Looking straight into the eyes of the boy before him, Smoker saw no hint of a lie, only complete confidence in his words. He truly believed everything he said. However, believing something didn't necessarily align with reality. Could an ordinary kid who had supposedly spent his whole life on the fringes of civilization understand all the nuances of what was happening at the heart of civilization? Or, to rephrase, could an ordinary kid from East Blue understand the hellish chaos of the New World? Smoker knew the answer was clear and obvious. No one could imagine the hell of the New World until they personally experienced it. But before Smoker could counter the boy before him, Luffy, as if reading his thoughts, began to address his objections before the captain could voice them.
"I roughly understand what you're thinking right now," Luffy's lips twisted into a bitter smile again. "What could a kid like me, who has never been to the Grand Line, know about that mysterious sea? About the order and powers there? But I repeat, you can't even imagine how dangerous the 'Pirate Killers' are. To the people of East Blue, the Grand Line is a mysterious, deadly sea, a so-called 'Pirate's Graveyard.' However, despite all the frightening rumors, there's almost no truth to them. People don't even know that the Grand Line is divided into two halves not because it's crossed by the Red Line, but because there's Heaven and Hell there."
At this point, Smoker's heart skipped a beat. Such terminology was only encountered in the New World. And it was used there because, compared to the New World, all the countless dangers of the first half of the Grand Line were little more than 'amusing adventures.' After the waters of the New World, the first half of the Grand Line truly felt like Heaven. Smoker had suspected a connection between the 'Pirate Killers' and the Grand Line earlier, but now he was almost entirely convinced of it. Of course, there was still a chance of various coincidences, but in light of everything that had been said, Smoker began to understand that things were indeed much more complicated than he had imagined.
"Heaven and Hell of the Grand Line... where do you know these concepts from?" The relaxation had completely vanished from Smoker's posture.
"The 'Pirate Slayers' captain has the means and resources, so information is not a problem," Luffy shrugged. "While everyone reveres the Grand Line, the 'Pirate Slayers' are heading there to have fun. They have no unfinished business in East Blue."
"I was right," Smoker said, releasing another cloud of smoke.
"So, Roronoa Zoro really decided to go to the Grand Line?" Tashigi asked.
"Yes," Luffy nodded. "Initially, I wasn't planning to meet with you, but upon arriving here, I changed my mind. Even if you have no chance of stopping the 'Pirate Slayers,' Captain Smoker, you're considered the strongest Marine in East Blue and have a good reputation. If we cooperate, we might have a chance to catch the 'Pirate Slayers' in the future."
Smoker looked at Luffy in silence.
"…There's no point in cooperating: the 'Pirate Slayers' won't leave this island," the captain finally responded after a long pause.
"We've been waiting for Roronoa Zoro and his crew for a long time," Tashigi shared, gripping the hilt of her katana.
"That's why you requested reinforcements, which you not only received on time and in full but even more than requested," Luffy nodded. "You also have ten ships blocking the route to Reverse Mountain. The ships are commanded by Zakari 'Two Swords' and Void 'Lightning,' who were sent here by Marine Headquarters a few months ago. They are skilled with Soru, use Tekkai well, and have just begun learning Geppo. As swordsmen, they're no more than experienced novices."
"How do you know all this?!" Smoker stood up, leaning on the table and leaning towards the seated Luffy.
Information about reinforcements, patrolling ships, sent lieutenants, and knowledge of Marine techniques... ordinary pirates wouldn't have such detailed information! Smoker could understand if Roronoa Zoro and his crew knew a few facts, but knowing everything at once? Smoker had long thought he was overestimating the 'Pirate Slayers' — to avoid surprises when facing reality — but now his opinion was shifting the other way. It seemed he had seriously underestimated Roronoa Zoro.
"P-p-pardon!!!" Luffy curled up in his chair, covering his head with his hands and nearly whimpering. "I-I got all this from the 'Pirate Slayers' captain!"
Realizing he was frightening his source of information, Smoker sat back down at the table.
"Speak!" he growled.
"I already said… I already said you have no idea how dangerous the 'Pirate Slayers' are!" Luffy said, looking at Smoker from under his hands, slightly hysterical. "Their captain has informants all over East Blue; no significant event happens without his knowledge. As far as I know, the 'Pirate Slayers' captain began his bounty hunting as a child and used the money to establish an underground organization. And even though he's retired now, the organization he created still operates, and it's from them he gets almost all his information.
Smoker felt his heart skip a beat again. An 'underground organization'? An organization that still operates? He knew of one, and if it was that one...
"Do you know the name of this organization?"
"I do," Luffy said, nervously nodding as he lowered his hands. "They're called 'Clear Sky.'"
BAM! Tashigi's heart seemed to stop. CRUNCH! Smoker's crushed cigars fell onto the table. Their reaction was understandable. The people of 'Clear Sky' were everywhere. I mean, really everywhere. On the surface, it seemed not to exist, with no official offices or employees, but in East Blue, there was probably not a single company that didn't have deals with 'Clear Sky.' At the same time, members of this organization clearly knew their place. Or knew who to deal with. Or many other reasons, including plain blackmail. In any case, Smoker concluded from the fact that this organization still existed despite its influence.
"Are you saying that Roronoa Zoro once founded 'Clear Sky'?" Tashigi exclaimed, her heart finally resuming its regular beat. "Didn't this organization appear almost ten years ago? How old is he now? About twenty-five? Are you saying he's the mythical Octopus?"
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