A Navy warship approached Loguetown; the enormous "Justice" emblem was emblazoned on its sails. While still reliant on wind power, smoke billowed from its newly added smokestacks.
This was clearly an experimental vessel, showing signs of modification. The Navy, like Alistair with his galleon, wouldn't implement new technology on a large scale without testing it first. This was standard government procedure.
Since Vice Admiral Tsuru's voyage to Amazon Lily through the Calm Belt, the Navy had been modifying its ships to traverse the Calm Belt. This technology was being implemented. Besides using Sea Kings, they had a new propulsion system.
These ships, resembling gas turbines, represented the Navy's new technology. Similar to Ace's ship, they used flames and heat for propulsion—though less efficiently; they were essentially boiling water. Gas turbines alone allowed them to cross the Calm Belt.
The World Government's response to the Great Pirate Era was slow; for twenty or thirty years, they did little. Most technological advancements came after Vegapunk joined the World Government, within a decade. Vegapunk was the World Government's savior.
Now, controlling the Red Line and separating the four seas, the Navy could finally block the source of pirates: the four Blues. But…
"Hina's furious! She shouldn't have brought you here!" Two Navy officers argued; one, the captain, was the ship's commander.
"I told you it's not about that!" The other, smoking a cigar, veins bulging on his forehead, tried to explain. They'd argued about the route repeatedly. One was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, a Captain; the other, the ship's commander, a Paramecia-type, a Commander. They were Smoker and Hina.
Smoker, for defying his superiors (mainly Akainu), was relegated to the East Blue. A Logia-type Captain in the East Blue was a waste of talent; he was essentially on vacation, soon to be reassigned. But he stayed for three years…
The Navy waited for him to yield; Smoker refused; this continued until the Straw Hats prompted him to return to the New World.
Smoker was a stubborn middle-aged officer; he and Hina were contemporaries; Hina, sympathizing with his demotion, volunteered to bring him to the East Blue while testing the new ship.
But, as the saying goes, to know someone, take a long trip with them; this trip revealed Smoker's flaws. Hina's suggestions were constantly opposed; they clashed constantly. Hina, no longer sympathetic, remembered their conflicts at the academy.
Hina was enraged by Smoker's stubbornness. Smoker wasn't good with women; Hina was his contemporary and had brought him here. But he was stubborn; he wouldn't compromise. He was suppressing his anger, but it was about to explode. They'd argued five times already. They had irreconcilable differences. Hina was strong-willed; reaching Commander rank required strength. Two strong-willed people naturally clashed.
Enel yawned from the mast. He'd been observing for minutes; the lookout was unconscious. He was disappointed; if they had Observation Haki, they would have noticed him; they were novices. He'd expected more from Smoker, a Logia user, but he was disappointed.
There were thresholds among Logia users: controlling and freely elementally transforming was the first; mastering Haki, preferably Observation, was the second; even if you can't hit a Logia user, don't let them hit you with Armament Haki.
Enel had learned this. He'd been secretly training his Observation Haki; his Mantra made it easier; he was aiming for Hancock's top spot. But these two lacked Observation Haki; he'd been emitting his presence for a while; they hadn't noticed. He was about to leave…
Suddenly, the arguing pair vanished; Smoker drew his jitte, attacking Enel; Hina's hands moved, creating a net of black matter that enveloped him.
"Black Cage!"
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