Chapter 492: Former Marine Admiral + Current Vice Admiral, The Prudent Doflamingo

Chapter 492: Chapter 492: Former Marine Admiral + Current Vice Admiral, The Prudent Doflamingo

Looking at Vice Admiral Smoker appearing before them, the eyes of these Marines immediately burst with the light of hope.

This man was here; they were saved!

"Fufufufufu~"

"I was wondering who it was..." Doflamingo said, tilting his head as he looked at Smoker. "If it isn’t the Marine’s new Vice Admiral."

As he spoke, Doflamingo carefully sized Smoker up from head to toe, his eyes carrying a trace of contempt.

Clearly, Doflamingo did not take Smoker seriously.

After all... this man had been defeated by the Blood-Eyed Ninja two years ago!

So in his view, Smoker wasn’t all that impressive, even if the man had defeated the great pirate Vald.

"Doflamingo, why are you here?" Smoker looked coldly at Doflamingo and said, "And... what were you planning to do just now?"

Although he didn’t know exactly what this guy was up to, he could still feel the killing intent that had radiated from him just moments ago.

Thus, he had reason to suspect this man intended to take action against the Marines.

"It’s nothing, just saying hello to these Marines," Doflamingo said.

Unfortunately, Smoker didn’t believe such words for a second.

"Tell me, what happened just now?" Smoker asked, looking at a Marine from the G-5 Branch nearby.

"We aren’t clear on the specifics," the Marine replied. "We only know that after he arrived, he muttered something to himself, and then said to us: ’Dead men aren’t qualified to know too much.’ After that... you arrived."

Hearing the Marine’s explanation, Smoker immediately furrowed his brows.

Although he didn’t know what Doflamingo had said, he could tell that the guy had intended to move against the Marines.

Thinking of this, Smoker’s gaze turned cold.

"Doflamingo, are you planning to go to war with us Marines?" Smoker said coldly.

"Don’t try to pin that on me."

Doflamingo’s face darkened as he said, "I’m in a very bad mood right now. You’d better not provoke me."

Being willing to say this much to the man was already giving him enough face; he had better not push his luck.

After all... because of Law, he was currently extremely furious!

"What does your mood have to do with me?" Smoker said, looking at Doflamingo without backing down. "I’m telling you, the title of Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea is useless here with me!"

Although the World Government required the Marines not to easily move against the Warlords, that was predicated on the other party not being an enemy of the Marines!

Once the other party showed signs of being an enemy... then he could take action to bring them down!

"Are you threatening me?" Doflamingo said with a cold face.

Had he been too lenient?

"You can interpret it that way."

Doflamingo fell silent, his gaze becoming increasingly cold.

At this moment, he truly wanted to directly kill this Marine who didn’t know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth!

But he also knew that if he clashed with someone like a Vice Admiral, a victor wouldn’t be decided in a short time, so there was no need to waste time here.

After all... he needed time to carry out his plan!

Thinking of this, Doflamingo forcibly suppressed the rage in his heart and said coldly, "I hope you can maintain this arrogance."

Vice Admiral...

Heh, he would find an opportunity to deal with him later.

However, facing Doflamingo’s threat-like words, Smoker’s expression didn’t even change, clearly not taking the other party seriously.

Then, Smoker said in a heavy voice, "Doflamingo, you’d better not have any special connection to this island. Otherwise, I will definitely arrest you!"

He had already learned a general idea of what had happened on this island from his subordinates via Den Den Mushi, so...

Once he discovered Doflamingo was the mastermind behind it, he wouldn’t be polite to this guy!

Doflamingo fell silent upon hearing this.

A connection?

Of course there was a connection!

After all, he was the man standing behind Caesar!

"If the Marines discover this, it will indeed be quite troublesome," Doflamingo thought to himself.

Although he had ways to solve the trouble, being targeted by someone like Smoker was ultimately a problem.

