One Piece: The Devil Fruit Collector-Chapter 249: Advanced Application of Conqueror’s Infusion?

Chapter 249: Chapter 249: Advanced Application of Conqueror’s Infusion?

Chapter 249: Advanced Application of Conqueror’s Infusion?

"Hoo..."

Smoker, with a cigar in his mouth and a rice cracker in one hand, took a long, deep drag from his cigar.

"Commander Smoker, actually I can handle this kind of thing..."

At this moment, Tashigi was following closely beside him.

From time to time, citizens of Loguetown smiled and greeted her—her reputation in Loguetown was clearly quite good.

However, towards Smoker, the citizens of Loguetown kept a slightly respectful distance.

Although over this long period, they all knew this Marine Branch Captain was a good person, Smoker’s large build and fierce expression were still quite intimidating.

"When asking for a favor, of course one must do it personally—I still understand this kind of common sense."

Of course, Smoker didn’t really care about this either.

"Captain Smoker... are you sure you want to make the request to join the Star Hunters Unit to Vice Admiral Black Kaichi and Vice Admiral Garp?"

But speaking of this, Tashigi was still somewhat hesitant.

"Haven’t you always been unwilling to join under someone else’s command?"

Her low-voiced words also exactly explained the reason for Smoker’s current demeanor.

This ’White Hunter’ actually wanted to proactively apply to join the Star Hunters Unit.

"Yeah... I hate constraints, and I hate being managed."

Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke, saying somewhat gloomily: "The thought of having to obey orders from some snakes and rats makes me sick."

His reputation for being insubordinate was well-known in Marine Headquarters, naturally not without reason.

But...

"Hoo—Although that guy Roy is a bastard, he has nothing to do with snakes and rats."

"Same goes for Vice Admiral Garp."

Smoker said so, but his fists clenched involuntarily.

He could actually be certain—with Roy’s understanding of him, he probably already guessed his purpose from his reaction just now.

The thought that he ultimately still had to join his friend’s command made him very angry.

"..."

Tashigi looked at Smoker speechlessly—since you hate it so much, why still go?

"I know what you want to say."

But at this moment, Smoker seemed to have guessed Tashigi’s thoughts.

He shook his head: "Tashigi—what do you think of Loguetown?"

"Loguetown?"

Hearing this, Tashigi was momentarily stunned.

Then, she immediately said: "It’s very good. Everyone is very friendly, and you, Captain Smoker, have governed here very well—for so long, only one pirate has entered the Grand Line."

"Yeah."

Smoker surveyed the surroundings.

It was long past his first time coming here.

But no matter how many times he looked, Loguetown was an ordinary, unremarkable place.

But...

"It’s such an ordinary town that triggered the ’Great Tsunami’ that has yet to subside in the entire world."

Smoker said so.

His gaze looked far towards the direction of the square in the distance—there stood the execution platform of the ’Pirate King’ from back then.

It was also there.

The ’Great Pirate Era’, which is still unsubsided and even intensifying today, stirred up its very first waves.

Smoker still remembered the scene he saw that day.

Every single person who witnessed the death of the Pirate King that day eventually became a renowned figure on the sea today.

"The world is just like this."

"World-changing great events seem sudden, but tracing their source, there is always a ’Turning Point’."

Ordinary people cannot sense the arrival of that turning point, only able to drift with the tide.

For example, the citizens of Loguetown, and the innocent citizens of various kingdoms across the entire sea—the dreams brought by the Great Pirate Era, or the ambitions... have nothing to do with them.

For them, what the Great Pirate Era brought... is only chaos.

And since joining the Marines, Smoker wanted to protect these people.

"It’s coming again, Tashigi."

Smoker said in a low voice: "I can feel it, it’s already very close—the next ’Great Tsunami’ that will change the world."

Smoker instinctively sensed this.

That guy called Straw Hat Boy not long ago, the collapse of the Seven Warlords system, the rise of The Zodiac, and even the establishment of the Star Hunters Unit... Smoker couldn’t judge which event was the turning point of this era, or perhaps every single one was.

But he could at least be certain of one thing.

"If I just stay in Loguetown, I won’t be able to ’Protect’ anything when that tsunami arrives!"

His gaze looked at the surrounding citizens who smiled and greeted Tashigi, or those who, although somewhat afraid, still tried to hand him local specialties.

