One piece : A Lotus

Smoker watched as several people were arrested one by one, then he stood up and slowly walked toward a small alley where he needed a drink.

"Captain Smoker!" called a clear voice as a breathless girl, Tashigi, ran up to him.

"Tashigi, mind your own business," Smoker stopped and said.

"Captain, please stop smoking!" Tashigi replied.

Smoker took out his cigar, blew another smoke ring, and indifferently said, "Let women do what women are supposed to do," and with that, he turned and left, paying no attention to his attractive subordinate.

It must be said that Smoker was naturally rather unsociable and lonely. However, he got along well with Tashigi and considered her his successor, even though outsiders often found it hard to understand how the two managed to work together.

Tashigi was slightly annoyed; she puffed out her cheeks and watched Smoker, who was already walking ahead.

"Hmph..."

Smoker didn't seem to want her to follow him. He walked faster and faster, so by the time Tashigi arrived, Smoker had already entered a building.

She exhaled and pushed the old door open. It was said that Roger had also visited this old bar twenty years ago.

"Uh..."

As soon as she entered, Tashigi's pupils suddenly narrowed, and she unhesitatingly drew her sword, Shigure, hanging at her waist. This was because Smoker had been knocked to the ground by a mysterious man in a cloak!

"Don't come any closer!" Tashigi!

Smoker's heart began to race, and he barely had the space and time to resist.

In an instant, he was stopped by this mysterious man sitting in the bar.

Who is he?!

It must be someone strong from the Grand Line; it's impossible for a powerful pirate to appear in the weakest sea, the East Blue!

This man used Conqueror's Haki, the Haki currently holding Smoker, and this Haki is possessed by one in several million people!

"Let go of Captain Smoker!" Tashigi gritted her teeth.

Ezekiel didn't even glance at her, then released Smoker. Smoker immediately retreated, shielding Tashigi.

"Sorry," Ezekiel said quietly, not revealing his face, only turning toward them with his face concealed by his hooded cloak.

"Who are you? Why did you attack Captain Smoker?" Tashigi remained cautious.

"I didn't mean any harm; I just wanted to share some news with Smoker, but he reacted too extremely," Will smiled.

"Who is this? Using Observation Haki, I can feel the slightly terrifying force of this mysterious cloaked man," Smoker feels that even the air is distorted now. Not even from teacher Zephyr and other Admirals did he sense such power... "Is this Conqueror's Haki? Who is he?"Ezekiel seemingly conjured two mobile phones out of thin air and tossed them to Smoker and Tashigi.

"Z," he uttered just one word, and Smoker's pupils immediately narrowed.

"Z," although this code name had not yet appeared in this world, Smoker instantly understood who owned this name.

Zephyr the Black Arm!

He paused for a moment, then pulled out a cigar, lit it, took a deep drag, exhaled a ring of smoke, and sat on a chair. Now he realized that Ezekiel truly did not intend to fight him. After all, when two people of such vastly different levels of power meet, it would not take even a second to kill the weaker one.

[Smoker - 65 GB / 230 GB

Advanced use of the Smoke Fruit - 50 GB

Advanced Armament Haki - 10 GB

Basic Observation Haki - 5 GB]

[Tashigi - 10 GB / 200 GB

Advanced swordsmanship - 10 GB]

As he thought, none of the characters from the original storyline could be an individual with low potential.

The maximum potential of these two people reaches 230 and 200 GB. If they can be recruited, they could become powerful in this world… they could reach the level of an Admiral.

"This is a mobile phone invented by the Royal Family from the Grand Line, Alabasta. It functions like a Den Den Mushi phone but also has some special features. "If needed, this phone will connect you with me or this lovely lady," Ezekiel said with a smile.

"I don't need your things!" Tashigi immediately responded with determination.

"This is the fastest platform for spreading information in the world. If you want to find out something, like the whereabouts of some famous swords, this would be the best way," Ezekiel explained.

Tashigi hesitated immediately and finally said, gritting her teeth, "But... I still don't know how to use it," yet she did not return the phone to Ezekiel .

"Who are you?" Smoker asked.

Ezekiel smiled mysteriously, "You'll find out in the near future."

Then he left the bar, found a secluded spot, and vanished. He immediately informed Zephyr that he had met with his student, Smoker, and had given him a mobile phone. Ezekiel provided Zephyr with Smoker's phone number, indicating that Smoker was a target for recruitment.

Smoker and Tashigi held their breaths under the aura of this mysterious man. The two exchanged glances and remained silent for a long time. Finally, Smoker turned on the phone.

He had never heard of it.

Information about the existence of mobile phones had not yet reached here, as mobile phones appeared on the Grand Line, and Logtown is the entrance to the Grand Line, meaning sailors only enter Logtown on their way to the Grand Line, not on their return.

Ring-ring-ring! The phone in his hand suddenly rang, and Smoker was taken aback. But he wasn't a fool and didn't toss it away like a bomb. He looked at the prompt on the screen and pressed the phone to his ear.

"Is this Smoker?" a familiar voice came through the receiver.

Smoker shivered all over, then unconsciously sat down and said, "Yes! Teacher Zephyr!" But he soon realized he was no longer in the Marine Academy...

Tashigi was in shock: Teacher Zephyr?!

Could it be... that Zephyr the Black Arm, Admiral, criminal?!

She didn't know Smoker was his student, but she knew that Zephyr was now a criminal wanted by the World Government and the Marines!

Although he's not a pirate, he is still a wanted criminal, accused of betraying the World Government and conspiring with pirates.

How could Captain Smoker be talking to him...

"I'm no longer a Marine..." Zephyr sighed weakly. "Smoker, with your potential, there's no need to stay in Logtown. You need to head to the Grand Line!" If you're willing to listen to me, I'll share some words and tell you everything I've been through, and then perhaps you'll consider making your choice.

"Mr. Zephyr, I don't want to be a pirate," Smoker insisted firmly.

Zephyr didn't reply directly; he didn't bother with such questions, he simply said:

"There is a King of a country with whom I agree, and he wants to establish a new Marines. Would you like to help him?"

Smoker's and Tashigi's hearts suddenly trembled. It was as if chills rose from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads. They realized that the mobile phone in their hands was more than just a danger, and they finally understood the real reason why Zephyr was wanted...

What are these grand ambitions?!!

To form a new Marines? He wants to overthrow the World Government?!

And he's just talking about it as if it's really normal!

Tashigi looks at Smoker in bewilderment.

She felt a chill!

"You won't do this, Smoker-san!"

For more advanced chapters follow me on patreon

30+ chapters

patron.com/Manofathousandskills