Chapter 36: Your Acting Is Terrible

Get out of here!

Evil Marines!

The little girl strained to make a fierce expression, but with her rosy cheeks, she only looked unusually sweet and adorable.

But Smoker couldn’t laugh now; he ignored the girl and turned his gaze behind him.

More and more civilians were gathering here, subtly surrounding the Marines.

These people wore anger on their faces, clutching makeshift weapons—farm tools, brooms, stools, sticks—anything they could grab.

Even facing the Marines, not a trace of fear showed on their faces—only long-suppressed resentment.

Leave this place, Marines!

You only run from pirates, and now that it’s over, you show up?

This justice… this justice…

At the front of the crowd.

A young man with a severed arm gripped the stump of his shoulder, refusing to let go even as blood soaked through the bandages; pain twisted his face into a beastlike snarl:

We don’t need it!

The branch base you promised, the harbor you promised—none of it was ever delivered. Everything was just for money!

The pirate attack just ended, and you’re already so eager?

…

Amid the hoarse shouts.

Smoker’s face was as dark as water.

He clearly saw their true purpose: they were merely protecting the pirates hidden inside the lord’s mansion.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t understand why these civilians would side with pirates.

Ignoring the furious crowd, Smoker turned to Gasha and Gao Wen, his brows tightly knitted:

You played that move well.

Saying this,

Smoker raised his hand, signaling the surrounding Marines to lower their weapons.

He couldn’t bring himself to strike these civilians who had just endured suffering—especially when some of that suffering came from the Marines themselves.

Gasha looked around.

From the eyes of these civilians, she felt a warmth that stirred her.

At this moment, the oppressive aura that had once made her legs tremble on Smoker now felt bearable.

She took a deep breath and said calmly:

We did nothing. They came here of their own will.

Marine officer, if you don’t have a search warrant, please leave.

Hmph!

Smoker sneered, his gaze falling on the knight beside Gasha.

The only person in the East Blue who could make him sense danger was Gao Wen, whom he had fought tonight.

If he had been merely surprised before, now he was certain: the servant standing before him was Gao Wen in disguise.

Let a pirate escape right before his eyes?

Or…

Smoker clenched his jutte, his expression shifting between doubt and resolve.

Smoker, Senior Colonel!

Suddenly,

Dazqi hurried through the crowd, rushing to Smoker’s side and speaking quickly:

We’ve figured out what happened at Crow Harbor yesterday.

Three warships arrived in total. Colonel Rat saw through the knight Gao Wen’s identity and fled immediately.

Another was an impostor from Admiral Krieg’s crew—typical trick of theirs, but they’re all dead now.

As for the last group…

Here, Dazqi glanced oddly at Gasha far away and continued:

The Marines who rescued civilians in the harbor? They were impostors too—men under Gao Wen’s command.

Pirates?

Smoker blinked in surprise.

Yes.

Dazqi nodded:

If no fourth party was involved, then this must be it.

We are the fourth party.

Smoker sighed.

He finally understood why these civilians risked their lives to stand before him.

The common folk of this era were far simpler than he’d imagined: treat them kindly, and they’d treat you kindly; stand up for them, and they’d stand between you and the Marines.

In the eyes of these civilians at Crow Harbor,

the pirates who ran through gunfire and pulled them from death’s grasp were far more worthy of respect than the Marines.

For a moment,

Smoker’s heart swelled with conflicting emotions; though reluctant, he finally waved his hand:

Let’s go. Get a search warrant!

Yes!

Dazqi saluted, her gaze lingering on Smoker, slightly dazed.

Was it an illusion?

He felt as if something heavy now weighed on Smoker, making his silhouette no longer as towering as before.

The surrounding civilians parted, letting Smoker and his Marines pass through.

Only after the Marines vanished completely did the warship anchored in the harbor sound its horn, and only then did everyone exhale deeply.

Many were soaked in sweat.

I was terrified—I thought we’d have to fight the Marines here.

With these weapons we’ve got? Scaring people maybe, but actually fighting the Marines? That’s just lining up for execution.

But didn’t we scare off that Marine officer too?

Hehe~

…

The crowd grew noisier.

Yet not a single person regretted coming here today to protect their saviors.

The armless youth finally came to his senses, staring at his bloody shoulder and grimacing in pain.

Then he gave Gasha a faint smile:

Lord, thanks to you being here, we… we survived.

I…

Gasha’s gaze dimmed:

So many still died. If only I’d noticed sooner, if only we’d been stronger…

You’ve done enough.

The armless youth comforted her, then, as if remembering something, teased:

Also, we’re supposed to pass on a message to our saviors.

What?

The armless youth grinned:

Your acting was terrible. How could Marines possibly risk their lives to save us?

Next time, wear your own clothes—even fly your own flag.

As he spoke, everyone’s eyes turned to Gasha—clearly this had been prearranged.

Gao Wen watched the smiles on their faces, and something unfamiliar stirred in his heart.

…

Far away,

Smoker stood on the deck, gazing at the distant lord’s mansion, murmuring:

Knight Gao Wen… what kind of man are you?

No one answered Smoker’s question.

Dazqi stood quietly beside him, holding the jutte she’d just fished from the sea.

Oo—!

After the long horn blast, Smoker snapped back to awareness, gazing at the distant sea, his confusion slowly fading:

Among pirates, there may be one or two exceptions—but pirates themselves are the root of this world’s chaos.

Dazqi.

"Yes!"

"Did you know? I’ve submitted multiple reports about the rats to headquarters, but each one vanished without a trace—even the most recent one earned me a warning from a vice admiral."

Daziqi held her breath, silently gripping the hilt of her famed blade Shiyu.

Smoker continued:

"If I were stronger, if I held a higher rank, I could change the current state of the East Blue Marines—and even the Grand Line."

"We’re too weak—not just in power, but in authority..."

(End of Chapter)