Chapter 263

As the words left his lips, a heavy thud echoed across the water.

*Clack~*

Smoker’s warship pulled alongside their hull, grappling hooks securing the gap.

He scoffed dismissively as he stepped directly onto Carl’s deck, cigar smoke billowing behind him. He scanned the ship, frowned at the bound prisoners in the corner, and fixed his intense gaze on Carl. "Capturing people again?"

’This guy really doesn’t know how to talk,’ Carl thought, forcing a polite smile. "Captain Smoker, what business do you have with us?"

"A group of rebels entered my territory. I came to take a look. Is there a problem?"

"I heard your East Blue Marines have been colluding with pirates," Smoker continued, in irritated tone. "And my personal combat information even appeared in the Pirate Guild? Claiming my physique is weak and my ability development is poor? Saying that even with a Logia-type Devil Fruit, my overall strength amounts to little? That with the right method, I’m easy to defeat?"

’What the hell? How could the Pirate Guild have something like that published? Who wrote it?’

Meeting Smoker’s pointed, furious stare, Carl forced himself to speak calmly. "Captain Smoker, I have no idea what you’re talking about." He sighed in resignation. "How about I ask the higher-ups once we get back? If that doesn’t work, you can talk to our Leader yourself. I’m just a Petty Officer!"

"..."

He scoffed again. His gaze flicked to Issho’s imposing seated figure, lingering for a second, but he didn’t press Carl further. "Tell your Leader I won’t let a single pirate slip through my waters. Also..."

He turned and jumped straight back onto his own warship, his voice flat but carrying across the gap. "That intelligence on me... is already outdated. What’s the point of trying to use that against me?"

He waved a hand, ordering his marines to detach the hooks, and his warship slowly departed.

Carl breathed a massive sigh of relief, silently cursing. ’Who the hell wrote a public strategy guide for Captain Smoker?’

He raised his hand to order his ship to continue sailing toward headquarters when a deep voice stopped him from behind, carrying both confusion and gravity.

"Pirate Guild?"

When word arrived that Carl’s unit was returning, Dante headed to the pier to wait. Not of his own volition, of course. Zephyr had practically dragged him out of his office in a rush. Upon hearing they might recruit a fighter on the level of a Marine Admiral, Zephyr had rushed back from the Academy overnight. The moment he learned the powerhouse was arriving, he had dragged his boss straight to the docks. In Zephyr’s mind, a fighter of this caliber deserved commensurate respect and a formal welcoming committee.

Dante understood the old man’s reasoning. The East Blue Marines lacked top-tier fighters more than anything else right then, so they had to take this seriously. Along with showing respect, they needed to display their own authority and strength as the faction’s leaders.

But it was still far too early in the morning. Even if they arrived a bit later, it wouldn’t hurt.

Dante watched Zephyr pace, frowning one moment and falling deep into thought the next. He sighed. "Sensei, I really didn’t need to come out here this early."

"I just couldn’t wait to see who it is," Zephyr laughed, a spark of genuine excitement in his eyes. "I never expected us to cross paths with a powerhouse like this out in the sticks. If Sengoku finds out, he’ll probably faint from frustration!"

"..." He really would faint from frustration especially with his poor sleep cycle.

According to Petty Officer Carl’s frantic Den Den Mushi report, Issho had initially planned to interview at a station set up by Marine HQ. Instead, intrigued by their bizarre refugee recruitment methods, he had come over out of sheer curiosity. And Carl had successfully dragged him onto their ship. Naturally, with the prize meat this close to their mouths, there was no way they would let it go.

Right then, Zephyr paused his pacing.

"By the way, what’s your long-term plan for the Pirate Guild?" he asked suddenly. "I heard the first batch of graduates will be ready in a little over two months."

"That’s right. Why?"

"I don’t know if this is the right move or a catastrophic mistake," Zephyr sighed, a complicated glint in his eyes. "I’m at a loss when I look at it."

"Who knows?" Dante shrugged at the instructor’s worries. "A few troublemakers might pop up, but as long as we keep the big picture on track, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Let’s just give it a try first. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll figure something else out."

"Is that so?" Zephyr nodded, resignation crossing his scarred face. "I wonder how Sengoku is laughing at me right now for teaching pirates."