He was not strong enough—he had recognized this long ago.

And this era didn’t have time for him to develop slowly in Loguetown, then return to Headquarters, and then slowly get promoted and become stronger either.

So previously, he hoped Roy could transfer him back to Headquarters early.

And now, he found a better way.

"Star Hunters Unit... a unit established for The Zodiac. Judging from the current situation, it should specialize in dealing with The Zodiac, the Revolutionary Army, and those most dangerous great pirates."

"There are many powerhouses in it, and the authority should also be very great—joining it is the fastest way to become stronger!"

It perfectly met Smoker’s requirements.

As for its only flaw, ’Danger’... that kind of thing was never within Smoker’s scope of consideration.

"..."

And after hearing Smoker’s words, Tashigi also remained silent for a moment.

Then, her expression became serious: "What you said makes a lot of sense."

As she spoke, she also gripped the sword ’Shigure’ at her waist, similarly recalling the battle against Roronoa Zoro not long ago—she had suffered a crushing defeat; the opponent was practically playing with her.

"I should also join the Star Hunters Unit to train myself."

She said firmly.

"You?"

Smoker glanced at Tashigi and shook his head: "Hey hey, I never said such a thing—with your current strength, facing truly dangerous guys is just seeking death."

"You have no right to stop me."

But Tashigi was very stubborn: "Even if I really die, that is also my own choice."

"..."

Who exactly did this stubborn girl learn that from?

Smoker felt somewhat helpless.

While talking, the two had already stepped into the base of the Loguetown Marine Branch.

But just as Smoker was about to say something...

BOOM!

An extremely muffled sound rang out at this moment.

VMMM!

Immediately after, an indescribably terrifying pressure struck fiercely like an invisible, massive tsunami.

The two’s footsteps stopped instantly in place.

The lit cigar in Smoker’s mouth was forcefully crushed out at this moment.

Tashigi’s short hair was continuously blown upwards, and the ’Shigure’ at her waist was also continuously vibrating in its scabbard.

On the training ground of the Marine base, sand and dust flew up, and the ground was pressed until it collapsed and cracked.

She and Smoker instinctively turned their heads, looking towards the direction the pressure came from—that was Smoker’s office.

Then...

"!!!"

Tashigi’s pupils shrank abruptly.

Only to see at this moment, the originally clear sky was like a lake surface hit by stones.

Black-red lightning crazily intertwined and collided.

The cloud layers above were suddenly split apart.

"Captain Smoker, could... could this be..."

Tashigi said with a trembling voice.

"Conqueror’s..."

Smoker squeezed out a few words through his teeth—he naturally knew the existence of Conqueror’s Haki.

But...

This kind of Conqueror’s clash that could still tear the sky even under clearly intentional control—in Loguetown at this moment, who could do such a thing went without saying.

"What are those two doing in someone else’s office!?"

Smoker gritted his teeth, feeling that his previous idea of joining the Star Hunters Unit might have been a bit hasty after all.

And at the same time.

Just as Smoker guessed.

Inside his office, it was already unrecognizable at this moment.

The entire office looked as if a typhoon had passed through; the sturdy walls were full of huge, spider-web-like cracks—the only intact thing in the entire office was the freezer bought not long ago at Roy’s strong request, used to hold ice-cold cola.

And right now...

BOOM!

In the center of the office.

Roy’s and Garp’s fists were currently colliding together.

Both their fists were wrapped in pitch-black Armament Haki, dancing with black-red lightning.

Although they were not engaged in a true life-and-death struggle, at the point where their fists clashed, the air still showed obvious compression, forming visible ripples.

"Hahahaha! Boy, impressive—amazing spirit!"

And at this moment, Garp was laughing heartily.

While laughing, his gaze also could not hide his surprise.

Yes.

Because the intensity of Roy’s Conqueror’s Haki was truly somewhat beyond his understanding.

"This kind of spirit... is almost on par with Kaido and Linlin, and there’s still room for growth."

Garp judged in his heart—Roy’s potential was even greater than he thought.

And at the same time...

"...So strong."

On Roy’s side, he also couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

He naturally knew Garp’s Conqueror’s Infusion was very strong—after all, he was the Marine Hero who once fought Roger and stood at the top of the sea purely by Haki intensity.

