"I've never changed since the day I enlisted. I've always hated evil and never tolerated even a speck of dust in my eyes."
"Pirates—burning, looting, murdering—committing all sorts of heinous crimes. They're a malignant tumor that must be eradicated from these seas."
"Now that so many of them have gathered here in one place, it's absolutely disgusting. How could I possibly let such a golden opportunity to wipe them all out slip away?!"
"As for that idiot Emperor Altai? Letting him enjoy the moment is nothing more than a side benefit."
Ghost Spider looked down at him from above and said coldly:
"But you—trying to stop a perfectly justifiable order to fire on pirates… what? Don't tell me there's someone among them you're secretly trying to protect?"
"Protect them?!"
Smoker let out an infuriated laugh. "Of course there is! Damn right there is! I'm the base commander appointed by HQ to guard Loguetown! Aren't all the residents of this island the very people I'm supposed to protect?!"
"Civilians?"
Ghost Spider glanced at him in confusion, then sneered. "Those people pop up like weeds. No one cares. It doesn't matter how many die. Forget civilians—even if it were subordinates who've followed me for years, if they dared to get in the way of me wiping out pirates and carrying out justice, I'd blast them without a second thought!"
"Just like… now."
"You!"
A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as he suddenly lifted his right leg and kicked hard at Smoker!
"You're just a lowly colonel, praised once in passing by Teacher Zephyr back in the day, and you really let it get to your head? You think you can lecture me now?!"
Thud!
The kick was powerful and forceful, wrapped in a dense coating of Armament Haki.
Smoker had never expected the other man to actually attack him.
Caught completely off guard, he took the kick square in the chest and was sent flying several meters before crashing into the wall. He clutched his chest and vomited a mouthful of blood.
Nearby Marines turned at the commotion, staring in shock.
"Don't mind him. Are the cannons loaded and ready? All ships, open fire! I want the entire square covered in cannon fire. It's full of pirates—don't let a single one escape!"
Ghost Spider gave the order with a cold voice.
"Yes, Vice Admiral!!!"
Thunderous responses echoed from the three Marine ships.
Boom boom boom! Over fifty cannons roared to life, their black barrels spitting tongues of searing orange flame that lit up the gleeful expression in Ghost Spider's eyes.
"Hmph."
After nearly a month of frustration, he was finally getting some relief.
Ghost Spider shot a cold glance at the fallen Smoker. "Looks like you didn't take a single word I said to heart last time. Then as your senior, I'll give you another lesson!"
"For a Marine to carry out their own sense of justice, they mustn't show even a shred of mercy. Fools like you, who can't let go of naïve ideals, ought to retire just like Teacher Zephyr did!"
"Now shut your damn mouth and get out of my way!"
Ghost Spider strode toward the bow of the ship, the white cloak of justice billowing behind him in the wind.
"If you dare stay here and obstruct my mission to purge the pirates again—don't blame me for showing no mercy. I'll have you court-martialed!"
Purge the pirates?
Carry out justice?!
Smoker struggled to his feet, using the wall for support. His right hand still clutched his chest, heaving heavily. His eyes, bloodshot, turned toward the cries coming from the square—each scream pierced into his heart like a blade.
This is Ghost Spider's justice?
Lumping pirates and civilians together, and slaughtering them without distinction?
"What a damn joke!!!"
This is his city, the one he fought to protect! How could he just stand by and do nothing, letting this happen?!
Whoosh!
Smoke suddenly exploded outward, and the entire deck of the warship was instantly engulfed in thick gray-white mist.
Smoker, now fully transformed into his smoke form, rampaged like a violent sandstorm, sweeping up all the crew members loading the cannons.
"So much smoke!"
"I can't see a thing! What's happening?!"
"Cough… cough! Help! I can't breathe!"
Choking and coughing echoed one after another as crewmen collapsed from suffocation. Ghost Spider could no longer see clearly and roared furiously:
"Have you lost your mind, Smoker!!!"
"Order the other two ships to cease fire—immediately!"
A deep voice rang out from within the fog.
"There's still time to send the soldiers to rescue the civilians. As for the pirates, I'll take them on myself. I swear, I won't let a single one escape!!"
"Not a single one, huh?"
Ghost Spider's cold eyes swept around, as if searching for something. "Hmph, negotiating with me now? Think hiding in a smoke cloud will save you…"
Whoosh!
He vanished in an instant—then reappeared midair to the south, his hand shooting forward into the fog and tightly gripping Smoker's throat.
"—You really think I couldn't find you?!"
Gkk… Smoker's body slowly became visible, his face flushed red as choking sounds gurgled from his throat. He clenched his ten-hand staff, ready to fight back.
But before he could, Ghost Spider had already snapped sea prism stone handcuffs onto his wrist—clack!
A wave of weakness surged through his entire body.
Without giving him any chance to react, Ghost Spider's Haki-covered fist slammed into Smoker's face.
At the same time, his knee shot up like a piston, driving into Smoker's gut!
Thud! Smoker's face twitched violently as his eyes began to lose focus. The smoke pouring from his body rapidly retracted.
Boom!
Only then did Ghost Spider fling him down onto the deck, blasting a massive hole into the planks.
The series of strikes was fast, ruthless, and without mercy—leaving Smoker no chance to retaliate.
Landing lightly from the air, Ghost Spider casually lit a cigarette, not even bothering to glance at Smoker.
"Resume the order. Open fire."
"Yes, Vice Admiral!"
New Marines quickly stepped in to replace the unconscious gunners. Meanwhile, the thick smoke on deck was swept away by the sea breeze, gradually restoring visibility.
Ghost Spider looked into the distance, and his gaze happened to fall on a rooftop on the western side of the square—where several figures had just appeared one by one.
Hmm?
Are they trying to resist?
Ghost Spider smirked in disdain. Maybe he'd take Eastern Grand Line pirates seriously, but here in East Blue's Loguetown? Who could possibly withstand the firepower?
These three warships were all HQ-standard models—far stronger than any local branch in this backwater sea!
"Redirect half the cannon fire—give those rooftop fools a little extra attention."
Ghost Spider said casually.
"Understood, Vice Admiral Ghost Spider!"
Hmph.
Trying to be a hero?
He loved putting arrogant little heroes in their place!
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!
All three warships opened fire again. While the entire plaza was once more blanketed in cannon fire, nearly half of the shells rained down on those figures standing on the rooftops!
Hmm?
Just as Kuina stepped onto the roof, Shano raised his head and looked at the barrage descending upon them, his eyes narrowing slightly.