Lara's POV;

Lia was still asleep when we came back from the king, so I couldn't tell her about the tournament yet. However, Mrs Chicken Wing clucked in delight when I told her that I also added her name to the participants. She ruffled her feathers arrogantly and strutted over to give herself a sand bath. She probably wants to look good tomorrow.

And rather than sitting around and doing nothing, I grabbed Noa and Yosaku to bring Urouge to the local Marine Base. Before we went off I knocked him out and switched his sea stone handcuff with normal cuffs made out of steel. I'm not going to give the Marines a pair of them, they are too valuable. And it's their fault if he manages to flee.

With that done Yosaku grabbed him and we walked through the bustling town towards the Marine Base. After asking a few locals we found it rather quickly and the guards outside nearly pissed themselves when they saw us approaching them.

One of the two run inside, while the remaining one cursed his comrade under his breath and tried to look not too frightened. He wasn't doing a good job.

“What...what can I do for you?”, he asked with a slight stutter. His rifle, which was gripped hard in his hands, was shaking and clattering from his fear.

“Hello Marine minion, we Kage pirates recently came across a fellow pirate. He has a bounty that we wish to cash in. His name is Urouge the Mad Monk and his bounty should be around 80 million Berry. Is there a superior we might be able to speak to?”, I replied in an overly friendly tone and with a wide smile.

The Marine made a tiny eep tone and the quivering increased twofold. However, before he could say anything or reply, he was saved by another Marine. Someone we know specifically, Smoker, the old cancer stick came stomping out of the base.

“What is going on here?”, grunted the massive man with white hair. The already frightened Marine squeaked once more and shakily pointed at me and my crew.

Smoker followed his finger and spotted us, he gruffed once and blew some smoke out, but stayed silent for the moment. Opting for me to speak first, which I gladly did. “Ah Smoky, good to make business with you again. This brings old memories back. It feels as if it was yesterday when my sister and I gave you a pirate back in Loguetown. Heard you got a promotion, we sadly haven't gotten one.”

“Don't play stupid, you got one after your stunt in the Marine research base. Almost killing a Vice Admiral and somehow forcing an Admiral to flee is reason enough for your bounty.” Replied Smoker gruffly, or normally, you never know with him.

“Really? Didn't know, what's my new bounty, did anyone of my crew get one?”, I asked with interest and stepped closer to him. He didn't look amused by my antics and merely pushed a stack of papers in my hands.

I left out a low whistle when I saw who got what. Jonny will pout for weeks when he learns that his bounty is lower than Yosaku's. My own increased by 50 million and Mrs Chicken Wing has one of over a billion, that strange bird never ceases to surprise me.

“I take it you are also taking part in the tournament?”, asked Smoker while taking the bounties back from me. I gave him a pout and my puppy eyes, but he looks unimpressed.

I jumped a little back and looked up at him, a wide grin on my face. “Sure, wouldn't pass such an opportunity to do fun things. Say, does Tashigi take part as well? She would profit from some fights. She was lacking real experience the last time I saw her.

But more importantly, do you have the money for this guy?” I patted the head of Urouge briefly and Smoker switched his cigar from the left side to the right, before answering me.

“A pity, here I hoped to bring you in for your crimes. But yes, Tashigi will participate. And also yes, we do have the money to hand out Urouge the Mad Monk's bounty. Bring him in.” He turned around and stomped back inside, expecting us to follow him inside a Marine base.

I did so without a pause, while Noa and Yosaku needed some time to adjust the heavyweight of Urouge before following inside as well.

He led us into his office and called a group of Marines to bring the knocked out Urouge inside a holding cell. Another Marine was tasked with bringing the money. “The last time we were in this situation I had hope that you wouldn't become a pirate.” Started Smoker once every Marine had an order.

“My sister and I both know that that would never have happened. Bounty hunters are too much under the thump of Marines,” I answered the unasked question of why we didn't stay bounty hunters.

“And what is wrong with becoming a Marine?” Countered Smoker, he was still believing in the cause of the World Government, even if he already saw some things of the dirt that was splashed over its flag.

I sat down in the chair opposite of him, not the least bit concerned about the fact that we are basically in enemy territory. This King Haribo will have quite some influence if he can free people of their bounty. And Smoker must know that I am stronger than him.

“Depends, are we in the New World, is a World Noble near or is there a higher ranked officer ordering me to kill children?” he bristled but stayed silent, somehow knowing that I wasn't finished. “The problem I have with the World Government is that the highest hierarchy is corrupt. Nothing would save me if I were a normal Marine or even a captain, and a World Noble decides to kill or rape me for being a long-ear human.

The problem isn't so bad in the Blues, but still there. Did you know that a city burned down their slums just for a visit of a World Noble. People who lived there were included, children, women, old, it mattered not.

