After the meeting, Smoker sat at his desk, reviewing files.

  This was one of his least favorite tasks—something Hina used to handle for him. Now, with no oo help, he could only grit his teeth and endure.

  “Buru-buru-buru…”

  Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi rang.

  Smoker quickly set the files aside and pulled a small Den Den Mushi from his pocket. Instead of answering immediately, he pced a white one nearby before pig up the call.

  The Den Den Mushi transformed, taking on the features of a fident woman with blonde hair and striking red lips.

  “Hey, hey, Cigarman…”

  “Ice Beer…”

  “Smoker, it’s been a while! So rare to see you making money and still thinking about me. I ’t wait to visit the Sabaody Archipego and see you!”

  “Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been here for a week, indulging yourself in Area 40,” Smoker snapped.

  “Ahahaha~~~”

  Zayn, unbothered by being called out, ughed freely. “Don’t be so serious, Smoker-kun. I’m not a Marine anymore—you ’t hold me to military rules…”

  Smoker scoffed. “Don’t fet, I’m one of the few who know about your secret mission, Vice Admiral Zayn.”

  “Wow, so stern! I’m just runniimate businesses now. Why do you have to be so strict with me?”

  “Enough. You have my Vivre Card—find me yourself!” Smoker barked before abruptly hanging up.

  In a luxurious private suite, Zayn ehe call, stretg her long legs as she reed on the sofa. After a moment of thought, she rose ached a bottle of fine red wine and two crystal gsses from a safe, p herself a drink.

  Meanwhile, Smoker opehe window a out, using Moonwalk to leave the base.

  The Marines on the ground heard the otion, gnced up, and, seeing it was him, returo their tasks without much rea.

  The Sabaody Archipego sisted of 79 isnds.

  For easier ma, Smoker had divided the isnds into zones of ten. Zones were numbered, such as 1–9 for Zone 0, 10–19 for Zone 10, and so on, up to Zone 70, which covered isnds 70–79. Each zone served different funs.

  Areas 30–40 were dedicated to tourism and erce, with the famous Sabaody Park located in Area 30.

  The Navy and gover institutions, oher hand, were mostly stationed in Area 60, with G-12 based on Isnd 66.

  Smoker eventually arrived at a luxurious hotel on Isnd 43.

  At the entrance, someone discreetly led him through the back door and down a series of hidden passageways to an underground suite.

  There, Smoker was greeted by Zayn, someone he hadn’t seen in a long time.

  Without hesitation, he plopped down across from her, grabbed the witle, and took several rge gulps.

  “How’s the o site sele ing along?”

  Zaywitched slightly at the sight of the nearly empty bottle—each sip was worth millions of Berries.

  “We’ve found two promising locations: Isnd 19 in the wless area and this Isnd 43,” she said.

  “If you want to deal with pirates, Isnd 19 is ideal. But if it’s about making money, Isnd 43 is the better choice.”

  Smoker frowned. “’t you open two? You’re the infamous Queen of Gambling, after all. Rumor has it you earn money faster than a mid-sized try. Don’t tell me you’re too cheap for this.”

  Zayn snorted. “You actually believe that nonsense?”

  It’s more like a rge try…

  “I have plenty of expenses elsewhere. I ’t throw everything into this project.”

  “I see…” Smoker set the bottle down, a look of mret on his face. “This was actually Vice Admiral Sakazuki’s idea. I thought it was a good one. But if that’s the case, I’ll have to drop it.”

  “Wait! Two ht? I’ll fund them both!”

  “Oh? Not even a sed thought?”

  “What’s there to think about? My money is the Navy’s money! Other pces might struggle, but we tighten our belts for half a month to make it work.”

  “...”

  The two discussed the general pn, leaving the finer details to Zayn—she was the expert, after all.

  After they cluded their business, they began chatting casually.

  Smoker’s eyes wae crimson-purple bird perched on a nearby shelf.

  “Is that a pass Bird?”

  “Oh? Y?” Zayn seemed surprised. “It’s a rare species from the forests of Jaya Isnd. Someone was selling one before I left, so I bought it. If you want it, I give it to you.”

  “No need. I’m not good with pets. Jaya Isnd, huh… That pce is famous for the legend of the Golden Isnd.”

