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"Captain Smoker is a genius! I always thought he was just a brute, but it turns out he's a master strategist!"
"Just a rumor of a treasure, and he took out Krieg, Kuro, and all the other vicious pirates?"
"As expected of a Captain from Headquarters! A silent hunter who strikes with deadly force!"
The nobles and other corrupt officials who had been backing the pirates were all dumbfounded. Who would have thought that Smoker, of all people, was capable of such a complex scheme? He really screwed them over.
It took a lot of time and money to develop a valuable pirate crew.
"Captain Smoker, well done," the voice from the Den Den Mushi at Headquarters said. "We've heard what you've done. You've restored the honor of the Marines in the East Blue."
In his office, Smoker felt a massive headache coming on. You've heard? You don't know a damn thing.
He hung up, thoroughly annoyed.
So he was taking the credit for this, was he?
He was the scapegoat?
But he couldn't explain. By the time he'd realized what was happening, the story had already spread and was out of his control.
Everyone believed that he, Smoker, had orchestrated the whole thing.
After all, the rumor had started with him.
The 16th Branch base had recently been destroyed by the Spade Pirates, a huge blow to the Marines' prestige. And now, Smoker had single-handedly wiped out a dozen pirate crews, including major ones like the Krieg Pirates. It was a powerful counter-strike.
It had to be publicized.
So even if Smoker told the truth, for the sake of the Marines' image, they would have forced the credit on him.
Just like with the Alabasta incident.
The "truth"... was it really that important?
Only when it was convenient.
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As the news spread, the number of treasure-hunting pirates arriving in Cocoyasi Village dwindled, then disappeared entirely.
Jin, of course, had gladly "welcomed" the last few.
An opportunity to farm this many soul crystals was rare.
But a scheme like this, if it were traced back to him, would be bad for his reputation. A king, engaging in such deception... it would damage his credibility.
He was lucky to have a tool like Smoker to take the fall.
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Night.
Out on the sea, Ace and his crew, on their battered sloop, the Piece of Spadille, were docked near the demonic carrier.
They had led the Marines on a chase halfway across the East Blue, surviving one battle after another.
Now, he was here to fulfill his end of the bargain. Jin was going to grant him a "crew" position.
But before that, Ace wanted one more fight.
In the past few weeks of constant battle, his strength had grown. And he had even, unexpectedly, awakened his Armament Haki.
He was sure the gap between them had narrowed.
And then, he was crushed.
His flames, his Haki-infused fists... they couldn't even scratch Jin.
And Jin's one punch had left him on the ground, questioning his very existence.
"How is that possible?!" Deuce and the others were in shock.
Ace's growth had been exponential. But it seemed the king had gotten even stronger. His progress was even more insane than Ace's.
"Gwah..."
It took Ace a long time to get back to his feet, his body aching. He looked at the man before him. He was like an unbreachable wall.
"I will defeat you," he said, the fire of battle in his eyes.
"Alright, alright," Jin said. "No need for the dramatic declarations. This isn't a stage play."
"Come with me."
He led Ace into a separate, pitch-black room in the carrier's hold.
"Ace," he said, "I hereby grant you the position of Vice-Executioner. Now, I'm going to let my ship accept you. Don't resist."
Ace was confused.
Jin opened the ship's interface. In the "Executioner (Vice)" slot, he entered the name "Portgas D. Ace."
He locked onto Ace.
"Woooooooooom..."
Ace heard a strange, soul-deep cry.
The dark room began to writhe and press in on him, as if he were being enveloped by the walls of a stomach. Something strange seeped into his body, gathering in his chest, a faint warmth.
Ace's information appeared in the "Executioner (Vice)" slot.
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[Position: Executioner (Vice)]
[Name: Portgas D. Ace]
[Authority: Level 4]
[Height: 185cm]
[Ability: Logia, Flare-Flare Fruit]
[Lineage: Gol D. Roger]
[Haki: Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki]
[Composite Doriki: 3590-8500]
[Evaluation: Son of Roger, immense potential, but trapped in the pain of his own existence, searching for a reason to live. Impulsive and easily provoked, prone to being used and falling into crisis.]
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Ace's stats and evaluation were impressive. He was definitely stronger now than he had been at this point in the original story. In the spin-off, his bounty had always been inflated. He hadn't awakened his Armament Haki until Sabaody. But now, after being hammered by Jin and sparring with Law, he had awakened it here, in the East Blue.
"Is that... it?" Ace asked, surprised. He touched his chest. A strange, intricate insignia had appeared there.
Was it a tattoo?
"Yes," Jin said. "You can go now. Oh, and if you get into trouble, don't mention my name. And if the World Government offers you a position as one of the Seven Warlords... you should probably refuse."
Ace froze. He looked at Jin. He had a feeling this king knew something. His identity?
"As thanks for your contribution," Jin said, "I'll give you a new ship. It's fully stocked, enough to get you to the Grand Line. Go on, kid. The world is waiting."
Jin didn't want to interfere too much in Ace's adventure. The Summit War still needed to happen.
After sending Ace and his crew on their way, Jin made some adjustments to his own crew's positions.
Kuma, Cook.
Crocodile, Boatswain.
Robin, Intelligence Officer.
Law, Ship's Doctor.
Maya, Secretary.
Reiju, Executioner.
Ace, Vice-Executioner.
The demonic carrier set sail. Destination: Elegia.
He took Robin, Tashigi, and Kuma with him. With Nami and Carina as their guides, they set out.
—————————
Two days later.
They came across a floating restaurant, a ship with a fish-shaped figurehead and the word "BARATIE" painted on its sail.
"It's the Baratie!" Carina said, delighted. "It's the most popular restaurant in the East Blue these days."
'Sanji...' Jin thought.
They went on board and had a meal. It was, indeed, delicious.
Before they left, Jin slipped a picture of Reiju into the pocket of a dazed Sanji, who had just been knocked out with a single punch after harassing Robin and the others.
"Sanji! Are you alright? Wake up..."
Zeff watched the demonic carrier depart, then looked at the cooks carrying Sanji.
To knock Sanji out with a single punch...
Their entire crew probably wouldn't have been a match for them.
All they could do was endure it.
Fortunately, the man had paid double.
—————————
Three days later.
The demonic carrier arrived in the sea Carina had described.
Jin had Ai activate the radar and extend his Observation Haki.
Evening.
The setting sun painted the sea in hues of red and gold.
Tired birds flew toward a distant island.
A city of ruins, littered with fallen monoliths and the broken remains of instrument-shaped sculptures.
A faint echo of its former glory.
The former royal palace, the musical heart of Elegia.
Amidst the ruins, one section remained intact.
"Gordon!"
"Gordon...!"
A clear, melodious voice, filled with a hint of anxiety and fear, echoed through the corridor.
"This is bad!"
A young girl burst into a room.
It was a music classroom. A man was sitting at a piano. He was Gordon, the former king of Elegia.
"What is it, Uta? What's happened?" Gordon stopped playing and looked at the girl with a gentle expression.
Uta was panting, pointing outside. "The sea...!" she said, her voice filled with urgency. "There's a ship on the sea!"
"What?" Gordon stood up, in disbelief. "That's impossible!"
After what had happened, Elegia had been forgotten by the world. No ship, no person had come here since.
"It's true! Go look for yourself! There's a ship!"
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