Chapter 11: You Won't Even Call Me... Teacher Kyle!
"Good boy~"
"That's more like it!"
The smoke that had obscured the crowd's vision slowly dissipated.
The sailors and townsfolk at the port hadn't even realized what had happened...
When they saw the young man with a handsome face and a refined demeanor walking out of the smoke...
Only when they noticed the girl in his arms, with a gun pressed to her head, did they truly understand the saying, "Appearances can be deceiving."
...
"That... That's Chief Petty Officer Tashigi from the Marine base!"
Someone in the crowd quickly recognized Tashigi's identity, and gasps of shock erupted.
"What's going on!?"
"How did Chief Petty Officer Tashigi get taken hostage!?"
"..."
Seeing this scene, the port erupted into chaos.
At that moment, Smoker's figure also emerged from the smoke.
He and Kyle moved in opposite directions—one advancing, the other retreating—but they gradually approached the edge of the port.
Wave after wave of seawater tirelessly crashed against the port's embankment, creating a rhythmic sound.
Completely unaffected by the tense atmosphere here.
As Kyle reached the base of the Diga, realizing he was now within the range of Diga's abilities, his tense nerves finally relaxed a bit.
He looked up, a slight smile on his lips, and met Smoker's gaze.
"Alright, Captain Smoker."
"You can stop here. Any further would be impolite."
"It's time to say goodbye."
Kyle held Tashigi's arm, manipulating her like a puppet, and waved at Smoker in a farewell gesture.
Smoker, who was already furious and on the verge of grinding his teeth to dust, turned pale with rage.
Behind him, wisps of smoke continuously billowed, spreading out like an invisible force.
He hadn't truly given up on saving Tashigi.
Smoker was waiting!
He was waiting for the moment Kyle boarded the ship...
As long as the other party showed the slightest opening, his smoke could instantly separate Kyle from Tashigi.
Without Tashigi as a hostage, that bastard would have no chance of escaping his grasp!
Smoker secretly vowed in his heart.
However, just as he was fully focused, Kyle suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"I said, Captain Smoker~"
"Didn't I tell you I'm allergic to secondhand smoke?"
"Yet you still dare to test me with your smoke."
"Could it be... you're waiting for me to board the ship so you can save this lovely girl at the last moment!?"
"Hahahaha..."
"Do you really think I'd give you that chance!?"
With his Hyper Intuition, even the slightest movement of air couldn't escape Kyle's perception...
Let alone the smoke composed of tiny particles!
Every move Smoker made had been under Kyle's control.
He just hadn't called him out on it to ensure he could reach the range of Diga's abilities as quickly as possible.
After a burst of wild laughter, Kyle's eyes gleamed with a hint of mocking disdain.
As a fellow Marine colleague...
He decided to give Smoker one final lesson before parting ways.
Seeing Smoker's expression of frustration and regret at being exposed, Kyle continued to pour fuel on the fire:
"Even though you knew I had a hostage, you still chose such a flashy entrance..."
"Were you afraid I wouldn't notice someone was coming to arrest me!?"
"If you had used your Devil Fruit ability to scout ahead and set up a trap, things wouldn't have turned out like this!"
"I really don't understand why Marine HQ chose someone like you to guard the East Blue."
"Smoker, you... are far too arrogant!"
Whoosh~
Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind swept in, forming a roaring whirlwind at Kyle's feet.
Carried by the storm, Kyle, holding Tashigi, slowly rose into the air and landed smoothly on the ship's stern.
From start to finish, his gun never left Tashigi's head.
"You're a Devil Fruit user!?"
Seeing Kyle levitate, Smoker's eyes widened in shock.
This sudden turn of events was clearly beyond Smoker's expectations.
But the moment Kyle boarded the Diga, the ship, with its own consciousness, had already begun sailing out to sea.
A black Jolly Roger rose from the mast, clearly displaying the emblem unique to pirates!
Standing on the ship's railing with one foot, Kyle looked down at the port of Loguetown and spoke in a lecturing tone:
"The East Blue isn't a gathering place for the weak—it's the birthplace of miracles!"
"If you're still this careless, I suggest you crawl back to Marine HQ and find yourself a desk job!"
"Fighting and killing really aren't your thing."
"Oh~ and one last lesson for today!"
Kyle suddenly pulled out his gun and, using his Hyper Intuition, aimed at Smoker's shoulder.
Bang!
A heavy gunshot rang out!
This was the third shot fired from the gun today!
Though it looked no different from a common flintlock...
Thanks to enhancements from the Marine research division, this gun's practical value far surpassed that of the Skillful Grade sword, Frost!
After all, this gun was specifically developed by the Marines to deal with the monsters of the New World!
The spiraling bullet shot out like a black ray, piercing Smoker's left shoulder before anyone could react.
Splat!
A crimson line of blood sprayed out.
Smoker stared in disbelief at his bleeding shoulder.
"Hahaha..."
"Smoker, relying too much on your Devil Fruit ability isn't a good thing."
"Remember my name—I'm Kyle! Captain of the Twilight Pirates, and the man destined to become the King of the World!"
"Until we meet again!"
"Class dismissed!"
Kyle laughed heartily, holding Tashigi's delicate body, and retreated into the ship's cabin.
Running away after showing off—what a thrill!
Whoosh~!!!
A terrifying storm suddenly surged at the calm port.
Propelled by the storm, the Diga's speed increased dramatically, sailing away from Loguetown at an incredible pace.
Leaving behind only a chaotic port.
...
About ten minutes later, a hastily assembled Marine unit rushed to the port, only to find Smoker sitting on a crate, staring blankly into space.
"Captain Smoker!"
The leading Marine sergeant quickly ran over, standing at attention and saluting.
The next second, he noticed the bloodstain on Smoker's left shoulder.
The sergeant was horrified.
"Captain Smoker, you're injured!!?"
He immediately began shouting.
"Medic! Medic! Get over here!!!"
However, Smoker raised his hand to stop the panicked Marine and snorted:
"No need."
As he spoke, he tore off the fabric covering his shoulder, revealing a scabbed wound.
Although the seastone bullet had pierced his body, luckily it hadn't hit any vital areas, causing only a flesh wound.
With his physical strength, the wound would heal completely in a few days.
What truly made him sit here, brooding, was...
He had lost a capable subordinate!
Tashigi was someone he had brought from Marine HQ to the East Blue.
And now, she had been taken right under his nose.
For a moment, Smoker felt utterly ashamed.
He even began to wonder if he was truly suited for the role of guarding a Marine base.
More importantly...
Recalling the words Kyle had spoken before and after boarding the ship, Smoker found himself increasingly convinced by their logic.
So much so that his hatred for Kyle began to fade.
If he hadn't been so arrogant, if he had been more cautious, perhaps Tashigi would still be...
Slap!
Suddenly.
The silent Smoker abruptly slapped himself, startling the nearby Marines.
"Dammit! What am I thinking!?"
He stood up abruptly, shaking off the distracting thoughts, and ordered the Marines:
"Prepare a warship immediately!"
"Full speed ahead—pursue that pirate ship!"
"Also, send a message to Marine HQ to issue a new wanted poster!"
"Kyle, Captain of the Twilight Pirates."
"Suspected user of a wind-related Devil Fruit, possesses a seastone pistol, cunning and treacherous, combat ability unknown..."
"Crimes: Causing chaos at Loguetown port, kidnapping a Marine officer, and..."
"*Sigh*..."
Smoker took a deep breath, looking at the wound on his left shoulder, and said solemnly:
"Wounding Marine Captain Smoker and escaping unscathed."
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