The dock remained tense.
Weapons still raised.
Breathing still uneven.
Kael stepped forward slightly, positioning himself between both sides—not as a shield, but as a boundary.
"That's enough."
His voice wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
The villagers hesitated first.
Then slowly, almost instinctively, the line behind Genzo began to loosen.
"Lower them," Kael said calmly. "They're not here to arrest me."
A few villagers exchanged uncertain glances.
"But—"
"I said they're not."
There was no force in his tone.
Only certainty.
One by one, weapons lowered.
Wood dipped first.
Then metal.
Across from them, the Marines visibly stiffened in surprise. Several looked at Tashigi in disbelief.
They had struggled for minutes to calm the situation.
He had done it in seconds.
Not by authority.
But by trust.
Tashigi watched the shift carefully.
The villagers weren't obeying him out of fear.
They were following him.
That realization stirred something complicated in her chest.
Shame—
because civilians had lost faith in her uniform.
Anger—
because corruption had caused it.
Guilt—
because she wore the same coat.
And, quietly—
Respect.
Kael turned toward her.
"I'm Kael Sylvarion," he said evenly. "Captain Smoker must've mentioned me. And you are…?"
She blinked, momentarily pulled from her thoughts.
"Ah—yes. Captain Smoker informed me." She straightened slightly. "My name is Tashigi. Master Chief Petty Officer under Captain Smoker. I came to speak with you."
(Obviously I know who you are. But not asking would look strange, wouldn't it?)
Tashigi flinched.
Her glare snapped toward him.
"Are you making fu—"
The words stopped.
Mid-sentence.
Her lips parted slightly.
Nothing came out.
Her eyes widened.
What—
Kael tilted his head faintly.
"Something wrong?"
Genzo squinted.
"What's wrong with her?"
Behind them, Nami and Kaya shared a flat look.
Of course he knows everything.
They weren't even surprised anymore.
Tashigi steadied herself quickly.
"…Nothing," she said, forcing composure.
Kael gave her one last assessing glance, then turned.
"Let's talk somewhere quieter."
He began walking toward the village.
Nami, Nojiko, Kaya, and Genzo followed without question.
After a brief pause, Tashigi followed as well.
She signaled her unit to remain at the ship.
"Hold position. Do not engage anyone. Some of you inspect the ruins of Arlong Park."
Acknowledgments followed.
The group moved through the village paths in relative silence.
Eyes followed them, but hostility had thinned.
Not gone—
but tempered.
After a few minutes, Genzo spoke quietly beside Kael.
"Why are you believing them?"
Tashigi's steps slowed slightly.
Kael answered just as quietly.
"Because she's trustworthy."
Genzo frowned.
"You mean the woman leading them?"
"Yes."
"You know her from before?"
"No."
"Then how?"
There was a short pause.
(Because I know Tashigi wouldn't blindly follow the law.)(And she would never harm civilians without reason.)(Just like Smoker, she's one of the few Marines I respect.)
The words echoed clearly.
Tashigi's steps faltered for half a second.
Her head lowered slightly.
What is this…?
A Devil Fruit ability?
He hasn't reacted.
He doesn't know.
Her heartbeat grew uneven.
More than confusion, something warmer settled beneath it.
Those thoughts—
They weren't calculated.
They carried no intent of being heard.
Which meant they were genuine.
Nami and Kaya exchanged a brief glance.
So she can hear it too.
Interesting.
Genzo exhaled slowly.
"If you trust her, that's enough for me."
No further questions.
That alone spoke volumes.
Trust placed upon trust.
Ahead, Nami's house came into view.
The group slowed as they reached it.
The Questions
Nami's house was quiet once the doors were closed.
Genzo, Nojiko, and Kaya remained outside after a brief exchange of looks. The message was clear—this was a conversation that needed privacy.
Inside, Kael sat across from Tashigi at a small wooden table.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Tashigi observed him carefully.
Calm posture. Steady breathing. No visible tension.
"Captain Smoker informed me of your earlier conversation in Loguetown," she began. "I also heard your… statement."
Kael met her gaze.
"About fighting pirates, Marines, the World Government, the Revolutionary Army—even the Celestial Dragons?"
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"Yes. That statement."
He didn't look away.
"Was that bravado," she continued, "or conviction?"
"Conviction," he replied evenly.
She studied him for exaggeration.
Found none.
"You understand what those words imply?" she pressed. "Opposition to pirates is one thing. Opposition to the World Government is another. That path leads to constant conflict."
"I'm aware."
"Then why say it?"
Kael leaned back slightly.
"Because corruption isn't exclusive to one faction. Pirates exploit. Some Marines abuse authority. The Government protects its own interests above justice. The Revolutionary Army pursues change—but even that can create collateral damage."
Her brows drew together faintly.
"You're placing everyone under the same scrutiny."
"Yes."
"And you intend to fight all of them?"
"I intend to act according to my own judgment," he corrected. "If a pirate harms civilians, I'll stop them. If a Marine abuses power, I won't ignore it. If a noble hides behind status to commit atrocities, their title won't shield them from me."
Silence lingered between them.
"You're setting yourself up as judge," she said quietly.
"No," Kael replied. "I'm setting myself up as responsible for my own actions."
That distinction caught her attention.
She shifted slightly.
"What is your goal, then? Power? Influence? A crew? A flag?"
"A crew, yes," he said. "Strength, certainly. But not for dominance."
"Then for what?"
"So that I never have to stand by and watch something like Arlong happen again."
His voice remained level—but carried weight.
Tashigi remembered the villagers' faces.
The anger.
The distrust.
The way they had rallied behind him without hesitation.
"You could align yourself with the Marines," she suggested. "If your goal is justice, that would be the direct path."
Kael's expression softened slightly.
"I respect individuals within the Marines," he said. "Captain Smoker. You."
Her eyes flickered.
"But institutions move slowly," he continued. "And they are constrained. I am not."
She absorbed that in silence.
"You don't hate the Marines," she concluded.
"No."
"But you don't trust the system."
"No."
"That's a dangerous line to walk."
"I don't intend to walk it carelessly."
There was no arrogance in his tone.
Only clarity.
Tashigi leaned back, folding her hands on the table.
"You're aware that if your actions threaten the stability of the world, the Marines will act against you."
"I would expect nothing less."
A faint breath escaped her.
"You speak as though you've already accepted that possibility."
"I have."
She searched his expression again.
Ambition without recklessness.
Confidence without hostility.
Conviction without fanaticism.
It unsettled her how coherent it all was.
"You don't seek chaos," she said slowly.
"No."
"You seek accountability."
"Yes."
Another stretch of silence passed.
Finally, she stood.
"I'll report this conversation to Captain Smoker," she said. "He'll decide how to proceed."
Kael rose as well.
"That's fair."
At the doorway, she paused briefly.
"For what it's worth," she added, "your actions here… align with the ideals the Marines claim to uphold."
He gave a small nod.
"Then perhaps we're not so different."
She didn't respond to that.
Instead, she stepped outside, closing the door quietly behind her.
The village air felt cooler now.
She walked a short distance away from the house, toward a quieter stretch near the shoreline.
There, she removed a Den Den Mushi from her coat.
It was time to speak with Smoker.
The Report:
The Den Den Mushi clicked alive with a sharp snap.
Static crackled briefly before the familiar gruff voice answered.
"Smoker."
Tashigi straightened instinctively, even though he couldn't see her.
"Sir. We've arrived at Cocoyashi Village. I have a full report."
"Go ahead."
She relayed everything in sequence.
The villagers' hostility.
The weapons drawn.
Their open distrust of the Marines.
Kael stepping between both sides and de-escalating the confrontation.
His influence over the villagers.
Their private conversation.
She repeated his statements clearly—his views on justice, on pirates, on the Marines, on the World Government, and the path he intended to walk.
There was silence on the other end for several seconds.
Then a low exhale of smoke.
"…Damn it."
His tone carried restrained anger.
"This is on me. I should've looked deeper into the Sixteenth Branch sooner."
A faint crackling sound followed—tobacco crushed too hard between fingers.
"Now civilians don't even trust the uniform."
Tashigi lowered her gaze slightly.
"The resentment runs deep, sir."
Smoker was quiet again before speaking.
"And what's your judgment of him?"
She paused only briefly.
"He's consistent. His answers didn't shift. His reasoning was structured. He didn't exaggerate or provoke."
"And?"
"I believe he meant what he said."
A faint sound—almost a humorless chuckle—came through the line.
"If that's true, allying with him wouldn't be the worst idea."
Tashigi blinked faintly.
"Unfortunately," Smoker continued, "his bounty poster goes out tomorrow morning."
She stiffened.
"Already?"
"It was approved before your report reached me."
The implication hung between them.
Events were moving beyond Cocoyashi.
Smoker's tone shifted slightly.
"What about the Sixteenth Branch? Did you find what you needed?"
"Yes, sir. Evidence has been secured. Financial records, recordings, testimonies. The arrested fishmen and corrupt Marines are in custody."
"Good."
A brief pause.
"And the bribe money?"
Tashigi hesitated.
"…There was no money at the branch."
Silence.
"They claim Kael took it," she continued. "They said he removed the funds when he returned to Cocoyashi."
On the other end, something snapped—another cigar crushed.
"Did you see it?"
"…We saw several crates aboard his ship when we docked."
The line went quiet.
When Smoker spoke again, his voice carried a harder edge.
"What is he planning?"
Tashigi said nothing.
"Was all that talk about justice an act?" Smoker muttered. "Is he pocketing stolen bribe money for himself?"
Tashigi tightened her grip on the Den Den Mushi.
"I considered that possibility," she admitted. "But there's no confirmation. I request permission to investigate further before drawing conclusions."
"You're defending him."
"I'm asking for clarity."
Another stretch of silence.
Then—
"Observe him carefully."
Her posture straightened.
"Board his ship if necessary. Travel with him to Loguetown. If my guess is right, he won't stay in Cocoyashi much longer."
Tashigi's breath stilled briefly at that order.
"You want me embedded?"
"Yes."
"Understood."
"Find out what he intends to do with that money. And if he's wearing a mask, remove it."
"Yes, sir."
Smoker's tone eased slightly at the end.
"He hasn't crossed a line yet. Until he does, we watch."
The Den Den Mushi shifted faintly as Smoker adjusted his hold.
"And Tashigi."
"Yes?"
"Don't let personal impressions cloud your judgment."
She paused.
"…I won't."
"Report again once you have something concrete."
The line clicked dead.
The shoreline felt quieter than before.
Tashigi lowered the Den Den Mushi slowly.
The wind moved through her coat.
Bounty issued.
Surveillance ordered.
Suspicion raised.
And yet—
His words earlier still echoed in her mind.
She closed her eyes briefly, steadying herself.
Whether he was genuine or calculating—
She would find out.
Then she turned back toward the village, determination settling firmly in her expression.