"What exactly are we looking for?" Nami questioned as she and Brody climbed up the slope of a hill. She did begin to struggle but she hadn't actually been 'useless' since childhood. Stealing from pirates and then physically carrying all the stolen treasure did refine her body even if barely so even if climbing was physically exerting, she managed. Meanwhile, Brody hummed and looked around, "It should be something challenging. They went out of their way to set traps and even send those freaks even if one of them was disappointing... But my gut says that I'll have fun today."

"Again, your gut?" Nami sighed but she didn't question. The last time his gut was determined, they ended up discovering a devil fruit. But Nami couldn't help but stare seriously at Brody, "Brody... you know who's after us, right?"

---

"Of course, I know who's really after us," Reiju smiled as she made way through the forest alongside others, "But telling you that would scare you off."

"Scare us?" Carmen frowned, "Do you think it will be that easy? I won't change ships just as I won't change my views on cooking. It's an art, like dancing!"

Nojiko looked a little dazed as she smiled, "Even if it gets scary... what's the worse that could happen? The reason I am here is that Captain inspired me to be here. If he... could bleed for me, I'm not above the sentiment either."

"See? A sweet talker," Reiju smiled as she could empathize with Nojiko, "But if you want to hear it and still stick around... I guess, I will be colored impressed. While it is true that I defected from my Kingdom which is highly militaristic in nature, they alone cannot mobilize the special task force sent after us and outside of Grand Line at that."

Nojiko frowned.

"Is it because of—"

---

"You?" Nami frowned, "What else besides ruining a Kingdom could you have done then?"

Brody chuckled, "Not every incident reaches the paper. But... you could say that I am a person of great interest. So? Scared? You know, if I really do tell you the actual existence and should someone hear me speak of it... they will chase after you, too."

Nami gulped, "On the other hand, don't. I'd rather not have such an existence after me now that even you are putting it on a dangerous pedestal..."

"Haha, true. After all, many people are aware of Cipher Pol Department that works under the World Government but aside from the knowledge known to the officers, only a few are aware of the Cipher Pol's 9th Division— CP9, which carries out massive risk-related assassination without being hindered by public laws as such they can even kill whoever they wish. Of course, I just heard about them from my..."

Brody looked back at Nami who had a pale expression while she stared at her captain with a gaze that had given up on very hope itself.

"Ah... I said it..." Brody blinked and then looked around, "Don't worry! Cheer up, no one heard us!" Brody grinned when his expression shifted and he suddenly pounced at Nami before embracing her and rolling away as a large slice gash tore into the ground where she stood seconds ago.

"Oh, but I did."

---

"So? Want to leave yet?" Reiju smiled as Carmen and Nojiko had frowns on their faces.

"I said, I won't change ships. What kind of a cook leaves their mates high and dry?" The flame-haired woman narrowed her eyes, "I don't think my rival would do this either. To be able to compete with him next time we meet as a Pirate Cook, I must be a pirate, too!"

Reiju smiled but her eyes suddenly widened and she disappeared from Nojiko's and Carmen's view before reappearing behind them as a metallic sound rang when something 'sharp' struck her even if the duo only felt a light gust pass by.

"Your determination makes my heart bloom like Sakura in Spring, Yooiiiii! But, you must be buried to fertilize that Sakura!"

---

"Truly... having trust and all that is fine but it just gets so infuriating when he won't even acknowledge my beauty! As if Reiju is more beautiful. Bust size isn't all that! What about height? I'm taller so my breasts look a bit smaller despite them being the same if not bigger!" Alvida grumbled and struck her mace against a tree that stood in her way instead of walking around it.

"But... heh, I'm the Vica-Captain of the Devil Back Pirates. My bounty will increase soon enough and my beauty will spread! He'll have no choice but to acknowledge my beauty! Wait... what if our popularity attracts even more cun—"

Alvida suddenly felt wind 'graze' past her and then SLICE several trees in front of her. Turning back with a cold frown, she saw the stunned 'Egg' Man standing on a trunk of a tree with his mouth zipped up.

"Did you just try to sneak attack the most beautiful pirate?" Alvida narrowed her eyes.

Slowly unzipping his mouth, the green-haired man replied in an even tone while regaining his composure, "You aren't the most beautiful pirate. The Title of the Prettiest Pirate of Grand Line is held by Boa Hancock, Chapa."

