A seventeen-year-old Rear Admiral. That was impressive by any standard.
When Finn had been seventeen, he'd still been scraping by as a low-ranked Marine in the 113th Branch Base in the North Sea, nowhere near the rank of Rear Admiral. And in the original timeline, Smoker's career had been far less meteoric. Even after more than a decade, he'd only managed to reach the rank of Captain at Headquarters by the time Luffy started causing trouble in the East Blue.
His prickly personality had caused him endless trouble, promotions followed by demotions, a constant cycle of friction with superiors. It wasn't until after the Battle of Marineford that his career finally stabilized, and within two years he'd shot up to Vice Admiral. A textbook case of delayed payoff.
But right now, the promise of becoming a seventeen-year-old Rear Admiral had Smoker completely hooked.
His breathing quickened. White smoke began curling from his body in thin wisps. He straightened to attention, his expression fierce with determination.
"Everything is for justice!" he declared.
"Don't shout slogans at me," Finn said, his tone turning serious. "Let me be clear, Smoker. This mission isn't simple. You'll have to endure humiliation for a long time. It's extremely dangerous. Marine Headquarters won't be able to provide you with much support. Throughout this process, your justice will seem worthless. Your ideals will feel meaningless. And even..."
Finn paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
Then his expression shifted, becoming almost regretful. "Actually, forget it. I've changed my mind. You're a good candidate, Smoker. You shouldn't have to shoulder this kind of pressure and danger. Just follow the normal path. Be a good Marine. You're still young. How can I ask you to carry such a heavy burden?"
He turned away, walking back to the sofa and sitting down beside Gion. He glanced at Zephyr. "Instructor, maybe we should find someone else. This kid might not be able to handle it."
Zephyr stared at Finn, momentarily confused. What kind of trick is this?
But before Zephyr could respond, Smoker's expression shifted from excitement to alarm. He stepped forward immediately, his voice urgent. "Vice Admiral Finn! I won't let you down! I won't disappoint the Instructor! Please, you have to give me this mission! Even if it costs my life, I'll complete it!"
Zephyr blinked, then understanding dawned on his face.
Finn was baiting him. Classic manipulation.
It made sense. Smoker was in the throes of adolescence, that volatile period where young men believed themselves invincible. They thought they were special, that once they stepped onto the world stage, they'd become protagonists capable of changing everything.
Most people eventually calmed down and returned to mundane reality.
But the lives of true heroes often accelerated during precisely this period.
Either way, young men at this age couldn't stand being told they weren't good enough. It was the ultimate provocation.
And Smoker, the stubborn troublemaker, was exactly that type.
"It will be painful, Smoker," Finn said softly, his voice taking on a grave tone. "You'll be under immense pressure. Your current friends will misunderstand you. Some will even hate you."
Smoker's expression didn't waver. "I don't have many friends anyway!" he shot back defiantly.
"What about Hina?" Finn asked suddenly.
Smoker froze. For a moment, his bravado cracked. Then he hardened his jaw. "For justice!"
"Willingly?" Finn pressed.
"Willingly!" Smoker replied without hesitation.
"Good!" Finn clapped his hands together, his face breaking into an approving smile. "That's exactly the kind of resolve I wanted to hear."
Gion, sitting beside him, had opened her mouth several times during the exchange, wanting to tell Finn to stop toying with the poor kid. But seeing Smoker's fierce determination and high spirits, she finally shook her head.
One willing to deceive, the other willing to be deceived. She'd stay out of it.
"Since you desire this mission so strongly," Finn said, standing and placing a hand on Smoker's shoulder with an expression of deep emotion, "I'll entrust it to you, Rear Admiral Smoker!"
The title hit Smoker like a lightning bolt. His eyes went wide, and he snapped to attention, saluting sharply. "Yes, Vice Admiral Finn! Please give me your orders!"
"Become a pirate," Finn said bluntly.
"Yes, I'll become a pirate..." Smoker responded automatically, then froze mid-sentence. His brain caught up with his ears. "Wait. A pirate?"
One second ago, he'd been 'Rear Admiral Smoker.'
The next second, he was supposed to be 'Smoker the Pirate'?
What the hell?
"That's right. Become a pirate," Finn repeated, still gripping his shoulder. "Piracy has a bright future ahead of it. The next twenty years will be a golden age for pirates. I want you to aim high. Become the next Pirate King if you have to."
He patted Smoker's shoulder firmly, his tone turning instructive. "You need to constantly remind yourself that you're no longer a Marine. You're a pirate. That mindset will minimize your chances of slipping up and exposing yourself. Come on, say it with me: 'I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!'"
"I'm... the man who will become the Pirate King!?" Smoker repeated weakly, his voice cracking with confusion and guilt. "Vice Admiral Finn, what exactly does this mean?"
"Don't be anxious. I'm about to explain everything." Finn guided Smoker over to the sofa and sat him down. "The World Government is implementing a new policy called the Seven Warlords of the Sea. The plan is to recruit seven powerful pirates, grant them legal status, and form a special organization under Government authority. On the surface, this plan is terrible for the Marines. But after discussions among our top brass, we've decided to internalize it."
Finn launched into a detailed explanation, outlining the entire Warlord scheme, the Marines' counter-plan, and Smoker's role in it all.
At first, when Smoker heard about the World Government sanctioning pirates, he was furious. He cursed the Government on the spot, his face flushed with righteous anger.
