East Blue, Loguetown Marine Base.
Smoker, a captain of the Navy Headquarters and a Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit user, who had recently been appointed as the highest-ranking officer in Loguetown, frowned deeply as he looked at the mountain of documents piled up before him.
As a captain of the Navy Headquarters and a Logia user, being transferred to the East Blue to serve as a base commander had already left him deeply dissatisfied. Seeing the mess left behind by his predecessor only worsened his mood.
"Captain Smoker... a confidential document from Headquarters!" At that moment, the office door suddenly swung open, and a girl who appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old hurried in, holding a confidential file.
"A confidential document from Headquarters?" Smoker was momentarily stunned, then casually took the file and tore it open.
Seeing this, the girl quickly turned her head away.
"Tashigi? What are you doing?" Smoker looked up at the girl and said sternly.
"You're my aide. Are you expecting me to handle all these documents myself?"
"Huh?" The girl named Tashigi blinked slowly, her expression blank.
"This is a confidential document. I... I can't look at it."
"I wasn't talking about this one!" Smoker face darkened as he pointed at the mountain of documents before him.
"You have half an hour to sort through these and find the useful ones!"
As he spoke, Smoker wasted no more time and opened the confidential document he had just received. After reading the first few paragraphs, Smoker abruptly stood up, staring at the contents of the document in disbelief.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku is unwell, and Vice Admiral Orion is temporarily assuming the authority of Fleet Admiral of the Marines?"
Before Smoker could fully process the information, a loud shout suddenly came from outside the door.
Immediately, a messenger rushed into the office in a panic, stammering.
"We've just received news that Captain Nezumi of the 16th Branch has been executed on the spot by the newly appointed captain! The reason given was colluding with pirates to oppress civilians! And... and, there's been a change in the 153rd Branch as well. The officer now in charge of the 153rd Branch is someone named Morgan."
Hearing this, Smoker sharply turned his head, staring straight at the messenger.
"What's the name of the newly appointed colonel of the 16th Branch?"
"It seems... it seems to be Stock, sent from Headquarters!"
"Damn it!" Upon hearing Stock name, Smoker couldn't help but curse.
"I know this Stock. He's Orion trusted subordinate. And that Morgan from the 153rd Branch—he's also one of Orion men!"
After a brief pause, he set down the document in his hand, his expression grave.
"Something major has happened at Headquarters! This confidential document wasn't sent voluntarily by Fleet Admiral Sengoku. It's likely that Headquarters has already fallen into Orion hands! If I'm not mistaken, at the same time I received this document, personnel changes have occurred in many branch bases across the Four Seas and even the Grand Line. These people are all Orion absolute loyalists!"
"What... what does that mean?" Tashigi, as usual, was a step behind, looking bewildered. "Isn't Vice Admiral Orion just a vice admiral? How could he temporarily assume the authority of Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
Smoker looked up at Tashigi, dropping a bombshell.
"A coup! Orion must have launched a coup to forcibly seize the position of Marshal."
Smoker sudden statement nearly caused Tashigi glasses to fall off her nose. Fumbling to adjust them, she spoke with a confused expression.
"How is that possible? Vice Admiral Orion is a good person. I've heard many stories about him. Many officers and soldiers at Headquarters who were in difficult situations have received his help!"
Smoker slammed his fist on the desk. "That's just his way of winning people over!"
Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi on the desk rang. Before Smoker could react, a strong, authoritative voice immediately came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Is Captain Smoker there? This is the Office of the Supreme Commander at Holy Land. Commander Kong has an order for you!"
Hearing this, Smoker didn't dare delay. He immediately stood at attention and respectfully responded.
"Smoker, it's good to hear your voice! It's Kong!" The voice from the Den Den Mushi sounded urgent.
"I'll keep it brief. Headquarters has completely lost contact with Holy Land. It's likely that it has already fallen into Orion hands. Not just Headquarters, but many bases in the East Blue aren't answering their Den Den Mushi. Without a doubt, these bases have already been taken over by Orion loyalists! What you need to do now is to contact as many branch bases as possible that haven't been compromised and stabilize the situation in the East Blue!"
Before Smoker could respond, the call abruptly ended.
Tashigi head was buzzing, clearly overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events.
"Captain, how... how could this happen? Vice Admiral Orion, why would he launch a coup?"
Smoker remained silent, his gaze fixed on the now quiet Den Den Mushi.
Earlier, he had only speculated, but after receiving a call directly from Kong, his suspicions had turned into reality.
However, that wasn't the important part. What truly baffled him was how Orion, as a Vice Admiral, had managed to pull off such a massive feat—securing control over Marine Headquarters and severing all ties with the Holy Land!
After all, Marine Headquarters wasn't just guarded by Sengoku, it also housed the three Admirals, the highest combat forces of the Marines, along with numerous Vice Admirals. Even if Orion had been winning hearts over the years, as long as the three Admirals hadn't defected, Headquarters couldn't have fallen into his hands so quickly.
Not only was it impossible, but Orion could have been eliminated by the three Admirals!
Yet, the reality was that in just one night, Marine Headquarters had fallen under Orion control, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku had even signed documents temporarily granting him the authority of the Fleet Admiral.
"Tashigi, Headquarters is lost!" After a moment of calm reflection, Smoker slumped into his chair, his voice filled with defeat.
"The fact that Orion could take over Headquarters so quickly proves that at least two of the three Admirals have defected and sided with him. And Vice Admiral Gion has been close to Orion these past few years. It's certain that many Vice Admirals, led by her, participated in this coup!"
Tashigi was utterly confused, her voice trembling. "What... what should we do?"
Smoker raised his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the window, his expression complex.
"Orion sent Stock to eliminate Captain Nezumi, promoted Morgan to Captain of Branch 153, yet our base in Loguetown remains untouched... It's clear that our new Fleet Admiral is giving me a choice!"
Tashigi remained bewildered, repeating. "Captain Smoker, what should we do?"
Smoker seemed to have made a monumental decision, instantly revitalized, his expression resolute.
"If Orion launched this coup for personal gain, I will fight him to the end, betting on the justice of the Marines! But if he continues to uphold the Marines' justice after taking control, I will stay in Loguetown and do my duty. I have no interest in power struggles, nor do I wish to be involved."
Just as Smoker had speculated.
At the same time he received the documents, Over half of the base commanders in the West Blue, North Blue, and South Blue were swiftly replaced, Marking the beginning of a top-down internal purge within the Marines.
"Outrageous! How dare he!"
"Orion has gone completely lawless, launching by a coup!"
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