Reaching the towering, snow-covered structure in the middle of Punk Hazard's icy zone, the Straw Hats spotted a group of Marines gathered outside. Smoker and Tashigi stood at the front, facing off against none other than Trafalgar Law, who was blocking the doorway with a cool, guarded expression.
Law raised a hand in warning as the Marines prepared to advance, his voice low and clipped. "I wouldn't come any closer. This place is mine now."
Smoker, unamused, held up a Den Den Mushi, its snail-like face looking grumpy as it replayed a call from earlier. "Thought you'd be interested in hearing this," he said, glancing at Law as the recording played back snippets of Luffy's conversation with the mysterious caller from Punk Hazard. Smoker's eyes narrowed as he finished listening, and he leveled a glare at Law. "Care to explain what you're doing here, Trafalgar?"
Before Law could respond, both sides noticed the arrival of the Straw Hat crew. Luffy, as usual, walked ahead without a care in the world, waving enthusiastically. "Oi, Torao! Smokey! What're you guys doing here?"
Law's face tightened. This wasn't what he'd expected—Luffy and the Straw Hat crew, right here, and now Smoker. He hadn't planned for this.
Smoker's grin widened as he spotted Luffy. "Straw Hat! I've been waiting two years for this."
Luffy chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "Shishishi, hope you're ready. I'm a lot stronger now."
But before they could square off, Law raised his hand and called, "Room!" A massive blue sphere expanded over the area, humming with power. With a slight flick of his finger, he said, "Tact," and the giant Marine ship floated into the air, as if weightless, under his control.
"Oi, Torao, that's awesome!" Luffy cheered, completely ignoring the threat.
Law shot him a look. "This isn't a game, Straw Hat," he muttered, lifting his finger again. The Marine ship spun in the air.
Coby suddenly appeared behind Law, his hand resting casually on the surgeon's shoulder. "Now, now," he said with a grin, "let's all take a breath and talk."
Everyone stared at him in stunned silence, particularly Law, who whipped his head around. His Room was still up, and yet Coby had slipped right behind him without a single sound. Law's eyes narrowed, struggling to hide his surprise.
Law shrugged off Coby's hand and steadied himself. "What do you want, Straw Hats? This doesn't concern you."
Coby shrugged. "Our captain's whimsical. He heard someone calling for help from here, smelled adventure, and here we are." He smirked, glancing at Luffy, who was grinning ear to ear like he'd just been praised.
"Also," Coby continued, "now that we're here, this place feels off. Can you sense it, Luffy?"
Robin, hearing this, quickly focused her powers. She reached out with her Devil Fruit ability, summoning an eye inside the facility in the shadow of a small ventilation grate. From there, she spawned another eye around a corner with the newfound vision from previous eye, then another, mapping out the layout. Her vision tunneled through halls. She learned this from Coby, finally revealing a cluster of young, wide-eyed faces pressed against the glass of a locked room, staring out fearfully.
Robin's eyes narrowed as her observations confirmed what Luffy sensed. "They're children," she murmured, her voice serious. "Locked up inside the facility."
Law's gaze hardened, looking over each of them with a wary frown. But Coby just grinned. "Our crew's a bit kind-hearted. We're not about to let those kids suffer any longer."
Robin gave a nod, and Nami crossed her arms, her glare fixed on Law. "Damn right we can't. What is the deal with those kids? What the hell are you doing to them?"
Coby turned to Robin, who reported smoothly, "I saw Caesar Clown inside. He's there with a woman who has green hair and wings."
Coby's eyes narrowed. "Then it looks like we're in deeper than we thought. So, Torao…" he locked eyes with Law, "you knew about all of this?"
Law's expression barely shifted, but he let out a sigh, pretending to ponder his options. "I'm aware of some things here, yes," he replied. He turned to Smoker. "But not everything. Seems like we'll need a bit of cooperation to get to the bottom of this."
Smoker's eyes narrowed, flicking from Law to the Straw Hats. "You expect me to work with pirates?"
Coby chuckled, unbothered. "Well, you don't have to, Smoker. Especially since your backup's here."
Smoker and Tashigi exchanged puzzled glances. "Backup?" Smoker's voice was wary.
Coby raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "What? Vice-Admiral Vergo isn't with you?"
The mention of Vergo made Law visibly tense, his calm demeanor slipping. "Vergo?" he repeated, his voice lower.
Smoker smirked, visibly relieved. "If he's here, then I don't need to team up with a bunch of pirates."
Coby glanced at Law, who clenched his fists, his face tight. Didn't matter much to Coby if Law spilled the beans or not. Before anyone could say another word, Vergo, Caesar Clown, Monet, and a small army of men in yellow hazmat suits poured out of the facility, forming a tight circle around them.
Vergo, a tall man with a sharp, clean-cut look, gave a slow, unimpressed nod toward Smoker. "You're here, Smoker. Good. I'll take it from here." His eyes shifted to the Straw Hats, lingering on Law with a smug expression.
Smoker frowned, eyes narrowing. "What the hell is going on here, Vergo?"
Vergo waved a dismissive hand. "I'll handle it. Take your men and return to base. That's an order."
Smoker's scowl deepened. "You think you can take them alone?"
Vergo's gaze remained steady. "There are things you don't know, Smoker, and your rank doesn't entitle you to ask. I have a Shichibukai here along with his crew. I'll handle the Straw Hat Pirates."
Smoker didn't budge, crossing his arms. "I've waited too long to run into these pirates. I'm not leaving because of your 'rank.'"
Vergo's expression hardened, and he took a step forward, his eyes locking onto Smoker's. "Then I'll put it simply: you're in over your head, and if you don't follow orders, you'll be dealt with."
Smoker eyed Vergo with a hard look, suspicion tightening his jaw. Something was off. Vergo's sudden arrival here, uncalled for by anyone in G-5, was strange enough. But Law's reaction—how he'd flinched just from hearing Vergo's name—and Caesar's deferential stance toward him didn't add up. And why was there a hidden facility on an island that was supposed to be off-limits to Marines and civilians alike?
Vergo's words snapped Smoker back. "This isn't your concern, Smoker," Vergo said, his gaze cold. "Leave. Now."
But Smoker wasn't buying it. "Since when do we ignore criminals experimenting on kids?" He jerked his chin toward the Straw Hats, who stood ready, weapons drawn. "They're pirates, but they're here to help. So unless you've got a damn good reason, I'm taking this place down."
Vergo's face hardened. He glanced at Caesar, who was watching with an amused smirk, arms crossed. "Caesar, handle the intruders," Vergo ordered.
Caesar grinned, his eyes glinting with malice as he stepped forward. "With pleasure," he sneered, summoning a dense cloud of toxic purple gas that began swirling toward the Straw Hats and Marines alike.
"Oi! Everyone, hold your breath!" Coby yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos. He lunged forward, slashing Shusui through the gas, the blade coated in Armament Haki, dispersing the thick cloud around them.
Smoker barked an order at his men. "Masks on, now! Stay sharp!" His unit scrambled, pulling gas masks from their belts and gearing up. Tashigi moved beside him, her own mask in place, eyes narrowed at Caesar.
--
Read up to 100 chapters ahead!
patreon.com/pinkisjustice
Tell me what you think!