Kael didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he leaned back slightly in his chair, fingers loosely interlocked as he studied the man across from him.
Captain Smoker wasn't someone who made decisions lightly. The fact that he had agreed—even to this extent—meant something had already shifted.
A line had been crossed.
And neither of them could pretend otherwise.
Beside the desk, Tashigi stood quietly, one hand resting near the hilt of her sword. She didn't interrupt—but her gaze never left Kael.
Watching.
Measuring.
Waiting.
Finally—
Kael spoke.
"Right now? Very little."
Smoker frowned.
"That's not the answer I expected."
"It's the honest one," Kael replied calmly.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows lightly on the desk, his tone steady.
"The New Marines can't exist yet."
Tashigi blinked.
"Not… yet?"
Kael shook his head.
"No structure. No territory. No resources."
He gestured vaguely toward the window, where distant harbor sounds drifted faintly into the room.
"And more importantly… no legitimacy."
Smoker exhaled a slow stream of smoke.
"So you're planning to build it piece by piece."
"Exactly."
Kael's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Right now, the most valuable thing you can give me isn't soldiers or ships."
A brief pause.
"It's perspective."
Smoker raised an eyebrow.
"Perspective?"
Kael nodded.
"You've spent years dealing with pirates, corrupt officers, and orders from the World Government that don't always make sense."
His eyes locked onto Smoker's.
"I need to understand how the system actually works—from the inside."
Silence lingered.
Tashigi's expression shifted, thoughtful now.
Smoker tapped ash from his cigar.
"You're asking for information."
"Eventually."
Kael shrugged lightly.
"But not secrets that would get you executed."
"Comforting," Smoker muttered dryly.
Kael ignored the sarcasm.
"For now, I want something simpler."
Smoker narrowed his eyes.
"And that is?"
Kael's answer came without hesitation.
"Judgment."
The word hung in the air.
Tashigi tilted her head slightly.
Smoker leaned back.
"Explain."
Kael crossed his arms loosely.
"You've spent enough time in the Marines to recognize corruption when you see it."
His tone remained calm.
"So when you encounter it…"
A brief pause.
"I want to know."
Tashigi blinked.
"You mean report corrupt Marines?"
Kael shook his head.
"No."
A small pause.
"Deal with them."
Silence.
Heavy.
Smoker stared at him.
"That's already my job."
Kael smiled faintly.
"Then we won't have any problems."
For several seconds, Smoker held his gaze.
Then—
A rough chuckle escaped him.
"Clever bastard."
Tashigi glanced between them, realization slowly forming.
Kael wasn't asking Smoker to betray the Marines.
He was asking him to be exactly the kind of Marine he already believed he was.
Smoker caught that look in her eyes.
"Don't look so impressed," he grumbled.
Kael simply shrugged.
"I prefer allies who don't have to betray themselves to work with me."
A brief silence followed.
Then Smoker asked—
"What about pirates?"
Kael answered instantly.
"The same rule."
Tashigi blinked again.
"You're still planning to fight pirates?"
Kael gave her a slightly puzzled look.
"Of course."
He gestured casually.
"Opposing the World Government doesn't mean supporting criminals."
His expression hardened—just a fraction.
"There are pirates who pursue freedom."
"And there are pirates who slaughter civilians for amusement."
His voice remained calm, but the distinction carried weight.
"The first group deserves to sail."
"The second deserves to sink."
Tashigi felt a quiet sense of relief settle within her.
Smoker nodded once.
"That's something we agree on."
A brief pause.
Then Kael stood.
The chair scraped softly against the floor.
Smoker looked up.
"Leaving already?"
"I told you earlier," Kael replied.
"I'm departing tomorrow afternoon."
He walked toward the window, his gaze drifting over the harbor. Ships swayed gently at the docks, their masts cutting into the horizon.
"Loguetown is important."
Smoker frowned.
"How so?"
Kael's voice turned thoughtful.
"It's the last island before the Grand Line."
His eyes traced the distant sea.
"Everyone passes through here eventually."
Pirates.
Bounty hunters.
Merchants.
Marines.
Dreamers chasing impossible ambitions.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"It's the perfect place to observe the world."
Smoker studied him in silence.
"You've been here less than a day."
"And you're already talking like you understand everything."
Kael chuckled softly.
"Hardly."
He turned back toward them.
"But I understand one thing."
Tashigi tilted her head.
"What's that?"
Kael didn't hesitate.