According to Roy’s estimation, Garp’s attainments in Haki should be at the strongest level on the sea.

But when they truly clashed, he realized the other party’s Infusion intensity exceeded his estimation even more.

Roy could even judge—even if he used the effect of ’Distort Future’ to obtain perfect Conqueror’s Infusion, he would still likely be slightly inferior to Garp in a direct clash.

And now, without using ’Distort Future’. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

With the Conqueror’s Infusion that Roy had only just initially mastered, he was already trending towards a disadvantage.

"Boy."

But exactly at this moment, Roy heard Garp’s voice.

"This old man came over this time also at Zephyr’s request—he hopes this old man can train your Conqueror’s Infusion."

Garp grinned.

"So... watch closely!"

As the words fell.

Roy also saw...

VMMM!

At this moment, on Garp’s fist.

That continuously dancing Conqueror’s lightning actually became tame in the next instant.

They continuously gathered, continuously condensed, and eventually formed a black-red Conqueror’s ’Gauntlet’, fitting seamlessly around Garp’s fist.

"Being able to perform Infusion is only the first step."

"Controlling the ’Intensity’ of Haki release, and even being able to shape Haki at will—achieving the use of the most perfectly concentrated ’Haki’ when necessary."

"That is the advanced application of Conqueror’s Infusion—that is the ’Experience’ that requires years of battle to accumulate."

Garp grinned, then...

"This old man is not very good at teaching with words, so—"

His fist in the next moment shattered Roy’s black-red lightning.

He casually swung his arm, and the force of the blow headed directly towards Roy.

BOOM!

Even with Haki protection, Roy’s figure was still blasted flying in an instant.

He smashed directly through several walls before finally landing on the ground.

This, of course, was not enough to injure him.

But it was enough to make Roy look at Garp with eager eyes—teach him that, old man!

And at this time, Garp had already slowly retracted his fist: "If you want to learn, you have to be prepared to take a beating."

He laughed heartily, looking at Roy.

Up until now, Roy finally understood Garp’s intention.

Besides reminding him about the truth of the World Government earlier, another key reason Garp came to East Blue this time was at Zephyr’s request—specifically to train Roy’s Conqueror’s Infusion.

After all, in Zephyr’s view, Roy would eventually have to face The Zodiac, or even that Star Lord—and no matter how much confidence he had in his disciple, he didn’t think that was an easy opponent to deal with.

This is really...

Roy didn’t know what to say.

After all, what kind of threat was The Zodiac to him—he was one of them.

However, although complaining like this inwardly.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Vice Admiral Garp."

From Roy’s mouth, he agreed without hesitation.

The advanced techniques of Conqueror’s Infusion were indeed the weakness he urgently needed to address.

Especially for the next clone he was about to create, this technique was particularly important.

"Hahahaha! No trouble at all—not just you, I see your subordinates at the port happen to be training Haki too, they might as well train with this old man together!"

Garp laughed heartily, proactively suggesting.

"That would work perfectly."

And Roy naturally had no objections—Hans and Fall had indeed been trying to train Haki recently.

After all, upon knowing that Roy was about to join the Star Hunters Unit, they naturally wanted to keep up; no one wanted to be left behind.

And exactly at this moment...

"Count me in too," came a voice from the doorway.

Roy and Garp turned their heads, and saw Smoker tossing his extinguished cigarette on the ground, walking into the office.

Tashigi was behind him, looking pale at the wreckage strewn across the floor.

"..."

Looking at the office that was almost completely destroyed by that single exchange, the corner of Smoker’s mouth twitched.

"I also want to participate in the training... and Tashigi."

He finally no longer cared about the rank difference, looking at Roy, his voice clearly rising.

"Hah?"

Roy frowned, sneering: "Miss Tashigi is one thing—but on what grounds should I let you, a smoker, join just because you say so..."

"Among the things destroyed by your battle just now were cosmetics unique to the East Blue that I bought for Hina. She said she’s going to use them for her birthday seven days from now. If they can’t be delivered in time, she will kill me and the seagull responsible for express delivery."

Smoker finished saying expressionlessly.

Then he saw Roy’s smile immediately become enthusiastic: "What I mean is—how could training lack you? My best friend!"

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