Thinking of this, Doflamingo set his sights on the Marines watching him, pondering whether to kill all these guys.

After all... they might know something.

But if he acted now, it would immediately cause a conflict with Smoker, the Vice Admiral, and then he might not have time to complete his plan.

Thinking of this, Doflamingo became somewhat conflicted.

Then, as if discovering something, he thought: "Wait... those children aren’t here!"

Did this mean a group of Marines had already left with the children ahead of time?

If so, there was no point in him killing these people.

Thinking of this, Doflamingo abandoned the idea of attacking.

As for whether the Straw Hat Pirates had taken the children...

This option never even occurred to Doflamingo. After all, no pirate in this world would do such a superfluous thing, right!

"Hmm?"

Smoker, seeing the changes in Doflamingo’s expression, instinctively thought this man might truly be connected to the island, so he prepared to act.

But before he could say anything more, he saw Doflamingo say, "Do whatever you want."

Although this matter was also troublesome, it seemed somewhat insignificant compared to the matter with Caesar.

So Doflamingo chose to ignore this for the time being. After dealing with Law and the others, he would find a way to manipulate and resolve this issue.

"Do whatever I want..."

Smoker furrowed his brows. Did this truly have nothing to do with him?

Then what was the reason for this man appearing here?

Thinking of this, Smoker asked, "Doflamingo, what is your reason for appearing on Punk Hazard?"

"You have quite a few questions, Smoker."

This time Smoker didn’t speak, just staring at Doflamingo.

But unfortunately, this time Doflamingo didn’t answer the question, instead turning to walk toward Baby 5 and Buffalo.

However, just as he was about to leave the Marines’ side, Doflamingo stopped and then said, "Marines, tell me which direction that group of pirates went?"

If he could get their location, he could go with Buffalo and the others to hunt down the Straw Hat Crew and Law.

The Marine being questioned instinctively looked at Smoker. Seeing that his expression hadn’t changed, the Marine spoke up, "Not sure."

As his words fell, a terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Doflamingo, directly knocking unconscious several Marines nearby.

"Conqueror’s Haki..."

Smoker’s face changed, and then he shouted, "Doflamingo, what are you trying to do?"

"Nothing, just giving these guys a lesson," Doflamingo said calmly. "To keep them from dying without knowing why in the future."

Having said that, Doflamingo intended to depart.

"Doflamingo, do you really think I wouldn’t dare move against you?"

As he spoke, Smoker’s body transformed into smoke, spreading his ability’s product over the area where the Marines were, dragging them all far away.

While doing this, Smoker’s eyes remained fixed on Doflamingo, his gaze incredibly sharp.

"Fufufufufu~"

"If I didn’t have other business, I really wouldn’t mind trading blows with a so-called Vice Admiral like you," Doflamingo sneered.

Others might fear this guy, but he didn’t!

After all... he was the chosen one who had developed his Devil Fruit Ability to Awakening, he was a god!

He was a Kami-sama!

So the opponent couldn’t possibly be his match!

"Is that so?"

"Then I actually feel like keeping you here," Smoker said coldly.

Using Conqueror’s Haki against innocent Marines was already a provocation against him.

If not for the title of Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea the man carried, he would have immediately moved to take him down!

"Is that so," Doflamingo sneered. "Then Smoker, you—"

"Arara~"

"It sure is lively here."

This sudden voice interrupted what Doflamingo was about to say.

"Former... Former Marine Admiral, Kuzan?!"

Looking at the man who appeared beside them, these Marines were all stunned.

Why was a former Marine Admiral appearing here?

Smoker was also somewhat surprised as he looked at Kuzan, clearly not expecting him to come.

Could it be... he was here for him?

"Kuzan, huh..." Doflamingo looked at Aokiji with a wary gaze. What was this man’s purpose in appearing here?

Did he want to help the Marines?

But hadn’t he already resigned?

No... that’s not right!

Precisely because he had resigned from the Marines, this guy’s danger level was even higher!