Finn didn't stop him. In fact, he encouraged it. "Keep that energy. When you're out at sea, curse the World Government and the Marines as much as you want. It'll cement your pirate identity."
That made Smoker feel deeply awkward.
But as Finn continued explaining, as he described how the Marines intended to transform the Warlord system from within, turning it into a tool for Marine operations, Smoker's anger turned to shock.
Then understanding dawned.
He realized the potential. The strategic brilliance. The long-term benefits for the Marines.
And he understood why Finn wanted him to go to sea as a pirate.
They were making him an undercover agent. A future Warlord controlled by the Marines.
"That's the situation," Finn said, his tone turning serious again. "After you go to sea, you'll need to cause trouble. Real trouble. Build your reputation. Become an infamous but competent pirate. Headquarters will cooperate with your actions. We'll inflate your bounty as much as possible to help you qualify for a Warlord position as quickly as we can."
Zephyr, who had been watching this entire exchange, felt a deep sense of absurdity. Here was a Vice Admiral, an Admiral Candidate, teaching a freshly minted 'Rear Admiral' how to become an excellent pirate.
He couldn't take it anymore. "Finn, stop spouting nonsense."
He turned to Smoker, his expression serious. "Smoker, you're going to disguise yourself as a real pirate, which means you'll have to do things that seem evil. But as your Instructor, I want you to maintain a bottom line. Learn how to commit calculated evil."
"I'll teach you," Finn interjected smoothly. "To put it simply, target nobles. Especially the ones you don't like. And let's be honest, most nobles are terrible people anyway. Rob them. Humiliate them. Make their lives miserable. That's your primary target demographic."
"I think I understand," Smoker said, nodding slowly. Then a practical question occurred to him. "What about the money we steal? What should I do with it?"
"Use it to expand your crew and build your strength," Finn replied without hesitation. "And if you feel like you've accumulated too much, we can stage a few 'raids' on your operations and confiscate the excess. We'll bring it back to Headquarters as your contribution to justice from the outside. It'll help ease the moral weight you're carrying. Don't worry, we won't forget what you've sacrificed."
Zephyr stared at Finn in disbelief. "Why do you have so many schemes?"
This was absurd. Finn was essentially raising his own thieves, thieves who were undercover agents, and when the thieves got too rich, he'd rob them and bring the money back to Headquarters.
If Finn had become Fleet Admiral twenty years earlier, the World Government probably wouldn't exist anymore.
Finn looked at Zephyr with an expression of complete innocence. "Instructor, I'm doing this for the Marines. I have no selfish motives whatsoever."
Zephyr's face twitched. He wanted to argue, but the truth was undeniable. As shameless and unprincipled as Finn's plan was, it was entirely for the benefit of the Marines.
"Yes, Instructor!" Smoker said, his voice ringing with righteous conviction. "Just let me stay out there and donate money to the Marines!"
Zephyr looked at the young man and couldn't help but cover his face with one hand. You've been completely brainwashed by that bastard Finn, and you're acting like it's an honor.
"Well said!" Finn clapped Smoker on the shoulder again, his expression full of admiration. "I can feel your dedication to justice, Smoker. You're exactly the kind of man I thought you were. I'm looking forward to your performance."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Finn!" Smoker replied, practically glowing with pride.
But as his excitement ebbed slightly, a flicker of doubt crossed his face. "So... how long will this plan take? How long will I have to operate as a pirate?"
If it's going to be a long time...
Smoker felt a hint of anxiety creeping in.
Finn almost told him twenty years, but seeing the kid's expression, he held back. Instead, he glanced at Zephyr. "Instructor, how long do you think it will take?"
Smoker turned to Zephyr as well, his eyes hopeful.
Zephyr felt the weight of that hopeful gaze and found himself reluctant to crush it. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Let's tentatively set it at three years."
Three years for now. We'll extend it later. Take it step by step. If we tell him the truth all at once, it'll be too much pressure. He needs to see hope. I'm doing this for his own good.
Finn glanced at Zephyr, recognizing the lie for what it was. There was no way this mission would wrap up in three years. But Zephyr knew that too.
Fine. Let it be three years.
"Three years? That's no problem!" Smoker visibly relaxed, relief washing over his face.
Three years wasn't bad at all. He could endure that. And when he came back, he'd be a twenty-year-old Rear Admiral. With his accomplishments, he might even get promoted. Maybe... a twenty-year-old Vice Admiral?
The thought made him giddy.
Smoker began fantasizing about his triumphant return three years from now, imagining the accolades and promotions waiting for him.
Meanwhile, Finn couldn't help but imagine a very different scene.
Three years later, on some nameless stretch of ocean. Smoker standing across from Admiral Sengoku.
"Admiral, we agreed on three years! It's been three years, and now you're telling me another three years!? I'm already a Warlord! If you don't close the net soon, I'm going to become one of the Four Emperors!"
"Can you tone it down a bit? I'm the only one in the Marines who even remembers your real identity. I'll go back and delete your file right now. You can be a pirate for the rest of your life, and I won't have to deal with this headache anymore."
Finn barely suppressed a laugh at the mental image.
"Hehe, Smoker, do your best out there," he said, his voice warm with encouragement. "I believe you'll accomplish great things."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Finn!" Smoker replied earnestly. "I won't let you down!"