One Piece: Gawain The Knight Of The Sun

"Get out of here!"

"Corrupt Marines!"

A young girl tried to muster a fierce expression, but her rosy cheeks only made her look adorable.

Smoker, unamused, ignored her, focusing on the growing crowd of civilians encircling the Marines.

Their faces burned with anger, clutching makeshift weapons—pitchforks, brooms, stools, sticks. Despite facing Marines, they showed no fear, only pent-up resentment.

"Leave, Marines!"

"You flee from pirates, then show up when it's over?"

"This justice… this justice…"

At the crowd's forefront, a young man with a severed arm gripped his blood-soaked bandage, pain twisting his face into a snarl, his voice like a wounded beast. "We don't need it!"

"Your promised branch base, your port—none of it happened! It was all for money!"

"Now, right after the pirate attack, you're this eager?"

…

Amid their hoarse cries, Smoker's face darkened.

He saw their true intent: protecting the pirates hidden in the lord's manor.

But why would civilians side with pirates?

Ignoring their outrage, he turned to Gaza and Gawain, frowning. "Clever move."

He signaled his Marines to lower their weapons.

He couldn't strike civilians fresh from hardship, especially when some of that hardship came from Marines.

Gaza scanned the crowd, feeling a warming strength in their eyes.

Smoker's intimidating aura suddenly felt bearable.

She took a deep breath. "We did nothing. They came here of their own will."

"Marine, without a warrant, please leave."

"Hmph!" Smoker's gaze locked on the knight beside Gaza.

In the East Blue, only Gawain, whom he fought tonight, radiated such danger.

If he'd been surprised before, now he was certain: this guard was Gawain in disguise.

Let a pirate escape right under his nose?

Or…

Smoker gripped his jutte, his expression wavering.

"Colonel Smoker!" Tashigi pushed through the crowd, rushing to his side. "We've pieced together what happened in Raven Port."

"Three warships came. Colonel Mouse saw through Knight Gawain's identity and fled."

"Another was Krieg's crew in disguise—their specialty—but they're all dead."

"As for the last group…" Tashigi glanced oddly at Gaza. "The Marines rescuing civilians were likely Knight Gawain's crew in disguise."

"Pirates?" Smoker blinked.

"Yes," Tashigi nodded. "Without a fourth party, that's the only explanation."

"We're the fourth party," Smoker sighed.

He understood why these civilians risked their lives to block him.

In this era, civilians were simpler than imagined: treat them well, they'd return the favor; stand up for them, they'd shield you from Marines.

To Raven Port's people, the pirates who braved cannon fire to save them from death were worthier of respect than Marines.

Smoker's heart churned with mixed emotions. Reluctantly, he waved. "We're leaving. Get a warrant!"

"Yes, sir!" Tashigi saluted, her gaze lingering on Smoker, sensing something weighing him down, his figure less imposing.

The crowd parted, letting Smoker and his Marines leave.

Only when the Marine warship's horn sounded did the crowd exhale, many soaked in sweat.

"Scared me to death. Thought we'd have to fight the Marines."

"With these weapons? Good for scaring, but against Marines, we'd be lined up for execution."

"But didn't we scare off that Marine colonel?"

"Heh!"

…

The crowd grew noisy.

None regretted coming to protect their saviors.

The one-armed youth, snapping out of his daze, grimaced at his bloody shoulder.

He gave Gaza a faint smile. "Lord Gaza, thanks to you, we survived."

"I…" Gaza's eyes dimmed. "So many still died. If I'd noticed sooner, if we were stronger…"

"You've done enough," the youth reassured, then grinned playfully. "Also, pass a message to our saviors."

"What?"

"Your acting's awful. Marines risking their lives for us? Unlikely."

"Next time, wear your own clothes, fly your own flag."

The crowd's gazes fixed on Gaza, a decision clearly agreed upon.

Gawain, seeing their smiles, felt something stir within him.

…

From the warship's deck, Smoker stared at the manor, murmuring, "Knight Gawain, what kind of man are you?"

No answer came.

Tashigi stood quietly, holding the retrieved Seastone jutte.

Hoo—!

After a long horn, Smoker looked to the sea, his confusion clearing. "Some pirates may be outliers, but pirates themselves are the root of this world's chaos."

"Tashigi."

"Yes, sir!"

"You know, I've reported Mouse to Headquarters multiple times, but they've all been ignored. Recently, a Vice Admiral even warned me."

Tashigi's breath caught, her grip tightening on her katana, Shigure.

Smoker continued, "If I were stronger, with more authority, I could change the East Blue Marines, even the Grand Line."

"We're too weak—not just in strength, but in power…"

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