smoker's expression was grim as he stared at the place where Gawain had disappeared.
"Knight Gawain is far more dangerous than we or the Navy anticipated," he said gravely. "I've got a bad feeling… If we can't stop him here in the East Blue, someone like him might just become another Red-Haired-level threat in the New World."
As he spoke, Smoker raised his arm—and only then noticed that his hand, which had previously gripped the Jitte, was still trembling.
He clenched his fist tightly and ordered coldly, "Block the harbor. No one leaves—only entries are allowed from now on."
"And bring me my spare Jitte."
Tashigi blinked in surprise. "The spare doesn't have any Seastone components. Its hardness and ability-suppression capabilities are way lower."
"That's the one I want."
Tashigi inhaled sharply. "Wait… Are you saying he took your weapon?"
Even she couldn't hide the unease in her voice. Though she hadn't met Gawain, she was growing increasingly wary of the man.
She was well aware of Smoker's strength. He was a top-tier officer among his peers—wasting his talents in the East Blue was almost criminal.
But someone capable of pushing Smoker to the point of losing both his temper and his weapon? That kind of man belonged in the Grand Line.
"Colonel Smoker, just what—"
Before she could finish, Smoker's face darkened, and he nearly bit through the cigars in his mouth.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't," he snapped.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Tashigi stiffened instinctively.
As she straightened up, she barely caught Smoker muttering under his breath, "Also… get two men to try fishing out the Seastone Jitte. It should be around that spot. Damn. That thing's custom-made and costs me years of salary."
"Huh?"
Tashigi stared at him, dumbfounded.
Did he just say… he threw it into the sea himself?
Smoker sighed. "I told you not to ask. I tossed it!"
Tashigi's face was pure confusion.
What kind of operation is this...?
Ignoring her bafflement, Smoker shifted his attention to the burning docks in the distance.
"Send some marines to help the local guards with the rescue efforts."
"Yes, sir."
Smoker gave a short nod, then turned back toward the area where Gawain had vanished.
"I'm going to lead the search myself. We're not letting that guy make it to the Grand Line. If we do, we'll never live it down."
Soon, under Tashigi's command, squads of marines fanned out across the harbor. They rescued civilians and began a thorough sweep of the area—residential zones, commercial districts, even the outer black market.
All they found were a few small-time fugitives. No sign of Gawain.
The Next Morning
The sun climbed over the horizon, its golden rays falling across Raven Harbor. Under naval control, the chaos slowly gave way to order.
Inside the command room, Smoker studied the latest report delivered by Tashigi.
"You're saying… a group of marines had already begun rescue operations before we arrived?" he asked, frowning at the map.
"Yes," Tashigi confirmed. "Strangely enough, after we took over, they left in an orderly fashion. We couldn't even determine which base they were from."
"Could they have been remnants under Colonel Nezumi?" she asked.
Smoker scoffed. "I'd sooner believe they were pirates in disguise than trust Nezumi's men."
"Still, whoever they were, they didn't act like enemies," he continued. "Regardless, our top priority is still the same—capture Knight Gawain."
He pointed at a spot on the map.
"The only area left unchecked is the Lord's Mansion."
Tashigi hesitated. "But we don't have an internal search warrant. Attacking the Lord's Mansion would be a violation of protocol."
"Protocol?" Smoker laughed coldly.
"How many times have pirates escaped and caused chaos elsewhere because of meaningless red tape?"
"These outdated rules should've been burned long ago. Upholding justice, hunting pirates—that's the real law."
"Follow me!"
"Yes, sir!"
Meanwhile – Inside the Lord's Mansion
When Tashigi and her forces entered the harbor, Kuro had quickly instructed his men to regroup at the mansion. By now, most of the Gawain Pirates had gathered there.
A doctor tended to the wounded, but the injuries themselves seemed insignificant compared to the emotions in their eyes.
"I didn't think our mission this time would be to save people," one of the pirates muttered, pulling out a squashed piece of candy from his pocket.
"I'll never forget the woman's expression when I pulled her from the rubble," another said quietly.
"We never raided towns when we followed Captain Gawain," someone else added. "But even then, people always looked at us with fear…"
"You think that's wild? Some old lady grabbed my hand and tried to marry her daughter off to me!"
"Marry a pirate? Seriously?"
"Hahaha!"
As laughter filled the room, tears quietly welled up in more than a few eyes. Something had changed in their hearts—something they'd never felt before.
Kuro watched silently, arms folded. "This isn't how pirates are supposed to act..."
"But they're satisfied, aren't they?" Grayza replied, smiling faintly as she looked at the pirates still wearing naval uniforms.
"After all, they're Knight Gawain's men. He's not like other pirates. Even without his knighthood, he still upholds the code of chivalry."
Kuro didn't respond. But the mention of Gawain brought a flicker of unease to his face.
"The fighting's been over for a while… Don't tell me he—"
Bang!
The doors of the mansion burst open.
Gawain strode in, carrying a battered Gin over his shoulder.
His gaze swept over the room.
"So," he said dryly, "are you all that eager to inherit my chivalry—bah, I mean, my position?"