One Piece: Transmigrated as Smoker with Dark-Dark Fruit

The past two weeks had been... strange.

For reasons no one could explain, every pirate in the East Blue had suddenly vanished without a trace.

Smoker had gone out on patrol several times, only to come back empty-handed. Not a single pirate ship in sight.

That evening, he was once again training deep into the night.

He unwrapped the bandages around his fists, revealing cracked and bleeding knuckles, and muttered to himself,

[What the hell is going on lately? Why's the sea so damn quiet...?]

[I've been absorbing pain non-stop these days. With no one to take it from, I can't even let loose during training anymore...]

"All personnel, all personnel, attention!"

Suddenly, Captain Cole's voice rang out over the loudspeaker across the training grounds, tense and urgent.

"Everyone to the docks in five minutes! Any delays will be dealt with under military law!"

He repeated the order three times before finally cutting the mic with a low beep.

Smoker raised an eyebrow.

Cole was usually a laid-back guy. Strict, sure, but he rarely pulled the "military law" card.

Just what the hell happened today to make him sound so rattled?

Other Marines looked just as confused.

But no one dared dawdle. Whether they'd been napping or just killing time, they all scrambled into their uniforms and bolted for the docks.

Smoker rushed over too.

Captain Cole and several officers were already standing there, checking uniforms and posture the moment each soldier arrived.

Anyone who didn't meet standards was loudly and mercilessly berated.

Smoker quietly asked the Marine next to him, "What's going on with the base commander?"

The soldier kept his head high, glanced around cautiously, then subtly shook his head.

"No clue. Probably some big shot's paying us a visit."

Bell-mère, standing nearby, murmured, "Some big shot... The royal family of Banmon came two years ago and even that didn't cause this much fuss..."

Then someone whispered, "They're here."

Smoker looked toward the sea. A massive warship was gliding through the night fog.

Judging by the silhouette, it was a high-spec Navy vessel, one that only Vice Admirals or higher could command.

Sure, Vice Admirals later in the story might seem underwhelming, but make no mistake: every one of them was a top-tier powerhouse.

To a backwater place like the 161st Marine Base, this was a visit from someone far beyond their pay grade.

As the ship got closer, Smoker's expression turned odd.

Because the warship's figurehead... was a dog. Holding a bone in its mouth.

[Wait... Isn't that the personal warship of the Navy Hero, Monkey D. Garp?!]

No wonder the East Blue had been so eerily peaceful.

So this guy had shown up.

A little temple, visited by a god.

Still, why was Captain Cole so nervous? It didn't seem like he was the type to curry favor with superiors. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stayed cooped up in the tiny 161st Base for years...

Bell-mère seemed to sense his confusion.

"It's Vice Admiral Garp... That explains it."

"Back when Captain Cole was a kid, his village was attacked by pirates. Vice Admiral Garp rescued him and inspired him to join the Marines. To Cole, Garp isn't just a superior, he's a savior."

Smoker finally understood.

Soon, the warship docked.

Garp strolled down the ramp with a half-eaten donut in one hand, a casual sway in his step, followed by a group of Marines.

"Salute!"

Captain Cole barked, and the entire squad snapped into a perfect salute.

"Vice Admiral Garp, thank you for visiting us late at night! The 161st Base welcomes you!"

Garp looked completely relaxed.

"Bwahaha! Cole, you haven't changed a bit, still stiff as ever! I'm just passing through. No need to make a big deal out of it."

"Oh, right, I, zzz..."

Mid-sentence, Garp suddenly lowered his head. His breathing slowed, and a massive snot bubble inflated from his nose.

Cole blinked, stunned by the sight.

Smoker, standing beside him, whispered, "Captain... I think Vice Admiral Garp just fell asleep."

Cole scowled. "Don't be ridiculous! Vice Admiral Garp is a battle-hardened hero. He wouldn't just, "

POP!

The snot bubble burst.

Garp jolted awake in surprise.

"Ah, sorry, must've dozed off."

All the Marines: "HUH?!"

Garp casually picked his nose. "Anyway, forget that. I was planning to go back to HQ after my vacation, but Kuzan the brat asked me to pick up a kid named Smoker. Where is he? Step forward!"

Everyone turned in unison to stare at Smoker.

Who was absolutely dumbfounded.

So it was Kuzan... Guess the guy didn't forget their promise.

