One piece: Dark Smoker

After a few more days, Smoker and Hina finally returned to the Marine Headquarters, a place that now felt strangely distant to them. So much had happened recently that it was as if they had lived through an entire lifetime in just a short period.

That evening, they decided to throw a lively party at Smoker's place. They invited Kuzan, Garp, and a few other familiar faces, along with friends from their academy days like Verp and Est. To Smoker's surprise, Garp even brought Gion along.

As the banquet was in full swing, Garp downed a large cup of sake in one go.

"Smoker, you've got guts! Taking down Doflamingo—that's incredible!"

Smoker waved his hand dismissively with a grin.

"I can't take all the credit. It was Rear Admiral Zean who defeated him. Hina and I were just helping out."

Garp clapped Smoker on the back. "Even so, that's no small feat."

Doflamingo was no ordinary pirate—he was one of the top Supernovas. For someone like Gion or Kuzan, he might not have posed much of a threat. But for most Rear Admirals, he was a terrifying opponent. The fact that Smoker, a mere seaman recruit, had played a role in the fight was nothing short of remarkable.

Gion nodded in agreement but sighed deeply.

"What I can't understand is how Zean ended up colluding with that pirate..."

Zean and Gion were contemporaries, and in a Navy with few female powerhouses, the two had always maintained a good relationship. However, in the short time they had been apart, Zean's situation had taken a drastic turn.

"It must have been some vile scheme," Gion muttered, her expression darkening as she touched her sword, Kimpira. Her sharp eyes gleamed with anger.

"That wretched pirate, Doflamingo, must have dragged Zean into this mess! If he ever falls into my hands, I'll make sure he regrets ever being born."

Kuzan and Garp nodded in agreement. Whatever the circumstances, dealing with Doflamingo was undoubtedly the right course of action.

Smoker sipped his drink silently, his thoughts private.

Heh... That's a former Celestial Dragon. Even if the World Government wanted him dead, they'd send the CP agents. You'd never get the chance.

Hina opened her mouth, wanting to defend Zean. But since it involved a classified mission, she could only swallow her words and lower her head in frustration.

Ugh! Knowing the truth but being unable to say it... This is torture!

At that moment, Kuzan leaned closer to Smoker.

"Hey, Smoker, I heard your Devil Fruit powers are pretty cool. Got time to show me sometime?"

Smoker shot him a look and snorted.

"No way! With my current strength, it'd be pointless to show off in front of someone like you. I'd just embarrass myself!"

Smoker had spent weeks aboard Zephyr's ship, enduring relentless training under Akainu. He had no desire to take on yet another overwhelming challenge anytime soon.

Kuzan clicked his tongue in disappointment and turned to Hina.

"How about you? Smoke can't freeze, after all. Want to try sparring?"

Hina smirked coldly.

"Do I look stupid to you?"

If magma can't burn smoke but still pinned me to the deck, why would ice be any different?

Seeing that neither Smoker nor Hina wanted to entertain him, Kuzan shrugged and retreated.

The group continued to chat until Smoker finally set his cup down.

"Enough about all this fighting. I've got something for you all. Hina!"

Hina nodded and went to the other room, returning with several boxes.

When the boxes were opened, Kuzan, Garp, and the other Marines' eyes lit up.

Inside were rare high-end cigars and fine liquor.

As it turned out, when Smoker seized Doflamingo's ship, most of the treasures, documents, and weapons had been handed over to the Navy. But…

Cigars and liquor, being less important items, were left unclaimed after the mission.

With a generous wave of his hand, Zephyr allowed Smoker to take his pick as a reward for his contributions.

Even though Akainu thought it was inappropriate, he didn't make an issue out of such a small matter, choosing to turn a blind eye instead.

In the Navy, luxurious salaries weren't necessarily everyone's favorite perk, but when it came to cigars and alcohol, no one would compromise.

Kuzan, Garp, and the others began squabbling over the loot like children.

Only Gion sat calmly at the table, sipping her red wine. Her sharp eyes watched the chaos unfold with mild disdain:

Garp's hand was frozen mid-motion as he attempted to grab a bottle, one finger still lodged in Kuzan's nose.

Verp was sprawled on the floor, screaming as he endured a merciless Thousand Years of Pain.

Est writhed in agony after a monkey steals the peach maneuver that left him breathless.

Gion's elegant gaze swept over them, her lips curling into a faint smirk.

Pathetic. Such childish antics.

If it weren't for Garp, an elegant person like me wouldn't waste my time here.

Garp and Gion had been classmates in the same elite program during their academy days. Among the top cadets—aside from the trio of monsters—they had always been considered the cream of the crop.

However, Gion's disdain for Garp stemmed from his persistent attempts to woo her.

In truth, Gion didn't mind being closer to Garp as a colleague or friend. But his previous approach—overly clingy and obsequious—had been a constant source of irritation.

Fortunately, Smoker had given Garp some sound advice. Garp had drastically shifted his strategy: no longer chasing her obsessively, he adopted subtler, more calculated methods, balancing interest with indifference.

What might have been clichés in another world turned out to be surprisingly effective in this one.

Without realizing it, Gion began to soften toward him. Over the months, their relationship improved, though Gion never noticed that Garp was spending as much time around her as ever.

Now, she found herself even missing his presence when he was absent for too long.

This time, when Smoker invited Garp to the dinner, Garp naturally brought Gion along—and she, without hesitation, accepted the invitation.

As Gion sat alone sipping her wine, Hina approached her with a polished box in hand.

Opening it revealed a stunning necklace. The chain, crafted from platinum, flowed like silk, and the pendant, a brilliant sapphire, shimmered with an otherworldly blue light, as if it held a galaxy within.

The necklace was one of the spoils from Doflamingo's ship.

"Rear Admiral Gion," Hina said with a smile, "this is for you. Look at the color and design—it matches your complexion and elegance perfectly."

This was something Zean had taught her: no matter how strong, resilient, focused, or intelligent a female Marine might be, they were still women. Pretty things—flowers, cakes, jewelry—always had a special charm.

Gion glanced at the necklace, her fingers idly toying with the pendant.

"As a Marine, the most important thing is our unwavering faith in justice and strength," she said with a cool expression. "Frivolous ornaments like this will only distract you."

Hina froze, unsure how to respond.

"Uh… you're absolutely right, Rear Admiral Gion, but—"

"No need to be so formal," Gion said nonchalantly as she smoothly slipped the box into her cloak. "Just call me 'sister.'"

"Uh… huh? Oh, alright, Sister Gion..."

"Good. Now, Hina dear, come join me for a drink."

Smoker, Kuzan, and Garp sat silently at the side, sharing a look.

"…?"

.....

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