All eyes turned to the Hero of the Marines.
Nami's earlier nervousness slammed back into her, the phantom images of Captain Nezumi and the Arlong Pirates flashing in her mind. Looking at Garp, anger curdled into contempt. 'This is the Hero of the Marines? Another Nezumi, just with a bigger title.'
But Dante... he was different. At least he hadn't done anything truly despicable. He had even saved Cocoyashi Village! Even Smoker, who had initially been ready to challenge Dante's sense of justice, seemed deflated. He glanced at Garp with a conflicted expression before turning to Dante, as if he wanted to speak but couldn't find the right words. 'How could this be?'
Smoker's face turned grim. 'If my superior's hands aren't clean, what right do I have to question a captain who's just trying to feed his villagers?' Though Dante's rank was far below Vice Admiral Garp's, Smoker knew this scandal wouldn't tarnish Garp's reputation much. 'His career survived his son becoming leader of Revolutionary Army, after all.' Even Fleet Admiral Sengoku might shrug it off. But Garp was the Hero of the Marines, a symbol of justice and inspiration for every Marine! And now...
A low sigh escaped Smoker's lips. 'Good grief...' They had come to investigate collusion between the Marines and pirates, and now the inspection team itself was compromised! And to make matters worse, the Pirates they should've been arresting were now looking at them with outright disdain.
Tashigi, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, frowned. Unlike Captain Smoker, she was more forgiving, willing to give even wrongdoers a chance. She didn't believe Captain Dante had violated any true sense of justice.
After all, Dante was still a Marine who carried the weight of justice on his shoulders, just abit differently.
She also understood that after learning the truth about the 16th Branch, Captain Smoker hadn't truly wanted to arrest Captain Dante. He was simply angry that Dante was cooperating with pirates.
But now... what were they supposed to do?
As the weight of their stares bore down on him, Garp's face momentarily stiffened, but he quickly recovered, breaking into his usual cheerful grin and scratching his head. "Oops, was I found out?"
With that, he turned to Dante, his gaze calm but piercing. "Kid, how'd you know?"
"Just stumbled across some information," Dante replied with a serene smile, sensing the tension in the air. "So... Vice Admiral Garp, anything else you'd like to say?"
Before Garp, who is still scratching his head and seemingly troubled, could respond, Smoker stepped forward abruptly. He was worried about what might happen if this continued, fearing things might spiral out of control.
Smoker looked at Dante, his expression unreadable. "Dante, you've colluded with Pirates and misappropriated Marine funds-"
"Hey, hold on! What do you mean, 'colluded with pirates'?" Dante spread his hands, feigning innocence. "We at the 16th Branch would never do such a thing. Don't make false accusations. And as for the funds, every request we've made has been above board. Otherwise, I doubt Marine Headquarters would have approved them. If you don't believe me, ask Nota."
"Yes, we at the 16th Branch have never defrauded military funds," Nota chimed in, nodding seriously, having received Dante's signal. "Every fund request follows proper procedure. It's all legal and by the book!"
"Captain Smoker, don't slander us!" Dante added with a smirk.
"Yeah, we're just a poor branch. What's wrong with asking for a little extra?"
"Are you mocking me?" Smoker's face darkened as he glared at them. "This Pirate Captain Mock-"
But before he could finish, Dante cut him off. "Thank you, Captain Smoker, for assisting the 16th Branch in the successful capture of the Mock Pirates!" Dante said solemnly. "This group of vicious pirates has been a thorn in our side for years. They're incredibly slippery and cunning. I'm relieved they're finally in custody."
He turned to Nota. "Hey, Nota, hurry up and get the Mock Pirates Captain locked up in the 16th Branch prison. Make sure he doesn't escape!"
"Yes, Captain!"
"..."
'Is this guy serious?' Smoker thought, his anger boiling over. Dante and Nota were still deflecting in their charade, playing dumb as if they could fool him.
"Do you think you're dealing with idiots?" Smoker slammed his fist on the table. "Captain Dante, have you forgotten Zephyr's teachings? Have you forgotten the Marine Justice you're supposed to uphold?"
"The Marine's justice?" Dante glanced at Garp, who was watching the scene with amusement, and raised an eyebrow.
'Good grief, even now, the old man wasn't saying anything? Wasn't he worried they would actually fight?' As a transmigrator, Dante didn't believe in so-called "justice" of this world. 'The World Government at the top was completely rotten to the core!'
If the roots were rotten, what was there to talk about? What was the point of clinging to some lofty ideal of justice? If they wanted to kill him, so be it. He'd just go back to being a Level-4 Senior Staff Member. He wasn't afraid.
Dante sat back down and looked Smoker dead in the eye. "What exactly is this 'Marine justice' you're talking about?"
"To maintain peace and order, to rid the seas of evil the plagues the sea!" Smoker shot back without hesitation.
"Drive out the evil that plagues the sea? Then who are the evil that plagues the sea? Captain Smoker?" Dante sighed, looking at Smoker. He knew that not all Marines knew the truth about the World Government and the hidden darkness within the Marines.
