One Piece: Trying 200 times harder, but being too overbearing.

High skill breeds daring!

Loya poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of Smoker.

"Drink tea."

"No need."

Smoker coldly refused, stating his purpose directly: "The attack on Arlong, and the death of Murak, were all your doing, weren't they?"

"Yes."

Loya readily admitted it, as if answering a question about what he had eaten that morning.

"."

Smoker is a bit lost.

As he anticipated, Loya would definitely deny what he had done, and then he would coldly tell Loya that he would find evidence to send Loya to Enies Lobby.

Overwhelm the opponent with your presence first!

But what's the situation now?

I haven't even used my full strength, and you've already confessed?

Please, your cooperation is making me really embarrassed!

Seeing Smoker's changing expression, Loya chuckled, picked up his teacup, and took a sip: "Don't make such a fuss, it's nothing serious."

"."

You've messed up over a dozen school-level officials in Rogge Town, and you think that's not a big deal?

Smoker's expression was not good.

He originally intended to take the initiative and dominate the first meeting, while provoking Loya to reveal a weakness.

But in those few words, Loya took the lead with a nonchalant air. Even if Loya admitted his crime, there was still no way to do anything to the other party without evidence.

Miscalculated.

If he had known it would turn out like this, he should have prepared to monitor the Den Den Mushi in advance!

"Give."

As if his thoughts had been guessed, a palm-sized Den Den Mushi (snail phone) appeared in front of Smoker, which could be used to record audio and take pictures.

Loya smiled and gestured, "I think you need this."

"Humph!"

Smoker's eyes were filled with gloom, feeling as if his thoughts had been completely seen through by the other party, and even as if he was being wantonly played with.

What a terrifying man!

"unnecessary."

Smoker pushed the Den Den Mushi away. Since the other party wasn't worried about being eavesdropped on, it meant that using it was pointless and only made him seem insecure.

We can't just follow the other person's lead!

momentum!

In a duel, momentum is the most important thing!

As if the heavens were on our side, the weather outside the window changed rapidly, and a storm broke out, accompanied by bursts of thunder.

Smoker took a deep drag on his cigar and said in a cold voice, "Colonel Loya, I have been ordered to come to Loguetown this time. In addition to my official duties, I also have a secret mission to investigate the truth behind the Aaron incident."

"Oh, you want to know about that."

Loya nodded slightly and said calmly, "Have some tea first. This is a long story, and I'll have to tell you it from the beginning."

"."

Smoker picked up his teacup and listened to Loya's story.

From Nami's plea for help to her appointment in Loguetown, to discovering Murak's collusion with the underworld, she devised a plan to clean house and destroy Arlong's gang.

"That's pretty much it."

Very detailed.

The details were so detailed that Smoker was terrified.

This black-haired Loya had planned every step in advance, making full use of all available factors under limited conditions, and devising a meticulous plan to eliminate two major obstacles in one fell swoop.

"Trickster" Loya, truly lives up to his name!

Smoker felt a pang of regret.

He shouldn't have pushed away the surveillance Den Den Mushi for the sake of saving face. If so much evidence had been recorded, it would have been enough to convict Loya.

Who would have thought this guy would actually say it!

At the same time, if the truth is as Loya just said, then he not only doesn't hate Loya, but is actually quite pleased.

Because he wanted to do that too!

Back at headquarters, he had seen too many incompetent high-ranking officials, and every time he wanted to give them a good beating.

Greedy parasites, they deserve to die!

Smoker's hostility toward Loya had largely dissipated, but he still had some doubts. Colonel Loya had been far too frank with him.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Well, it's because I feel that you and I are the same kind of people."

Loya's lips curled up slightly: "After learning that you were coming to Loguetown, I specifically gathered information about you. I don't know much, except that you are notoriously self-willed and unruly."

"And I happen to be a rebellious troublemaker!"

"Smoker, I have a question for you."

Loya gazed at Smoker and asked in a calm tone, "If you were me, what would you do?"

"I am your word"

Smoker didn't know how to answer.

He might gather evidence, report the situation to his superiors, and deal with Murak's gang through normal procedures.

But doing so is not only time-consuming, but also not necessarily effective.

Destroying evidence and bribing prosecutors offer plenty of room for manipulation. Those cunning individuals won't be foolish enough to confess, and it's difficult to find fault with them.

Over the years, he had encountered similar situations many times. It was precisely because he could not compromise his principles that his path to promotion was full of twists and turns, and he was still only a colonel at headquarters.

He was number one in the recruit camp!

Loya's approach was very radical.

He was so radical that he only dared to think about it, not to do it. He also couldn't plan as thoroughly as Loya, leaving no room for error.

At most, he would beat up his boss to vent his anger.

"That man!"

Smoker's gaze toward Loya was a little strange. He had always thought of himself as one of the wilder ones in the Navy, and everyone in the Navy Headquarters considered him a "mad dog."

But compared to the man in front of him, his arrogance was like a child's play, all bark and no bite.

When this man encounters evil, he will do everything in his power to eliminate it, even if the evil is his own boss.

Such an act of upholding justice.

He was envious!

"Colonel Loya!"

Smoker asked one last question: "If Murak hadn't stood in your way, or if he hadn't colluded with the underworld, would you still have carried out the plan?"

"As I just said, his death was not due to blocking my way, but rather to the crimes he committed!"

Loya's gaze was calm as still water. He had his own code of conduct and would not, and would not allow himself to, indulge his desires.

Incompetent, arrogant, greedy, and lustful.

He could accept all of these things. Everyone has their flaws. Even if someone uses their power to gain some personal benefits, as long as it's not excessive, he wouldn't interfere.

But he could not tolerate those around him reaching into places where they shouldn't, especially when it affected ordinary people.

This is the bottom line.

If he could, he would have liked to have a good superior like Colonel Rhodes, but unfortunately, that was not the case.

"Smoker, the Navy doesn't need trash!"

Loya swirled his teacup.

"Any question?"

"No."

Smoker shook his head, stood up, and saluted.

"Naval Headquarters Captain Smoker reporting for duty!"