Chapter 40: Never Expected Smoker to Be Like This

After spending quite some time to make landfall, Tashigi led thirty elite marines from Smoker’s unit in formation, marching straight from the docks toward the Loguetown Naval Base. Garen and Nami followed closely at her side, and from a distance, they looked very much like the leaders of this naval detachment themselves.

The marines had no objections to this, for Garen was a companion in justice who could chat and laugh alongside Vice Admiral Garp, and he was a highly respected senior in the eyes of their superior, Sergeant Tashigi.

The marines moved swiftly, and no one along the way dared cross the path of such an elite force. Without incident, Garen and his party soon arrived at the gates of the Loguetown Naval Base.

Before arriving, Tashigi had imagined the place would have been thrown into chaos by a furious Smoker, yet what she saw was entirely different...

The Loguetown marines were lined up in two perfectly neat columns at the base entrance, forming a ceremonial corridor of welcome.

Standing at the forefront, draped in a cloak of justice, was a middle-aged naval officer—none other than Major Hammer, the chief of Loguetown’s naval base.

He wore a harmless, affable smile, tinged with the faintest hint of sycophancy.

“You must be the marines from Headquarters, here to relieve us!” he called out.

Major Hammer glanced casually over the assembled Headquarters marines, but his gaze quickly settled on Garen, who wore the white suit of an officer.

Slowly, Hammer stepped before Garen and, with a mild expression, offered a formal salute. “I am the current commanding officer of the Loguetown Naval Base, Major Hammer!”

“Uh?” Tashigi found this a little odd and could only respond from the side, “I am Sergeant Tashigi of Naval Headquarters.”

“We serve under Captain Smoker of Headquarters,” she added.

Following her voice, Hammer glanced at Tashigi—a demure young woman with neat short hair and clunky square glasses, lacking any air of a naval officer. Hammer couldn’t help but look down on her a bit, but he maintained a façade of politeness, nodding in return.

Then, an awkward silence fell over the scene...

Tashigi was silently wondering where Captain Smoker might be, while Hammer was waiting for the “Smoker” before him to respond and declare his stance.

Yet, Garen had absolutely no intention of exchanging pleasantries with Major Hammer.

Watching Garen’s unreadable face, Hammer’s heart sank: This man is so cold and unyielding... Could it be that “Smoker” has already seen through the problems in Loguetown and won’t even bother with formalities?

If he made even the slightest misstep, things might quickly turn violent. Major Hammer had no confidence that he could defeat a Logia-class Headquarters captain in a direct confrontation.

So, he mustered his courage and put on a smile so enthusiastic it bordered on obsequiousness. “Captain Smoker! Forgive me for not coming out to greet you earlier; I hope you’ll excuse my lack of hospitality!” As he spoke, Major Hammer bowed submissively, extending his hand to “Smoker” in greeting.

“Uh?” Garen was momentarily taken aback.

Tashigi and the marines exchanged odd looks.

Major Hammer’s outstretched hand hung awkwardly in the air, his ingratiating smile frozen on his face.

Panic churned within him: This Smoker is giving me no face at all?! This won’t do! I must get him to sit at the negotiating table, or I won’t even have a chance to resist!

“Um...” Tashigi was just about to explain and ask after the true Smoker’s whereabouts when Major Hammer’s smile grew even warmer.

Instead of being angered by “Smoker’s” coldness, he lowered himself almost to the status of a servant. “Lord Smoker! Whatever the issue may be, let’s go inside and discuss it.” Sweat beaded on Hammer’s brow, but he stubbornly persisted. “I have prepared a few humble gifts for you, which I hope you’ll kindly accept.”

This was outright bribery.

But cornered by “Smoker’s” repeated coldness, Major Hammer could only resort to such a clumsy tactic.

“Gifts?!” The voice was not that of the “Smoker” he imagined, but rather the lovely orange-haired girl at his side. Her eyes already sparkled with excitement.