Standing up, he faced Smoker squarely. "And who defines what's evil? The ones who burn, kill, and loot? The slave traders who capture innocents? Those who hunt pregnant women for their unborn children? Or those who orchestrated the destruction of God Valley-"
"Enough!" Garp's voice cut through the room like a thunderclap. His usual grin was gone, replaced by a stern frown. "Dante, I don't know where you learned these things, but some secrets are better left unsaid."
"Of course," Dante replied smoothly, lightening his tone again. "I was just... intimidated by Captain Smoker's interrogation."
He wouldn't have dared to bring this up in front of anyone else, he knew Garp wouldn't punish him for mentioning it and knowing about it, but he wanted to develop in the East Blue, so he couldn't avoid these two. He turned back to Smoker who was frowning with confusion, his expression softening slightly. "Smoker, the justice you believe in... might not be as just as you think. In this world, there's no such thing as absolute justice."
Before Smoker, who was looking at him intently, could respond, Garp groaned. "I knew Sengoku would only cause trouble for me." He covered his head with a pained expression. "I thought he was just a Marine colluding with pirates, but I didn't expect you to know more than I thought. What now? Maybe we should just pretend this never happened."
"Vice Admiral Garp..." Smoker glared at him, exasperated. He didn't fully understand the implications of Dante's words, but he could tell this was a can of worms he didn't want opened. 'The Hero of the Marines, running away from the problem? Shameful display!'
How could it not be troublesome? But before he could say anything, Garp declared, "Let's leave it at that for now!" He picked his nose, looking at Dante, who had been holding the hilt of his sword, and said cheerfully, "I'm already old too old for this nonsense. Besides, you're not actually planning to arrest this kid, are you?"
"Hmph!" Smoker snorted, his face darkening, but he didn't argue further. Instead, he turned back to Dante. "The Mock Pirates will be tried. I'll take them to Loguetown Prison."
"Arrest me if you want!" Mock shouted defiantly, sticking out his neck. "As long as Boss is safe, I don't care what happens to me!"
But...
"Shut up!" Dante snapped, glaring at Mock. 'Why is this kid trying to get himself locked up? I won't be able to rescue him from Loguetown.' He'd brought Mock along precisely to avoid this kind of outcome.
He remembered how frail and pale Mock had been when they first met, and now, the kid had grown into a burly, simple-minded tough guy-more brawn than brains. But Mock was loyal, and that was what mattered most. As long as Dante gave the order, Mock would carry it out without question. Mock's heart was in right place.
Turning away from Smoker, Dante faced Garp again. "30%."
"Huh?"
"30% of the 16th Branch's future military fund."
The room fell silent. Everyone stared at Dante, their faces darkening.
'Is he seriously bribing the Hero of the Marines... right in front of everyone? How bold!'
Smoker's face was livid. 'This kid has no respect! How dare he try to buy off the Hero of the Marines with a measly 30% of branch funds? As if Garp would fall for something so blatant!'
As expected...
He didn't even need to intervene. Vice Admiral Garp was already looking at Dante with a cold expression. "Kid, what do you take me for?"
However...
Before Smoker could interject, Garp leaned forward, a sly grin creeping across his face. "Make it 50%."
The silence deepened.
Before anyone could speak, "Deal!" Garp's face showed a hint of surprise. Dante hadn't expected Garp to agree. He had been prepared to threaten him with Ace's secret if he didn't but that might've had high chance of ending up in a fight. He gripped Garp's outstretched hand.
"Should I send it directly to you, or to your grandson?"
"What would I do with it for my grandson? He's grown up-he needs to fend for himself." Garp dismissed his grandson without hesitation, saying cheerfully. "You don't need to give it to me either. Send it to the Goa Kingdom. There are refugees there who could use the help."
Dante nodded, understanding his angle. 'So that's why he agreed so easily.' It made sense. Garp's own reputation wasn't exactly spotless, and he'd rather keep Dante in the Marines than risk him spilling secrets as a Pirate.
Anyway, he didn't want to run around for the time being, so this suited him perfectly.
As for the Goa Kingdom...
Recruiting workers there was the same as recruiting workers anywhere else! A smile appeared on Dante's face. "Happy cooperation!"
"Happy cooperation!" Garp echoed, a knowing glint in his eye.
But...
Smoker wasn't having it. He grabbed Garp's collar, his voice rising in anger. "Are you seriously negotiating percentages? Do you even realize what you're doing, Vice Admiral Garp?"
"Relax, Smoker. I know what I'm doing," Garp replied, still picking his nose. "The Mock Pirates haven't done anything that bad. Let them go."
"Do you know what you're saying? You're a Marine, and they're Pirates!" Smoker snapped.
"Ah, forget what I just said! I almost forgot about that!" Garp chuckled, as though he hadn't just admitted to letting Pirates off the hook. He sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "I must be getting old. The Mock Pirates are cunning, indeed-they slipped right through our fingers. We'll have to report this to Marine Headquarters."
Smoker stared at him, utterly speechless.
Looking at the shameless Hero of the Marines, Vice Admiral Garp, Smoker didn't know what to say.
'Is this old man really treating me like a fool too?'