No one could read Kizaru's thoughts. Even Leike, who had long prepared himself to endure the Admiral's temper, found him utterly unpredictable this time.
Normally, Kizaru would have reacted with anger to such a challenge, yet he didn't. He agreed to Leike's proposal with such ease that Leike felt as though he were punching cotton ineffectual and surreal.
In just a few words, Leike and Kizaru resolved the matter. Even if Zephyr and Dalmatiya wanted to intervene, it was already too late.
Seeing that the situation was beyond control, they realized any further interference would be futile. Considering Leike and Smoker's limited abilities, and the fact that nothing dangerous would occur with them present, they chose not to insist on stopping him.
"How did I not notice this kid was so headstrong…" Dalmatiya shook his head in resignation. Let him face some hardship. It's harmless anyway, and it might prevent him from causing bigger trouble in the future, which would be harder to manage.
Zephyr remained silent, deep in thought.
"Someone fetch two Seastone weapons," Dalmatiya suddenly ordered a soldier.
Kizaru heard the command and displayed the expression he had long anticipated, though he paid it little mind. Seastone was a natural counter to Devil Fruit users, but its effectiveness depended entirely on who wielded it. Not everyone could use it to harm a Devil Fruit user.
"No need for that!" Leike interrupted suddenly.
"Oh?"
For the first time, Kizaru looked genuinely surprised, fixing Leike with a peculiar gaze.
"Leike, don't tell me you're overconfident even about this small matter?" Dalmatiya frowned, displeased. "You're not a Devil Fruit user. Facing a Devil Fruit user puts you at a natural disadvantage. Even using Seastone, no one would blame you. I'm not convinced you're showing the full extent of your abilities, or that you truly trust your own method."
Dalmatiya genuinely admired Leike for stepping forward to protect Ann and confront Kizaru. Although it seemed reckless, who hadn't acted rashly in their youth?
But Leike's behavior now had crossed the line from youthful recklessness into near arrogance. That was something Dalmatiya could not tolerate.
"I understand the strength of Logia users. If it were another Logia, even with Seastone, I couldn't win. But him…" Leike let out two soft chuckles and remained silent.
"I say, you…"
"Do as he says!" Zephyr suddenly declared, putting an end to the discussion.
"Teacher?" Dalmatiya did not expect Zephyr to side with Leike in such a reckless plan.
"Let it be. Don't interfere," Zephyr shook his head, unwilling to elaborate.
Hearing this, Dalmatiya had no choice but to recall the soldier sent to fetch the Seastone weapons.
At the same time, Smoker's earlier frustration had faded. Leike's repeated insults calling him an "idiot" and "useless" had fueled his anger to the point where all his resentment toward Zephyr was now projected onto Leike.
He stepped forward, staring Leike down, and asked deliberately, word by word: "Did you just say I'm useless?"
"Using your Devil Fruit powers to bully a little girl, and feeling proud of it? If it were me, I'd have smashed my head into the wall already. Saying you're useless is even giving you too much credit," Leike replied coldly, openly insulting Smoker, who had no one to shield him.
"This is your fault!"
Arrogant by nature, Smoker's pride would never tolerate such humiliation. Enraged, he immediately attacked.
"White Fist!"
His right hand formed into a fist, then separated from his wrist. The fist expanded into a massive cloud of smoke, lunging straight at Leike.
Yet Leike seemed to have anticipated this. He stepped lightly to the left, effortlessly dodging Smoker's furious strike.
"Huh?" The three key observers gasped almost simultaneously.
From the students' perspective, it appeared as though Smoker had been provoked, attacked in anger, and Leike narrowly avoided the blow.
But the three adults noticed something different.
Leike had moved before Smoker even struck, yet Smoker's attack seemed preemptively aimed at where Leike would be, hitting an empty space with uncanny precision. This subtle timing lasted only moments, leaving them puzzled but unable to conclude if it was mere coincidence.
Seeing the attack miss, Smoker quickly retracted his fist.
He turned and launched a double attack, swinging both fists from left and right, his expression fierce: "This time, let's see how you dodge!"
Leike stepped back to the left, narrowly avoiding the left punch. Then, without even moving his feet, he evaded the right fist with a slight shift of his body.
"How is this possible?!"
Smoker's face twisted with disbelief. Both punches had nearly struck simultaneously, yet Leike moved as if by instinct, effortlessly dodging each blow.
"I refuse to believe this is all coincidence! Again!"
Though uneasy, Smoker could not pinpoint what was wrong, so he kept attacking frantically, attempting to suppress his doubt.
Turn, dodge, evade the third strike.
Retreat, bend, avoid the fourth.
Forward, leap, escape the fifth.
Leike had not acted aggressively at all. Each dodge seemed almost accidental, yet perfectly timed to avoid every attack. Even the students began to realize something was off.
"Look! Leike's eyes are closed! How is this possible?!" one sharp-eyed student exclaimed.
Once alerted, others quickly noticed.
It was true. Leike had closed his eyes, flawlessly dodging Smoker's attacks without pause, relying solely on instinct.