Smoker was silent for a moment, then looked at Newgate. "Did you misunderstand something?"
Newgate said expressionlessly, "Marine Headquarters Admiral Candidate, Momousagi Gion... She's already here. What else could there be to misunderstand?"
"What if I said I'm here to help you? Would you believe me?" Gion dismissed the lightning crackling across her body and looked at Newgate.
"What do you think?" Newgate sneered.
"Actually, I think what she said is true," Smoker said helplessly.
In fact, the Marines did have this plan from the very beginning, but now...
Seeing that Newgate didn't respond at all, Smoker continued, "You've already noticed this? My cooperation with the Marines?"
"No." Newgate shook his head. "I've only made preparations for this possibility. After all, you are one of the Seven Warlords."
Someone like Whitebeard never truly trusted Smoker.
After all, Smoker was one of the Seven Warlords.
The reason he'd cooperated with Smoker despite clearly not trusting him was because he himself had deeper considerations.
Or perhaps he was also using Smoker.
Just as he'd said, he'd simply prepared for this and made contingencies for both scenarios.
First, if Smoker didn't join forces with the Marines, then he was simply participating in this battle for supremacy as a pirate.
Then there was no need for Newgate to do much. Just team up with Smoker to defeat Charlotte Linlin and Kaido. Simple enough.
All the events up to this point had proceeded according to this script without accidents.
The second scenario was that Smoker, as one of the Warlords and a lackey of Mary Geoise, had some connection and cooperation with the Marines. The reason he'd entered the war so quickly was to join forces with the Marines and defeat Whitebeard, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin in one fell swoop.
Then Newgate would simply go with the flow.
He'd wait for the optimal time for the Marines to act. That time would undoubtedly be when he, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin were fighting their decisive battle. Obviously, that was now.
And now, Gion had appeared, which meant the Marines were indeed involved in this matter.
At this point, Newgate's plan could shift.
Marines and pirates couldn't coexist. The Marines' emergence was equivalent to giving Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, and Newgate an opportunity and an exit.
At this moment, the genuine pirate camp could completely set aside their grudges and deal with the Marines first.
And Charlotte Linlin's sudden attack on Smoker just now had already been a subtle statement. Newgate had received that message.
In fact, from the time he'd fought Kaido and Charlotte Linlin on Jam Island until now, even though both sides hadn't discussed the matter, their actions had been somewhat tacitly coordinated.
Why hadn't Charlotte Linlin blown up Jam Island?
What was she waiting for?
Was it true that Newgate couldn't evacuate because of the Dyna Stone?
You're joking! Dyna Stone could actually hold Newgate back? At best, it could only catch him off guard. If Newgate were prepared, sinking the island to kill him—how would that be possible?
This unspoken tacit understanding, even if not explicitly stated, proved that Charlotte Linlin and Kaido were also waiting for the truth.
Waiting to see if the Marines would enter the game.
So from the beginning, they'd all been waiting for Smoker.
Newgate waited for Smoker to see if there were any signs of Marine involvement. If not, he could join forces with Smoker and either retreat more easily, looking for the next battle opportunity, or perhaps defeat Charlotte Linlin and Kaido here.
If there were Marine involvement, then join forces with Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, kill Smoker the traitor, and simultaneously fight back against the Marines.
Charlotte Linlin and Kaido were also waiting for Smoker, anticipating two possible results.
The first result: if Smoker didn't join forces with the Marines, then when he arrived, he'd be buried here together with Whitebeard, securing victory in one stroke.
If Smoker truly joined forces with the Marines, then they should unite with Whitebeard to kill these damned Marines, or withdraw and make long-term plans.
It was that simple.
But from the overall strategic perspective, Newgate's plan was undoubtedly more profound. The entire war had been fought around him from the beginning, and his situation was the most unfavorable. Without Smoker, he'd likely be eaten away bit by bit by Kaido and Charlotte Linlin.
With Smoker came the possibility of Marine conspiracy.
As a result, Newgate had waved his hand and dragged everyone into the water. His most dangerous situation was resolved. Now without Marine involvement, he'd join forces with Smoker.
With Marine involvement, everyone would fight the Marines together. In any case, Whitebeard's personal crisis was eliminated in an instant.
After listening to Newgate's words, Smoker began understanding the situation.
First, the fact that he was actually a Marine officer hadn't been exposed.
They just thought he was a Warlord and therefore couldn't be trusted, which was why the current situation had developed.
As of now, they simply thought he'd joined forces with the Marines. That was fine. This result was actually what Smoker wanted. Originally, all of this would be revealed in the end anyway. It was just happening slightly earlier. It didn't matter.
As for whether his reputation would be ruined, that wasn't something Smoker considered at all. As he himself had said, he wasn't a real pirate. Why did he need a pirate's reputation?
