Rolan had actually noticed the young woman earlier, but he didn't pay much heed to her. With a commotion already underway, there was no need to be shy.
Zoro slowly turned around, about to refuse, but instead, his voice cracked, "Who… who are you? Why do you look so much like her?"
The girl looked to be around fifteen or sixteen. She had black hair, red‑rimmed glasses, and she held a sword at her side.
This girl was none other than Tashigi, one of Smoker's subordinates.
She seemed not to hear Zoro's question. Her eyes went to his sword at his waist, and she dared to reach out to touch the Wado Ichimonji.
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't assume you can touch my sword just because you resemble someone else!" Zoro barked. He stepped back, putting his hands on the hilts of his three swords, his face full of caution.
"I saw it—the curvature, the pattern, the length. That sword… is it really the Wado Ichimonji?" Tashigi's eyes shone with passion.
"What are you on about? That's my sword—how does it concern you?" Zoro stiffened, a flush rising on his cheeks.
Under any other circumstances, he might have drawn his blade at such an intrusion. But with her earnest expression … he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Tashigi held her own blade, Shigure, in her left hand; with her right hand, she extended a plea toward Zoro. "Please, let me examine it. My dream is to collect all the famous swords in the world."
Zoro tightened his grip on the Wado Ichimonji. "How does your sword‑collection dream concern me? This is my sword."
She stared at him, her obsession plain. Exasperated, Zoro turned to walk away. "Come on, let's go. This woman's crazy."
Then, as his back faced her, Tashigi gasped softly at Zoro's three swords and the three teardrop earrings on his ears. Her voice trembled with realization, "Then… you are Roronoa Zoro?"
Zoro paused, unwilling to entertain her further, but he nodded once curtly.
"I refuse to let someone like you wield that sword! I can't let you keep a legendary sword!" she declared.
Zoro's eyes hardened. "If you're serious, try and take it."
In just two moves, Zoro disarmed her. He was holding back; otherwise, a single blow might have ended her.
Tashigi ended up with Shigure lodged beside her head. As she watched Zoro walk away, her eyes burned with regret. She shouted after him, "Why didn't you just kill me? Because I'm a woman?"
Zoro turned, rubbing his temple. "Don't say stupid things while making that face."
At that moment, Rolan came up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Someone's coming."
Zoro turned his head. Sure enough, a three-wheeled motorcycle was rolling down the street toward them. As it neared, they could make out the rider more clearly.
A man with white hair hopped off. He had two cigars in his mouth, his Marine coat flapping open to reveal a sculpted chest and abs. A jitte was slung on his back.
It was Smoker.
He dismounted and helped Tashigi to her feet. "Young lady, are you alright?"
She stood awkwardly. "I… I'm sorry, Smoker‑san. I failed."
Smoker shook his head. "This kind of opponent isn't ordinary."
Then he glared at Rolan. "You… you're Rolan, right?"
Tashigi blinked, surprise written across her face. "Wh‑what? You're Rolan? The Rolan with a two hundred million berries bounty?"
Rolan grinned slightly, removing his sunglasses. "As expected of Smoker, you know how things are."
Smoker cut to business. "What are you doing here, Rolan?"
Rolan shrugged. "Heading to the Grand Line. What else?"
Smoker nodded knowingly. "I thought as much. Your ambitions go far beyond the East Blue."
His expression hardened. "But make no mistake—this is my territory. I won't allow any pirate to pass through freely!"
He inhaled deeply on his cigar, then drew his jitte and pointed it squarely at Rolan and Zoro.
Before he could strike, a swirl of smoke descended from above, coalescing into a fiery-orange-haired girl. She hovered in the air.
"Rolan, leave this captain to me," she called.
Rolan studied her. "No, Nami. He's a Logia devil fruit user, and you haven't mastered Haki yet—you can't handle him."
A massive bird suddenly appeared near them, as though it had teleported in. Its beak flapped, but before it landed, its form shifted. In its place stood Kuro, surveying his surroundings with concern.
Kuro said quietly, furrowing his brow. "I saw a Marine warship at sea. I think it's that old man Garp. Lina's already gotten the ship ready."
Hearing that news, Rolan looked uneasy. Garp, huh? He thought. That could get messy.
He motioned to Zoro and Nami. "Go back to the ship. Kuro can manage him."
They started to argue, but before they could, Rolan leapt into the sky, followed by Nami, toward the ship.
Smoker's face twisted in anger. "Who told you to leave without permission?"
He raised his jitte, but his body turned into swirling white smoke. "White Snake!" he roared, as his smoky right arm slammed toward Rolan and the others.
But before he could land the blow, Kuro stomped down on him with fierce strength.
"Marine captain, you might be better off staying in Loguetown," Kuro said, pushing up his glasses.
Cold sweat formed on Smoker's brow. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"H‑Haki? In the East Blue?" he stammered.
Kuro offered a faint smile. "There's a lot you don't understand yet."
His right arm transformed into a massive wing. The black aura of Armament Haki coated the feathers. With a flick of his leg, he was suddenly behind Smoker, as though he had teleported.
"Haki: Armament! Wing Blade!"
Before Smoker could react, Kuro sliced across him. A deep wound opened from his shoulder down to his abdomen, blood spraying as he crumpled to the ground.
"Smoker‑san!" Tashigi gasped, her eyes wide with shock. The Marine captain she'd respected was down in an instant.
Kuro leaned over, his voice steady. "The Captain wants you to know: don't rely on your Logia fruit to do whatever you like. Go back, and learn Haki from Zephyr."
"In two years' time, a pirate with unbelievable strength and a powerful background will pass through here."
"We're not just any pirates. You'll understand why later."
With that, Kuro transformed back into a Roc and vanished into the sky.
Smoker struggled to speak. "W‑wait… cough… cough…" His wound wasn't fatal—but it left him helpless on the ground.
"Captain Smoker!" "Smoker‑san!"
His subordinates rushed over, but any sign of Rolan and his crew had already gone.
"Send for a Den Den Mushi! I need to call headquarters!"
Smoker tried to sit up, but the world blurred. The pirates had vanished.
_______
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