The sea was calm, but the sky above Naruko Island was heavy with mist. The Marine ships cut through the water, their white sails taut against the salt-laden wind. At the front of the lead ship stood Captain Smoker, cigar smoke curling around his face like a storm waiting to break. Beside him, Lieutenant Commander Tashigi adjusted her glasses, flipping through a thick dossier.

"Naruko Island," she began, her voice steady. "Once a thriving textile hub, but ever since Varlo D. Vail took over, it's turned into something else entirely."

Smoker exhaled, watching the distant island grow closer. "Crocodile used this place," he muttered. "Bought tons of that artificial dance powder—Aqua Vera—right under our noses."

Tashigi nodded, flipping a page. "According to the intel we recovered from Alabasta, the shipments came from here. But here's the thing—Varlo isn't a pirate, He's just a businessman."

Smoker grunted. "Businessmen don't keep islands locked down under an iron grip."

Tashigi tapped the folder. "Varlo D. Vail. Textile tycoon. Owns every major fabric mill on the island. Publicly, he supplies high-quality fabrics to nobles and merchants worldwide. But beneath that…"

"He's smuggling dance powder," Smoker finished. "And Crocodile was his biggest customer."

Tashigi adjusted her glasses. "If Crocodile hadn't been taken down, we'd have never uncovered this."

Smoker gritted his teet. "Loose ends, huh? More like we're cleaning up goverment's mess."

Tashigi - "huh..."

He waved her off. "I know, I know. Orders are orders. But something stinks about this whole thing." He took a deep drag from his cigar, eyes narrowing. "Varlo's no fool. If he's been running this for years, he knows we're coming."

Tashigi exhaled, looking towards the mist-covered island. "Then we better be ready for whatever he's hiding."

As the ships approached the docks, the shadow of Naruko Island loomed ahead. Somewhere within its towering mills and cobbled streets, Varlo D. Vail was waiting.