Silence filled the room.
No one spoke.
Not for several long seconds.
The revelation hung in the air like a heavy weight pressing down on everyone present.
Tashigi was the first to break.
"A–Admiral… Kuzan?"
Her voice trembled, barely steady.
Across the desk, Kael's smile deepened slightly.
Smoker stared at him, disbelief etched across his face.
"How…?"
His eyes narrowed sharply.
"No… since when did you know?"
Kael answered without hesitation.
"From the beginning."
But inwardly, his thoughts were far sharper.
(Thankfully, the system's earlier hint about increased hostility from Smoker and Kuzan made me suspicious.)
(And when Smoker kept glancing toward the desk whenever the topic of the World Government came up…)
(That was enough.)
Then—
The Den Den Mushi spoke.
"Arara… young people these days are quite perceptive."
The lazy, almost amused voice echoed through the room.
Tashigi froze.
It's really Admiral Aokiji…
Realizing there was no point in hiding it anymore, Smoker reached beneath the desk and pulled out the Den Den Mushi, placing it between himself and Kael.
The small creature blinked slowly, its expression mirroring the relaxed tone of the man on the other end.
Kael glanced at it briefly, then smiled.
"You're praising me too much, Kuzan-san. It was just a lucky guess."
Smoker snapped instantly.
"Kael! Watch how you speak to an Admi—"
"Calm down, Smoker."
Kuzan's voice interrupted casually.
"I don't mind."
A brief pause followed before he continued.
"You said it was a lucky guess?"
There was a faint trace of amusement in his tone.
"I find that hard to believe… but we don't need to dwell on it."
Another pause.
Subtle. Intentional.
"Aren't you curious why I've been listening to this entire conversation?"
Kael leaned back slightly, posture relaxed—but his eyes remained sharp.
"Oh, I am curious."
His gaze shifted toward Smoker.
"Care to explain why the private discussion I requested turned out to be not so private?"
A dangerous aura slowly spread from him.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Tashigi felt a thin layer of sweat form on her skin.
Kael-san is upset…
During the time she had traveled with him, she had learned something important.
He was almost always calm.
Almost always composed.
But on rare occasions—
The atmosphere around him changed completely.
This was one of those moments.
He wasn't furious.
But he clearly did not like this.
On the other end, Kuzan remained silent for a moment, as if observing.
Sensing.
Measuring.
Smoker wiped a bead of sweat from his temple but maintained his usual stubborn demeanor.
"Hmph."
"I told Kuzan about your earlier 'ally' nonsense."
"He found it interesting and wanted to listen in."
His gaze hardened.
"We needed to decide whether you were a threat."
A brief pause.
"For now… we don't consider you one."
Kael nodded slowly.
"I see."
Then—
"And if you had?"
His tone remained calm.
"If you had considered me a threat?"
Smoker's expression turned serious.
"I would've arrested you and thrown you in prison."
Kael's smile shifted—subtly more amused.
"You've said that a few times now."
He tilted his head slightly.
"But with all due respect…"
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"Do you really believe you could catch me?"
Smoker shot to his feet.
"KAEL SYLVARION—!"
"Arara."
Kuzan cut in again, effortlessly diffusing the moment.
"What a confident young man."
His tone was light, but there was something else beneath it now.
Something sharper.
"From what I've heard about your recent exploits… Smoker would indeed have difficulty capturing you alone."
Smoker's expression darkened slightly at that.
But Kuzan continued.
"But you see…"
A small pause.
"I'm currently very close to Loguetown."
That made Smoker's eyes narrow.
"So even if you defeated Smoker…"
Kuzan's voice remained calm. Almost lazy.
"What about me?"
Another pause.
"If we fought…"
The air seemed to tighten.
"Could you defeat me as well, Kael Sylvarion?"
Silence returned.
Heavier than before.
Smoker frowned, clearly annoyed at the casual implication.
And Kuzan is near Loguetown? What is he doing here…?
After a few seconds, Kael exhaled softly.
Then smiled.
"Defeat you?"
He shook his head lightly.
"You must be joking, Kuzan-san."
"I'm not your opponent."
A brief pause.
"At least… not for now."
A quiet chuckle echoed from the Den Den Mushi.
"Not for now, huh?"
Kuzan sounded amused.
"I hope that isn't arrogance."
Then—
"Why don't you stay in Loguetown for a few days?"
"I'll be arriving soon."
"We can test your abilities ourselves."
Smoker and Tashigi both widened their eyes.
But Kael answered immediately.
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline."
"I'm leaving Loguetown tomorrow afternoon."
"That's a shame," Kuzan replied lazily.
"You can spar with Dracule Mihawk… but not me?"
"Is that because I'm not a swordsman?"
Kael simply smiled.
"You know that's not the reason."
"Don't worry."
"We'll meet soon enough."
(At Marineford…)
(Or maybe even sooner.)
Smoker frowned.
Tashigi looked confused.
Kuzan spoke again.
"Hm? What do you mean by that?"
"Just a feeling," Kael replied calmly.
"When we meet… I hope you'll go easy on me."
Kuzan laughed softly.
"No promises."