After all... he could act against a Warlord like himself without restraint!

Thinking of this, Doflamingo intended to take his people and leave to avoid further complications.

However, before leaving, he still had to say something.

"I didn’t expect a person like you to appear here either." Doflamingo stared into Kuzan’s eyes and said, "Kuzan, what is your status now?"

If the man wanted to be a pirate, then he...

Smoker also looked at Kuzan. He also wanted to know what this man’s status was now.

The friend who once pursued justice... what exactly did he want to do?

But unfortunately, Kuzan didn’t answer the question, just calmly staring at the few of them.

Seeing Kuzan not speaking, Doflamingo knew the man wouldn’t answer, so he decisively gave up waiting and turned to walk toward Baby 5.

Easily helping Baby 5 deal with the chains on her body, Doflamingo said, "Kuzan, I look forward to the day you make your choice!"

"Fufufufufu~"

"Fufufufufu!"

"Buffalo, Baby 5, let’s go!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

Receiving the order, Buffalo immediately activated his Devil Fruit power, taking Doflamingo and Baby 5 into the air, flying toward the distant sky.

Smoker frowned as he stared at Doflamingo’s back. After a moment of silence, he still gave up on attacking Doflamingo.

Then, he turned his gaze to Kuzan and said, "Kuzan, what exactly is going on with you?"

"Are you referring to me resigning from the post of Marine Admiral?" Kuzan walked to Smoker’s side, hands in his pockets as he looked at him and said, "I never considered the World Government my everything anyway, so..."

"That’s not what I’m asking," Smoker interrupted. "I want to know why you stopped being a Marine!"

He really wanted to know what Kuzan’s purpose was for resigning as a Marine Admiral.

Had he become completely disappointed in the World Government or the Marines?

Kuzan fell silent. After a moment, he said in a complex tone, "Smoker, there are some things you can only see clearly when you aren’t a Marine."

Smoker frowned upon hearing this. Some things can only be seen clearly when not a Marine?

What exactly was this guy Kuzan trying to see clearly?

Then, as if thinking of something, Smoker said, "You haven’t gone and made contact with the Underworld, have you?"

"Tell me, Kuzan!"

"Is your being here also because of that?"

As he spoke, Smoker thought of the poison gas experiment his subordinates had mentioned earlier.

Could Kuzan’s presence here be related to that?

A trace of helplessness flashed in Kuzan’s eyes. This guy was still the same as ever.

However, Kuzan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he turned his head to look at the G-5 Branch Marines who were still staring at them and said, "Go, go, go. We’re chatting; what are you eavesdropping for?"

The Marines, who had just been pondering Vice Admiral Smoker’s words, were startled and immediately ran off into the distance without hesitation, leaving the space to Smoker and Kuzan.

If possible, they didn’t want to know things they shouldn’t.

Smoker didn’t stop them, just calmly looking at Aokiji.

After everyone had run far away, Aokiji turned back to Smoker.

After a moment of silence, Aokiji said, "I am still me, Smoker..."

Although he was no longer a Marine, the justice in his heart was still the same.

Understanding Aokiji’s meaning, a hint of a smile flashed in Smoker’s eyes, and his expression immediately relaxed.

"That’s good then."

That one sentence was enough.

Aokiji nodded, then said, "In any case... you must keep a close eye on Doflamingo."

"What do you mean?"

"Although he is both a Warlord and the current King of Dressrosa," Aokiji said, "he is not the same type of pirate as the Serpent Princess of Kuja Island."

"So... tell Akainu to mobilize an Admiral."

"If certain accidents happen, the other party will immediately turn hostile."

"And this... might become the greatest difficulty Akainu has encountered since establishing the New world Marine Headquarters!!"

Having learned what had happened here not long ago, Caesar had some conjectures in his heart.

So... it was best to mobilize a Marine Admiral!!

Only then could the impact and civilian casualties be minimized.