One piece: Dark Smoker

Smoker pinned Zean down firmly, but she wasn't someone who could be subdued so easily.

The earlier attack had caught her off guard, allowing Smoker to overpower her momentarily. Now, as she struggled fiercely, her body surrounded by Haki, she started to fight back.

Though her thorns didn't emerge, her resistance was formidable. The smoke wrapping around her began to dissipate, and Smoker felt his grip weakening.

"Hmph, so you won't cooperate?" Smoker sneered, pulling out a small seastone pendant from his pocket and pressing it against Zean's forehead.

Seastone was universally effective against Devil Fruit users. Unlike Smoker, who had trained to resist its effects, Zean immediately felt her strength drain away. She collapsed, unable to fight back any further.

"Damn it… you have seastone?!" she muttered weakly.

Smoker quickly called for Hina to fetch some iron chains. Together, they bound Zean securely.

*Seastone is really effective. It's the ultimate weapon against Devil Fruit users,* Smoker thought. *I need to keep up my seastone resistance training… I can't afford to get caught off guard one day.*

With Zean tied up, they tossed her onto a sofa. Smoker and Hina sat across from her, looking calm but resolute.

"Calmed down, Rear Admiral Zean?" Smoker asked. "How about we talk?"

Zean glared at them coldly. "There's nothing to discuss! I underestimated you two, clearly. I didn't think you'd escape."

She scowled, her voice sharp. "Where's Diamante? Why isn't he with you?"

Smoker lit a cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke before responding.

"You've got it wrong. Diamante isn't with us—he's just another prisoner, like you."

Zean frowned. "What do you mean? Who are you, really?"

Hina answered calmly, "Smoker and I are both graduates of the Navy's first elite expanded training class. We ended up on this island while pursuing pirates."

"When we saw Diamante coming off your ship, we decided to investigate. It's part of our mission."

Smoker added, "Diamante has already confessed. Things are clear now. The connection between you and Doflamingo isn't as deep as it seemed."

Zean let out a small breath of relief. If what they said was true, at least the obnoxious scientists wouldn't be harmed.

But the relief was short-lived. She realized that her actions might already be exposed. Still, she didn't let her unease show.

"So, what now? What do you intend to do?" she asked coldly.

Smoker took another puff of his cigarette.

"Honestly, I don't have a problem with the Navy cooperating with pirates," he said.

"As long as the end result is good, why not use their strength? I've never believed that working with pirates is an unforgivable crime."

Zean raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Smoker leaned forward. "That's why I want to Cooperation with you."

"Work with me?" Zean was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"There's something Doflamingo has that I need. But Hina and I alone aren't strong enough to take on his entire crew. We need your help."

"As payment, we'll retrieve the Den Den Mushi he has. That way, even if Diamante accuses you of collaborating with him, it won't hold up. Sound fair?"

Zean's eyes lit up at the offer. "Go on… I'm listening."

---

A few days later, the Donquixote Pirates' ship was speeding across the ocean.

Doflamingo stood at the bow, his face dark, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon.

Footsteps approached from behind. Without turning, he asked, "What's the status?"

Senior Pink, dressed sharply in a suit, replied respectfully, "Everything's normal, young master. A few days ago, Diamante's vivre card flickered briefly, but it hasn't happened since."

Doflamingo nodded. "Good. Keep going."

"Understood."

Trebol shuffled over, chuckling. "Hey, hey… Doffy, don't worry. Diamante's as tough as they come."

"You're too close, Trebol," Doflamingo complained before breaking into a grin. "Fuffuffuffuffu… Of course, I know that. But I'm curious—who dares to hurt one of my family members?"

"I'll find them… and grind them to dust!"

The next day, their ship arrived at an island.

Senior Pink checked the vivre card in his hand. The card trembled violently, pointing toward the island.

"Young master, the target is on this island. Shall I scout ahead?"

Doflamingo nodded. "Your ability is perfect for recon. But be careful. If they defeated Diamante, they won't be easy to handle."

Senior Pink's eyes gleamed with gratitude. "Understood, young master."

He leaped high off the ship, performing a flawless flip before diving into the ground like a fish, moving swiftly beneath the surface.

Doflamingo turned to his crew. "Officers, come with me. The rest of you, stay and guard the ship."

