It felt strangely familiar.
The "can't resist the smell of victory" law, perhaps?
Leo teleported instantly beside Smoker.
"Ah!!"
Tashigi let out a sharp cry, instinctively taking a step back from Leo.
With a single, decisive motion, Leo pressed his boot against Smoker's head, forcing it into an intimate, bone-jarring connection with the ground.
"Damn it…"
Smoker's face contorted in fury as he scrambled to activate his Moku Moku no Mi powers, attempting to turn his body into smoke.
But to his horror, nothing happened.
Impossible… could a Devil Fruit actually fail him?
"Stop wasting your energy."
Smoker's frantic struggles barely drew a smirk from Leo.
Of course, all of this was Oda's doing—show up too early in the story, and you get flattened.
In the East Blue of this world, even Haki was a concept no one fully understood.
Smoker's mind reeled. The sheer impossibility of what was happening left him utterly unmoored.
"You… what are you trying to do?!"
Tashigi shouted again, her voice trembling, the jade hilt of Kaishuu's blade quivering in her hands. Yet beneath the panic, her face displayed a steely resolve.
Leo pressed down harder, deforming Smoker's face beneath his boot, blood spilling freely from his mouth.
"P-please… don't hurt Lord Smoker anymore!"
Tears welled in Tashigi's eyes and began to stream down her cheeks.
She had followed Smoker for years, a loyal subordinate through every mission.
Whenever danger arose, Smoker had always stepped in, regardless of his own safety, to protect her.
Seeing him beaten like this was unbearable.
"I've already said it—join my pirate crew, become my crew member." Leo's expression was cold and unwavering.
Tashigi's tear-filled gaze met his, her lips trembling.
"Tashigi… don't…"
Bang!
Smoker tried to force out a few words, only to be stomped down again. The hard cobblestones cracked beneath the impact, fractures spreading outward like a spiderweb.
"I… I promise… I won't let anyone hurt Lord Smoker anymore."
Clatter.
Her blade slipped from her grasp as she sank to her knees, helpless.
"That's more like it."
Leo finally lifted his boot from Smoker's head, satisfied, and turned to Tashigi, carefully helping her to her feet.
Her body stiffened, but she dared not resist.
"Don't worry. He's just injured. A few days of rest and he'll be fine."
Leo had never intended to kill Smoker.
"Leo… let me go…"
"Enough!!" Leo's voice darkened. "Smoker, for Tashigi's sake, I'm letting you live today. But if you talk back again, it won't just be an injury you're dealing with."
Tashigi's eyes widened, and she immediately stepped in front of Leo, her voice firm and unwavering. "Lord Smoker, please… stop talking. He really will hurt you!"
"Tashigi!!!"
Smoker's shout shot up eight octaves.
"Master Leo, we should leave now!" Tashigi urged, her concern sharp.
Having followed Smoker for so long, she knew his stubbornness.
He'd defy even the orders of the Marine Headquarters if he had to, let alone surrender to a pirate.
But she couldn't watch him die in front of her.
Seeing her take the initiative, Leo didn't waste a moment on Smoker. He grabbed her arm and led her toward the harbor.
By now, it was nearly time to reunite with the rest of the crew.
Smoker lay there, utterly defeated, watching helplessly as Leo and Tashigi departed.
A wave of humiliation crashed over him. He clenched his fists, silently swearing he would rescue Tashigi and restore his honor.
Tashigi followed cautiously behind Leo, her mind racing. Smoker was no longer an immediate threat, but she had to find a way to escape this pirate… this demon.
"What are you thinking?!"
Leo's smirk appeared despite himself.
"Ah… n-nothing, I… I…"
Her thoughts scattered, she stammered incoherently.
Leo stifled a laugh. How could a Marine be so adorably dense?
Yet her expression changed quickly. Just moments ago, she had been crying in despair; now, a hint of mischief flickered in her eyes.
Leo's face hardened. "If you don't want Smoker to die, don't even think about running away."
Boom!!
His casually delivered warning exploded in Tashigi's mind.
Overcome with a mix of fear and frustration, she broke down, sobbing bitterly.
Seeing her reaction, Leo awkwardly rubbed his nose. Had he gone too far with his words? Well, he'd explain later.
At last, he brought Tashigi to the Going Merry.
All the other girls had finished purchasing the items on their list and had loaded them aboard, except for Nami.
"Leo, you're back! Wait… what?!!"
Kaya waved excitedly from the deck, but quickly noticed Tashigi's tear-streaked face.
"Captain, this is…" Makino asked, puzzled.
"She's Tashigi, a Marine. But from now on, she's also a member of the Leo Pirates," Leo explained.
The girls all exchanged looks of mild exasperation and disbelief. No explanation needed—they could tell she had been "taken."
Poor Tashigi looked miserable, and the crew couldn't help but sympathize.
"Little sister Tashigi, don't be afraid. The captain won't hurt you."
Makino, as the nurturing elder sister of the crew, gently guided the flustered Tashigi into the cabin, offering words of comfort.
"Hey, wait for me!!!"
At that moment, Nami hurried aboard, laden with dozens of shopping bags.
"Nami, how many did you buy?!"
Nojiko stared at the assorted parcels in Nami's arms, easily numbering over ten.
"Hehe… I couldn't resist," Nami said, scratching the back of her head sheepishly. All were beautiful clothes and jewelry—how could she choose?
"Now that everyone's here, let's set sail!!"
Leo conjured a small cloud beneath the Going Merry, lifting the ship slowly into the air.
"Leo! Stop right there!!!"
Suddenly, a booming, furious voice echoed across the distant waters.
Vice Admiral Garp had arrived, fashionably late…
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T/N :
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