Chapter 90 Cooperation of Intelligence Giants 2

Smoker glanced at him casually.

"Sit down."

His gaze wasn't threatening, but it made Guernica's heart skip a beat. After hesitating for a moment, Guernica slowly sat down.

"That's better... Relax. I'm not here to expose your secrets or blackmail you."

Guernica let out a small sigh of relief.

"What do you know? How did you find out?!"

Smoker smirked slightly.

"Your plan was clever…"

"Six months ago, you became the liaison officer between CP and the Navy headquarters. No one would suspect you, no matter how often you came to the base!"

"You avoided staying in the Navy dorms and instead checked into a small inn, which only made the government trust you more."

"But no one realized your true goal wasn't the mission—it was that pregnant innkeeper. Her name is Hanya, right?"

Guernica's eyes widened, and he glared at Smoker.

"Tell me how you found out!"

Veins bulged on his hand, and a faint aura of Haki surrounded him. It seemed like he was ready to attack at any moment.

Smoker chuckled. "Just dumb luck…"

"Tina's dorm is right next to that inn. And the kicker? Tina has seen you there before."

"Every time you leave, the way Hanya looks at you... Even a blind person could tell something's going on!"

"What?!" Guernica's jaw practically hit the floor.

That's it? That's the giveaway?

She smiles at all her customers, doesn't she?!

Smoker didn't need to say anything more.

In the end, Hanya was just an ordinary person. She didn't even know Guernica's true identity. How could she possibly hide anything from someone like Tina? Tina didn't even have to try—just a bit of casual conversation, and she got all the information she needed.

Guernica slumped back in his chair, defeated.

"Fine. What do you want from me?"

There was no getting out of this one. He'd been completely outplayed.

Smoker grinned.

"I've already said it. I want pirate intel."

"At the end of the day, I'm a Marine, not one of those people trying to overthrow the world. You and I both work for the government. What you have, I can have too. The only thing I lack is information—especially about pirates with bounties over 100 million!"

"And even without this situation, you asked me to help with those 'premium slaves.' If the Celestial Dragon's demands aren't met, it's not just me who'll pay the price!"

Guernica paused, taken aback. "That's all?"

If that was it, then it didn't seem like much of a problem. Most pirate intel eventually found its way to the Navy anyway. What Smoker wanted was just a quicker delivery.

Smoker raised his glass.

"That's all. I hope we can form an intel-sharing alliance. We can discuss other matters later."

"Relax. I'm not the greedy type. Everyone who works with me knows I never let my friends take a loss."

Guernica was silent for a few seconds. Smoker's reputation in that regard was indeed true.

Finally, he raised his glass and clinked it against Smoker's.

"Fine. I agree. And about Hanya… Please look after her."

Running a business near the Navy headquarters was safer than dealing with pirates or criminal gangs, but it still came with its own set of challenges. Hanya often struggled with taxes, inspections, and other bureaucratic headaches. Guernica, due to his position, couldn't step in directly to help her.

But Smoker was a Rear Admiral. Helping a small inn wouldn't be a problem for him.

Smoker patted his chest confidently. "No problem! Leave it to me!"

Inside, Smoker was secretly thrilled.

Finally, I've got this guy on my side…

Due to the nature of their work, it was easy for CP to recruit undercover agents within the Navy. But for the Navy to win over someone from CP? That was near impossible!

The Navy had always been the one infiltrated, never the infiltrator.

Smoker's success in pulling Guernica to his side was partly luck, but also the result of careful planning.

Pirate intel? That was nothing more than a test.

What Smoker really wanted was to plant a mole inside CP!

From the very first day Guernica agreed to the slave trade, Smoker had been planning for this moment.

The slave trade might be a shortcut to gaining favor with the Celestial Dragons, but it was full of dangers.

What were the Celestial Dragons like?

Once they got their slaves, they would flaunt them to their peers.

And, of course, the other Celestial Dragons would get jealous!

In their endless competition to outdo each other, their demands would only grow.

Eventually, they would turn to Guernica, who wouldn't have the power to refuse them.

At that point, Guernica would face two choices:

Either stick to the rules and be discarded by the Celestial Dragons—or even killed like a dog for their amusement.

Or, break the rules and rely on Smoker's strength to satisfy the Celestial Dragons' insatiable demands.

If Guernica were completely brainwashed, Smoker's plans would be meaningless.

Brainwashed CP agents would see death as loyalty, singing praises as they welcomed bullets to the head.

But Guernica was different.

In the original Onigashima battle, even when he was forced to interfere in Luffy and Kaido's fight, he was clearly reluctant. He even said, "You're sending me to my death," showing no intention of dying willingly.

This proved he wasn't blindly loyal to the Celestial Dragons and still had his own personal agenda.

Adding to that, Smoker had discovered Guernica's secret—he had a wife and child.

Through both pressure and persuasion, Smoker had finally succeeded in winning him over.

Smoker let out a relieved smile.

In the eyes of the World Government, CP agents were like fully tamed dogs. They might be beaten or scolded, but their loyalty was unquestionable.

The Navy, on the other hand, was seen as a weapon.

The Government would wield it against powerful enemies, then sheath it again as soon as the danger passed, always cautious not to cut themselves.

Compared to CP, the Navy's intel was lacking.

CP often infiltrated early, laying the groundwork and preventing issues before they arose.

The Navy, meanwhile, always seemed to arrive late, cleaning up the mess at great cost in manpower and resources.

It almost felt like the Government was intentionally wearing down the Navy's strength...

After their discussion, Smoker and Guernica walked out of the tavern.

Smoker paused at the doorway, glancing back just in time to meet Shakky's gaze.

Though brief, her eyes glimmered with intrigue, and Smoker's look carried a deeper meaning.

Above them, a black bird circled in the sky.

Smoker turned to Guernica.

"Are you interested in the World Economy News Agency?"

Guernica nodded.

As a top intelligence officer, how could he not be curious about the world's largest information network?

But this agency was elusive, impossible even for CP to fully track.

"Then let's pay them a visit! Follow me!"

With that, a shadow passed overhead, and Smoker's body seemed to lose all weight as he soared into the air.

Guernica froze for a moment before quickly using Moonwalk to follow.

They flew for a long time, piercing through layer upon layer of white clouds.

Finally, they spotted a strangely shaped airship, surrounded by a flock of albatrosses circling nearby.