"Hu——"
Smoker lit a cigar. Once again, it was one good piece of news and one bad piece of news.
Last time Kuzan had said the same thing.
The good news then was that Hawke survived.
The bad news was that he was promoted to Commodore!
This… had really left Smoker miserable!
Calming himself, Smoker asked,
"Kuzan, are you sure this time it's really good news?"
"Yes. Very good."
"Say it."
"You're being transferred back to the Grand Line."
"Hmph——"
"Headquarters finally recognizes my potential?!"
Smoker let out a satisfied hum, the corners of his mouth curling upward uncontrollably.
They should have sent him back to the Grand Line long ago.
Was there even a single pirate left in the East Blue now?!
None!
Hawke had wiped them all out!
But now that he himself was being transferred back to the Grand Line…
His rank—shouldn't that also be upgraded?
If he were promoted to Headquarters Commodore, wouldn't that put him on equal footing with Hawke?!
"Hey, Kuzan…"
"The bad news isn't that my rank hasn't moved, is it?!"
"Think of a way! I want to be promoted to Commodore as fast as possible!"
"I can't let that brat Hawke overshadow me!"
"Ha——"
"That's impossible, Smoker~"
"...What do you mean?"
Smoker's heart sank. His instincts picked up something wrong in Kuzan's tone.
Not good!
That bad news was aimed directly at him!!!
"The bad news is, you're being transferred to G-3 Branch… as Hawke's subordinate!"
"... ..."
The Den Den Mushi fell silent.
The pride and anticipation on Smoker's face froze instantly.
The cigar in his mouth was bitten clean in half by his teeth, one piece dropping onto the floor.
Hawke?!
That brat who had humiliated him back in Cocoyasi Village?
The very same brat who left him idle for three useless months in Loguetown?
From now on, when he saw him, he'd have to stand at attention, salute, and call out…
"Commander Hawke?!"
Was there still any justice left in this world?!
Any law, any order at all?!
"Pu——"
Smoker felt a surge of blood rushing to his head.
A roar burst from his throat!
"Kuu—zaaaan——!!!"
"What the hell is going on?!"
The veins on the back of his hand bulged as he gripped the Den Den Mushi tight.
"Have the higher-ups gone senile?!"
"Making me a subordinate to some newly promoted Commodore?!"
"On what grounds?!"
"... ..."
"Smoker, calm down."
Kuzan's tone grew serious.
"This transfer order was personally signed by the Fleet Admiral. I also approved it."
"You'd best not harbor any rebellious ideas."
"... ..."
Smoker's breathing halted.
"Why?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"And let me tell you something else. About the warship configuration at G-3 Branch."
"Three brand-new giant battleships."
"Five large battleships."
"Ten medium-sized warships."
"!!!"
Smoker's pupils shrank violently.
He instinctively glanced out the window at the port, at his one and only medium-sized warship.
That ship was everything he owned in Loguetown.
But Hawke's G-3 Branch… three giants?!
Five large?!
Ten medium?!
Was this really just a Grand Line branch?
Or was it a fleet assembled to fight the Yonko?!
"Kuzan, you're not joking with me, are you?"
Smoker's voice turned dry.
"You know I never joke about things like this."
"Smoker, do your best and follow Hawke."
"That's my advice to you as a friend."
"This transfer order—if you dare disobey, even I won't be able to protect you."
"I've got a mountain of military affairs to handle. Hanging up~"
"Doo—doo—"
The Den Den Mushi fell asleep.
"... ..."
Smoker stood there in a daze for a long time without moving.
Kuzan's last words echoed again and again in his mind.
Military affairs…
That lazy bastard Kuzan… was voluntarily handling military affairs?!
What had the world come to?
"Captain Smoker…"
Tashigi, standing beside him, asked cautiously,
"What… should we do now?"
"Hu——"
Smoker drew in a deep breath, then exhaled all the frustration in his chest.
"Hmph——"
"What should we do?"
He lifted his head, his gaze more complex than ever before.
Kuzan wouldn't harm him, so…
"Pass down my order!"
"All hands assemble!"
"Prepare to depart! Destination: Grand Line G-3 Branch!"
"I'll see for myself!"
"That bastard Hawke… what earth-shaking thing did he pull off at Headquarters?!"
"Yes, sir!"
...
Meanwhile.
In the Grand Line, a medium warship was cutting through the waves.
On the deck, a graceful female officer leaned against the rail.
She had striking pale pink hair flowing freely in the sea breeze, a few strands sticking against her fair cheeks.
"Buruburu~"
The Den Den Mushi at Hina's waist rang.
She slowly picked it up, listening to the order coming from the other side.
Moments later, she softly replied,
"Hina understands."
"Click—"
The line was decisively cut.
"... ..."
Hina placed a slim lady's cigarette between her lips.
Commodore Rayne Hawke?
That name, which had recently stirred up a storm at Headquarters, flashed through her mind.
A man promoted from East Blue Branch, who was fought over publicly by two Admirals, and finally had the Fleet Admiral himself step in.
Now, he was to command the lavishly outfitted G-3 Branch.
Even Smoker, the ever-defiant peer who bowed to no one, was being reassigned under his command.
Things… seemed to be getting more and more interesting.
Turning around, Hina glanced at her adjutant standing at attention. Her voice was cool and decisive.
"Change course."
"Destination: G-3 Branch."
"Yes, ma'am!"
...
Time passed in a flash.
In the blink of an eye, Hawke had already spent a week at Headquarters.
All matters had been completed.
The appointment papers for every soldier of the former 16th Branch had been issued, effective immediately.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
At the harbor.
A massive fleet was quietly docked.
At the front were three brand-new giant battleships.
Flying from their main masts were enormous banners embroidered with a single bold character: "Hawke."
The gigantic hulls loomed like moving sea fortresses, their fearsome rams gleaming coldly under the sun.
Along their sides, rows of cannon ports gaped darkly at the sky.
Behind them stretched five large battleships and ten medium warships, each freshly painted with the Marine insignia and numbered for "G-3."
The entire fleet exuded the crushing presence of an iron behemoth.
Today was the day Commodore Rayne Hawke would lead his fleet to G-3 Branch.
"Thud, thud, thud——"
Heavy footsteps like mountains echoed from the distance.
The Marines on guard at the pier unconsciously straightened their backs.
"My god… what is this lineup?"
"Look! The Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Advisor Tsuru! All three Admirals! They're all here!"
"Not just them…"
"The Vice Admirals too, all the ones in Headquarters… every single one came?!"
"Confirmed. Aside from those deployed at sea…"
"Every high-ranking officer at Headquarters is here!!!"