Chapter 109: The Return of Captain Smoker
The tension in the restaurant was thick enough to slice with a blade. Every eye was fixed on the three men at its center: Captain Smoker of the Marines, Portgas D. Ace of the Whitebeard Pirates, and Monkey D. Goku, the rising rookie with a sizable bounty on his head. Moments earlier, Goku and Ace had been joyfully reunited as brothers, only to be interrupted by the Marine captain's abrupt declaration that he would be hauling them off to Impel Down.
Smoker's steely gaze flicked between the two pirates. Twin cigars smoldered between his lips, sending curls of smoke drifting upward around his weathered face. His broad shoulders and muscular build radiated authority; the long white coat trimmed with green fur hung open to reveal his scarred torso. In his hand, the Seastone-tipped jitte gleamed ominously in the low restaurant light.
"So," Smoker growled, "you can either come quietly, or I'll take you by force. Your choice."
Ace lifted an eyebrow, a playful grin quirking his lips. "C'mon, Smokey. Don't tell me you're still sore about our last run-in?"
Smoker bristled at the nickname, taking a step closer. "You'll address me properly, pirate. And yes, I remember our 'run-in.' You burned half my men's sails to cinders."
Goku, standing next to Ace, raised both hands in a placating gesture. "Look, we don't want a fight," he said, his voice calm but firm. He shot a quick glance at the crowd forming around them—patrons still clutching half-eaten meals, the staff huddled near the kitchen doors, and more curious onlookers pressing in from the street. "There are too many civilians here. Let's not cause any unnecessary damage."
Ace nodded in agreement. "Besides, I've got business of my own. I'm hunting down a man named Blackbeard. I don't have time for a brawl right now."
Smoker's eyes narrowed. "You think I care about your errands, pirate? You are both criminals. My job is to bring you in."
A ripple of unease passed through the growing crowd. People started whispering among themselves:
"That's Captain Smoker… the White Hunter."
"And that's Ace, Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates… a 550 million berry bounty!"
"Who's the other guy? Monkey D. Goku… never heard of him."
"They say he's worth 50 million. A rookie, but climbing fast."
Goku clenched his jaw. He could sense the restless energy building in the restaurant, and not just from Smoker. Bounty hunters and opportunistic rogues in the crowd were surely eyeing him and Ace. One wrong move, and chaos would erupt.
From the corner of his eye, Goku spotted a familiar figure in the crowd—the waitress who had served him earlier, wearing that striking cowgirl outfit. The same woman who, in reality, was none other than Miss All Sunday. She lingered near the back, partially hidden behind a group of gawkers, but her eyes were unmistakable. Their gazes locked for a heartbeat. Goku offered her a subtle wink; she returned it with a playful smile before slipping further into the throng, as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.
The small exchange was enough to remind Goku of his mission. He had come here to meet with her, not to get arrested or start a massive brawl.
Standoff in the Crowd
Smoker, apparently sensing Goku's distraction, shifted his grip on the jitte. "This doesn't have to be complicated. Both of you—on your knees, hands behind your head. Now."
Goku took a deep breath, turning his attention back to the Marine. "Smoker, you know as well as I do this can only end badly if we fight here. Innocent people will get hurt."
"It doesn't matter," Smoker snapped. "My duty is to uphold justice. I won't let you walk away."
Ace glanced around at the bystanders, who were watching with wide, fearful eyes. "You see, Smokey, these folks might not appreciate a Marine tearing up their favorite restaurant."
"Last warning," Smoker hissed. His gaze hardened, clearly prepared to use force. "Surrender."
Goku's face shifted into a solemn expression. He turned to Ace, voice low enough that only his brother could hear. "It was good seeing you, brother, but I've got other things to do. I can't get tangled in a Marine fight right now."
Ace nodded, understanding instantly. "Same here. I still need to find Blackbeard. Let's not waste our energy on a pointless scuffle."
Smoker opened his mouth to retort, but before he could say another word, Goku's demeanor changed in an instant. The playful warmth vanished from his features, replaced by fierce determination. An invisible pressure radiated from his body, as though the air around him had become supercharged.
People in the crowd gasped and stepped back. Even Smoker's eyes widened at the palpable shift in the atmosphere. Then, in the blink of an eye, Goku's hand glowed with a tiny sphere of crackling Ki.
Without hesitation, Goku slammed the Ki ball into the ground at his feet. The resulting explosion was contained but powerful enough to blow tables aside, send a plume of smoke and debris into the air, and knock bystanders off their feet. The entire restaurant was plunged into chaos, screams and shouts echoing off the walls as people dove for cover.
When the dust cleared, Goku was gone. Only a gaping hole in the floor remained where he had stood.
Outside, amidst the panicked crowd spilling from the restaurant, Goku moved like lightning. He sprinted through the open doorway, then leapt high into the air. In a single bound, he cleared the rooftops of the surrounding buildings, using his Ki to propel himself skyward.
From below, dazed onlookers saw only a blur. He soared across the rooftops, disappearing behind the tall structures that lined Nanohana's busy streets. Within moments, the swirling clouds of dust and the shouts of alarm were all that remained of his sudden departure.
Goku landed with a soft thud in a dimly lit alleyway some distance away from the restaurant. He took a moment to catch his breath, brushing bits of debris off his clothing. The faint echoes of the commotion drifted on the breeze—clearly, the entire district was in an uproar.
But before he could decide on his next move, shadows stirred at the far end of the alley. A group of men stepped forward, the flickering light of a nearby lantern revealing their rugged faces. Some were tall and broad-shouldered, their muscular arms covered in scars; others were of average build but carried themselves with the quiet confidence of men used to fighting.
They eyed Goku warily, and the biggest of them growled, "Who are you?"
Goku straightened, meeting their gaze without fear. "Not anyone you need to worry about," he replied, his tone firm. "I'm just passing through."
Without waiting for a response, he burst forward in a blur of motion. The men scarcely had time to blink before he vanished, streaking past them and disappearing into the winding streets beyond. A gust of wind and a swirl of dust were all he left behind.
Moments later, the tallest man among the group turned to a dimly lit tent set up in the alley's corner. "Should we chase him?" he asked, directing his words to someone cloaked in shadow beneath the tent's flap.
A silhouette stirred—just enough to reveal a glimpse of a young man's face, stern and resolved. "No," the hidden individual answered. "We have more important matters to deal with than random strangers."
The tall man nodded slowly, as if weighing the decision. "You're right, Koza."
With that, the men melted back into the darkness, their footsteps fading into the labyrinth of alleyways that snaked through Nanohana. The mysterious figure under the tent, identified as Koza, remained for a moment longer, gazing at the spot where Goku had disappeared. Then, he too slipped away, leaving the alley empty and silent once more.
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