However, Smoker had no idea what was going through Will's mind.
After hearing those words, he was instantly infuriated, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Damn it… you bastard…!" he growled.
Seeing the smug "I'm doing this for your own good" look on Will's face, Smoker couldn't hold back any longer. He gritted his teeth and snarled, "Madman Will! I've never met anyone as arrogant as you!"
"Oh?" Will raised an eyebrow, noticing that Smoker didn't seem to get it. He chuckled, "Well, looks like you've met one today."
"Ugh…" The corner of Smoker's eye twitched, his anger flaring. "You… you…!"
Realizing he was no match for Will in a war of words, Smoker decided to stop wasting his breath. He prepared to charge forward and resume his attack.
After all, to maintain eye level with Will, he'd been expending energy by using his Devil Fruit powers to float in the air. Continuing this banter would only put him at a disadvantage.
But just then—
"Colonel Smoker!"
A frantic shout rang out. From the street connected to the right side of the plaza, a large group of Marine soldiers suddenly came rushing in.
Leading them was Chief Petty Officer Tashigi, her face etched with urgency, clutching a sword in her hand.
As the Marines arrived, they saw the plaza's ground in utter ruin, shattered and broken as if a catastrophe had struck.
And there was Smoker, locked in a tense standoff with another figure.
The Marine soldiers immediately raised their rifles, aiming at the tall man standing atop a lamppost.
Though Tashigi wore glasses, she could still make out the man's features clearly. She gasped in shock, "That's…! 'Madman' Will, with a bounty of 650 million Berries!"
"Why is he here?!"
"What?!" Some of the Marines, who had seen the newspapers and bounty posters, jolted in fear at her words. Their hands trembled, barely able to hold their guns steady.
After all, this was the madman who dared to strike a Celestial Dragon. How could ordinary soldiers like them not feel terrified?
Smoker's brow furrowed at the sight. He barked sternly, "Tashigi! Take everyone and get out of here now!"
Turning back to face Will, his tone grew heavy. "This fight between me and this guy—it's not something you can get involved in!"
He knew all too well that with Will's monstrous strength, a single graze could reduce the soldiers below to dust. Their presence here would only weigh him down.
"But…!" Tashigi hesitated, her expression conflicted. She desperately wanted to stay and help.
Smoker's frown deepened, and he was about to snap at her again when—
"Will!"
"Captain Will!"
From another street connected to the plaza's right side, two voices called out.
Two young women, dressed in vibrant new clothes and carrying several bags, came hurrying over.
Upon seeing the chaotic scene in the plaza, they froze in shock.
But when their eyes landed on Will, standing nonchalantly atop the lamppost, Nami and Karina—who had rushed over after hearing the commotion—immediately relaxed.
Will, spotting the two, showed no trace of worry. His expression remained calm as he asked, "Nami, Karina, did you get the ship?"
Nami replied promptly, "It's all set. We can head to the port and pick it up anytime."
"Good." Will nodded in approval before giving his orders. "Nami, go to the port and get the ship ready. Park it next to our old one and wait for me."
"As for you, Karina, your job is to protect Nami and the new ship. If any Marines or pirates try to cause trouble, deal with them."
"Got it!" Nami and Karina nodded in unison.
Without asking if Will needed help, they turned and ran off.
Clearly, neither of them had the slightest doubt that Will could handle the Marines.
"Don't let them get away! Madman Will's crewmates!" Tashigi, seeing the two completely ignore the Marines and start to leave, stepped forward in a burst of indignation, ready to give chase.
But she had clearly forgotten one critical detail—Will was standing right in her path.
"Don't go!" Smoker's eyes widened, and he shouted to stop her, lunging forward in a desperate attempt to intervene.
"Huh?" Tashigi halted at his voice, turning with a puzzled look.
But in the next instant—
Will's figure appeared before her in a flash. Raising his fist, he smashed it into the wall of a long-abandoned building nearby.
BOOM!!
With a deafening explosion, the wall caved in, leaving a massive crater.
Crack! Crack! CRASH!
The crater shattered further, countless cracks spiderwebbing outward, spreading until they engulfed the entire building.
RUMBLE!
As the overwhelming force surged through, the five-story structure collapsed in a thunderous heap, reduced to a pile of rubble and debris.
"Ahh!" Tashigi, standing too close, was thrown back by the shockwave from the collapse, letting out a startled cry.
Whoosh!
At that moment, Smoker's arm transformed into smoke. He shot forward, wrapping it around Tashigi's arm and yanking her to safety.
Thanks to Smoker's quick intervention, Tashigi managed to regain her balance, though she stumbled several steps before steadying herself.
But Smoker had no time to worry about that. His gaze was locked on the figure emerging from the dust cloud.
As the dust settled, Will strolled out, hands in his pockets, moving at a leisurely pace. Not even the hem of his clothes was dirtied.
He cast a cold glance at Tashigi, who stood nearby, and said flatly, "Chasing after my crew right in front of me? You really don't take me seriously."
"Ugh…!" Under Will's piercing stare, Tashigi froze, her body stiffening. It felt like she could barely breathe, her face locked in a rigid expression, unable to utter a word.
"Madman Will!" Smoker, now back on solid ground and in his normal form, growled with a stern edge. "Leave the others out of this! Your opponent is me, and me alone!"
He could tell that Will's earlier attack was merely a warning to Tashigi, which was why he hadn't reacted with full hostility.
Deep down, Smoker didn't harbor any real hatred for this man—who had dared to strike a Celestial Dragon and free all the slaves of the Bridge Kingdom.
But as a Marine, duty bound him to try and capture Will, no matter what.
Will shifted his gaze back to the resolute man before him and said bluntly, "What, still thinking you can arrest me, Smoker?"
His eyes flicked briefly to the collapsed building, his tone carrying a hint of admonishment as he spoke firmly, "You saw it clearly just now, didn't you?"
"The power of that punch—can you withstand it?!"
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