As soon as he finished speaking, Dante didn’t add anything to the remark. Sensing a shift in the wind, he looked up at the sea before them. "Are they here already?"

"We’re here, Mister Issho."

"Are we?"

Hearing Carl’s words, Issho put away the armored Den Den Mushi he had been holding. He couldn’t fully perceive the exact visual details on the screen. But with Carl’s patient explanation, he had a general grasp of what the controversial Pirate Guild was. To restrain pirates through bureaucracy, to manage their violent urges through regulated tasks.

But... was that even possible? He had seen far too many filthy, irredeemable things in his time. He felt disappointed by the concept, but Carl’s earnest defense helped him understand why they had to do this.

’’Sorry, we can only protect the East Blue right now.’’

It was a shame he couldn’t see the actual state of the Pirate Guild for himself. Even earlier... he had just been having a voice chat with a young boy online. The boy on the other end was shouting enthusiastically about how he was going to become the Pirate King.

He had asked, "Why do you want to be a pirate?"

The boy replied cheerfully, "I just wanna be one! Why do I need a reason?"

He asked, "Then will you go rob innocent people?"

"Why would I rob people? Uncle, that’s a bad thing! Helmeppo, let’s go report him!"

Those innocent words left the seasoned ronin speechless.

But the sea was too vast, too dark. Had this youth truly stayed true to his original intentions, or was he an anomaly? Issho sighed as he pocketed the Mobile Den Den Mushi.

"Um..." Carl’s mouth twitched slightly. "Mister Issho, that one is mine. It’s already registered under my name, so I can’t give it to anyone else."

Issho’s hand paused, but he smoothly returned the device to Carl. Regret edged his tone. "Sorry, I forgot."

"It’s fine!" Carl hurriedly stowed his device, then smiled warmly. "If Mister Issho needs one, apply after you join. With your immense strength, the higher-ups will definitely grant you a better model than mine, with full access."

"Join?" Issho lifted his head, his tightly shut eyes fixed forward on the approaching docks. "I have heard your Leader is a lover of female pirates."

"They’re just rumors! Those are rumors spread by Marine HQ to discredit us," Carl snapped, his voice hardening in instant defense. "Our Leader has always kept himself perfectly clean!"

"Kept himself clean? Very well." Issho kept his expression neutral and nodded, his closed eyes staring straight ahead at the waiting figures. "Let me see for myself."

Not long after, the ship successfully docked. As an exclusive warship of the East Blue Marines, it held a designated, prime berth, making docking effortless. Issho followed Carl off the wooden ramp.

As for the civilians behind them...

"Someone will come specifically to arrange housing for them later. We are well versed in handling refugee arrangements," Carl said with a smile. "But I apologize, because of what happened on the way here with the slavers, I must report to the higher-ups first. It might require Mister Issho to wait a moment, but I have already reported your situation to the Leader. I am sure he will be very welcoming..."

Before he could finish, Carl froze mid-step. His face went blank as he looked forward at the pier, his voice trembling in shock. "Huh? The Leader actually came in person? And... and Zephyr-sensei is here too?!"

He hurried forward to salute.

Issho heard that the supreme commander of the East Blue had come to welcome him personally. Surprise rippled through him, especially given the second powerful presence standing beside the youth.

"The former Chief Instructor of Marine HQ?"

He had heard whispers of what happened back then with the Chief Instructor, specifically that the proud man had been hung from the bow of a ship by his own rogue student. Issho spoke only that one sentence and added nothing more. With complicated feelings, he walked forward slowly, his cane tapping the stone pier.

In truth, he had seen a great many things on this short journey. He watched so-called passenger ships come and go, feeling the joy and expectation of the families aboard. He landed on quite a few islands under Dante’s protection, observing villagers at work. He asked many laboring citizens questions, even scrounged a meal at a bustling construction site. Scavengers from affiliated nations, slaves captured by slavers, bullied commoners, husbands who lost their wives, wives who lost their husbands, children who lost their parents... everyone had inconceivably gathered together under one banner, finding peace.

It felt inconceivable in this chaotic world.

Issho raised his head. His closed eyes seemed to lock onto the young figure walking toward him, and thought, ’Just what kind of person are you, Dante?’

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