Chapter 127: Clash in Rainbase
The sun blazed mercilessly over the bustling streets of Rainbase, its heat reflecting off the sandy ground and the whitewashed buildings. The city was a stark contrast to the barren desert the Straw Hats had just traversed. Rainbase was alive with activity—merchants hawking their wares, townsfolk chatting in the shade, and the occasional clatter of dice from the open doors of the many casinos that lined the streets. But for Goku and Usopp, the only thing that mattered was finding water. Their throats were parched, their lips cracked, and their patience worn thin after days in the desert.
Goku wiped the sweat from his brow, his tail swishing lazily behind him as he scanned the street. "Man, I'm so thirsty I could drink a river. Let's find a bar or something. They've gotta have water, right?"
Usopp, who was leaning heavily on his knees, nodded weakly. "Water... yes, please. I feel like I've been chewing sand for a week. If I don't get a drink soon, I'm going to turn into a mummy."
The two of them stumbled into the first bar they saw, a small, dimly lit establishment with a sign that read *The Salty Seagull*. The cool air inside was a welcome relief, and the smell of alcohol and stale tobacco filled their nostrils. Goku and Usopp made a beeline for the bar, their eyes locked on the rows of bottles and glasses behind the counter.
"Water! Give us water!" Goku shouted, slamming his hands on the bar. The bartender, a burly man with a thick mustache, raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. He filled two large glasses with water and slid them across the counter.
Goku and Usopp grabbed the glasses and downed them in one gulp, the cool liquid a balm to their dry throats. They slammed the glasses back on the counter, gasping for breath.
"Another round!" Goku demanded, his voice already sounding more lively.
But before the bartender could comply, a deep, gruff voice cut through the air. "Well, well. If it isn't the Straw Hat brat and his sniper friend."
Goku and Usopp froze, their eyes widening as they turned to see Captain Smoker and Tashigi sitting at a corner table, their expressions a mix of surprise and annoyance. Smoker had a cigar clenched between his teeth, the smoke curling around his head like a storm cloud, while Tashigi was adjusting her glasses, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
Goku's jaw dropped, and he spat out the water he'd just taken a sip of, spraying it directly into Smoker's face. "Smoker?! What the heck are you doing here?!"
Smoker wiped the water from his face with a scowl, his cigar now soggy and unlit. "I could ask you the same question, brat. This is Marine territory. You've got some nerve waltzing in here like you own the place."
Usopp, who had gone pale at the sight of the Marines, grabbed Goku's arm and whispered urgently, "Goku, we need to get out of here. Now. Smoker's not someone we want to mess with right now."
Goku, however, didn't budge. His usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by a rare seriousness. He crossed his arms, his tail swishing slowly behind him. "We're not going anywhere, Usopp. We've got business here, and I'm not letting some Marine get in our way."
Smoker stood, his massive frame towering over the table. His jitte, the weapon he used to capture pirates, was already in his hand. "You've got a lot of guts, kid. But you're out of your league. Surrender now, and maybe I'll go easy on you."
Goku's eyes narrowed, and a faint aura of energy began to crackle around him. "You wanna fight, Smoker? Fine. But I'm warning you—if you don't back off, I'll level this entire town. I don't have time to play games with you."
The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with the promise of violence. The other patrons of the bar, sensing the danger, began to quietly slip out the door, leaving only the Straw Hats, the Marines, and the terrified bartender.
Tashigi stepped forward, her hand tightening on her sword. "Goku, you're making a mistake. You don't understand what's at stake here. Crocodile is dangerous, and if you interfere, you'll only make things worse."
Goku's gaze shifted to Tashigi, his expression softening slightly. "Tashigi, I don't want to fight you. But I'm not leaving until I find Crocodile and stop him. If you get in my way, I won't hold back."
Smoker growled, his patience wearing thin. "You're not in a position to make threats, brat. You're outnumbered and outmatched. Surrender, or I'll—"
Before he could finish, Goku's aura flared, the energy around him intensifying. The glasses on the bar began to rattle, and the floor beneath their feet trembled slightly. Usopp, who had been trying to hide behind Goku, let out a nervous squeak. "Uh, Goku? Maybe we should—"
"Quiet, Usopp," Goku said, his voice calm but firm. He locked eyes with Smoker, his expression unyielding. "Last chance, Smoker. Back off, or I'll destroy this town and everyone in it."
For a long moment, no one moved. The tension in the room was suffocating, the silence broken only by the faint crackle of Goku's energy. Finally, Smoker let out a frustrated sigh and lowered his jitte. "Fine. You win this round, brat. But don't think this is over. The moment you step out of line, I'll be there to take you down."
Goku's aura faded, and he grinned, his usual carefree demeanor returning. "Thanks, Smoker. I knew you'd see it my way."
Tashigi looked at Smoker in disbelief. "Captain, we can't just let them go! They're…"
Smoker held up a hand, cutting her off. "Our orders are clear, Tashigi. We're to let Goku do what he needs to do here. The higher-ups believe he's the key to something. We don't have to like it, but we have to follow orders."
Tashigi clenched her fists, her frustration evident. "But... what if he makes things worse? What if he…"
Smoker shook his head, his expression grim. "We'll deal with that if it happens. For now, we wait and watch. Let's go."
The Marines turned and left the bar, leaving Goku and Usopp alone with the bartender, who was now hiding behind the counter. Usopp let out a shaky breath and slumped against the bar. "That... was way too close. I thought we were done for."
Goku chuckled, his tail swishing lazily behind him. "Relax, Usopp. Smoker's not so tough when you stand up to him. Now, let's get some more water and find the others. We've got a Warlord to take down."
---
As Smoker and Tashigi walked down the street, the tension between them was thick. Tashigi finally broke the silence, her voice filled with frustration. "Captain, I don't understand. Why are we letting them go? Goku's reckless, and he doesn't understand the danger he's walking into. It could ruin everything."
Smoker took a long drag from a fresh cigar, his expression unreadable. "Our orders are clear, Tashigi. The higher-ups believe Goku is looking for something. They think he'll find something here that we can't. I don't like it any more than you do, but we don't have a choice."
Tashigi clenched her fists, her voice rising slightly. "But what if he makes things worse? What if he gets himself killed? Crocodile's not someone you can just walk up to and punch in the face."
Smoker exhaled a plume of smoke, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Then that's on him. Our job is to follow orders and clean up the mess if it comes to that. But for now, we wait and watch. Let's see what the kid can do."
Tashigi sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I just hope he knows what he's doing."
Smoker smirked, his voice filled with dark amusement. "Knowing him from our brief encounters, he does. That's what makes him dangerous. Let's see how this plays out."
The two Marines walked off into the bustling streets of Rainbase, their presence a reminder that the Straw Hats were far from safe. The storm was coming, and no one would escape its fury.
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