"But Mr. Smoker, the files show that Jewelry Bonney is just a child. Are we really going to move against someone like that?"
Behind Smoker, a young woman with red-rimmed glasses holding a famous blade couldn't help but whisper. A flicker of pity flashed in her eyes. From the insignia on her shoulder, it was clear she held the rank of Chief Petty Officer at Marine Headquarters.
Smoker stepped off the ship, his posture ramrod straight as he grunted irritably, "A child? You're calling the user of the Age-Age Fruit—someone who can take down hundreds of Marines in one go and has a bounty of 120 million—a 'child'?"
"But... she's only eight years old."
"Shut it, Tashigi! We'll deal with that later!" Smoker turned around, looking annoyed. "She's the daughter of the man they call 'Tyrant.' If she weren't, do you think I'd want to be the one to bring her in?"
"Besides, her ability is too dangerous. She has the power to make people instantly elderly or young... We can't let someone like that roam free!"
"Giggle... Little Tashigi has a point, doesn't she? Can Smoker really bring himself to lay hands on a child?"
A sexy beauty with long pink hair, a curvaceous figure, and a narrow waist stepped off another Marine warship. She covered her mouth as she teased Smoker.
"Dammit, Hina! Don't just stand there making snide remarks!"
"Hina says: don't lose your temper~"
Hina stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Smoker. "Don't forget, Headquarters sent two Captain-level officers this time for more than just arresting Jewelry Bonney. You and Tashigi-chan need to tuck away that unneeded pity. Regardless of age, they are... pirates!"
Hina rolled her beautiful eyes. "And don't make Hina clean up after the two of you again~"
Smoker narrowed his eyes. He hadn't forgotten. A few days ago, a Marine branch in the South Blue spotted a gargantuan entity at sea. It looked like a whale but was as large as a mountain. It was later confirmed to be a ship. Such a massive vessel was unheard of; the technology and the faction behind it had to be secured by the World Government.
Thus, Smoker and Hina, two Headquarters Captains, were dispatched immediately. They had two objectives:
1. Arrest the "Legacy of Evil," the child of Bartholomew Kuma and user of the Age-Age Fruit: Jewelry Bonney.
2. The primary mission: investigate the leads regarding that massive ship, find out who is on it, and if possible, arrest them and seize the vessel.
"The last Den Den Mushi intercept from local fishermen spotted the ship three days ago. It was heading toward this island. But we've already scouted the coastline once and haven't seen a trace of it."
Click—
Hina pulled out a lady's cigarette, and Smoker habitually lit it for her.
"Two possibilities," Hina said, exhaling a slow smoke ring from her red lips. "First: they spotted our surveillance and bypassed the island. Second..." She paused, her expression turning serious as she looked toward the distance. "There is a Devil Fruit user on that ship who used an unknown method to hide it. Either way... it proves this group is very troublesome!"
---
In the tall grass further away, the group of burly fishermen were looking through binoculars at the coast, their faces pale.
"Our ship!!!"
"We're doomed! It's 'White Hunter' Smoker and 'Black Cage' Hina!"
Among pirates, those names were legendary. Smoker never let a target escape once he locked onto them, and Hina's meticulousness was equally feared.
"We just set sail! We only escaped the Marines once! Why would they send two Headquarters Captains for us?!"
"And those two, specifically! Something's wrong—"
"It's not that strange, is it? Big Sis is a big-time pirate with a 120-million bounty now!"
The men looked fervently at the girl behind them. Jewelry Bonney had finally finished her food and joined them at the edge of the grass. She saw the white-haired Smoker and the beautiful Hina perfectly.
"The whole dock is full of their men," Bonney gritted her teeth. "The coastline is locked down. Most importantly, they have our ship. Dammit, why did it have to be those two?!"
"Big Sis, what do we do?" a subordinate asked, trembling.
"We'll have to force our way through..." Bonney spat on the ground. She turned to her crew, her expression turning fierce. "I'll stall those two Marines. You look for an opening to break through the blockade and retake the ship. Once you're on, don't wait for me—just get to sea!"
"Big Sis!" / "Captain!" / "No way—!"
The men protested vehemently. "That's impossible! Your father entrusted you to us! We aren't going to stand by and watch you get caught!"
"If we leave you and run, how could we ever look Boss Kuma in the eye when we find him?!"
"Big Sis, we'll cover you! You escape alone!"
Bonney's expression softened for a moment before she snapped back into a harsh glare. "They are Marine Captains and Devil Fruit users! You think you can stall them?!"
The men hung their heads. Even though they were much older than Bonney—practically her uncles—the gap in strength was real.
"Even if we aren't strong enough, we'll die to buy you time!"
"Yeah! We'll give our lives so you can get to sea!"
Bonney's heart lightened, but she knew Logia users like Smoker were her natural counters. If she couldn't touch them, her Age-Age Fruit was useless.
"Forget it! We charge together! Whoever escapes will find a way back to rescue the rest—"
Bonney was about to leap forward when a voice spoke from the shadows.
"Wait a second. I might have a way to help you escape~"
Chrollo stepped out of the darkness, his lips lifted in a slight smile. "And the price is... join us... or die."
---
Chrollo has made his move! Would you like to see Bonney's reaction to this mysterious stranger, or should we switch to Smoker and Hina as they notice the "trouble" brewing in the grass?