As for Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, and Newgate right now—three people who'd been fighting each other not long ago suddenly seeming to team up again...
In fact, Smoker wasn't in too much trouble. Because after the Dyna Stone leak, Admiral Finn's strategy had changed. He wanted to severely strike Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido.
Only by hurting and defeating all three here could the Dyna Stone matter be covered up naturally, avoiding Mary Geoise launching an investigation and exposing the Marines' real secrets. That was the most important thing.
Therefore, even if it was now exposed that Smoker had joined forces with the Marines, it didn't matter, as long as the Marines could win this battle!
So all he had to do now was find a suitable reason to avoid exposing his Marine identity.
Thinking of this, Smoker sighed. "Your reaction is too extreme, Newgate. I genuinely don't intend to betray you through the Marines. To be honest, I'm just looking for a way out and a backer..."
Newgate frowned slightly but said nothing.
Smoker continued, "As long as the two of us join forces, Charlotte Linlin and Kaido will undoubtedly be defeated. This is what I've always believed. But what happens after that? I know myself very well. With my strength and capabilities, I can never be your opponent. After this war, we'll return to hostile positions. The alliance will naturally collapse. What will I rely on to maintain these war dividends in the New World? Power and status? Strength? My strength isn't enough, so the only thing I can rely on is my status as a Warlord!"
After a brief pause, Smoker looked at Newgate. "This is why I coordinated with the Marines. It's not because I have any hostility towards you. I just wanted to demonstrate who backs me..."
After hearing this, Newgate thought for a while and felt what Smoker said made some sense.
From the beginning of the war until now, Smoker had provided money and personnel whenever asked. There was even substantial financial support from Smoker in Newgate's hands. It could be seen that Smoker was full of sincerity.
Considering these issues in combination with his position, it seemed it was indeed as he'd said. He wasn't here to set a trap and eliminate them all.
On second thought, if Smoker cooperated with the Marines to kill himself, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido... would the Marines still need him?
Maybe they'd kill him too.
So at this point, Newgate had already vaguely believed what Smoker said. Perhaps this guy genuinely didn't have hostile intentions toward him.
But although he believed it, the situation had reached this point. Newgate had no choice.
It was impossible to join forces with Smoker and the Marines to kill Charlotte Linlin and Kaido now, right?
What next? Newgate would never trust the Marines' integrity, especially since as soon as Charlotte Linlin and Kaido fell, Newgate would be besieged.
Therefore, believing what Smoker said was one thing. The choice he could make now was another.
Now, he had no choice but to join forces with genuine pirates to eliminate the threat from the Marines first!
So Newgate remained silent about Smoker's remarks. He looked at Smoker seriously. "It's meaningless for you to say this now, Smoker..."
As he spoke, Newgate took a few steps backward. After these steps, he, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido formed a triangle, pressing Smoker and Gion in the middle.
"Linlin... you know what to choose, right?" Newgate glanced at Charlotte Linlin.
"Ma ma ma ma ma..." Charlotte Linlin smiled wickedly. "Don't underestimate me, Whitebeard..."
Kaido looked up at the sky, frowned, and asked, "Who else is coming?"
Gion shook Konpira in her hand, glanced at Smoker. "These pirates are so cunning... Regardless of the Dyna Stone incident, our plan was impossible to execute from the beginning..."
"Yeah, seems we can only fight head-on. Fortunately... we're well prepared," Smoker said softly.
At this moment, Kaido, who'd been looking at the sky, became more ferocious. Anger flashed in his eyes. "Sure enough, it's that bastard!"
Charlotte Linlin and Newgate also glanced at the sky.
Sure enough, there was a massive meteorite falling toward them.
And meteorites had now become a certain Marine jerk's way of greeting people...
"Rodriguez Finn..." A serious look flashed in Newgate's eyes.
Among the three Admirals now, he didn't take Sakazuki and Borsalino too seriously. Instead, he took Finn extremely seriously. Newgate always felt this man was very threatening.
Kaido snorted coldly, raised his hand toward the sky, and growled.
Then numerous flame clouds quickly emerged around the meteorite. In a short moment, the flame clouds wrapped up the meteorite completely.
Then Kaido waved his hand. The flame cloud immediately changed the meteorite's trajectory, dragging it toward the distant sea...
"Stop playing tricks, Finn!" Kaido shouted angrily.
"Oh, are you healed already? Let's commit suicide together when we have time, Kaido..." A slightly arrogant voice came from high in the sky.
Smoker's Smokey slowly descended from the clouds, with Finn standing on the bow.
Listening to Finn's mocking tone, Kaido seemed to feel the long-healed wound on his chest. A slight phantom pain pulsed.