Nami was dressed in a standard white marine shirt, making her look more the part of a marine than Tashigi, who wore her usual attire.

But with the chief “Smoker” silent, it was hardly appropriate for a female marine to interrupt so boldly. Still, Hammer could only reply to Nami in veiled terms, “That’s right! You all have come a long way—I have prepared some small gifts to welcome Captain Smoker.”

Hammer once more stole a glance at “Smoker,” lowering his voice further. “Captain Smoker, please don’t worry. They’re just some local specialties I’ve gathered from the East Blue—nothing of value, really...”

“This...” Garen still couldn’t quite react. He wasn’t prepared to play the part of a naval captain.

Garen’s “indifference” left Major Hammer utterly helpless, nearly suffocating under the oppressive atmosphere.

Fortunately, a certain angelic orange-haired girl came to the rescue.

Beaming, Nami sidled up to Garen and, with playful familiarity, patted “Captain Smoker” on the shoulder. “Captain Smoker~~ Since it’s a gesture of goodwill, we shouldn’t let it go to waste!”

Garen’s lips twitched as he glanced at Nami with resignation.

Those amber-orange eyes of the little cat burglar gleamed like LEDs, shining with dazzling golden light.

“Hey!” Tashigi came over, clearly bewildered, and questioned, “What are you trying to do?”

Nami gave Tashigi a deep look, then replied meaningfully, “I understand your concerns. But these issues are best resolved inside. Leave things here to me and ‘Captain Smoker’!”

Major Hammer instantly grasped the situation: This lively orange-haired girl was likely the true confidant of “Captain Smoker”! The bespectacled, quiet one was too by-the-book, probably not yet fully “trained” by “Smoker.”

You sly fox, Smoker! Hammer cursed inwardly. You keep a cold face and let your subordinates say all the dirty words!

But outwardly, he only smiled all the more obsequiously. “The lady is right!”

“Whatever the issue, let’s go inside and talk it over at leisure!”

Tashigi fell silent, her gaze flickering with complex emotions as she assessed the circumstances. The marines behind her wisely kept quiet as well.

With the real Captain Smoker missing since his early departure and the base before them obviously suspect, barging in recklessly might place the soldiers in grave danger.

Letting the powerful “one-sword grandmaster” Garen go in first to test the waters was not a bad plan.

“Very well...” Tashigi’s expression hardened as she said earnestly to Nami, “We’ll wait outside for now. You two go in and talk with Major Hammer.”

“No problem!” Nami’s smile became all the more radiant.

Without hesitation, she stepped to Garen’s side and gently took his arm. “Captain Smoker, let’s go!”

Garen, still not fully in character, was promptly dragged toward the base entrance by the impatient Nami.

“Uh... All right.” Garen could only let himself be led into the naval base to play the part of Captain Smoker.

The improper familiarity between Nami and “Captain Smoker” left Major Hammer utterly astonished. He accompanied them with a flattering smile, quietly asking, “Excuse me, miss, you are...?”

“Me?” Nami answered without a trace of nerves, inventing an identity on the spot. “I’m Captain Smoker’s adjutant.”

“I see,” Major Hammer replied, though inwardly he sneered: Adjutant? A bottom-rung marine in a plain white shirt is the adjutant of a Headquarters captain?

But looking at “Captain Smoker’s” demeanor, he seemed to show a certain indulgence and protectiveness toward this attractive female marine.

Enlightenment dawned in Major Hammer’s mind: Both of Smoker’s adjutants are charming young women—one quiet and gentle, the other lively and playful. Not a hint of elite Headquarters bearing, all their attributes invested in feminine allure.

Adjutants? More like...

So that’s the kind of man you are, Smoker!

Still, as long as a man is greedy and lustful, he’s easy to handle.

Major Hammer felt much relieved, even admiring inwardly: The Captain really knows how to enjoy life!

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