...
It's not just the King of Loan Sharks who's puzzled.
There's also a white-haired man with a slicked-back hairstyle.
At that moment, outside the casino, the night was deep.
Under the streetlamp in a secluded alley, Shano walked in front, with Smoker following closely behind, occasionally turning his head to sneak a glance at Fujitora.
And Fujitora seemed unaware, slowly following with his wooden cane.
"Hey, boss."
Smoker couldn't hold it any longer, lowered his voice, and leaned towards Shano's ear, "Is this guy really that good? Worth you spending a whole night, personally..."
"There aren't many people around here." Shano replied without looking at him, "If you're not convinced, you can go and spar with him."
Spar?
Smoker raised an eyebrow.
Ha, just what he wanted!
Normally, he would execute Shano's orders without question, but this time, he wasn't convinced at all.
To be honest.
Aside from Nojiko and Nami, everyone else on the ship basically admired Shano's reputation and requested to join voluntarily.
As for himself, he had to hide in the ventilation ducts for days, almost suffocating from the kitchen smoke.
And this blind guy?
Who the hell is he, with what face does he deserve such attention and respect from boss Shano?
He's the one who can't stand it!
Slam.
Smoker's steps suddenly stopped, and he stood in front of Fujitora, who also stopped and looked down with slight surprise at the man who was 60-70 cm shorter than him:
"Is there something you need?"
"Not much, but Mr. Issho, after sitting for so long at the gambling table, shouldn't you stretch a bit before drinking?"
Smoker, always one to start with courtesy, offered a cigar, then gestured to an empty space nearby:
"How about we practice a little right here?"
He grinned openly, saying:
"Rest assured, I just want to see what someone who caught boss Shano's eye is really made of. I always hold back against non-enemy opponents."
"This..."
Fujitora seemed a bit troubled, glanced at Shano who showed no intention to intervene, and then nodded:
"Very well."
...
In the open ground.
The two stood facing each other, Smoker took a deep final drag of his cigar, tossed it aside, exhaling a long puff of smoke, his eyes ignited with battle intent:
"Mr. Issho, please instruct me."
With that, Smoker suddenly erupted!
He jumped into the air with Moonwalk, his right arm instantly Elementalized into rolling dense smoke, compressed and condensed into a giant fist, covered with Armament, and slammed down towards Fujitora with a roar!
"White Fist·Extra Strong Nicotine Heavy Cannon!"
Logia-type Ability User, huh?
Fujitora looked "up" at the scene, his face solemn, slowly drawing the blade hidden within his wooden cane...
Ten seconds later.
In the cracked ground's center, Smoker was sprawled on the ground like Yamcha, eyes rolled back, smoke rising from his body, his curled right leg twitching.
"I told you, and you didn't believe it."
Shano extended a hand to help the stubborn turnip out of the pit, casually saying, "Now do you understand Mr. Issho's strength?"
"Thank you for letting me win."
Fujitora apologized, helping to support Smoker.
Because of being Shano's cadre and the mighty presence of a Logia-type, Fujitora had acted with caution, yet the result...
Might have overestimated the opponent a bit.
"Um... ah..."
Smoker's eyes were dazed, wobbling for a while before he stood firm, clearly not yet recovered from the earlier blow.
The difference was too great!
He didn't even see how Fujitora struck, only remembered his White Fist being instantly dismantled by a strand of Sword Qi.
Next, it was like hitting an invisible wall, pinned down by an immense gravitational force, unable to move an inch despite trying his best.
You could say, out of the ten seconds of fighting, nine were spent struggling in the pit.
The actual moment of defeat...
Only lasted a mere second.
Such power... might even surpass Deputy Captain Kuina, comparable to my often dueling in the Illusion Realm with Zephyr-sensei!
No wonder before going to the casino, boss Shano said if this blind guy joined the Navy, he'd be my superior...
This strong, he should at least be an Admiral substitute!
Shano, seeing Smoker's utterly frustrated, self-doubting expression, couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
"Alright, don't overthink it."
He turned to walk out of the alley, "Let's go, just around the corner is a tavern, we can chat over drinks."
Fujitora followed with his cane.
Smoker stood staring at Fujitora's back for a few seconds, then sighed helplessly before quickly catching up.
"Hey, Mr. Issho!"
"Hmm?"
Smoker hesitated for a moment, then couldn't resist asking:
"In terms of strength, I'm convinced, you're strong, really strong, boss's eye for talent is sharp as always. But there's another thing I don't understand, earlier... how did you win nineteen games in a row at the casino? And with such confidence, like the victory was assured?"
Hearing this, Fujitora smiled meaningfully at the corner of his mouth.
"Though I can't see the dice, I can feel the echoes of destiny flowing through the veil. As a gambler, fortune rises and falls, but it always circles back to me someday."
"Uh..."
Smoker, bewildered by the words, asked confusedly, "Could you explain in simpler terms?"
"Over the past few months, I've lost ninety-nine times in a row."
Fujitora scratched his head, his face blushing:
"Everything I had, the ship... even my underpants and shoes are gone, only this yukata and this sword are left. So tonight, I felt that I was due a change of fortune, otherwise it wouldn't be reasonable."
Smoker: "..."
Really, that's all?
So that's where your confidence comes from, huh!
...
Inside the tavern.
The lighting was dim, only a few bottles of aged rum on the wooden bar. The place was secluded, clearly not busy, but quiet.
Shano poured Fujitora a full glass, getting straight to the point:
"Mr. Issho, I suppose you know why I'm here. I won't bother with pleasantries, I'll be direct. I heard about your reputation a long time ago. With your strength, drifting on this sea seems a bit wasteful."
He wasn't just making this up.
Nami liked to buy newspapers, and when bored, he'd pick one up to read.
More than once, he'd come across small articles on an obscure page about the Blind Swordsman's adventures: gambling, drinking, and occasionally chivalrous acts.
Before joining the World Military Draft and becoming a Navy Grand Admiral, he wasn't unknown, attentive individuals would surely notice.
Fujitora held the glass, savoring the aroma, but didn't immediately respond.
"You flatter me, just call me Issho."
He took a sip, closing his eyes to savor the taste, then slowly said, "I'm just a blind man who loves to gamble, not worth being taken so seriously by you."
Overly modest people are really annoying, Smoker muttered to himself.
"At such a close distance, a strong person's presence can't escape my Observation."
Shano smiled, looking straight into Fujitora's closed eyes, speaking sincerely:
"I appreciate your strength, but more than that, I admire your character."
"I've heard you wander around, helping local civilians, driving away pirates, and often ending up penniless. That chivalrous spirit is admirable."
Fujitora looked up in surprise, "You even know about these little things?"
"Small things? Saving countless lives is a small thing?"
Shano drank his glass dry, pointing to Fujitora's suitcase nearby, bursting into laughter:
"Don't downplay it, like that, three hundred million and two hundred thousand Belly. Come on, Issho, tell me, what's this money for?!"