"What do you think about the current world?"
The question lingered in the air, heavy and deliberate.
Smoker narrowed his eyes at the young man seated across the desk. For several long seconds, he said nothing. The cigar between his fingers burned slowly, thin strands of smoke curling upward and dissolving into the stillness.
The silence stretched.
Long enough for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall to become uncomfortably loud.
Beside Kael, Tashigi remained perfectly still. Her posture was straight, disciplined—but her attention was entirely locked onto the two men. She could feel the tension tightening within the room, like a bowstring pulled to its absolute limit.
This was no longer a casual discussion.
It had turned into something far more dangerous.
A trial.
Finally, Smoker exhaled.
"The current world… huh."
He leaned back in his chair, the wood creaking faintly beneath his weight. His gaze drifted briefly toward the window, as if searching for something beyond it, before returning to Kael Sylvarion.
"Pirates are running wild."
His voice was calm—but beneath it lay a firm, unshakable conviction.
"Ever since the era started by Gol D. Roger at his execution, the seas have been nothing but chaos."
He took another slow drag of his cigar, embers glowing faintly.
"Every idiot with a ship thinks he can become the next Pirate King."
His eyes hardened, a flicker of disdain surfacing.
"The Marines are doing their best to keep civilians safe. Even if the system isn't perfect."
A brief pause followed.
His expression darkened.
"The Revolutionary Army…"
He scoffed, the sound low and sharp.
"A bunch of reckless bastards. They talk about freedom, but all they do is ignite wars and rebellions wherever they go."
For a fleeting moment, his gaze dipped downward—
Toward the desk.
Toward the small Den Den Mushi hidden beneath it.
"And the World Government…"
The sentence trailed off.
Smoker clicked his tongue quietly, irritation flashing across his face.
"…I'd rather not comment."
Across the desk, Kael's lips slowly curled upward.
A faint smile.
"No," he said calmly.
"Go ahead and say it."
His eyes sharpened, a glint of something dangerous flickering within them.
"The World Government is the biggest trash among all."
A single beat passed.
"Isn't that right?"
The words fell like a stone into still water.
Beside him, Tashigi froze completely.
Her mind blanked.
Across the desk—
Smoker snapped.
"You crazy bastard!"
His fist slammed against the desk with a sharp crack, rattling the scattered papers.
"Do you even realize what you're saying?!"
His voice dropped into a harsh growl, laced with warning.
"If someone hears that…"
"You're dead."
Beneath the desk, the Den Den Mushi's tiny face shifted, its eyes widening ever so slightly before settling back into a neutral expression.
But Kael remained utterly unconcerned.
If anything, his smile deepened.
"So you do agree."
Smoker's glare sharpened.
"Watch your mouth."
Kael leaned back again, posture loose, almost lazy.
"Tell me something, Smoker."
His tone remained even.
"You say the Marines protect civilians."
"Yes."
"You say the Revolutionary Army causes chaos."
"They do."
"And pirates?"
Smoker let out a short, dismissive snort.
"Most of them are parasites."
Kael nodded slowly.
"I see."
A brief pause.
Then—
"Let me ask you this."
His eyes locked onto Smoker's, unwavering.
"Why does corruption exist inside the Marines themselves?"
Tashigi stiffened.
Smoker's expression darkened instantly.
Kael continued, voice calm but cutting.
"Captain Nezumi."
His gaze flicked briefly toward Tashigi.
"Years of bribery while civilians suffered under Arlong."
The air grew heavier.
Kael tapped a finger lightly against the armrest of his chair, the soft rhythm echoing in the silence.
"And Captain Morgan."
Another pause.
"Another Marine abusing civilians while hiding behind the authority of justice."
Smoker's jaw tightened.
"You're making a point," he said slowly.
"But corruption exists everywhere."
Kael inclined his head slightly.
"True."
His voice lowered just a fraction.
"But the Marines claim to represent justice."
His gaze sharpened.
"So when corruption appears among pirates…"
He gave a small shrug.
"No one is surprised."
"But when corruption appears among Marines?"
Silence fell again.
Deeper this time.
"That's not just corruption," Kael said quietly.
"That's hypocrisy."
Smoker didn't respond immediately.
The cigar between his fingers had burned lower, ash lengthening precariously.
Finally, he exhaled.
"You've got some decent arguments."
His tone carried restrained irritation.
"But that's not enough for me to betray the Marines and ally with you for some grand idea."
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"Is that so?"
Smoker's eyes narrowed.
"Yeah."
Another pause.
Then—
Kael spoke again.
"Then let me ask you something important."
Smoker frowned.
"What?"
Kael leaned forward just a little.
"Do you want to become an Admiral?"
The question froze the room.
Even Tashigi blinked in surprise.
Several seconds passed before Smoker answered.
"…Yes."
His voice was firm. Certain.
"I do."
Kael smiled faintly.
"Why?"
Smoker frowned deeply.
"What kind of question is that?"
He leaned forward, irritation clear.
"That position would allow me to pursue my justice more freely."
His voice hardened with conviction.
"I could protect far more civilians that way."
Kael nodded slowly.
"I see."
