"Qingyun, you can't escape. Surrender obediently!"
Tashigi pointed at Qingyun, speaking fiercely.
But her adorable and innocent look didn't appear threatening at all.
"Soru!"
Smoker, a man of few words but decisive action, gripped his Sea Stone Jitte and immediately used Soru, stomping the ground dozens of times in an instant (0.36 seconds) to generate powerful recoil. He then used the explosive speed from this recoil to rapidly charge at Qingyun.
They were originally going to Windmill Village to capture Qingyun. They were currently resupplying in East Blue City when they unexpectedly received news that Qingyun had entered East Blue City. They quickly brought their men to capture him.
"Soru!"
Qingyun also used Soru, charging rapidly towards Smoker, with a speed almost on par with Smoker's.
Soru is one of the Navy Six Styles, and also the simplest and easiest to learn, though difficult to master.
Captain Nezumi also knew it, but only at an introductory level; his speed was far from Smoker's.
Qingyun was able to use Soru because he had mastered it after killing Captain Nezumi.
The reason his speed could rival Smoker's was because he was now much stronger than Captain Nezumi.
"They disappeared!"
In the eyes of Nami, Nojiko, Kaya, and Makino, as well as most of the people present, Qingyun and Smoker's speed was too fast, making them seem as if they had vanished.
"He actually knows our Marine's Soru?!"
Tashigi was greatly surprised.
Smoker was also very surprised, and he became even more certain that Qingyun was extremely dangerous.
Smoker swung his Sea Stone Jitte with all his might, smashing it fiercely towards Qingyun's head.
Relying on Observation Haki, Qingyun suddenly ducked just as Smoker was about to strike his head, narrowly avoiding Smoker's Sea Stone Jitte.
At the same time, he swung his right fist with full force, aiming for Smoker's chest.
Smoker was greatly surprised and quickly elementalized, turning his chest into smoke to nullify Qingyun's attack, thus avoiding injury from Qingyun.
"They are over there."
"How did his body turn into smoke?"
Seeing this scene, everyone was astonished.
"Is he a Devil Fruit user?"
"It looks like a Logia type?"
Nami, Nojiko, Kaya, and Makino quickly realized why Smoker could turn his body into smoke, and even guessed it was the power of a Logia type Devil Fruit, feeling a sense of longing.
Because Qingyun had said he would help them find suitable Devil Fruits.
"He actually forced Captain Smoker to elementalize so quickly!"
Tashigi's delicate brows furrowed; she realized Qingyun's strength might far exceed her imagination.
Could this guy be... Smoker looked at Qingyun as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Captain Smoker, I'll help you."
No sooner had she spoken than Tashigi gripped her katana with her right hand, ready to draw it and help Smoker deal with Qingyun.
"Captain Smoker, we'll help you too."
The accompanying Marines also wanted to help.
"Don't interfere, none of you are his match. Don't get in my way."
"Go evacuate the civilians quickly."
Smoker quickly and sternly ordered, cold sweat already beading on his forehead.
"Yes."
Although Tashigi and the others wanted to help, they knew Smoker was right and followed his orders to evacuate the surrounding civilians.
"A wise choice."
Qingyun looked at Smoker, unable to help but praise him.
He admired Smoker's character; even while working within the hypocritical Marine, he maintained his integrity, upheld justice, did not covet vanity, and did not obey orders from above to take credit that rightfully belonged to the Straw Hat.
It was a pity Smoker was a man; if he were a woman, it would be perfect.
He could have snatched her onto his ship.
"White Out!"
Smoker still didn't waste words on Qingyun, directly transforming his entire body into smoke and swirling towards Qingyun, completely engulfing him.
"White Bind!"
Immediately after, Smoker transformed the smoke into vines, controlling them to successively entangle Qingyun, aiming to capture him alive.
But no matter where Smoker extended his smoke vines, Qingyun, relying on Observation Haki, managed to dodge them without incident.
This guy has indeed mastered Observation Haki!
Seeing this, Smoker immediately confirmed his suspicion and felt an extreme headache.
Having not yet mastered any Haki, he could only desperately increase the speed and number of the smoke vines, hoping to exceed Qingyun's predictive limits and thus capture him.
"Qingyun should be fine, right?"
Nojiko, Kaya, and Makino looked at Smoker's smoke form, feeling a little worried about Qingyun.
"Don't worry, Qingyun will definitely be fine."
Nami said confidently, though she was actually a little worried inside.
Although Nami and Nojiko could both be said to have been taken onto Qingyun's ship against their will, if it weren't for Qingyun, they would still be living under the rule of the Arlong Pirates. So, they were still very grateful to Qingyun.
Furthermore, Qingyun had been teaching them marksmanship with Love Irrigation for several days, and they had all already grown fond of Qingyun.
Although Kaya and Makino were both threatened and taken onto Qingyun's ship, they had also been taught marksmanship by Qingyun with Love Irrigation, were deeply impressed, and had also grown somewhat fond of Qingyun.
Of course, it was only a slight fondness; it was still far from unwavering loyalty.
Qingyun still needed to continue working hard to teach them marksmanship.
"Ladies, you were all taken onto Qingyun's ship, weren't you?"
Tashigi approached Nami, Nojiko, Kaya, and Makino, asking cautiously.
According to the information she had received, she knew that Nami, Nojiko, and Kaya had almost all been forced onto the ship by Qingyun.
She saw that the four women were all kind-looking and thought Makino should be the same.
However, to be safe, she still remained vigilant.
"That's right."
Nami and Nojiko answered with certainty without any hesitation.
After all, it was the truth, and they knew Qingyun didn't care about anyone's opinion, so there was no need to hide it.
They both saw that Tashigi was kind-hearted, and by saying this, they could prevent Tashigi from capturing them to threaten Qingyun, allowing Qingyun to focus on dealing with Smoker.
"Mhm."
Kaya and Makino both nodded in agreement.
They didn't think as much as Nami; they were simply stating facts.
And they also held a glimmer of hope.
They hoped Smoker could defeat and capture Qingyun, bring him to justice, and send them home.
"You don't need to be afraid; Captain Smoker will definitely capture Qingyun, and we will send you all back."
Tashigi declared confidently.
Hearing this, Kaya and Makino felt a hint of joy.
Nami and Nojiko, on the other hand, felt a little pity for Tashigi.
"I'm afraid that Smoker is not Qingyun's match."
"And you, too, will not escape Qingyun's clutches."
Nami said directly.
"Mhm."
Nojiko looked at Tashigi, nodding affirmatively.
Upon hearing this, Kaya and Makino looked at the adorable and innocent Tashigi and also felt some pity for her.