Summary:
After three years, it finally rained again over Arabasta. Aboard the Baroque Works ship in southern Alubarna, Smoker berates a colleague for suggesting he used Dance Powder, saying that he knows the difference between right and wrong. Changing the subject, the colleague is introduced as sea captain “Black Cage” Hina. She is upset with Smoker for using some of his best soldiers to search the ship, which Smoker reports was because of a fellow Marine. Hina further informs Smoker about this, saying that he always treated Tashigi a little differently. Smoker ignores this and asks Hina to take the Baroque Cannon ship back to Marine Headquarters with Crocodile. Hina asks what gives him the right to order her around, and Smoker responds by having her throw a coin in the air. When she loses, she becomes even more angry with Smoker and tells him that she will never change.
Back in town, Tashigi ordered her subordinates not to touch the unconscious Straw Hats, much to their frustration. Vivi sees Koza being taken away for medical attention and comes over to ask about his injuries. He asks him not to die because his father is still waiting for him in Yuba. Amused by how much Vivi has always cared for others, he assures her that he also inherited his father’s stubborn life force and will be fine. She then promises to return to him when his wounds are healed. The country continues to rejoice in rainfall; even kung fu dugongs celebrate. This is shown as well and he wonders if his son could have seen it.
In the royal palace, all the Straw Hats are fast asleep and recuperating while Vivi watches the rain from the window. Igaram eventually joins her and tucks in their straw hats as they reflect on the day’s events. The next day, Tashigi arrives at the eastern port of Alubarna to meet Smoker and Hina. Visibly distraught over her role (or lack thereof) in defeating the Crocodile, she apologizes to Smoker for not only helping the pirates, but allowing them to escape. Smoker does not accept her apology and asks her if she was enforcing her own justice as he ordered her to. She laments that helping from behind was the only thing she was capable of and that it is not her justice. Smoker tries to further assuage his feelings of inadequacy, but blows it off and leaves in tears. This pushes Smoker to the boiling point and he yells at Tashigi to do something about it other than cry. He begs her to then try to get stronger, to which she clutches her sword and tearfully swears that she will.
Smoker instructs the marines to bring Crocodile aboard the ship as they inform him that a call is coming in from the naval base. The person on the second line informs Smoker that he and Tashigi will receive medals and promotions for defeating the Crocodile. In a fit of rage, Smoker interrupts and tells him that it was the Straw Hats who were responsible for the fall of the Baroque Cannons and the Crocodile, not them. Hina tries to reason with Smoker that resistance is pointless because the World Government has decided to try to cover up the pirates’ role in liberating Arabasta. Smoker angrily replies that the cover-up is exactly why Tashigi is crying right now. He then yells at the naval correspondent on the other line to tell the high-ranking officials responsible to “go eat shit” and that this is “real” justice.