The harbor of Loguetown stretched before them, a mosaic of bustling docks, weathered ships, and the sharp scent of salt and fish dancing on the sea breeze.
Seagulls cried overhead, their wings casting fleeting shadows upon the worn wooden planks as the ship gently kissed the quay's edge with a soft splash.
Ash grinned widely, eyes gleaming with mischievous light.
"Alright, Ladies and Gentlemen,"
he called out, voice ringing clear over the murmur of the crowded dock.
"Let's show them who's come for a visit."
One by one, the crew stepped onto the bustling harbor.
First, Zoro, his sword sheaths clinking softly, eyes sharp and cold like the blade he wielded—a man who seemed carved from shadows and steel. He nodded at a wary dockworker who dared glance too long.
Next came Medusa, her gaze veiled under heavy lashes, shrouded in quiet danger. A whispered chill followed her every measured step. A fishmonger swore his basket jumped when she passed.
Lastly, Nami moved with the fluid grace of a navigator accustomed to the capricious sea, her eyes lively yet cautious. She glanced over the harbor map tucked beneath her arm, already plotting their next course.
The crowd had begun to take notice. Conversations halted mid-step, gazes shifted, whispers rose like the tide.A grizzled fisherman, leaning against a weathered post, caught sight of the crew and motioned for his companions.
"It's Ashborn,"
he murmured, voice low but urgent.
"The Grim Reaper of East Blue. -Heard he's carved out a name no sailor forgets. And with him... Zoro, the Sword Demon; Medusa, with those cursed eyes; and the last one ...I don't know much about her , but she must be something to travel with monsters like them."
Murmurs spread swiftly, a hush settling over the docks. Names traveled lips in a reverent tremble, fear and respect intertwining like the ropes holding moored vessels.
The crowd parted instinctively as the crew advanced, making way for those whose reputations loomed larger than the tallest mast.
Ash's grin deepened, watching the tide of awe and apprehension roll around them.
"Not bad for a first impression,"
he quipped, nudging Zoro.
"Let's keep this excitement simmering."
Zoro Scoffed but a smirk was tugging his lips.
Ash turned to his crew, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Alright, split up. Stick to the plan. Watch your backs."
Zoro cracked a rare, small smile, sheath rattling as he saluted the order.
Medusa's eyes flickered beneath the cover, unreadable, but resolute.
Nami pulled her map closer, determination etched on her face.
They melted into the shadows of Loguetown, each step heavy with purpose.The harbor returned to its rhythm, but the whispers lingered—that a storm had arrived, and none in Loguetown would soon forget.
15 minutes later...
At a certain narrow alley of loguetown - Ash stood at the door of a tavern - which , was his location .
The tavern smelt of roasted meat and spiced ale, heavy wooden beams arching overhead, each carved with tales of old. Roughhewn tables clattered with tankards and the murmur of lively conversations filled the smoky air.
Farmers, sailors, and merchants alike filled the benches, voices weaving stories of harvests, distant wars, and gossip about the world beyond the sea.
"Aye, the crops by the northern fields are better this year,"
one stout fisherman was saying.
"Good for us all, I say."
"Bah,"
grumbled the man beside him, nursing a mug of ale.
"Too good. Makes me think the gods are angry, waiting for a thunderous price."
Laughter erupted from another corner where two boisterous sailors debated their last escapade off the coast.
"I swear, the sea kept tossing me like a rag doll!"
one said,
"but it was worth the gold we found."
At the door, a shadow fell over the warmth of the room. Ash stepped inside, the heavy wooden door creaking as it swung closed behind him. Instantly, the chatter stilled.
Eyes flicked up, recognition sparking in the dockworkers, tavern girls, and old men scattered about.Whispers surged like a tide.
"The Grim Reaper of East Blue,"
breathed a merchant.
"He's come to dine in Loguetown?"
Ash's grin broke the silence, sharp and full of mischief.
"Just here to visit an old friend,"
he said, his voice cutting through the hush,
"and fill this empty stomach of mine."
His easy charm cracked the tension, and a low murmur rose again. The fisherwoman who had been wiping a glass near the hearth chuckled.
"And here I was, thinking the Reaper brought death, not dinner."
Laughter bloomed, the spell broken. Tankards raised, conversations rekindled as if Ash were merely another sailor seeking respite.
From one table, a bard strummed a lively tune, weaving tales of heroes and rogues. From another, gruff voices debated the strange weather patterns seen off the coast.
The tavern pulsed with life again, a living mosaic of the world beyond Ash's shadow.
As the surrounding got livelier again ,ash moved towards a certain door while nodding to few, familiar faces he knew.
Ash pushed the door of the kitchen-sorted room aside, and a warm wave of scent greased the air like a blessing.
The space hummed with life: flames popping and crackling from iron stoves, the soft hiss of fat meeting heat, and the percussive clink of metal on metal as chefs moved with practiced cadence.
The room was a theatre of motion. Long counters gleamed with brass and copper pots, their surfaces catching amber glints from the hearth. Steam rose in lazy curls, painting the air with a faint, peppery tang that mingled with the sweetness of roasting meat and the earthy perfume of simmering vegetables.
A ladle tapped rhythmically against a copper pot, a metallic heartbeat that kept time with the rush of hands at work.
Ash stepped in, and the cooks barely glanced up before resuming their choreography—eyes half-hidden by flour-dusted sleeves, mouths set in lines of focus.
The head chef, a stout figure with a charcoal-streaked beard, gave a curt nod to Ash, acknowledging a familiar ally in the kitchen trenches.
Conversation drifted between the clatter and aroma. A junior cook, cheeks flushed with heat and pride, recounted a trial by fire—literally—and how a stubborn sauce finally thickened after a dozen tries.
A seasoned line cook shared a tip about balancing sour and sweet in a fish stew, describing the moment the palate found a perfect chord.
Between tales, the room filled with lighter chatter: jokes about mismeasured spices, friendly taunts about who could flip a pancake fastest, and the occasional comment on the weather outside—the kind of ordinary life that makes a kitchen feel like a small, beating world.
Ash moved towards a familiar certain counter with slow deliberate steps , there stood a women-
Her short, tousled hair framed a face that carried both defiance and grace, the kind of beauty that didn't need polish to be striking.
Her dark eyes, lined subtly, flicked over the searing pan before her with cool precision, every movement deliberate and confident.
She wore a sleeveless black chef's vest, revealing a striking tattoo of a blooming lily that coiled across her left arm, its fine lines and shading a testament to both artistry and rebellion.
A red tie hung loosely around her neck, and silver hoops glinted along her ear, catching the light each time she turned.
There was something dangerous and captivating about her—like fire under control, barely.
[Image here]
Ash grinned - finally seeing the person he wanted to meet-
"Well, well, if it isn't the greatest chef of Loguetown - "Reina vale" ?
Reina finally looked up stopping her knife midair which was about to cut a cucumber.
She grinned wide-
" Goddamn ....boy , you grew up just my type you know ? "
Ash shook his head as he moved slowly and took her in a light hug-
"That's why I am going to kidnap you today ."
Reina smirked matching the wild energy of ash-
"Hoh ? The grim reaper finally made up his mind eh ? It took you an whole year ....I was thinking you might just give up you know ?"
Ash spoke as he pinched her nose playfully
" What are you talking about ....cook- we still got to sail the whole world right ?"
She smiled softly -
"So we are leaving ? When ?"
Ash grinned-
" Depends how fast your food can satisfy me ?"
She chuckled softly as she took out fresh ingredients to cook food for him.
"Aye ,Boss ! Cancel all my orders from now on- I need to feed a stray dog."
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________To be continued ________