He leaned back again, studying Smoker as if examining something under a lens.
"So you want to protect civilians."
A faint smile formed.
"As expected of you, Smoker."
Smoker crossed his arms.
"Get to the point."
Kael's eyes gleamed faintly.
"Alright."
"Let's create a hypothetical situation."
Smoker frowned—but straightened slightly.
Kael continued.
"Imagine you've already achieved your goal."
His voice slowed, deliberate.
"You're an Admiral now."
"Admiral White Hunter of Marine Headquarters."
The title lingered in the air.
Tashigi couldn't help but picture it—
Smoker standing in the grand halls of Marineford, draped in the white coat of an Admiral, the word Justice emblazoned across his back.
For a brief moment…
It didn't feel impossible.
Then—
Kael continued.
"Now imagine something else."
He leaned forward slightly.
"On a certain island…"
"A poor civilian disobeys one of the so-called 'gods.'"
His eyes sharpened.
"One of the Celestial Dragons."
A pause.
"The man used force against that Celestial Dragon to protect his daughter."
Another pause.
"Because that Celestial Dragon was about to molest her."
The room fell into absolute silence.
Tashigi's hands clenched tightly at her sides.
Smoker's face darkened, shadows gathering beneath his expression.
A faint cracking sound echoed as his fingers pressed harder into the desk.
Kael's voice remained steady.
"What happens next?"
No one answered.
The silence stretched.
Finally—
Smoker spoke.
"…An Admiral will be called."
His fists tightened.
Kael nodded faintly.
"Good."
"And by coincidence…"
He gestured lightly toward Smoker.
"That Admiral is you."
"Admiral White Hunter."
His smile turned colder.
"You arrive on that island to kill an innocent civilian."
Smoker's jaw clenched hard.
"Why?"
Kael answered for him.
"Because that civilian defended his daughter against a filthy piece of trash who calls himself a god."
The atmosphere grew suffocating.
Kael continued.
"Of course… there's a good chance you'd disobey."
His tone remained calm.
"But then what?"
"You'd be stripped of your position."
"Declared a criminal."
"That's the best outcome."
His gaze hardened.
"In worse cases… life imprisonment."
"Or execution."
A pause.
Then—
"But even after all that…"
He leaned forward slightly.
"What happens to the civilian you tried to save?"
Smoker didn't respond.
Kael did.
"Another Admiral will be sent."
"And they will finish the job."
His voice dropped.
"So in the end…"
"Your sacrifice would be meaningless."
The smile on Kael's face vanished.
A dangerous aura seeped into the room.
The air itself felt heavier.
Tashigi trembled.
Smoker flinched—just barely.
Far away—
Listening through the Den Den Mushi—
A certain man raised an eyebrow.
"…This kid."
Back in the office—
Smoker forced himself to speak.
"…I don't know."
He exhaled slowly.
"But that's just a hypothetical."
His eyes narrowed.
"That hasn't actually happened."
Kael looked at him.
Then—
"Alright."
"You want real examples?"
"I'll give you some."
Smoker's expression hardened.
"You were present at the Pirate King's execution, weren't you?"
"Yes."
Kael nodded.
"What happened after that?"
Smoker frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"The Great Pirate Era star—"
"I'm not talking about that."
Kael cut him off smoothly.
"What did the Marines do afterward?"
Smoker hesitated.
"…I don't know anything specific."
Kael spoke quietly.
"They launched a massive search."
"To find Roger's pregnant wife."
His eyes sharpened.
"So they could kill her."
"And the unborn child."
The room froze.
"But they never found her."
Kael continued.
"So instead…"
"They killed hundreds of innocent pregnant women."
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Tashigi's hands began trembling violently.
Her mind struggled to process it.
"No…"
Her voice shook.
"No… why would they do that…?"
"That's inhuman…"
Her vision blurred as she stared downward, her beliefs cracking under the weight of reality.
Marines.
Hunters of innocent women.
Executioners of the unborn.
Her grip tightened around her sword.
"That can't be justice…" she whispered.
Across the desk, Smoker remained silent.
The cigar in his hand had nearly burned out, ash hanging dangerously.
His thoughts churned violently.
He knew the system wasn't perfect.
He knew corruption existed.
But this…?
A purge?
It sounded impossible.
And yet—
A quiet voice deep within him said nothing.
Because somewhere, deep down—
He knew the World Government was capable of far worse.
Far away—
The man listening leaned back slightly.
The usual laziness in his expression had faded.
His fingers tapped slowly.
Recognition.
Because he knew.
This story was true.
His thoughts lingered on a single name.
Rouge.
A secret operation.
Known only to the highest ranks.
Yet Kael spoke of it like a witness.
Back in the office—
Smoker finally spoke.
"You're saying something outrageous."
His voice was low.
"But where's your proof?"
"You expect me to believe this without evidence?"
Kael smiled again.
Calm.
Certain.
"Oh… don't worry."
His gaze lowered slightly—
Toward the Den Den Mushi.
"Everything I just said…"
"…is one hundred percent true."
A pause.
Then—
Softly.
"Wouldn't you agree…"
His smile widened just a fraction.
"Marine Admiral Kuzan."