One Piece : I Became a Monster Just by Eating

Marineford, Intelligence Department—

“Have you found any information on that man?”

A Marine Captain pushed open the door and entered from outside.

The dozen or so Marine intelligence officers in the room all knew who he was asking about; after all, the Marines’ top priority right now was dealing with the trouble in the East Blue.

“Captain…

we’ve gathered some information, but we don’t have his name.

What should we do?”

An intelligence officer with the rank of Lieutenant replied tremulously.

“How can there be no name!

Does no one in his hometown know what he’s called?

And that Cocoyasi Village—the Marines he killed were there; don’t the villagers of Cocoyasi Village know his name?”

“Our people haven’t reached Cocoyasi Village yet.

The information we currently have was mainly provided by intelligence officers in Loguetown.

They had seen this man in Loguetown before.

But the information provided isn’t very much.”

“Tell me, what information is there?”

The Marine Captain waved his hand.

“Yes!

This man has a saber.

According to information from the Loguetown weapon shop owner, it is the sandai kitetsu.

Additionally, this man is a big eater.

He lived in Loguetown for a year and left behind the title of ‘Big Stomach King’ in every restaurant in town.

Furthermore, he has three female companions.

One of the companions was even a Loguetown Marine, but that man hasn’t gone to see this Female Marine for over half a year.

It was likely a fleeting romance…

The other two companions were only seen by people following him, but their names are unknown.

Report finished!”

After the Lieutenant finished speaking, he wiped cold sweat from his forehead.

“Just that little information?

Where is his hometown?

Does he have family?

What is his strength like?

Nothing at all?”

The Marine Captain slammed his hand on the desk in anger, causing documents to scatter all over the floor.

The atmosphere in the intelligence room instantly froze, and everyone held their breath.

“Captain, we…

we are still investigating.”

The Lieutenant’s voice was almost inaudible.

Exhale— Exhale—

“Doesn’t he have a relationship with a Female Marine?

Start the investigation with that Female Marine first.”

The Marine Captain took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, his gaze sweeping over the intelligence officers like a knife.

“Contact the Loguetown branch immediately and retrieve all the files on that Female Marine.

I want to know every detail of her contact with that man, including the time and place of their last meeting, and any possible clues.”

“Yes!”

The Lieutenant quickly responded and turned to give orders to the intelligence officers behind him.

East Blue—

The call from Marineford went directly to Smoker, who was currently in Shells Town cleaning up the Marine internal trash.

“Understood!”

Smoker hung up the phone and looked at Tashigi in the crowd ahead.

This subordinate had decent strength and was loyal to the Marines, but he hadn’t expected her to be involved in such a mess.

Smoker bit his cigar, his brow furrowed.

He strode toward Tashigi, and the surrounding soldiers parted to make a path.

“Tashigi, come with me for a moment.”

His voice was low and serious.

Tashigi was startled for a moment, then followed Smoker’s footsteps as they went to a secluded office.

Smoker closed the door and asked bluntly, “Do you know the man who killed Major Mouse?”

Hearing this, Tashigi panicked, her fingers unconsciously clutching the corner of her clothes.

She lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

“Ye…

Yes, Captain.”

“Don’t be nervous, tell me about him.

Even though he killed Marines, those Marines deserved to be killed.

Keeping them around only brings shame to the Marines.

Moreover, this time it was also because of my orders that those civilians suffered looting by Mouse and his men, so I am also somewhat at fault.

Tell me about him; I won’t go to arrest him, nor will I let him implicate you.”

Smoker’s tone was surprisingly gentle as he spoke to Tashigi this time.

Because he knew that the fault in this incident lay not with Kaguya, but with the Marines.

Although Smoker’s strength wasn’t the greatest, his sense of justice was extremely strong.

At the same time, he had his own set of concepts regarding justice.

He had his own judgment on what was right and what was wrong.

He would not favor the unjust actions of the Marines simply because he was a Marine himself.

Tashigi took a deep breath and looked up, her eyes flickering with complex emotions.

“His name is Kaguya.

We met in Loguetown over a year ago, and he helped me catch the pirate—Blood Blade.

We had a great conversation, met a few more times after that, developed feelings for each other, and then we were together.

Later, he said he wanted to find a quiet place to practice swordsmanship, join the Marines after gaining more strength, and stay by my side forever.

Then he left Loguetown.

The last time we met was over half a year ago…”

Tashigi told Smoker some information about Kaguya that was half-true and half-false.

Smoker fell into silence after listening.

After a long while, Smoker slammed a heavy fist onto the desk.

“These damn Marine scumbags!”

Smoker had no doubts about Tashigi’s words.

Because after spending so much time together, he knew Tashigi was the kind of clumsy, justice-minded girl who wouldn’t lie.

So after hearing Tashigi’s words, he deeply believed that if he hadn’t encountered Major Mouse and the others looting the village, Kaguya would have eventually joined the Marines and become an excellent Marine.

Unfortunately, it was all too late.

Kaguya had killed Major Mouse and the others; Marineford would not allow such a person to join the Marines.

Moreover, after he reported the news back to Marineford, Kaguya’s bounty poster would be issued.

Smoker exhaled a puff of cigar smoke, his gaze becoming sharper amidst the swirling mist.

Exhale—

He is a good man.

“Tashigi, I will personally report this matter to headquarters.

Do not participate in any related investigations for now, to avoid unnecessary trouble.”

Kaguya could no longer become an excellent Marine; now, he couldn’t let the mistakes made by Mouse and the others affect Tashigi, who was an excellent Marine.

“Yes, Captain Smoker.”

Tashigi gave a standard military salute and turned to leave the office.

After leaving the office, Tashigi let out a long sigh of relief.

Inside the office, Smoker thought for a long time before finally calling Marineford.

He polished the information Tashigi had revealed; he didn’t seek for Marineford to pardon Kaguya’s fault, but only hoped that when deciding on the bounty, they could lower it somewhat.

After hanging up the phone, Smoker walked out of the office.

The Marine parasites at the 153rd Base had been mostly cleaned up.

Next, he had to go to the most severe one, the 16th Base.

That was the base under Major Mouse’s jurisdiction.

Since the base commander was already so corrupt, the Marines there must have already rotted to the core.

Smoker clenched his fists, his knuckles making a cracking sound.

“Assemble the troops, head to the 16th Base immediately!”

He shouted to the soldiers waiting outside.