  “You know about that?”

  “Of course. It’s the inspiration behind Montbnornd’s tales. Though some crazy guy on Jaya dives every day, saying he’s searg for the Golden Isnd. It’s absurd.”

  Smoker chuckled. “Still, it’s an iing story.”

  Smoker khe truth but never inteo reveal it—not even the existence of Skypiea.

  That pce was a treasure trove!

  Endless gold, The powerful warriors of Shandora, A vast nd beyond the trol of the Wover, Unique creatures and advaeologies.

  It could be turned into a special base, pletely hidden from the eyes of the Wover.

  But what intrigued Smoker the most was the immensely powerful Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

  To this day, Smoker wasn’t sure—if he had entered both the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the Dark-Dark Fruit back then—what choice he would have made.

  Aill didn’t know whether the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had beeen by Enel.

  If Enel had eaten it, Smoker would sider recruiting him. If Enel didn’t cooperate, he’d find someone else to wield its power.

  After all, Enel was just someone overly reliant on his Devil Fruit abilities.

  Against the massive force of the Navy, he wouldn’t stand a ce.

  Fet admirals or their deputies—even Hina alone could handle him easily.

  Skypiea would have to wait. For now, Smoker’s priority was managing the Sabaody Archipego.

  Ohings here were in order, he could think about other opportunities.

  “Zephyr, since you’re pnning to expand in Sabaody, have you sidered other industries?”

  “Hm? What kind of idea are you cooking up now?”

  To Zephyr, Smoker’s mind was truly sharp.

  Ba the day, she had followed his advice to open her first o in Mock Town, and it had turned out to be wildly profitable.

  Later, she opened a sed o in Rainbase, Abasta.

  Initially, Zephyr had low expectations for that location. A o in a desert try? It didn’t seem promising at all.

  But to her surprise, the o acked as soon as it opened.

  The money flowed in faster than robbery, even catg the attention of the wise King Cobra, who repeatedly sent his finance mio iigate.

  Zephyr, uanding the implications, gave the ari royal family a 30% share of the profits.

  It seemed like less profit for her, but iy, it gave the o a legitimate front. Even if Cipher Pol came snooping, there was nothing to fear.

  Though she often argued with Smoker, Zephyr had immense respect for his judgment.

  Smoker draihe st of the wine from the bottle. “Sve trade!”

  Zephyr scowled. “I have no i in that heartless business.”

  Smave her a sidelong gnce.

  “You’re royalty. Don’t tell me your kingdom doesn’t have sves.”

  “This pn has been approved unanimously by top-level leaders…”

  He proceeded to expin the sve au pn to Zephyr, along with his dealings with the Celestial Dragons over the years.

  I years, Smoker had sent thousands of pirate sves to the Holy Land. While their bounties varied, the total earnings exceeded tens of billions of Berries.

  Adding fiscated treasure chests and ships, the total profit easily surpassed 100 billion Berries—a sum rge enough to establish two more branches if spent wisely.

  More importantly, the Wover, whether out of disi in such sums or prioritizing the happiness of the Celestial Dragons, had raised no objes.

  Zephyr was stunned after hearing Smoker’s expnation.

  While she had helped the Navy explore revereams, she had never imagihe sve trade could be exploited like this.

  “Zephyr, think it over. The sve trade will never disappear. If you don’t do it, someone else will…”

  “Enough! Stop talking—I’ll do it!”

  Smoker blinked, surprised. “Huh? That was quick. I thought I’d have to vinore.”

  Zephyr snorted coldly.

  “Publicly, it helps capture pirates, protects civilians, and earns money—a in. Why wouldn’t I agree?

  “Privately, as a princess, the ce to establish ties with the Celestial Dragons is too valuable to pass up.”

  Smoker smiled aended his hand.

  “In that case, we have a deal!”

  Zephyr huffed and shook his haantly.

  “Hmph. Just make sure you pn carefully. Don’t mess this up!”

  Smoker nodded fidently.

  “Don’t worry. Oh, by the way, Vice Admiral Sakazuki is visiting tonight. Want to join us for dinner?”

  “Really?!”

  “Not really.”

  “Get out!”