Chapter 111: Justice and the World Government
The golden hues of the setting sun poured into the office, casting a warm glow across the room. Inside, the atmosphere should have been peaceful—romantic, even.
Smoker, however, was anything but at peace.
Slouched in his chair with his feet propped up on his desk, he let out a long, frustrated sigh, his cigar smoke curling around his head like a storm cloud. His gaze flickered to the two figures by the window.
Fullbody had his arm around Ria again, both of them bathed in the golden light, staring dreamily at the sunset like some lovesick novel couple. They hadn't spoken a word in fifteen minutes. Not. One. Word.
And yet, Smoker could feel the overwhelming weight of their unspoken nonsense suffocating him.
"…Tch." He exhaled sharply, shifting in his seat.
On the other side of the room, Tashigi stood stiffly, her arms crossed, her foot tapping rhythmically against the floor. If someone listened closely, they could hear the soft, dangerous crackle of her teeth grinding together.
Finally, Smoker snapped.
With a growl, he pushed himself up from his desk, stomping across the room. He reached the window in three heavy strides, and without hesitation—
SLAM!
He shut the window, cutting off their view of the picturesque sunset.
Ria and Fullbody blinked, slightly dazed from the sudden action.
Fullbody's lips twisted in disappointment. "Aw, come on, Smoker! We were enjoying the moment!"
Ria crossed her arms, pouting slightly. "You couldn't have waited five more minutes?"
Smoker, his arms now crossed over his broad chest, shot them both a flat look. "I don't have time for romance."
Ria slowly turned her head toward Tashigi, her eyes narrowing mischievously. "Tashigi. Do you have time for romance?"
Tashigi straightened immediately, looking alarmed. "W-What?! Why are you asking me?!"
Fullbody leaned in, grinning. "Ohhh, I get it. Smoker's just mad 'cause he's a virgin."
Smoker's eye twitched.
"Hah?"
Fullbody smirked. "You don't know the love of a woman, do you, Smokey? Other than your mama."
"Tch—Don't call me Smokey."
Ria snorted. "Maybe if you weren't such a brute, you'd get some attention. Women don't like guys who just sit around chewing cigars and yelling all the time."
Smoker growled, pointing a finger at her. "I'm not the one who barged into my office just to waste time making googly eyes at Fullbody."
Fullbody gasps dramatically, clutching his chest. "Oh no! Not googly eyes! The ultimate crime!"
Tashigi sighed, shaking her head. "Why am I even here for this conversation?"
Ria's grin widened. "Because you haven't answered my question."
Tashigi stiffened. "…I told you, I don't— I mean, I haven't— I—" She flailed for words, her face slowly turning red.
Ria's smile turned predatory. "Ohhh? You haven't? Never been in love, huh?"
Fullbody whistled. "Oof. So that means you're a virgin too, huh?"
Tashigi sputtered. "I—! That's—! That's none of your business!!"
Ria leaned in, eyes glinting. "C'mon, Tashigi. You never liked someone before? Not even a little crush?"
Tashigi looked away, hands clenching into fists. "…I… never really thought about it."
Ria and Fullbody exchanged a glance. Then—
"HAAAAHHH?!"
Ria gasped. "What do you mean, never?! What kind of shoujo manga protagonist backstory is this?!"
Fullbody nodded seriously. "Are you sure you weren't raised in a temple? You sound like a nun."
Tashigi's whole body twitched. "I—!!"
Ria squinted at her suspiciously. "Wait a minute… That reaction… That hesitation…"
She pointed at Tashigi, grinning like a cat that just cornered a mouse.
"You almost had a moment with someone, didn't you?"
Tashigi froze.
A moment of silence.
Then, she looked away, her face burning red.
Ria gasped, clutching Fullbody's arm for dramatic effect. "OH MY GOD. YOU DID. YOU TOTALLY DID!"
Fullbody grinned. "Spill it! Who was it? A marine? Some handsome officer?"
