Chapter 357

Smoker pointed to the high execution platform and said with emotion: "I was probably 12 years old back then. Luo Jie walked past me and stepped onto that execution platform..."

"Time flies. Now I'm already 34 years old, and the Great Pirate Era started by Luo Jie hasn't ended yet..."

Looking at the high execution platform, Karl smiled slightly: "Do you believe that the Great Pirate Era will end soon?"

Smoker was stunned and shook his head: "How could it be that easy? Even if you send all the Four Emperors to Impel Down, there will still be other pirates sitting in those positions. There will always be people who choose to be pirates, right?"

Karl smiled without saying a word and hurriedly changed the subject: "How is the situation recently? It should be quite leisurely in the East Blue, right?"

"Leisurely is not the word, it's just that there's no challenge. It was quite idle a while ago."

"A while ago? Don't you look quite idle now too?"

Smoker blew a smoke ring and said slowly: "Yesterday, the Anti-Corruption Bureau sent me a piece of intelligence regarding Colonel Morgan of the 153rd Branch abusing his power and oppressing the people. I was originally thinking of going to the 153rd Branch to arrest Colonel Morgan in the next two days. I didn't expect you guys to come so quickly."

Axe-Hand Morgan? Karl discovered the key element, but on the surface, he remained calm and composed.

"So, my arrival has affected your work?"

Smoker shook his head: "That wouldn't go that far. Isn't it just right that we have you, the Navy Hero? Might as well use you."

"You guy really knows how to order people around. Fine, since I have nothing to do anyway, I'll just solve the matter!"

Smoker was a bit surprised, but a smile quickly appeared: "No time like the present, let's go!"

Because the Holy Light was a steamship, it was lightning fast in a novice-level sea area like the East Blue, with a speed far exceeding other warships. So Smoker unceremoniously requisitioned Karl's Holy Light. To this, Karl expressed his frustration.

"I really miss it! Before the Anti-Corruption Bureau was established, I used to follow you around every day to investigate corrupt marines!"

Karl couldn't help but reveal a smile: "Yeah, I remember it started from... Cocoyasi Village, right! Hmm... the Arlong Pirates colluded with that guy called Rat."

"Hahaha, your memory is really good. The only thing I remember is that little girl with orange hair. She should be grown up by now, right? I wonder what she is doing now?"

Orange hair? Smoker must be talking about Nami. It's hard to say what Nami is doing now, but she must have grown up. This is beyond doubt.

"Hahaha, who knows?"

To be honest, the distance from Loguetown to Xie Erzi, where the 153rd Branch is located, is indeed quite far. At the speed of a regular warship, it would take at least a full day to arrive.

However, Karl's Holy Light was faster. By around 9:00 AM the next day, it had already arrived in the sea area near Xie Erzi. But to avoid attracting attention, the Holy Light did not dock at the Xie Erzi port, but instead anchored directly on the sea in the distance.

In Smoker's words, seeing is believing. Evidence is also compiled based on reports submitted by others, and its authenticity remains to be verified. Therefore, after the staff of the Anti-Corruption Bureau compiles the "criminal evidence," they will send people to conduct on-site inspections, and only after confirming that the evidence is true will they carry out arrests.

"This guy used to be a righteous marine, but after becoming a Colonel, he became more and more inflated. Recently, he even wants to build his own statue in front of the Navy base! Hmph, a guy who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth."

"Heh, the report materials might have been submitted by his own subordinates. 'People with power are the greatest people in the world'—how could a small branch Colonel dare to say that?"

Smoker curled his lips in disdain: "Who knows? Alright, we've arrived. Eh, why are you wearing a mask?"

"Nonsense, there are too many people who recognize my face. If I don't wear a mask, I'll be exposed to you in minutes!"

Smoker:......

153rd Branch execution ground.

Zoro was tied firmly to a pillar, enduring the double torture of exposure to the sun and hunger.

At this moment, a guy wearing a straw hat came to buy melons—no, to find crew members.