A young male voice spoke calmly as a hand settled on Smoker's shoulder.
In an instant, an overwhelming pressure crashed down on Smoker's body, pinning him in place as if the air itself had turned solid. His breath caught.
He turned his head slowly, pupils shrinking.
A young man stood beside him.
"God Slayer."
The name surfaced in Smoker's mind before he could stop it.
Rolan.
"What… what's happening?" Luffy shouted from the ground, still pinned by the jitte, completely unaware of what had just changed.
Smoker clenched his teeth. "What do you want? The World Government wants your head more than anyone's, Rolan."
He was furious. He had barely managed to subdue Straw Hat Luffy through strategy and timing, and now this man had appeared. Everything he had done was meaningless.
So this was it.
The powerful background you warned me about… was you yourself.
Rolan shook his head slightly, looking more bored than anything else. "I owed someone a favor. He asked me to make sure his son set sail safely. That's all."
He reached down and grabbed Luffy by the collar as if lifting luggage.
"Rolan? Why are you here?" Luffy asked, eyes wide, shock quickly turning into excitement.
"I'm here because someone asked," Rolan replied flatly.
Luffy laughed, pointing at Smoker. "Thanks! This smoking guy has a weird weapon. I lose all my strength the moment I touch it."
Rolan ignored him and looked at Smoker. "Goodbye, Smoker. Vice Admiral."
The next moment, both Rolan and Luffy vanished.
At the same time, Rolan's voice echoed quietly in Smoker's ear.
Smoker, your justice shouldn't be chained to corruption. This world is complicated, and it still needs your kind of justice. When you're ready, come to Peach Garden and find me.
…
Bang.
A heavy impact shook the deck of the Going Merry as smoke and dust exploded outward.
"Oh!"
"Cough, cough!"
The thick cloud made everyone choke.
Sanji instantly stepped in front of Carina, striking a dramatic pose. "Carina swan, don't worry. I'll protect you."
"Hehe, then I'll leave it to you," Carina replied casually.
Sanji's eyes turned into hearts, his posture stiffening like he'd been struck by lightning. "With pleasure."
Usopp immediately clung to Sanji's leg. "Sanji, I also need protection."
"Get lost."
Bang.
A familiar voice laughed from within the smoke. "Ahahaha. That was close. Almost got caught."
As the dust settled, two figures appeared.
Rolan and Luffy stood on the deck.
Everyone froze.
?? frowned. "Oi. Who's this guy with Luffy?"
Sanji and Carina stared hard at Rolan. For a split second, the resemblance hit them. The face from the newspapers. The man whose name shook the entire sea.
But they dismissed it almost immediately.
There was no way someone like that would appear in the East Blue.
?? felt a strange sense of familiarity but couldn't place it. The thought slipped away just as quickly.
(Idk who this guy is supposed to be, so I added '??' so I can edit it later on)
Luffy grinned. "This is Rolan. Um… he's my…"
He paused, thinking hard.
"My friend."
Bang.
Rolan flicked Luffy's forehead.
"Ow!"
Sanji dropped his cigarette. "Wait. Are you really Rolan?"
Carina's breath caught.
If her memory was right, the man behind Golden City, the strongest pirate alive, was named Rolan.
Was it really him?
Usopp spoke up calmly. "Long time no see, Rolan."
Rolan glanced at him. "So you ended up on his ship after all."
Sanji turned slowly toward Usopp. "You know him?"
Usopp nodded. "He's the one who saved Kaya."
Silence hit the deck.
Sanji's mind short circuited. "Then… this really is that Rolan?"
Rolan looked at them, expression indifferent. "I'm Rolan. A pirate. That idiot causes trouble everywhere he goes, so I assume he's been a headache for you."
"Ah, no."
"Not at all."
"He's manageable."
"That's impossible."
The crew stared at him in disbelief. This was nothing like the image they had of one of the Emperors.
Luffy laughed loudly. "See? My crew's great, right?"
Rolan nodded once. "They're solid."
Sanji nearly choked. "He praised us."
Carina squinted at Rolan. "So why are you in the East Blue?"
Rolan answered plainly. "Because I promised Dragon."
Luffy blinked. "Dragon? Do I know someone like that?"
"You will," Rolan replied, offering no explanation.
Dragon had asked him to check on his son before he entered the Grand Line. Revolutionary Army intelligence was terrifyingly precise. They knew exactly where Luffy was.
Rolan didn't care much, but a promise was a promise.
"I'll take you into the Grand Line," Rolan said.
Usopp almost exploded with joy. "Seriously? You'll really do that?"
Carina looked relieved. Less trouble suited her perfectly.
"No," Luffy said suddenly, waving his hand. "We'll enter on our own. If I can't even do that, how can I become Pirate King?"
Usopp stretched Luffy's face until it looked ridiculous. "Take it back. Say we need help. Say it now."
Bang.
Carina punched Luffy straight into the deck. "If you're going to say stupid things, don't talk."
The beating that followed was efficient and merciless.
When it ended, Luffy's face was swollen beyond recognition.
Rolan watched quietly, unfazed.
"That's fine," he said. "That's how it should be."
If Luffy accepted help here, he wouldn't be Luffy.
"Have a safe trip," Rolan said. "I'll be waiting in Peach Garden, in the New World."
He vanished.
Behind him, the sound of fists meeting flesh resumed.
"Stop hitting me!"
===
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