Smoker strode swiftly through the bustling streets, his face grim.
His sergeant had reported pirates causing a ruckus at the plaza by the execution platform—the very place where the Pirate King met his end. For pirates, it held deep significance, but Loguetown was different now. Smoker was here, and no pirate who crossed him ever left freely. Stirring trouble in his presence took guts.
With the sergeant at his side, Smoker headed for the plaza. Orders were already issued: the first unit reinforced the port, the second armed up and discreetly surrounded the plaza, and the rest waited at shooting range. The enemy had trapped townsfolk in their encirclement. Rescuing them safely was paramount.
Smoker's gaze was as sharp as his demeanor. The sergeant, trembling under his intensity, spoke nervously.
"Confirmed enemies include Buggy the Clown, Lion Flash Eldrago, and Morgan, who we previously failed to capture."
"A former marine aiding pirates? Pathetic. And high-bounty pirates teaming up?" Smoker growled.
"There's also an unidentified woman with a mace."
"Likely an enemy. Don't let her slip," Smoker ordered.
"Yes, sir. Also, Straw Hat Luffy is on the execution platform."
"He's with them?"
"No, sir…" The sergeant hesitated as Smoker's pace quickened. Meeting his glare, he pressed on. "Straw Hat's about to be executed. Buggy's targeting him."
"Pirates fighting each other? Take it elsewhere. What a nuisance."
"The paper-user, rumored to be Straw Hat's right hand, is also there, engaging Morgan and Eldrago. They're struggling."
"Paper-user? That one," Smoker muttered, a wanted poster flashing in his mind. A name he couldn't forget. He clicked his tongue, spotting a lookout post overlooking the plaza.
"Where's Tashigi? Still not back?"
"Sorry, sir. She went to the weapons shop for Shigure and hasn't returned."
"Tch, slow as ever. No sense of urgency," Smoker snapped.
He climbed the lookout post, reaching a vantage point above the rooftops. The plaza sprawled below. Two figures on the platform: Buggy and a bound Luffy. In the center, Kiri danced lightly, fending off Morgan and Eldrago's relentless attacks. The fight was stalemated. A swarm of pirates surrounded the trapped townsfolk, posing a latent threat. They needed to be neutralized first.
With civilians as hostages, one wrong move could spell disaster. Smoker, unwilling to let innocents die, grimaced as he strategized.
"This is bad. If we act, they'll target the civilians," he said.
"What's the plan? They outnumber us," the sergeant replied.
"There's a window. Wait for chaos."
"Chaos?"
"When Straw Hat's head rolls, the pirates will be distracted. Strike then. Neutralize them before they can harm the civilians."
"Understood. I'll relay the orders."
The sergeant darted off to spread the command. Smoker exhaled cigar smoke, growling, "Gotta wait. For safety's sake, no choice."
Acting now would play into the enemy's hands. Patience was key. Smoker stood, arms crossed, eyes locked on the plaza.
The sky had turned overcast, thick black clouds looming. A storm was near.
Smoker's attention shifted to Kiri's movements—inhumanly agile, weightless. Her weapons and surroundings were mere paper, manipulated with eerie precision. He nodded, recalling prior intel.
"Paramecia-type ability user. Paper-user's a fitting name," he muttered.
"Sorry, Smoker-san! I'm late!" Tashigi burst in.
"Tashigi! How long does it take to fetch a sword?!" Smoker barked.
She shrank, bowing deeply. "I'm so sorry! Um, I have something to report—"
"What is it?"
"The Straw Hats are in town, and just now, the Pirate Hunter—"
"I know. Look," Smoker cut her off, nodding toward the plaza.
Tashigi gasped. "Straw Hat?!"
"They're making a mess, and with civilians nearby, we can't move yet. Wait for the signal to strike."
"Got it. But to use that execution platform…" Tashigi trailed off.
"Where the Pirate King died," Smoker murmured, arms crossed.
What twist of fate had a rookie pirate facing death where Roger fell? Wendy's warning echoed—Straw Hat's crew aimed for the Grand Line. Smoker's gaze sharpened, tracking the unfolding chaos.
The battle raged on. Kiri, against expectations, was struggling. Facing two foes, she'd anticipated dodging them, but Eldrago's ability complicated things.
His Goe Goe Fruit amplified his voice into a disorienting weapon. The deafening roars disrupted balance and focus, unblockable even with paper stuffed in her ears. Morgan, unaffected with earplugs, struck whenever Kiri faltered. Their coordination was tight, and Morgan seemed stronger than before—perhaps trained.
Eldrago's shouts rattled Kiri's body, leaving openings for Morgan's brutal attacks. She dodged, unscathed but aware she was losing ground.
"If I could just shut that mouth," Kiri growled, glaring at Eldrago. As he opened wide, she flung paper sheets, sealing his mouth shut, halting his breath and ability. She shot a glare at Morgan, buying a moment to breathe.
"Now you can't use that power. Without that voice—" she started.
"GOAA!" Eldrago roared, a beam of light piercing the hardened paper. Kiri, caught off-guard, tumbled to avoid it. The beam missed her but struck the crowd, eliciting screams and a shattering crash as it hit a wall.
The plaza descended into unprecedented chaos. The pirates, unhesitating, attacked civilians to achieve their goal.
Kiri, guilt-stricken, rose from the ground, realizing her actions were constrained. To protect the townsfolk, she'd have to stop those beams herself.
"Damn it, they're running wild," she muttered.
"You dodged again!" Eldrago snarled, charging with golden claws. Morgan followed, axe-hand raised. Kiri wrapped paper around her arms, hardening it into gauntlets to block their strikes. The weight difference sent her tumbling backward, rolling across the ground. Gritting her teeth, she sprang into a crouch, facing their pursuit.
She was too slow to block or dodge. Flinging her hands, she scattered paper shards, clouding their vision.
"What?!" Eldrago yelped.
"Tch, sneaky!" Morgan growled.
The paper swarm halted them, their bodies stiffening. Kiri leaped, slamming a kick into Eldrago's face, forcing him back. Mid-air, she eyed Morgan, who raised his axe-hand.