The villagers of Cocoyasi Village could not tell the difference between Headquarters and branch units, nor did they know who the "White Hunter" was.
But...
They knew who treated them well.
That young, stern face — Marine 16th Branch, Commander Hawke.
It was he who swept away the pirates plaguing these seas, who returned the treasures stolen from them!
It was he who maintained the peace of this sea!
They once could not understand why Commander Hawke never struck against Arlong...
But when they now saw, with their own eyes, this tense standoff —
They "understood." Pressure from "above" prevented Commander Hawke from making a move.
Now...
Commander Hawke had paid a tremendous price, withstood the pressure from "above," and slain the root of evil, Arlong, for the sake of the villagers!
"Commander Hawke!"
"It was Commander Hawke who killed Arlong!"
"Commander Hawke is a good Marine!"
Grateful cries erupted from the crowd, their gazes at Hawke full of trust and reverence.
But in the next moment, the villagers' eyes turned toward Smoker and his group, instantly filled with caution — even hostility.
"Where are you Marines from?!"
"Don't you dare touch Commander Hawke!"
"Commander Hawke is our benefactor!"
"Protect Commander Hawke!!!"
The villagers surged forward with the most simple yet unyielding determination, using their own bodies to shield Hawke and his men.
"Plop—"
Smoker stared at the scene before him, the cigar in his mouth falling to the ground.
He froze.
No... This scene — something feels off?!
He had been a Marine for years, from Headquarters to the East Blue — what sights had he not seen?
Pirates burning, looting, and killing, he had seen. Vicious criminals, he had seen. Cowardly, corrupt Marines, he had seen.
But to be pointed at by ordinary people, treated as the "villain" trying to persecute their benefactor?
This was a first!
He was, after all, the famously tough Marine of Loguetown — "White Hunter" Smoker!
And yet, in the 16th Branch's territory...
He had suddenly become the antagonist? The bad guy?!
How the hell did this make sense?!
Ah!!!
How the hell did this make sense?!!!
"Captain..."
At his side, Tashigi was just as dumbfounded, her lips parted, eyes wide beneath her glasses.
Her head simply couldn't process it.
What kind of situation was this?
She had never seen, never even heard of such a thing.
Villagers — protecting a Marine by openly confronting other Marines?
And they held no weapons!
While they themselves bore live steel and guns!
If a fight broke out... the consequences would be disastrous!
Instinctively, Tashigi looked at Hawke, who was shielded behind the villagers.
She heard it clearly — the villagers were shouting "Protect Commander Hawke."
This young Commander Hawke...
What had he done for these villagers?
What kind of favor could make these simple, honest folk willing to risk flesh and blood against Marines?
"Heh—"
Smoker bent down, picked up the fallen cigar, didn't even bother brushing it off, shoved it back into his mouth, and drew in a deep puff.
He looked at these villagers, so emotional, furious, yet their gazes so resolute.
He looked at them forming with their bodies a wall — fragile, easily shattered, yet unbroken.
He looked at them shielding behind them that young Commander who had slain his superior officer.
No matter what methods this brat Hawke had used to earn such devotion...
Still...
The people are never wrong.
If only a few individuals were misled, that could be trickery.
But now, the entire village stood up on their own to defend him...
That meant what Hawke did, from the villagers' standpoint, was right!
It was justice!
This kind of scene — the people's wholehearted trust and protection — wasn't this exactly what Kuzan always talked about?
Damn... This kid really did a good job!
"Put down your weapons."
Smoker raised his hand. "We're not here to fight."
The Marines from Loguetown hesitated, then sheathed their weapons.
"Commander Hawke, shall we talk?"
Smoker stepped forward, hands open, signaling no hostility.
"Alright..."
Hawke gently pushed aside the villagers shielding him, motioning for them not to worry.
The villagers were hesitant, but seeing Hawke's calm gaze, they slowly parted to make a path.
Hawke walked forward, step by step, until he stood before Smoker.
"..."
The two were of similar height, but their auras were worlds apart.
One — a seasoned veteran Captain, carrying the weight of Headquarters' pride.
The other — a restrained but razor-sharp branch officer, fresh from a bloody reckoning.
Smoker extended his hand first.
"Marine Headquarters Captain, Smoker."
Hawke took it. "16th Branch Commander, Rayne Hawke."
Their hands gripped firmly together.
"Hmph—"
The instant they shook, Smoker's eyes grew sharp, the muscles in his arm tensing quietly.
A heavy force pressed through their clasped hands—
The palm pressed toward Hawke.
"You brat, ruthless and decisive, able to win the people's hearts, you've got some skill. But you shouldn't have stolen all the spotlight!!! I've got my pride too! The people scolding me as the bad guy—fine, I can't lay a hand on them. But can't I at least teach you a lesson?! Get ready to receive some 'kindly' guidance from your senior!"
Smoker snorted coldly in his heart, the force of his grip steadily increasing, like an iron hoop tightening with every breath.
"..."
Hawke's brow twitched slightly.
He could clearly feel the crushing pressure coming from Smoker's palm.
For ordinary people, even most Marine Captains, this would be enough to make them grit their teeth in pain and bend over under the pressure.
Unfortunately...
His current strength was undeniably at the level of a Headquarters Rear Admiral.
Smoker, on the other hand, had to rely on the boost from his Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit just to reach Headquarters Captain level.
That kind of strength… wasn't enough.
Hawke's expression didn't change. Holding Smoker's hand, he simply added a little more force of his own.
Not too much, not too little—just enough to perfectly cancel out the pressure Smoker was applying.
As colleagues, making too much of a scene wouldn't look good.
"Hm...?"
Smoker's face shifted slightly, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes.
His strength had sunk in like a stone into the sea—without shaking Hawke in the slightest?
Interesting.
But raw strength alone wasn't enough!
Smoker's stubborn streak flared up.
Almost instantly, he pushed the strength in his arm to its limit!
The veins on his forearm bulged slightly, writhing like twisting worms.
However...
Hawke stood firm, effortlessly dissolving all of Smoker's explosive force.
"..."
Smoker's brows furrowed tighter. This brat's strength—bottomless?
With a thought, the edge of his hand gripping Hawke began to blur, turning into wisps of curling white smoke.
The Smoke-Smoke Fruit's ability activated!
Suppress a Logia user with brute strength alone?
Naïve!
Let me teach you properly what it means for a Logia to become elementalized!
"Hm..."
Hawke's eyes hardened.
"So you're actually using your Devil Fruit ability?"
Then I won't hold back either!
At his will, a pitch-black sheen instantly spread from Hawke's palm, covering his entire hand.
Deep. Unyielding.
Armament Haki!
"Hiss—!"
Smoker's face changed drastically.
His smoke-elemental hand slammed into what felt like an invisible wall of steel.
Not only did it fail to pass through—instead, it was clamped down by an even more domineering force!
A violent pressure and stabbing pain instantly shot through him!
"This is impossible!"
Smoker's pupils shrank sharply, his eyes locked on the dark metallic sheen enveloping Hawke's hand.
"Armament Haki!!!"