Zean took the lead as they stepped ashore.

Following close behind her were the top executives Pica and Trebol.

Behind them trailed Gladius, Machvise, Lao G, and Jora.

As for Vergo, he was nowhere to be seen.

Monet, Sugar, Buffalo, and Baby-5 hadn't joined the crew yet.

Not long after, Senior Pink returned.

"Young Master, I've confirmed it—Diamante is just ahead, captured by the Navy! The ones holding him are Zean and an unfamiliar male marine."

"Only two of them? Fuffuffuffuffu, they're underestimating me. Lead the way!"

"Yes, sir!"

Not far away, Zean and Smoker stood in an open clearing.

Diamante hung in the air, bound tightly with ropes.

Zean was speaking into a Den Den Mushi, her tone calm and focused.

As she ended the call, Smoker approached her.

"Hatchi just reported—Doflamingo's crew has arrived."

Hatchi, a marine from the G-2 branch with the Balloon-Balloon Fruit ability, floated above, acting as their lookout. While his floating ability lacked agility and stealth, Hina solved those problems by enveloping him in her elemental form. From a distance, they appeared as nothing more than a drifting cloud.

This strategy allowed them to detect Doflamingo's group before they could get too close.

Zean surveyed the surroundings. There were massive boulders nearby, with a cliff not far off.

"Why choose a spot like this?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"This place is perfect for them to use their abilities."

Smoker's expression was apologetic.

"It couldn't be helped. There are civilians on the island, and I couldn't risk collateral damage from the battle. This was the only spot far enough from the settlements."

"I've stationed other marines in the town to protect the civilians in case the pirates try anything. As for the warship and the science division, they're positioned far away to avoid complications."

Zean nodded. "Good. That's a thorough plan."

At that moment, Hina descended gracefully from the sky.

"Doflamingo is here, and most of his executives are with him," she reported.

Smoker nodded. "Understood."

Before he could say more, a massive stone arm, the size of a warship, emerged from the cliffside and reached for Diamante, attempting to rescue him.

"Hmph, how rude," Zean muttered.

With a wave of her hand, thick, thorny vines erupted from the ground, piercing through the stone arm and pinning it in place.

She looked up, locking eyes with Doflamingo, who floated in midair.

"So, we meet again, Doflamingo," she said, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"Zean… So it *was* you who captured Diamante," Doflamingo replied, his voice tense.

Zean pulled a hair tie from her pocket, quickly tying her hair into a neat ponytail. Her expression was calm but confident.

"Well, the details are complicated, but the outcome is the same. Call it whatever you like."

Doflamingo's forehead veins bulged in anger.

"You know the consequences of harming my family, don't you?"

Zean smirked. "Family? Oh, come on. Playing house at your age? Sure, boys mature slower, but Doflamingo, you're taking it to the next level."

Doflamingo's face twisted in rage.

Smoker: (｀・ω・´)

Trebol suddenly lashed out, his voice loud and nasal. "Sticky Chain!"

A chain of green mucus shot toward Zean.

Smoker stepped forward, absorbing the attack with his smoke ability.

Trebol's jaw dropped. "Huh?! What kind of power is that?!"

Meanwhile, Pica emerged from the immobilized stone arm, his face grim. Zean's thorns had targeted his real body using Observation Haki, and he had narrowly escaped a critical injury.

He muttered under his breath, "Damn woman…"

Zean's expression darkened. "Who are you calling a damn woman, you squeaky-voiced coward?"

Pica nearly lost it. "Doffy, I'm going to kill her! I swear I'm going to kill her!"

"Bring it on!" Zean retorted, rolling up her sleeves.

Smoker quickly stepped in to restrain her. "Calm down, Rear Admiral Zean. Stick to the plan."

He turned to Pica and Trebol. "Doflamingo is mine. The squeaky-voiced guy and the snot monster are yours."

Pica froze. "Squeaky-voiced?!"

Trebol glared. "Snot monster?!"

Ignoring them, Smoker nodded at Hina. "The rest is up to you. Keep an eye on Diamante—don't let them use the chaos to rescue him."

Hina smiled confidently. "With Hina here, you can rest easy."

"Good."

Smoker stepped beside Zean.

"Alright, everything's set. Let's go!"