Tashigi squeezed her eyes shut, clutching her head. "…I ALMOST KISSED ZORO, OKAY?!"
THUMP!
She collapsed to her knees, her entire body trembling with embarrassment.
Silence.
Then—
"…HAAAH?!" Smoker's veins nearly popped out of his forehead. "A pirate?! TASHIGI!"
Tashigi groaned, covering her face. "I KNOW! IT WAS A WEAK MOMENT! I WASN'T THINKING!"
Ria and Fullbody lost it.
Fullbody wiped a fake tear. "Oh, Smoker, this is on you. If you'd been more of a man, she wouldn't have gone looking for love from a ruthless pirate."
Smoker snapped his cigar in half. "WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!"
Ria smirked. "Tashigi, you like bad boys, huh?"
Tashigi, still on her knees, whimpered. "…Please let me die."
Fullbody patted her shoulder. "Hey, if it makes you feel better, at least it wasn't Buggy."
Tashigi shrieked in horror. "DON'T SAY THAT!!"
Smoker grabbed his head, groaning loudly. "Why do I have to deal with this?!"
Ria snickered. "Because you have no time for romance. Sucks, doesn't it?"
Smoker pointed to the door. "GET OUT! GET OUT, ALL OF YOU!"
Tashigi scrambled to her feet and RAN out.
Fullbody saluted dramatically. "Aye aye, Virgin Captain."
Ria laughed as she followed him out. "Let's leave him to sulk. Poor guy."
Smoker screamed into his hands.
The laughter faded as Fullbody and Ria stepped back inside, their expressions now void of humor. The easygoing aura was gone—replaced with something much heavier.
Smoker and Tashigi straightened, sensing the shift.
Fullbody cracked his neck. "Listen up, virgin captain."
Smoker's eyebrow twitched but he said nothing.
"We didn't want to discuss this outside with the rest of the ship," Fullbody continued, "so here's the deal."
Ria stepped forward, her tone sharp. "We're here on business. Not Marine business—World Government business. Admiral Aokiji should've called ahead to confirm our arrival."
Smoker narrowed his eyes. "And?"
"We're following a pirate," Ria said simply. "Whatever that pirate is looking for is why we're here."
Smoker's eyes glinted. "You're after Goku, aren't you?"
Tashigi frowned. "Why would the World Government be following a rookie pirate like him?"
Fullbody exhaled. "A rookie pirate... with a fifty million berry bounty."
Ria crossed her arms. "And the rest of the details are not on your pay grade."
Smoker scowled but remained silent.
Fullbody leaned against the door. "We're not after the pirate himself—just what he's about to discover." He exhaled. "Your job? Make sure he makes that discovery."
Ria nodded. "After that... we'll be more than happy to take care of the pirate for you."
The ship rocked slightly as the waves lapped against its hull. Without another word, Fullbody and Ria turned and exited, their footsteps fading down the corridor.
Smoker remained still for a moment, then slowly walked across the office, unlocking the window and opening it once more. The last rays of the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving only a faint glow in the distance.
Tashigi stepped up beside him. "Captain... what could the World Government be looking for?"
Smoker took a long drag from his cigar. "This only reinforces what I've always believed... There's a difference between the Marines and the World Government."
Tashigi furrowed her brows. "But... aren't we all working for the World Government?"
Smoker exhaled, letting the smoke swirl into the night air. "There's justice... and then there's justice for the World Government." His eyes darkened. "Most Marines stand for the first. But sometimes, we're forced to uphold the second." He turned toward her. "And I think this thing with Goku? It's the latter."
For 800 years, the World Government has shaped its own version of justice. Countless events in history point to this—the pursuit of their truth over the truth of the world itself.
One such event was the Ohara Incident—where ten Marine warships burned an entire island to the ground simply because its people studied history. A special history, perhaps, but history nonetheless.
And because of incidents like that...
In a quiet alleyway, away from the bustling streets of Nanohana...
A certain young man was about to hear of that very tragedy.
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