29 - "Promotions and the Path to Power"
—Sigh. That's why I told you not to get into trouble —Kara said as she gently lifted Nico Robin off the ground.
—Vice Admiral Kara… —Robin murmured, barely staying conscious.
—Sigh. Just call me Kara —she replied while carrying her in her arms. On the way, she picked up King Cobra, who was nearby, watching her closely, unable to comprehend who she was.
—I'm with the Marines. I'll take you outside and then arrest Crocodile… Though maybe this will be good training for Luffy —she commented, glancing at the battle between Luffy and Crocodile.
She saw her brother hitting Crocodile without using Haki, just relying on blood and water to counter the sand.
—What nonsense… —she murmured, seeing how a supposedly powerful Logia user was being beaten with something so simple.
—Do you know him? —Robin asked after taking the antidote for the poison she had hidden.
—He's my little brother. He's pretty dumb, but reliable when needed. He has an absurd dream that he's determined to fulfill at all costs —Kara said with a smile as she continued carrying them to a safe place.
—A dream…? —Robin whispered.
Kara looked at her intently for a few seconds before speaking.
—Join him. It'll be better than ending up in a group like Crocodile's… and, most importantly, I'll be able to keep an eye on you so you don't do anything stupid again —she said quickly.
—I'll think about it… —Robin replied before closing her eyes to rest.
Kara left them both in a safe place and calmly re-entered. She knew Luffy would win; she didn't want to steal her little brother's prey.
When she returned, she saw the exact moment Luffy punched Crocodile unconscious before being sent flying.
—Tsk. Now I have to go find him wherever he landed… —Kara complained, glancing at Luffy, who was passed out from exhaustion and Crocodile's poison.
She took the antidote Robin had given her and administered it to him before leaving him next to King Cobra. By then, Robin had already disappeared.
After that, she went to find Crocodile, who lay unconscious in the desert.
—Ah… You should have let me beat you up and arrest you on the first day. We could have avoided all this… —Kara said as she pulled out a pair of Seastone handcuffs, put them on Crocodile, and dragged him by the foot to where Smoker and the others would be waiting.
Meanwhile, at a temporary Marine base…
—This is number 32 —Zoro said, throwing a guy at Tashigi's feet.
—Well done. Do you have any news about Kara? —Tashigi asked quickly.
—No. But she'll probably show up at any moment —Zoro replied calmly, watching as the soldiers escorted more Baroque Works prisoners.
—By the way, take this ship that creates artificial rain —Smoker said, sitting on the deck of a giant Baroque Works ship.
—Stop giving me orders. Why are you so selfish? —a pink-haired marine replied.
Smoker flipped a coin into the air and caught it with a challenging look.
—Heads —the marine said.
Smoker showed the coin… it was tails.
—Tails —he repeated with a slight smile of victory.
—You're really selfish… You haven't changed at all since we joined the Marines. Hina, disappointed… —the marine said, hands on her hips.
—You guys are still doing that… How childish —a voice was heard behind them.
They both turned and saw Kara trapped on the ground between steel bars, thanks to Hina's ability.
—You're not the one to say that —Smoker said with annoyance.
—Miss Tashigi, we found the Straw Hats unconscious —a marine soldier reported as he approached Tashigi, Zoro, and Chopper.
—Leave them —Tashigi ordered without hesitation.
—But they're an easy target now… —another soldier quickly commented.
—We will follow the orders of the commanding officer —Zoro interrupted seriously, staring at the marines who wanted to complain. They immediately shut their mouths.
After that, everyone left and boarded the ship while escorting the prisoners.
—In the end, we don't know if Kara came back —said Zoro as he boarded the ship with the others.
—Hey, I'm here! —said Kara, calling their attention.
—Kara!? —Chopper exclaimed, surprised to see her trapped among the prisoners behind steel bars.
—Hello —Kara greeted calmly.
—No "hello." Why are you there? —Zoro asked quickly.
—I captured her —Hina answered, appearing behind them.
—Captain Hina! —Tashigi quickly greeted upon recognizing her.
—Hello, Tashigi. Long time. Hina happy —said Hina with a slight smile.
—Yeah… Uh… Why is Vice Admiral Kara like that? —Tashigi asked quickly.
—I don't want her to destroy my ship again —Hina immediately replied.
—Hey, that time was an accident. And, in any case, it was your fault for getting in the way when I was accidentally destroying Aokiji's ship —said Kara, smiling at the memory.
—You destroyed my ship twice. Hina angry —said Hina, approaching Kara with a frown.
—Ugh, with your bad temper, you'll get wrinkles —Kara complained before standing up effortlessly and shattering the steel bars that imprisoned her, turning them into cubes.