So no, I don't have anything against people of the Marines that are like you, helping the normal citizen against dangers. But those who use their power in the name of justice, when they aren't better than the pirates they fight, are less than dirt in my eyes. This kingdoms king is a good example. He may be nicer than others, but it is still a fact that he gives pirates absolution from the World Government if they work for him, not something a just government should do.”

Noa nodded in agreement, while Yosaku opted to not show anything. Smoker himself took another cigar out of his jacket and lit it before inhaling the smoke deeply. “Your view is understandable and it pains me to not being able to have much of a counter. But piracy is still illegal and hurts the good people.”

“Sure, I agree with you there. But not all pirates are like that. The Straw Hats are more like adventurers. My own crew is somewhat more like a bounty hunter group that also attacks the Marines. And there are others like us. However, I can't say that we are the majority.

And for that, we have people like you. You will take out those who pillage, rape and murder, while my crew and I will do the same on your side. Of course, anyone who attacks either side has to live with the consequences.” I grinned evilly at the end, but he merely scoffed.

“Fine whatever, but know that I am still obligated to apprehend you when I see you out on the sea. King Haribo only grants your sort absolution for the duration of his employment and the tournament.” I nodded in agreement.

“I know, but remember, we aren't as friendly as the Straw Hats,” I told him in warning. He will have to live with the consequences if he attacks us. Deaths are almost a sure thing if they fight against me or Lia.

He glared at me, knowing full well what I meant by these words. Yet, before he could come up with a counter, the door exploded inwards and Tashigi came running inside.

“Captain Smoker, the Kage Pirates are in the town. I fear they plan to take part in the tournament.” The woman looked up from her bent forward position, for easier breathing and noticed me smiling and waving at her. Only a few centimetre away from her face.

“Eeep!”, she screamed up in shock and surprise and fell backwards on her but. She also lost her glasses and was now frantically searching for them.

Smoker was facepalming and muttering silent curses under his breath, mostly about embarrassing him and the Marines with her behaviour. Still, there was a fond tinge in his tone.

Tashigi finally managed to find her glasses and put them back on her nose, before jumping up again. She drew her sword and glared at me. “Slicer Lara, in the name of the World Government, you are under arrest!”

Smoker sighed one last time, before looking up again. “No Tashigi, she is not. King Haribo is giving her absolution for the duration of the tournament. She and her crew are free to roam the island, as long as they don't do anything against these kingdoms laws. So put your sword away and calm down.”

I think she got promoted to Lieutenant after the Alabasta arc. She wasn't acting like some person with authority, even her declaration of arrest wasn't very frightening. More like a tiny puppy that jippes up at a big bad dog. She still has time to learn.

For now, she was beet red in embarrassment and hastily put her sword away, almost tripping over her own feet but ultimately able to not further embarrass herself or the Marines.

The room went silent for a moment before Smoker puffed a big cloud out. He then addressed me and my two crewmates. “Well then, Slicer Lara and friends, it wasn't nice to meet you again. Please die during the competition or drown in the sea.” That was a dismissal if I ever heard one.

I stood up from my chair. “Send a minion to bring the money to our ship, you should already know where we have anchored. It's not as if our entrance was sneaky.” With that said I turned around and left the office, Noa and Yosaku directly following behind.

We bought a few meat skewers from street vendors on our way back. I'm fairly sure that Lia will still be asleep, so having these to anything we can whip up will be nice. “It still amazes me how you can stay so cool when speaking to a high ranked Marine officer. This Smoker guy was a Commodore, wasn't he? I also heard that he is a strong Logia user,” praised Noa me in between eating his skewer.

“Yeah, that guy is huge and his whole demeanour screams intimidation.” Agreed Yosaku easily. “Still I bet I could take him on, that is if I manage this damn Armament. Recently I think I am only a few short steps before finally activating it” he added with a laugh and ate a whole skewer at once.

“Everything a question of your own self-esteem. You don't need to be strong, only act as if you were important or strong and people will behave differently around you. You can do a lot of things with the right attitude. But you have to be sure of yourself.

I can show you a few postures and how to act in different situations later. They might help you, and if not then they are at least a good entertainment for today's night.” I offered. Both agreed, if only for the funny night.

“Anyway, both of you are going to fight in the tournament. Be careful if you face Tashigi, she might not be the strongest, but she will be rather fast. As you have seen she is insecure so use that to your advantage. Get close, make her flustered, heck you might even whip your little-you out to get the job done.” All of us laughed at the mental picture of a commando going Yosaku or Noa facing a flustered Tashigi in a fight. I'm sure she wouldn't be able to see through her glasses if it came to it.

She might overcome her own embarrassment and castrate them, but that was even funnier for me. Not so much for either of them.