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The Straw Hats Arrive in Loguetown
Time rewinds to a while ago.
The bustling port of Loguetown was alive with activity. Numerous ships docked along the coast. Some came to purchase supplies, others to sell goods, and many visited Loguetown specifically for tourism and relaxation.
As the final supply point before entering the Grand Line, Loguetown attracted not only merchant ships but also many ambitious pirates. These pirates, in turn, drew a large number of bounty hunters who settled in the town.
Over time, the commercial district in Loguetown had grown to offer everything from daily necessities to weapons and ammunition. Here, you could buy almost all the specialties from the East Blue!
At this moment, a light sailing ship with a pirate flag and a sheep's head bow quietly entered the port. This vessel was none other than the Going Merry, carrying the Straw Hat Pirates!
Standing on Merry's bow, Luffy gazed at the town ahead and murmured softly, "This is the place where the previous Pirate King died..."
The next second, the corners of his mouth turned upward in a smile, his eyes flashing with excitement. Under the watchful eyes of his crewmates, Luffy suddenly stood up, raised his arms and shouted:
"Loguetown! We're here!!!"
His outburst immediately alarmed Usopp, who frantically waved his hands.
"Hey, hey, hey~ Luffy! Don't shout so loud!" Usopp warned. "You're now a famous pirate in the East Blue!!!"
"Ah!?" Luffy turned around with his characteristic grin. "So what?"
"What do you mean 'so what'?" Usopp slapped his forehead and sighed helplessly. "You'll get us discovered by the Marines!"
"Don't worry, Usopp. Can you really control him anyway?"
"That's our captain for you!"
At some point, Nami, who had completely betrayed the "cowardly group," walked over and suddenly pulled out a wad of bills, tossing it to Luffy.
"Here!"
"These 100,000 Belly are your funds for today's activities. Remember to save some."
"Nami..."
Luffy's eyes widened as he took the banknotes, his face showing incredible shock.
"You... you're actually giving me money!?"
"Is the world ending today or something?!"
"Stop talking nonsense! If you don't want it, just give it back!" Nami glared at Luffy angrily, then turned toward Usopp, who also looked shocked and pale.
"Do you have any questions?!"
"No! No!" Usopp shook his head rapidly like a helicopter and denied vehemently.
Nami, who controlled the crew's finances, could now be considered the third most influential person in the Straw Hat crew after Luffy and Red.
"Hehe~!"
"Thanks, Nami!"
Luffy grinned widely and stuffed the Belly into his pocket, then jumped up and ran straight into Loguetown.
"I'm going to check out the execution platform first!"
"See ya~!"
"Hey, wait a minute! We haven't decided on a meeting time or place yet!" Usopp reached out helplessly, only to watch Luffy's figure disappear into the distance.
"Oh, I knew it," he sighed.
The next second, Usopp adopted a shy expression and fidgeted with his fingers.
"Um... Nami, didn't Red give me a few evolution stones earlier?"
"I want to buy some materials and equipment to see if I can put them to use. It might be expensive though. What do you think~?"
Usopp looked up with pleading eyes, as if stars were twinkling in them.
Nami, who held over one billion in capital, was quite wealthy. Without hesitation, she nodded and said:
"No problem!"
"But to prevent you from getting cheated by merchants, I'll go with you this time!"
"Yes! Thank you, Nami-sama!!!" Usopp exclaimed excitedly, bowing his head.
Red, who had just finished docking the ship with Zoro, came over and reminded Usopp:
"Usopp, don't forget to check out the insect museum and the shop that sells special plants!"
"If there are suitable varieties, we should buy some."
Although Usopp, who had been left in the breeding house, hadn't yet learned any Pokémon moves, Red felt it was better to prepare in advance considering Usopp's attribute combination.
"No problem."
Usopp smiled and made an "OK" gesture before he and Nami disembarked and headed toward town.
Sanji, who had finished tying the sail, jumped down from the ship's mast. He glanced at Red and Zoro on the boat with evasive eyes, lit a cigarette and said:
"Red, you're going to find the sword shop and then the newspaper office, right?"
