Click. Stacking stones, nearly ten high, with intense focus, Smoker balances each uneven piece. Sweat drips despite minimal movement, his bare torso gleaming.
Exhaling, he places another stone. The tower wobbles, then steadies—new record.
A knock. "Enter," he says, cigars smoking.
A Marine enters; the tower collapses. The Marine winces, but Smoker just shrugs. "Not my thing. Too delicate."
"Sorry, sir. Interrupting?" the Marine asks.
"Nah, was done," Smoker replies, donning his jacket.
Captain Smoker, "White Hunter," polices East Blue with unmatched success, yet his defiance of orders keeps him from the Grand Line. Nicknamed "Navy's Mad Dog," he's intimidating but loyal to his men.
Grabbing his jitte, he's ready. "What's up? Pirates?"
"No, sir. Colonel Wendy, an inspector, wants to meet. Not an audit, just talk."
"Wendy? Tch. Annoying," Smoker grumbles, heading out.
He strides to the meeting room, Marine in tow. "The warship damage?"
"Too wrecked to repair. Replaced," the Marine reports.
"Those pirates, huh?" Smoker mutters.
Inside, Wendy sits, her adjutant nearby. Smoker faces her. Years since they last met, her sly smile unchanged.
"Still scary, Smoker," Wendy teases.
"What's the point?" he snaps.
"No small talk?" she pouts.
"Not with you."
Tashigi, Smoker's aide, serves tea. Skilled and kind, she contrasts Smoker's gruffness. Wendy eyes her fondly.
"Tea, sir," Tashigi says.
"Too good for him," Wendy jokes.
"Shut it," Smoker retorts.
"Join my unit, Tashigi," Wendy offers.
"N-No, I'm fine," Tashigi stammers.
"Her adjutant's right behind you," Smoker warns.
Tension simmers between Smoker and Wendy's adjutant. Wendy's casual, but Smoker's wary.
"Spit it out," he demands.
"Fine," Wendy says, straightening. "East Blue too dull for you?"
"I do my job. No pirates escape here," Smoker says.
"True, you've cut Grand Line-bound pirates. Worth the exile," Wendy notes.
"Say what you want."
"Want back in the Grand Line? I can pull strings."
"No thanks. I don't need your help."
"Pity. Thought we were friends."
Her grin irks him. "Just for this? Get to work."
"Not just. Investigating a pirate," Wendy says.
"You? A pirate?"
"Special case. Too big for others."
"The newspaper stunt?" Smoker guesses.
Wendy's smile deepens. "Sharp. Yeah, they got my attention."
"Your ship got trashed by one guy?"
"Yup. A captured pirate outdid me."
"Your skills rusted," Smoker scoffs.
"Maybe. But there's more," Wendy says.
The pirate's bold act—exposing Navy corruption—made waves. Smoker senses Wendy's amusement.
"You're not condoning this, are you?" he growls.
"I'll catch them. Eventually," she says.
"Eventually?"
"We're heading to the Grand Line. We'll meet there."
Her vague tone raises suspicion. "Sounds like you know they're going there."
"Probably," she admits.
"Even with me here?"
"I've a hunch they'll shake the world," Wendy says.
"D…?" Smoker mutters.
"One's Monkey D. Luffy, Garp's grandson. But the other…" Wendy pauses. "Heard of Limbru?"
"The criminal who defied the World Government?" Smoker recalls.
"She was married," Wendy reveals.
Smoker gets it. "Tashigi, get the 20-million bounty poster!"
Tashigi fetches it. Smoker stares, shaken. "Hair color's off, but…"
"Secret. For friends only. Don't leak it," Wendy warns, finger to lips.
Smoker drops it. "What're you scheming? Not betraying the Navy, are you?"
"Nope. I'm serious, believe it or not," Wendy says.
"Fine," Smoker relents, ending the topic.
Wendy shifts. "Get to the point, you said. Come back to the Grand Line. You don't belong here."
"Sudden," Smoker sighs.
"East Blue's peaceful thanks to you. But it's a waste. Your defiance cost you promotions, yet you're stuck here."
"I'm fine," Smoker insists.
"You're not that content," Wendy counters. "You haven't changed."
Her familiarity annoys him. "People change."
"Not you. 'Mad Dog' fits," she says.
"Not my choice," he retorts.
Wendy, younger but connected to the Navy since childhood, knows Smoker's stubborn core. His defiance and skill make him a standout, yet his attitude holds him back.
"A strike force is forming to counter pirates across the Grand Line. I'm recommending you," Wendy says, sliding documents over.
"A strike force?"
"Other seas are stirring too. The Navy can't slack. You're needed," she urges.
"Why me?"
"You're the best fit," Wendy says firmly. "You need status to uphold your justice, not just strength."
Her words, born from auditing countless Marines, ring true.
"You're needed. Protect citizens. I can't as an inspector," she adds.
"What about this town?"
"Replacements will come. Good ones," Wendy assures.
"Trustworthy?" Smoker doubts.
She smiles, satisfied he's not refusing. Smoker, critical of Navy corruption and the Warlord system, doesn't belong in peaceful East Blue.
The seas are shifting—pirates and Navy alike. Smoker's needed to change it, Wendy believes.
"Meet them. It might decide you," she says.
"Maybe," Smoker grunts.
"Watch out. Rumor is, Revolutionary Army's around, with strong leaders," Wendy warns.
"Don't care. I follow my justice," Smoker says.
"Always have," Wendy chuckles.
To Tashigi: "If he's too much, join me."
"I want to learn under him," Tashigi replies.
"I'm a Colonel too," Wendy teases.
"Enough," Smoker snaps.
Wendy's adjutant scolds her. "Stop troubling others."
"Scary," Wendy laughs, leaving. "See you in the Grand Line."
"Don't wanna see you again," Smoker retorts.
"Odds are we will," she smirks, exiting with her adjutant.
"Intense woman," Tashigi murmurs.
"Annoying idiot," Smoker grumbles, eyeing the documents. "Strike force… won't be dull."
Tashigi senses he'll go, understanding Wendy's intent.
At the port, Wendy and her adjutant head to their ship.
"Will he come?" the adjutant asks.
"He will," Wendy says confidently.
East Blue's peace doesn't suit Smoker. The Grand Line awaits.
"It'll get rough," Wendy says.
"We're already swamped," her adjutant sighs.
"Fun detour, though," Wendy grins.
"Work's piling up," the adjutant scolds.
"Plenty of Navy corruption to tackle," Wendy muses.
"Your fault we're behind," the adjutant snaps.
"Mad?"
"Obviously."
Wendy laughs, her smile bright with anticipation for what's next.