—Tsk. You better not break anything. Otherwise, I'll tell Vice Admiral Gion what you did to her collection —Hina quickly threatened.
—Fine… —Kara said, raising her hands in surrender.
—If you could free yourself, why were you still there? —Chopper asked, surprised by how quickly she had broken free.
—I just didn't want to help carry the prisoners —Kara answered calmly.
—Captain Smoker, I have returned —Tashigi said upon seeing Smoker step out, feeling a bit guilty.
—Good job —Smoker said, looking at her seriously—. I heard what happened with the Straw Hats.
—I'm sorry… —Tashigi quickly said—. I helped the pirates and wasted our chance to capture them… —she added, feeling down—. I know my actions were a disgrace for someone in the Marines.
—Why are you apologizing? Weren't you following your own justice? —Smoker immediately interrupted her.
—Of course not! Even after training with Vice Admiral Kara, the only thing I could do was help them… I even told them where the enemy was… —Tashigi said, dejected.
—Those you were once equal to have started growing rapidly. They know that in this sea, they will die if they don't grow. It's advance or die —Smoker said seriously as Tashigi walked away.
—I'm sorry, but I need to rest a bit… —she said, waving lightly as she left.
—Idiot. If you're that frustrated, use it to become stronger. That's why we have that fool hanging around us —Smoker said, pointing at Kara, who was calmly observing everything.
Kara, seeing she was being pointed at, looked around and then behind her, searching for who they were referring to.
—He's talking about you —Zoro said, annoyed.
Sigh… —Hina watched the scene with disappointment, seeing how Kara played dumb despite being one of the strongest vice admirals in the Marine base—. What awaits our future if we have people like this…? Hina disappointed… —she murmured.
—Hey, I must remind you that I am the highest-ranking officer here —Kara said, annoyed.
—Then act like one! —everyone said in unison.
—Come on, take the prisoners to the ship —Smoker quickly ordered.
—Yes, sir! —the soldiers responded, starting to work.
—Sir Smoker, you have a call from headquarters —a soldier quickly informed.
Smoker took the Den Den Mushi.
—Is this Captain Smoker? —a voice on the other end asked.
—Yes.
—Regarding the capture of Crocodile, it has been decided that senior government officials will award a medal to Sergeant Major Tashigi and yourself —the voice quickly informed.
—Capture? Wait a second! We didn't defeat Crocodile. Did you even read the report? —Smoker said quickly.
—Additionally, both of you will receive a rank promotion —the voice continued, ignoring him.
—Listen to me! —Smoker exclaimed, furious.
—It's useless, Smoker. The Government surely wants to cover up this incident —Hina intervened—. The government was overwhelmed by the Arabasta crisis. Do you think they want to tell the world that pirates saved them?
—Tsk. Here, give me that —Kara said, snatching the Den Den Mushi from Smoker.
—Hello, this is Kara speaking. I don't know who you are, but if you keep playing dumb, I'll come find you and beat you up. Don't push me. You can ask what happened to the guy before you… —Kara threatened angrily, leaving the voice on the other end stunned—. Now listen carefully: I want you to distribute the merits equally among Smoker, Tashigi, Zoro, and Chopper. Understood?
—U-understood! Then, you may attend the medal ceremony… —the voice responded with evident fear before hanging up.
—I refuse —Smoker said angrily, looking at Kara.
Kara flicked his forehead with a single finger, hard enough to leave him in shock while the rocks behind him were destroyed.
Smoker quickly grabbed his forehead in pain, looking at Kara as if she were a monster.
—You want to go to sea and hunt pirates, right? Or would you rather be sent back to Loguetown, where they won't let you leave again in your life? Or worse… do you want them to assassinate Tashigi and you to silence the truth? —Kara said seriously—. If you want to fight the Government, I'll lend you a hand, but now is not the time. You need power, whether it's social or strength. Acting like a child won't help when you still can't do anything to change the Marines. Even Aokiji, being an admiral, needs help from reliable people. And you, who could be a great ally, keep acting like an idiot.
Everyone looked at Kara, surprised to see this side of her.
—Accept the promotion. And not just that—climb to the top… and then kick those idiots' asses. That's what I did —Kara said before turning to the others—. Forget everything I just said, okay? —she added with a smile that didn't seem genuine.
Everyone quickly nodded in fear.
—Then, it's time to return to Marineford. They might already be missing me —Kara said, returning to her usual calm smile.
Meanwhile, Smoker still felt the pain in his head from Kara's flick, but now he was more clear-headed after hearing her words… And, even though they came from her, he knew she was right.
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