"I'll go to the food market alone."
"If I go later, all the fresh ingredients will be gone!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Sanji stepped onto the ship's railing.
Looking at the panic in his eyes, one might think he was avoiding some wild beast.
And in fact, that seemed to be the case.
"Ah!?"
"Do I not exist? Why don't you greet me when you see me, curly-browed cook!?"
Sanji's movements were a step too slow after all.
Zoro was seen placing a long blade that he was about to replace on his shoulder, tapping it lightly while showing a mocking smile toward Sanji.
"...Jerk!"
Sanji, with one foot on the ship's railing, suddenly clenched his fists.
But the next second, he gritted his teeth and turned his head, showing a forced, awkward smile to Zoro:
"Then I'll set off first, Mr. Zoro."
"This is ridiculous!"
"Go!"
Zoro watched Sanji jump off and quickly escape from the Merry, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Red, watching from the side, laughed as well, shaking his head with a smile.
"Zoro, you really should just let Sanji go!"
"That's not possible." Zoro grinned. "Who told him to lose a bet to me!"
"During this time, I have to enjoy the feeling of being respected by this curly eyebrow!"
The bet Zoro mentioned was naturally the contest between the two of them at the naval base.
From the current situation, it was clear who the winner was.
Unfortunately for Sanji, despite possessing the Flame Kick, he was still slightly inferior to Zoro when facing the thunder power of 100,000 volts, and lost to Zoro by a narrow margin.
Zoro, having finally seized this opportunity, certainly wouldn't let Sanji off easily.
Recently, whenever the two met, Zoro would immediately mock Sanji.
And following the outcome of the bet, Sanji could only endure the humiliation.
So much so that Sanji hardly showed his face around Zoro these days.
"Alright."
Red patted Zoro on the shoulder.
"Don't be too happy too early. Be careful - next time Sanji might win, and then you'll be the unlucky one."
"Win? Him?!" Zoro chuckled.
But the next second, a light flashed in his eyes, and he said with extreme excitement:
"I won't give him that chance!"
...
...
Time returns to the present.
The Straw Hats' high-profile entry into the port made no attempt to hide from anyone.
The dazzling pirate flag flying among a bunch of merchant ships instantly attracted the attention of the Marines.
After discovering it was the Going Merry of the Straw Hat Pirates, the soldiers guarding the area instantly panicked and quickly sent messages to their superiors, reporting to the highest level.
This led to the scene where Tashigi abandoned her confrontation with Bartolomeo and retreated in a hurry.
...
...
At the same time, on a Marine battleship not far from Loguetown.
BANG!!!
Captain Smoker suddenly punched the wall beside him. Shrouded in smoke, his face revealed a ferocious expression.
"Cunning pirates! They actually entered Loguetown while I was away!"
"Did someone leak information!?"
A thoughtful look flashed in Smoker's eyes.
But the next second, he immediately picked up the Den Den Mushi receiver beside him.
After a moment of "Purupurupuru~", Smoker barked his orders:
"Notify all warships to move toward Loguetown's port at full speed!"
"The Straw Hat Pirates are in Loguetown now!"
"Based on their route, they're most likely planning to enter the Grand Line directly!"
"We must intercept them there! We cannot let these pirates escape from the East Blue!!!"
Even though Smoker appeared to be a man who didn't care about the world, he simply disliked it - that didn't mean he didn't understand it!
The Straw Hats had broken into such a trap at Branch 16 but still hadn't received an increased bounty from headquarters. Additionally, dozens of Marine warships were urgently conducting a sea-wide search operation...
This was enough to show that the high-ranking officials of the Marines wanted this group eliminated from the beginning!
And if they were allowed to escape even after using such vast resources and manpower...
Then his reputation as the commander-in-chief of the operation would be severely damaged!!!
"Damn pirates!"
"I must bring you to justice!!!"
Thick white smoke rose from Smoker's body, turning the entire room into a sea of white.