One Piece: From Picking Up Red Hair's Broken Arm

Chapter 95 From White Hunter to Handyman
"Hey, get out here!"

Kuina drew her sword and was the first to step onto the deck with moon steps. Her face was as cold as frost as she shouted:
"No matter who you are, if you show up now, we can have a good talk. Otherwise, don't blame us for being rude when we find you out!"

Xia Nuo then stepped onto the main mast, from where he could overlook and control the overall situation.

Looking at the silent cabin below, he frowned slightly.

This guy is hiding really well.

He had just searched the entire cabin yesterday to install the falcon statue, but even with his extraordinary hearing and keen insight, he couldn't find any clues.

When did it start hiding...

Could it be that it was secretly hidden on the ship when it left the Shirley Island Shipyard?

"He's out." Kukaros said suddenly.

Ok?
Everyone immediately looked closely at the locations of the doors.

But no one expected that there was no movement from the door. Instead, a wisp of smoke curled out from the vent, landed on the deck, and turned into a human shape.

"Smoker???"

Kuina, who was facing the smoke, was surprised when she saw the face clearly: "Why is it you?"

In the gradually dissipating smoke, Smoker had a complicated expression. He slowly raised his hands to indicate that he had no hostility.

"Don't be nervous. I'm no longer a naval captain. You should have confirmed this from the wanted poster."

Then he looked up:

"Mr. Shanuo, could you please give me some time to come down and talk to me?"

…………

ten minutes later.

Everyone gathered in a circle on the deck and listened to Smoker, who was sitting in front of the mast, tell his story.

"So this is what happened between you and that Altai." Nami suddenly realized, "He was the one who gave the order for the navy to fire. How despicable! Beautiful kill!"

She laughed and slapped Smoker on the shoulder:

"That's great, kid. I recognize you. I didn't expect that we had an insider like you back in Rogue Town!"

kid?

Smoker's mouth twitched as he silently lit a cigar. He was already a thirty-year-old uncle, and being called "boy" by a yellow-haired girl, this feeling was really...

"Indeed, young people are really brave."

Crocus stroked his chin and looked at Smoker with interest. "I haven't seen many people like you who defected from the navy because they couldn't stand the nobles in decades."

The previous one seemed to have made quite a career, his name was... Hey, what was his name?

"That incident was ultimately just a trigger."

Smoker held a cigar in his mouth and shook his head slightly. "A month ago, I had endured enough. I joined the navy to practice justice in my heart and to protect the people from being bullied by pirates."

"But if the Celestial Dragons, or even ordinary nobles with Celestial Dragon blood, commit crimes and punish evil, the navy can only turn a deaf ear and dumb, and even turn around to protect and flatter them, then what is the difference between them and pirates?"

"Even... even worse. Every time I think about it and see those two words on the cloak I'm wearing, I feel sick to my stomach!"

He paused and continued in a low voice:

"Killing Altaïr was a moment of rage. Honestly, I was confused and terrified. It wasn't that I was wanted, but I didn't know where my future lay. And even more so... what the point of persevering for so many years was."

"It was at that time that I saw Lord Shanuo awaken his Conqueror's Haki in the square, and I also heard what he said."

Smoker looked at Shano and said seriously, "Those words made me think a lot."

He took a deep puff of his cigar, and amidst the smoke, his eyes were more determined than ever.

"Whether you're a navy or a pirate, those with a sense of justice should never be bound by their stance. Since practicing justice under the World Government is restricted in every way, I'd rather follow someone who can uphold my beliefs!"

There was a brief silence on the deck.

"What do you mean..."

Kuina frowned slightly and looked at him and said, "Want to join our Ender's Adventure Group? Then why don't you come to us in person in Rogue Town?"

"Ashamed to say that."

Smoker looked hesitant. "Originally, because I wasn't familiar with your temperament, or perhaps... I was afraid you wouldn't be able to accept me, a former navy officer. So, the night you set sail from Rogue Town, I didn't show up in person. Instead, I quietly boarded the ship, waiting for the right opportunity."

"What do you mean by a suitable opportunity?" Xia Nuo raised his eyebrows.

"This one……"

Smoker turned away and coughed awkwardly. "For example, if you encounter a powerful enemy and are outnumbered and struggling, I can pretend to be just passing by and offer a helping hand, and then I can join you naturally..."

"It's quite a beautiful thought."

Nami scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Too bad, with my brother here, you'll have to wait a long time. What kind of situation will it take for you to play the hero-saving-the-damsel role?"

There's really no way to refute that... Smoker smiled bitterly and took a puff of his cigar.

As a leader among his peers in the elite camp, he is also proud of himself.

In addition to what he said when he pulled out the execution platform, the terrifying strength that Shanuo showed in defeating Ghost Spider was also one of the important reasons that prompted him to follow him.

In this world, you can never rely on empty talk alone.

Only a truly strong person can convince others.

"Brother, what do you say?" Nuo Qigao quietly poked Xia Nuo's arm and whispered, "Should we let this guy get on the boat?"

She currently has a good impression of Smoker.

He dared to resist the evil princes and nobles, and to fight against the World Government in pursuit of justice. He answered all questions honestly...

Well, the most important point is that I respect and admire my brother very much!

All in all, he seems like a reliable guy.

"..."

Xia Nuo pondered and did not answer immediately.

to be frank.

He is still a little dazed.

Especially when Smoker said in person that he wanted to follow him, the level of surprise in his heart was no less than when he first saw Aokiji joining the Blackbeard Pirates in the comics.

can only say.

Both the Navy Headquarters and the World Government are deeply ill, forcing the two people who are most qualified to take over the future of the Navy to leave and pursue a completely different path.

"Have you been hiding in the ventilation duct these days?" he suddenly asked.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Smoker's face flushed. "To be precise, it's the pipe above the kitchen. I have no choice, because there's a wolf on your ship with a keen sense of smell. The kitchen is the only place it's not allowed to enter. And if it hides there, I don't have to worry about food..."

"Ah!" Yin yelled at Zhepu, "See? This is the consequence of you not allowing me to enter the kitchen!"
"Oh, no wonder!"

Zhepu ignored Gin and slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing, "I've been wondering why the food consumption hasn't matched up these days, and I always feel a lot of smoke when cooking. It's not because the exhaust fan is broken, but because of you?" "Yes," Smoker admitted. "The cooking smoke is a bit choking, and I can only use elemental transformation to avoid it... But the exhaust fan was indeed broken at first, and I fixed it at night."

"You have this skill?" Xia Nuo was a little surprised.

"I've loved tinkering with these things since I was a kid, especially when I was a teenager and I was fascinated by motorcycles. In order to modify my own bike, I learned all the mechanical knowledge."

Smoker said this when he suddenly remembered something: "Sir Shanuo, if I remember correctly, you said before that the ship is still short of a sailor, right?"

"Although I'm not as good as a professional shipbuilder, I'm quite confident in routine maintenance and repairs. How about...letting me take on this position?"

"..."

Xia Nuo still didn't answer, but just stood up and stretched towards the rising sun.

"Mr. Shanuo?"

Smoker looked at his back with some trepidation.

"Everyone hasn't had breakfast yet, you must be hungry, right? Uncle Zhepu, why don't we have a party?"

Shanuo laughed heartily and said, "It's to see off Crocus and Lab, and also to welcome our new boatman, Mr., as a partner and officially join the adventuring group!"

“—Ohhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Let’s have a party!!!”

On the deck shrouded in the morning light, a resounding response immediately rang out.

"There's really nothing we can do."

Kurokus also turned to look at Lab and laughed:

"Looks like I'll have to make you wait a little longer, Lab. I have to protect you along the way. If you set out on this ocean without a full stomach, it will be very risky."

Lab shook his head to indicate that he understood.

Kurokas smiled and stroked its cheek. Suddenly, he remembered something and turned around and yelled, "Hey, Big Nose Hair, don't forget to add salt this time!"

"Big nose hair?"

Zhepu was furious. "Don't worry, I forgot to add salt last time, so I'll double it just for you this time!"

"Hahaha, that's okay, I'm old and have a strong taste!"

For a moment, the deck was in chaos.

Only Smoker was left standing there in a daze.

This, this is...

Do you really accept yourself?
The corners of his mouth arched up, and he exhaled a large puff of smoke. However, his happiness did not last long when Kuina's faint voice rang out behind him:
"Hey, big smoker, let me make it clear first. There's nothing wrong with smoking, but from now on, if you want to smoke in places with ladies, especially Nami, who is not yet an adult, stay away from her. If she learns bad habits and imitates you, the captain will give you a good beating."

"no problem."

Smoker quickly stubbed out his cigar and apologized, "I'm sorry. I also apologized for making you feel like you were facing a formidable enemy and making you nervous for a long time. I'm here to sincerely apologize to you."

"Nervous? Not really."

Kuina put the Wado Ichimonji back into its sheath with an expressionless face. "Rather, everyone was quite nervous at first, but once you showed up and saw that it was only you hiding on the ship, they immediately relaxed."

Yes, yes, Nojiko and Nami nodded vigorously in agreement.

Ok?
Smoker was stunned.

What does this mean...

Why does it sound so hurtful?

"Besides, only children take verbal apologies seriously."

Kuina added seriously, "You've been acting like a stalker for a few days now, stealing a lot of our food and really startling everyone. So, if you want us to fully accept you, you'll have to work hard and take concrete action over the next few days."

"That's for sure..."

Smoker had just started to speak when he suddenly felt something was wrong.

The boat is in good condition. The only broken exhaust fan has been repaired by himself. Where else can he, a boatman, be used?

……

A blink of an eye.

The banquet is over.

After everyone got drunk and had a great time, they all went back to their rooms to rest.

Only Smoker was left holding a broom, staring at the mess on the deck in amazement.

——So this is a good way to work!
He watched helplessly as Kuina handed the broom to Nojiko, who then threw it to Nami, who then forced it into Gin's mouth.

Finally, Ah Yin came running over, took the broom in his hands, and patted his shoulder meaningfully with his paw, showing the attitude of a senior who is optimistic about the newcomer...

Well, who made me wrong?
It seems that it will not be his turn to be a boatman these days. His current task is to be a handyman honestly. He shook his head helplessly, bent down and started cleaning.

As I was scanning, I inexplicably found a familiar feeling.

That was many years ago.

He was only a teenager and had just joined the navy with great anticipation.

Before he ate the fruit, and before he was selected to go to the headquarters' elite training camp, he was already doing the miscellaneous work that a new recruit had to do in the Rogue Town branch.

At that time, although I dealt with brooms and mops every day, I was full of hope for the future and had no doubt that I could practice justice.

And now, it seems that everything has returned to the starting point.

Smoker grinned, lit two cigars, took a long puff, and looked up at the second floor of the cabin, where the bedroom of Captain Shano was located.

I just hope that this time, the man I choose to follow won't let me down again...

------

at the same time.

Not far from the Twin Capes, on an island full of tropical atmosphere.

"Did you hear the request just now, especially the last two points?"

In the dimly lit room, the woman across from the table was tall, wearing a wide-brimmed cowboy hat and a veil, so her face couldn't be seen clearly.

Similar to her overall temperament, it seemed shrouded in dark shadows.

"I heard everything clearly."

The afro-haired man on the left nodded nervously, "You are not allowed to inquire about the identities of the boss and other important cadres."

The girl holding an umbrella on the right also added with a smile: "During normal missions, real names are not allowed to be used. All communication must be done using code names."

"Very good, then sign the agreement, Jem, Mitchita."

The woman in the shadows smiled faintly. "This is the last time I'll address you as such. Welcome to Baroque Works. From now on, you will be Senior Agent Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, respectively."

There will be updates in the evening

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(End of this chapter)