"That depends on what kind of man you become out on the seas."
A brief pause.
Then—
"Well… it's about time I end this call."
"But before that—"
His tone shifted slightly.
More serious now.
"I have one last question."
The room stilled again.
"What is your end goal concerning the Marines?"
"You clearly despise the World Government… and the Celestial Dragons."
"Perhaps you even intend to destroy them."
A pause.
"But what about the Marines?"
Smoker and Tashigi both turned their attention fully toward Kael.
They wanted that answer too.
Kael remained silent for a moment.
Then—
"The Marines have forgotten their original purpose."
His voice was calm. Steady.
"They label anyone with the title 'pirate' as a criminal."
"They tolerate corruption."
"And sometimes… they harm the innocent instead of protecting them."
His gaze sharpened.
"All while acting as the World Government's obedient hounds."
A brief pause.
"I'm sure someone in your position understands that better than anyone."
On the other end—
A memory surfaced.
Fire.
Screams.
Books burning as they fell into the sea.
An island erased.
The Ohara Incident.
Kuzan said nothing.
Kael continued.
"So I intend to build something new."
"A force called…"
He paused deliberately.
"The New Marines."
The words echoed.
Settled.
Took root.
"A Marine organization that answers to no corrupt authority."
"One that exists for a single purpose—"
"To end injustice."
"And protect the innocent the way Marines were meant to."
His gaze moved across the room.
"I'll need people like Smoker."
"People like Tashigi."
"And people like you as well, Kuzan-san."
Silence.
Tashigi trembled slightly.
But a small, hopeful smile formed.
The New Marines…
A force that truly protects the innocent…
If something like that could exist…
Wouldn't that be… incredible?
Smoker closed his eyes and let out a slow breath.
"Crazy bastard."
But his thoughts were far from dismissive.
A Marine force… free from the World Government…
Impossible.
And yet…
Finally, Kuzan spoke.
"That…"
There was faint disbelief in his voice.
"The chances of something like that succeeding are extremely small."
Kael smiled.
"As long as I'm alive…"
"There are infinite chances."
The words struck harder than expected.
Tashigi looked at him with quiet admiration.
Smoker rubbed his forehead.
This kid…
Am I really about to get involved with someone like him?
Even Kuzan paused for a moment.
Then—
"Well…"
"If that's the case…"
"I'm very interested to see what you do next, Kael."
Kael nodded.
Inside his mind—
The system suddenly spoke.
[Wow, host… that sounded almost like something Luff—]
(Shut up.)
(Don't ruin the moment.)
Smoker picked up the Den Den Mushi.
"Kuzan."
"Go ahead, Smoker."
Kuzan's voice returned to its usual lazy tone.
"If you believe something will help you pursue your justice… then do it."
A brief pause.
"But don't expect me to join you, Kael."
Kael nodded calmly.
"I understand."
"Your position wouldn't allow it."
A small pause.
"But I do have a request."
Kuzan sounded mildly intrigued.
"Oh?"
"What kind of request?"
Kael's smile returned.
Subtle.
"If you ever leave the Marines in the future…"
"Consider allying with me."
The room stilled.
Smoker and Tashigi both stared at him.
Even Kuzan frowned.
"Leave the Marines?"
There was curiosity now.
"Is that another one of your 'feelings'?"
Kael shrugged lightly.
"Maybe."
"But if that day ever comes…"
"Think about it."
"The New Marines will need people like you."
A quiet chuckle came through the Den Den Mushi.
"You're planning far ahead."
A pause.
"But sure."
"I'll think about it."
"If you're still walking the right path."
A moment later—
The line went dead.
The Den Den Mushi fell silent.
Now—
Only three people remained.
Smoker.
Tashigi.
And Kael.
They stared at one another.
The air felt heavier than before.
Denser.
The silence stretched.
Then—
Smoker moved.
He leaned back into his chair, exhaling slowly as he ran a hand through his white hair.
His eyes remained closed for a moment.
As if weighing something heavy.
Something irreversible.
When he finally spoke—
His voice was quieter.
"I don't know if this is the right decision."
Tashigi immediately turned toward him, eyes wide.
Smoker opened his eyes and looked at Kael.
"But I've followed my instincts for years."
A faint scoff escaped him.
"And they've gotten me this far."
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
"You're insane, Kael."
"Starting a new Marine organization… challenging the World Government… dragging Marines into something that could get them executed."
His gaze sharpened.
"You're asking people to gamble their lives on a dream."
Silence.
Then—
"…But."
He straightened.
"I'll ally with you."
Tashigi's eyes widened.
Across the desk—
Kael smiled.
Satisfied.
Smoker raised a finger toward him.
"Don't get the wrong idea."
"You're risking a lot of people with this plan."
His voice hardened.
"If something goes wrong… if innocent lives get dragged into this…"
His eyes locked onto Kael.
"You're responsible."
Kael didn't hesitate.
"I accept that responsibility."
Smoker held his gaze.
Then—
A short nod.
"Good."
Another pause settled over the room.
Then Smoker asked—
The question that would change everything.
"Tell me something, Kael."
His eyes sharpened.
"What exactly do you need me to do?"