Smirking viciously, Alvida hissed, "Clearly, whoever that Cock is, Boa or Mona, she clearly hasn't taken a stand next to me and you... don't you think I'm like our Captain. The results will be different this time and there won't be an Ocean to protect you after you fall into it."

Jumping down, the opponent narrowed his eyes, "So, you really have eaten Sube Sube no Mi, Chapapa."

"I have. How about you tell me who you guys are?" Alvida smiled, "You can do that for me, right?"

"I am trained by the secret organization of world government, CP9. I know not to share secrets, Chapa!" He hissed as Alvida's eyelids jumped in surprise. Smirking wider, she added, "I see. So you can't probably tell me your name, too, right?"

"Exactly! Fukurou is a name only usable by my colleagues, Chapapapa!"

"Fukurou of CP9," Alvida narrowed her eyes.

Fukurou's eyes widened.

"Who told you that?!"

"You did," Alvida smiled sweetly before rushing at him while wielding her mace!

---

A marine ship slowly approached the large fleet that encircled an unusually large ship. It had massive gliders with metal frames all around an unusual hull. The ship supported three massive structures with all three of them sporting massive sails with the number 8 printed on them alongside the Marine's Emblem. The entire fleet surrounded the foggy perimeter known to be around the Warship Island year-round.

The Seafaring Marine Branch— 8.

Leaning against the railing of the slightly worn-out Marine Ship of his, Smoker inhaled from his cigar deeply and then let out a smoke-filled exhausted sigh, "Tashigi... look at that. I smell pigs."

Next to Smoker, a petite woman wearing her blue hair around her neck with her dark brown eyes framed by red-rimmed glasses nodded earnestly. She wore a blue jacket and trousers alongside a yellow shirt with a sword belted to her thin waist. Adjusting her glasses with her gloved hand, the woman named Tashigi couldn't help but question, "Captain Smoker, what are we going to do? Commodore Royale will most likely try to hinder us."

Now 'decorated' with another grey jacket, Smoker narrowed his eyes, "Nelson is not a problem... that letter will finally be useful. The problem is still that man. Although his skills cannot hurt me, his unusual approach stopped me once before I was knocked out by heavy pressure... there was someone else that day."

"Do you think someone will try to help Brody Hanma escape?" Tashigi questioned with a worried expression as Smoker exhaled, "Only one way to find out."

Their ship was soon allowed to make contact with the largest ship of the fleet and the duo was soon led into the middle structure of the ship where they met an extremely obese man that may have most likely lost a few functions of his body sitting on a massive chair with a purple coat barely covering his body and revealed his large stomach riddled with scars from the stretch of the skin and a blue emblem of the marine tattooed above his navel.

Staring at the man calmly, Smoker greeted as expected from his lower rank, "Sir Commodore."

"Hngh," chewing on a piece of meat, the Commodore of the 8th Branch nodded, "Smoker, huh. Well, your ship's position is—"

"I can't even listen to you without wishing to blow my mind by staring down at the barrel of a rifle," Smoker commented and shook his head, "As the Commodore appointed by the Headquarters, I am arresting you for obstruction of justice, employment of criminals, and hunting of endangered domestic animals of Grand Line for busted myths."

Smoker took a letter and handed it to the nearest officer before he looked at Nelson Royale, the Commodore of the Ship coldly, "And also for daring to order to me, you fat bastard. Did you think your hunt for Sennenryu went unnoticed? Just outside, your own lieutenant revealed that you even took a child as a captive for more information."

"Wait! Arrest me, that's impossible—" Unwilling to have his time and this much manpower wasted, Smoker's body disintegrated into smoke and covered the entire room, promptly capturing the Commodore and the mercenary by the name of Eric who possessed a devil fruit ability, too, hiding behind one of the pillars of the room.

With Nelson locked in this massive throne room itself since nobody could literally carry his weight any longer for the man was so obese that even his legs failed to function, Smoker looked at the Lieutenant of the Fleet, "Send the captured girl back to her village after all this is over and keep your men encircled here. One of the pirates can spread dangerous toxins and the more people we send in, the greater the casualties. I'll leave with my men. Make sure to keep in contact with Den Den Mushi."

"Yes, sir!"

With the entire fleet changing hands from one Commodore to another, Smoker returned to his worn-out ship instead and proceeded towards the Warship Island with no intention of letting any criminal walk past him!

"Captain... what of the Straw Hat Pirates?" Tashigi finally inquired.

"Leave them be! If they foolishly entered calm belt then they deserve to die!" Smoker bit back an annoyed hiss.