Still, this was way too high-profile!

Why would a living legend personally come to pick him up?

Heart racing, Smoker stepped forward.

"Reporting to Vice Admiral Garp, Recruit Smoker, at your service!"

"Hmm... Pretty ordinary-looking... or maybe not?"

Garp gave him a glance, then suddenly narrowed his eyes.

In the blink of an eye, he lunged forward, faster than anyone could react.

Smoker instinctively tried to dodge, but Garp's fist stopped an inch from his face, wind pressure alone stinging his cheeks.

"Vi... Vice Admiral Garp?!"

Garp opened his hand.

A Seastone pendant dangled from his fingers.

Smoker looked down. Cold sweat ran down his spine.

His uniform collar had been neatly unbuttoned.

"I see... Seastone, huh? No wonder Kuzan recommended you."

Garp let go of the pendant.

"Training by suppressing your own Devil Fruit? Pretty gutsy for a kid. Bwahaha!"

With his observation skills, Garp had already sensed Smoker's strong physique, impressive for someone his age.

As for his Devil Fruit power? That didn't matter much to Garp.

In his mind, regardless of the fruit, one good slap was enough to pulp anyone.

"Yaaaawn, "

Garp let out a huge yawn.

"I'm sleeping here tonight. Ship's too damp. Everyone rest up, we leave at dawn! Don't be late, kid!"

With that, he wandered off toward the base.

Captain Cole quickly followed. "Vice Admiral Garp, we've prepared a room for you. Please, this way, "

"Ahh, thanks. I'm pretty wiped out."

"You must've spent the night fighting pirates, huh? That's got to be exhausting!"

"Nah, just been trying to break my donut-eating streak."

"Uh..."

Later that night, Smoker headed to the training grounds. Bell-mère was already waiting.

"I heard the news. You're going to take the Elite Marine Program entrance exam. If you pass, you'll be able to stay at HQ. Congrats in advance!"

"It's just the exam. Who knows how it'll turn out. You didn't call me out here just to say that, right?"

Bell-mère wasn't the sentimental type. This wasn't just a goodbye.

Of course, Smoker didn't think she had feelings for him or anything.

"Smoker. Spar with me."

"What kind of nonsense is that?!"

Bell-mère pulled her hair back and took off her jacket, revealing a fit, toned figure.

"Take off the pendant."

"I know I'm no match for you. But I want to see the real gap between us."

Smoker thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

A few minutes later, 

The training ground was a mess. Stone fences were shattered, the air thick with dust.

Bell-mère lay flat on her back, covered in bruises, panting heavily.

"Damn... I went all out, and I couldn't even graze you. This kind of gap... it's crushing."

"Yeah. Still a long way to go."

"Hah... cough... You really suck at comforting people."

"I'm just being honest. On a battlefield, empty words won't save your life."

Smoker sat beside her.

"But you've come a long way since I first met you. You're a hundred times stronger now."

"And to someone like Vice Admiral Garp... you and I aren't much different. We've still got a long road ahead."

Bell-mère recalled the despair-inducing speed Garp had shown earlier.

"Yeah... no kidding."

"You called me out tonight just to say goodbye? I'm not getting all emotional over that."

"Hah! You brat. Nah, I just felt something after seeing Garp."

"Felt what?"

"You know, to everyone in the East Blue, Vice Admiral Garp is basically a guardian god."

Smoker nodded. "He's been taking vacations here every year. That's why they say this is the weakest sea."

Bell-mère sighed. "Still... it doesn't sit right with me. We wear the symbol of justice too. We should be the ones protecting the East Blue!"

Smoker paused for a moment. Then said softly, "After I'm gone, you'll be the only Devil Fruit user left. I'm counting on you."

"Bell-mère, if you can be a kind mother... then you can be the guardian of the East Blue too."

"Mother?! What the hell are you talking about?! I'm not having kids, you idiot! Hahaha, cough cough..."

Bell-mère sat up, groaning from the pain. She lit a cigarette, then tossed the whole pack to Smoker.

"A going-away present! Smoking's bad for you, but it makes you look manlier."

"So that's why you're the manliest one in the whole base."

"Get lost..."

Not far away, Garp sat on the rooftop, munching on donuts. Bogard sat quietly beside him.

Hearing their banter, Garp grinned.

"The 161st Base, huh... not bad at all."

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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter