Chapter 37: Smoker
Inside the building, over a thousand Bounty Hunters had gathered—battle-hardened warriors with fierce eyes and weapons in hand.
Anyone who could work as a Bounty Hunter on the Grand Line was no weaker than most pirates.
This was Baroque Works' first major operation; every agent in the company had been called in.
As the strongest power in the first half of the Grand Line, the sheer scale of the gathering had them buzzing with excitement.
On the stage at the front stood five Billion Elder, the officers in charge of Raroha, here to command the newly arrived Million Elder.
"Haven't the rest of the Billions arrived yet?" the burly Billion asked.
They were waiting for the other Billions; only when everyone was present would they receive the Boss's new orders.
"Shouldn't be long! We just checked—they've reached the port," another Billion replied.
"What exactly is the Boss planning? Why assemble all of us? Are we going after some huge target?"
one of the Billions asked, curiosity piqued.
Since joining Baroque, cooperation on hunts had been unavoidable, but a full-scale mobilization like this had never happened before.
"No idea, but we'll find out once the others get here. Our Boss is pretty mysterious, after all."
The burly Billion chuckled.
Only a handful in the entire organization knew the Boss's identity; everyone else was dying of curiosity.
"Then the haul this time ought to be huge," the Billion beside him guffawed.
That was why they'd become Bounty Hunters—everything was for money.
The Million Elder below were equally excited, chatting among themselves about what was coming.
Bang!
The sealed doors flew inward, cutting short their discussions; every head turned toward the entrance.
A dark figure stood in the doorway.
Clad in black, a sword at his hip and a large black hood covering his head, his face was impossible to make out.
Though the stranger neither spoke nor showed any hostile intent,
simply standing there, he filled these battle-scarred Bounty Hunters with crushing pressure.
Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads; a chill ran through their hearts.
Looking at Dante Voss, alone, they felt as if a flood-demon stood before them—life itself no longer felt like theirs.
"Who are you, breaking into Baroque Works' territory!"
the burly lead Billion barked, forcing down his panic.
The man's aura was terrifying, but the room held a huge chunk of Baroque's manpower; even if it came to a fight, numbers would carry the day.
"I hear you're waiting for the other Billions?"
A faint smile curved beneath the black hood as Dante Voss's hand settled on the bloodthirsty sword.
Shing—
The sound of steel leaving its sheath rang through the vast hall like a herald of death.
Every Baroque agent tensed, weapons raised as they stared at the black-clad intruder.
"They're already in hell, waiting for you—let me send you to join them!"
The moment the words left his lips, Dante Voss's arm blurred, scarlet sword-flares ripping through the building.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Nothing could withstand the Flying Slashes: chairs, walls, Millions and Billions alike were swallowed by the attacks.
[Killed a Bounty Hunter: slaughter points +1]
[Killed a Bounty Hunter: slaughter points +1]
[Killed a Bounty Hunter: slaughter points +5]
… Moments later, with no one left standing, Dante Voss turned and walked out.
He strolled off at the same unhurried pace as when he'd arrived, like a sight-seeing traveler.
Rumble—
Once he was gone, the battered building finally gave way, collapsing in on itself… Dante Voss stepped back onto the street.
But the scene had changed; chaos reigned as white-uniformed Marines dashed about, apparently chasing someone.
Dante Voss's eyes flicked; he followed the direction the Marines were running.
Sure enough, when he reached their rally point he spotted Luffy and company.
A large contingent of Marines, led by Smoker, was in hot pursuit of the Straw Hats, who were sprinting for all they were worth.
"As expected of Luffy—wherever he goes, trouble follows."
Dante Voss shook his head with a wry smile.
The fleeing Straw Hats caught sight of Dante Voss in the middle of the street, eyes brightening as they veered toward him.
That Navy Captain from Loguetown was simply too strong; they stood no chance.
"We're counting on you, Dante Voss!"
"We're outta here!"
"Thanks!"
The Straw Hats shot past him, racing toward the rear.
Dante Voss remained perfectly calm.
Fighting these Marines was exactly what he wanted.
The Baroque agents alone hadn't given him nearly enough slaughter points.
"Hm? A new recruit?"
Smoker's eyes narrowed. Arms wreathed in white smoke, he ignored the newcomer and lunged straight at him.
After all, as a Logia Fruit user, he was virtually invincible in this half of the Grand Line.
"Looks like I'm being underestimated."
Dante Voss's lips curved. He raised his arm and flicked it sharply.
Whoom!
A blood-red slash shot toward Smoker in mid-air, so fast it looked like a beam of light.
What—?!"
Smoker gasped.
He'd never imagined this stranger was actually a Great Swordsman.
Facing that ten-meter Flying Slash, a chill ran through him; in desperation he instantly "elementized" to dodge.
Boom!
Though Smoker evaded it, the men behind him had no such Ability; several were cut down on the spot.
"Damn it!"
Smoker glanced at the carnage, then fixed Dante Voss with a grim stare.
"Who are you, some new pirate in the Straw Hats' crew?"
Against a Great Swordsman like Dante Voss, Smoker's smoke powers could let him ignore the slashes, but his men couldn't.
So Smoker held back; against a Great Swordsman, his Smoke-Smoke Fruit was next to useless.
His Ability wasn't meant for offense to begin with—at best it could control the battlefield.
His smoke was too soft; it couldn't stop a Great Swordsman's slash and would be torn apart in an instant.
"Pirate?"
Dante Voss shook his head. Memories of what the World Government had done to Slaves in Mary Geoise turned his gaze ice-cold.
"I'm just an Avenger."
Though the Marines preached justice, most of them were useless scum who did nothing good.
It was only because the Marines upheld their rule that the World Government had kept its eight-hundred-year reign.
Even though the Navy Captain before him was one of the just ones, Dante Voss still felt only revulsion.
"Die."
Beneath his hood, Dante Voss murmured. His arm swept out again and several sword-flares raced toward the soldiers.
Seeing this, Smoker's pupils shrank and he roared,
"Scatter—now!"
The Marines' hair stood on end as they tried to dodge, but how could they outrun Dante Voss's Flying Slashes? Before they could move, the strikes carved into their bodies.
Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!
In an instant every Marine in the street was torn apart, collapsing in pieces.
Blood painted the street, dyeing the white uniforms crimson.
[Killed a Marine: slaughter points +1]
[Killed a Marine: slaughter points +1]
[Killed a Marine: slaughter points +1]
… Smoker's pupils shook, his heart wracked with pain.
These men had come from Loguetown with him—comrades who'd fought at his side for years!
And now they were all dead—because of him!
If he hadn't insisted on chasing down Luffy's crew, they'd still be alive.
Regret and hatred flooded Smoker's heart. He turned to the black-clad Dante Voss, eyes blazing.
"You… will… die!"
Snarling, Smoker's lower body burst into smoke, propelling him straight at Dante Voss.