Bai Yu's sharp remark made Smoker's face darken immediately.
He stared at Bai Yu, now clearly intrigued.
"It doesn't matter which royal house or noble bloodline you come from," Smoker said gravely. "In my division, promotion comes through grit and proof—not privilege."
Bai Yu suddenly understood. Smoker had mistaken him for a pampered officer, gilded by connections.
Hoo...
With a calm exhale, Bai Yu unsheathed his sword slowly.
"Since Colonel Smoker doesn't believe I captured the criminal myself..."
"Why not verify it personally?"
His provocative tone cut through the air like a blade.
"Interesting," Smoker murmured.
There was no hesitation in the veteran Marine officer. He raised one hand, signaling his subordinates to retreat.
Then, he drew his signature weapon—Ten Hands.
The specially forged jitte gleamed, its core embedded with Kairoseki—Sea-Prism Stone.
Crafted to neutralize Devil Fruit users, the weapon's design was reinforced further for elite combat: blade-stopping, blade-breaking, and disabling techniques all built into its structure.
Smoker believed no swordsman—no matter how skilled—could escape its reach.
"Colonel Smoker! We're here to transfer the prisoners!"
"You're not authorized to engage another branch's officer!"
Dasqi stepped forward, alarmed, her voice sharp with urgency.
"Stand down, Dasqi," Smoker said sternly. "I won't tolerate false credit claims."
"If this guy can last ten minutes against me... I'll personally apologize."
With that, he pushed past her and faced Bai Yu once more.
"Let's begin."
"Let's see if your strength matches your arrogance."
The tension snapped.
Boom!
Smoker burst forward like a cannonball. His foot cracked the earth beneath as he launched himself, Ten Hands aimed directly at Bai Yu's throat.
Swoosh!
He was fast. Very fast.
In a flash, Smoker was in striking range. The jitte gleamed menacingly as it arced toward Bai Yu.
Still, Bai Yu didn't flinch.
"So slow."
His voice was calm. Almost indifferent.
At the very last moment, Bai Yu tilted his neck slightly to the right.
Hoo...
A precise movement—just enough to let the Sea-Prism tip slice harmlessly through empty air.
Smoker's eyes narrowed. He instantly knew—Bai Yu wasn't ordinary.
Whoosh!
Thinking quickly, Smoker's arm dissolved into smoke. The Ten Hands weapon surged forward, its length extended by his Logia ability, targeting Bai Yu's back from a blind angle.
The attack came fast, low, and unexpected.
But just before contact, Bai Yu's lips curled into a smirk.
Hoo!
Another burst of wind.
He shifted one foot half a step aside.
Again, Smoker missed.
The blow sliced the air, not flesh.
Smoker's hand retracted in frustration, eyes wide in disbelief.
"It's my turn."
Bai Yu stepped forward. With a swift rotation of his wrist, the back of his katana swung toward Smoker's chest.
Whoosh!
Smoker tried to phase into smoke, relying on the natural immunity of his Logia body.
But Bai Yu's eyes gleamed.
"Busoshoku Haki."
At his will, black Armament Haki surged over the katana's spine, transforming the silvery blade into a jet-black arc.
Boom!
The blade struck true.
Smoker was hurled backward, his body crashing through crates before skidding to a halt, Ten Hands bracing against the ground.
Blood trailed from the corner of his mouth. Pain blossomed in his chest.
Everyone froze.
Even Smoker's subordinates were struck speechless.
Their commanding officer—the Smoke-Smoke Fruit wielder—bested?
Face-to-face?
By a new recruit?
Shock rippled through the ranks.
Most hadn't even grasped what just happened—how Bai Yu had struck a Logia-type user.
"...Haki," Smoker muttered.
"You're using Haki..."
Finally realizing it, Smoker's expression changed.
Busoshoku Haki—the elusive skill capable of bypassing Logia intangibility. He himself hadn't mastered it.
Yet Bai Yu had.
"...I underestimated you," Smoker admitted, wiping the blood away.
"I take back my words."
Then, tossing aside his Marine coat, he raised both arms.
"But I'm not done yet."
Whoosh!
His hands turned into twin trails of smoke, swirling violently.
Under the aerosolized transformation, Smoker extended his limbs far beyond their natural length.
"White Snake!"
The two smoke tendrils twisted into serpent-like forms, shooting toward Bai Yu with breakneck speed.
Still calm, Bai Yu narrowed his eyes.
"Kenbunshoku Haki."
As the attacks approached, he leaned, twisted, stepped.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Precise, fluid movements dodged both incoming strikes.
"Tch."
Smoker grunted, shifting tactics.
With a flick of intent, his serpentine limbs curved around, aiming to strike Bai Yu from behind.
Clang!
But Bai Yu, without looking back, twisted his blade in a smooth arc.
One sharp swing deflected both smoke tendrils cleanly.
Attack—invalidated again.
"How many times can you block this?" Smoker growled.
Smoke surged from his arms like twin geysers.
He wasn't done yet.