"The storm that's coming."
Neither Marine spoke.
But both understood—
He wasn't talking about the weather.
Kael stepped back toward the desk.
"I'll return to Loguetown eventually."
Smoker raised an eyebrow.
"You're that confident you'll survive the Grand Line?"
Kael smiled.
"Confidence helps."
Then—
His tone shifted slightly.
More serious.
"When I come back…"
His gaze moved between them.
"I expect both of you to still be the same people you are now."
Tashigi blinked.
"The same people?"
Kael nodded.
"Marines who actually care about justice."
Smoker scoffed.
"You say that like we're rare."
Kael's smile didn't change.
"You are."
Silence settled once more.
Then Smoker stood.
He walked around the desk and stopped directly in front of Kael.
For a moment—
The two men simply looked at each other.
Measuring.
Understanding.
Then—
Smoker extended his hand.
"If this plan of yours collapses…"
His voice was low.
"I'm the one dragging you back to prison."
Kael took his hand without hesitation.
The grip was firm.
Steady.
"I'd expect nothing less."
Tashigi watched the handshake, eyes wide.
Because even if neither of them said it aloud—
Something had just been established.
Not a formal alliance.
Not an official agreement.
But something just as dangerous.
Two men, standing on opposite sides of the system…
Choosing—for now—
To walk in the same direction.
And somewhere far out at sea, a certain lazy Admiral would likely find that development… very interesting.
The door of the Marine office closed quietly behind Kael.
The hallway beyond was empty.
Late afternoon light streamed through the windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor.
Kael descended the steps of the base at an unhurried pace.
The salty wind of Loguetown brushed against his coat.
A moment later—
[Ding!]
A familiar notification appeared before his eyes.
[Mission: Make Smoker from the Marines your ally][Status: Complete][Random Reward Awarded][Start Generating?]
Kael glanced at it and gave a small nod.
"Nice."
Then, after a brief pause, he waved the screen away.
"Wait for now."
His steps slowed.
His gaze shifted—
Toward a large, thick tree standing near the path leading away from the Marine base.
A faint smile formed.
"I still have one last thing to do."
He walked toward it casually, as if drawn only by the shade.
Then leaned against the trunk.
Behind the tree—
A towering figure stood in silence.
Well over a foot taller than Kael, his broad frame partially concealed by shadow, a dark cloak draped over his shoulders.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
This young man…
Is it really coincidence he chose this exact tree?
Kael crossed his arms loosely, gazing toward the distant harbor.
Then he exhaled.
"I really gained a reliable ally today."
His tone was relaxed.
Thoughtful.
"But that's just the first step."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"I still have a lot of work to do."
A brief pause.
"The World Government keeps exploiting innocent people."
"They treat lives like disposable tools."
There was no anger in his voice.
Only certainty.
"What do they even value human lives for?"
He shook his head faintly.
"Who am I kidding…"
"Of course it's for their own amusement."
Behind him, the tall man remained silent.
But his expression grew more serious.
Because every word aligned with conclusions he himself had reached long ago.
He had heard everything.
The conversation in the office.
Every word exchanged between Kael, Smoker, Tashigi—
Even Kuzan.
And throughout it all—
He had been impressed.
Kael spoke again.
"People shouldn't fear their government."
His voice remained calm.
Measured.
"But rather…"
A soft breeze rustled through the leaves above.
"…the government should fear its people."
For the first time—
The man's expression shifted.
His eyes widened slightly.
That line…
That's exactly what I tell my comrades.
A rare flicker of surprise crossed his face.
This cannot be coincidence.
And in that exact moment—
Kael moved.
He stepped around the tree.
The distance between them vanished instantly.
Now standing directly before him, Kael tilted his head slightly upward due to the height difference.
His expression was calm.
Amused.
Completely unsurprised.
A polite smile curved his lips.
"You agree with me, right…"
His green eyes met the man's sharp gaze.
"…Mr. Revolutionary or should I say Monkey D. Dragon?"
The wind stirred the branches above them.
And for the first time in a long while—
Monkey D. Dragon felt genuine curiosity toward a young man he had never met before.
For several seconds, Dragon said nothing.
The wind tugged at his cloak as his sharp eyes studied Kael more closely.
Most people never sensed his presence.
Even fewer could approach him this calmly.
Yet this young man had done both.
And more.
He had walked straight toward him.
And spoken his name.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Dragon's face.
"Interesting…"