East Blue, Loguetown.
Known as the Town of the Beginning and the End, this was the birthplace of the Pirate King, Gol D.
Roger, and the place where his life came to an end.
The Great Pirate Era had begun here, ignited by his final words.
Even now, the execution platform still stood in the town square, a silent witness to history.
After seven days at sea aboard a merchant ship, Light finally stepped onto the port of Loguetown.
He let out a quiet breath.
“Just how fast are the Straw Hat Pirates supposed to be?”
He could not help comparing.
In less than half a year, Monkey D.
Luffy and his crew would travel from the East Blue all the way to Sabaody Archipelago.
That kind of speed was absurd.
At the pace of a merchant vessel, covering even half that distance within a year would already be impressive.
Standing at the port, Light felt the steady sea breeze brush past him.
His gaze swept across the harbor.
Ships of all sizes filled the docks, coming and going from different parts of the East Blue.
The town was lively, prosperous, and well-deserving of its reputation.
Then something caught his attention.
A pirate ship.
Light narrowed his eyes slightly.
As far as he knew, the current commander stationed here was Smoker, a Marine captain known as the White Hunter.
During his time in Loguetown, he had never allowed a single pirate to escape.
Which meant one thing.
Any pirate foolish enough to dock here would not be leaving anytime soon.
Light observed the flag briefly.
It belonged to an unknown crew, nothing worth remembering.
He lost interest quickly and turned toward the town.
His plan was simple.
First, collect the bounty.
Then visit Roger’s execution platform.
After that, rest for a couple of days before heading to Shimotsuki Village.
He had barely stepped into the commercial district when a sharp whistle pierced the air.
The reaction was immediate.
Vendors froze for a split second before erupting into motion.
Stalls were abandoned, goods left behind as people rushed to flee.
“The Marines’ emergency whistle!”
“They are hunting pirates again!”
Within minutes, the once lively street became completely deserted.
Light stood there, watching the empty road.
“…That efficient?”
Before he could think further, gunfire echoed from the far end of the street.
A group of pirates burst into view, sprinting forward in panic.
Behind them, Marines pursued relentlessly.
At the front was their leader, a tall, muscular man with a bald head and a single eye. Get faster updates on g.com.
A pistol in one hand and a saber in the other, his expression was savage.
“Damn it!
They said the White Hunter went back to Marineford.
Why is he here?”
He barked orders as he ran, urging his crew to keep up.
Then, from behind them, thick white smoke surged forward.
It moved with terrifying speed.
Within moments, it swallowed the pirates at the rear.
Their screams were cut off instantly.
The smoke did not slow, instead it accelerated, closing in on the rest.
The leader ignored everything behind him and focused only on escape.
After running a short distance, he suddenly saw Light standing in the middle of the street.
“Move!”
He swung his saber without hesitation.
But before the blade could land, his vision was swallowed by darkness.
Endless, suffocating darkness.
“What is this?”
Panic flashed across his face.
Then, a hand emerged from within the darkness and seized his throat.
The grip was overwhelming.
His feet left the ground as he was lifted effortlessly.
In the next instant, Light slammed him down with brutal force.
The stone pavement shattered on impact.
Blood spread across the broken tiles as the pirate convulsed briefly before going still.
At the same time, the remaining pirates were completely consumed by the white smoke.
For a brief moment, the street was divided.
White smoke on one side, darkness on the other.
Then the smoke receded.
The figure of Smoker stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Light.
The darkness faded as well, revealing Light standing calmly in place, a faint smile on his face.
Smoker studied him for a moment before speaking.
“You are not a user of some spatial ability, are you?”
As a Marine officer who paid close attention to events on the Grand Line, Smoker had already recognized him.
The man accused of killing Thatch.
From the perspective of the Whitebeard Pirates, he was a criminal.
From another perspective, he had removed a dangerous pirate.
Light let out a soft chuckle.
“I never said I was.”
Smoker did not show hostility, but his guard remained up.
“Care to introduce yourself?”
“Light.”
There was no hesitation.
“I am a pirate hunter.
I turned twenty this year.”
He paused briefly before adding, “Anything else?”
Smoker raised an eyebrow.
He had not expected such directness.
After a moment, he continued, “What brings you to Loguetown?”
“To collect a bounty.”
Light’s tone remained relaxed.
“I have been avoiding unnecessary trouble with the Whitebeard Pirates, so I delayed claiming it.
Now that I am in the East Blue, it is safer.
Three hundred and sixty million Berries, you are not planning to underpay me, right?”
Smoker glanced at the unconscious pirate lying at Light’s feet.
“With this included, it should be three hundred and sixty-two million two hundred thousand Berries.”
Light nodded without hesitation.
“You are the one paying, so I will take your word for it.”
By then, the Marines had caught up.
Without needing orders, they efficiently secured the captured pirates.
Smoker turned back to Light.
“This is not the place for a conversation.
Come to the base.
We have an interest in you.”
Light had already planned to go there anyway.
Without objection, he followed.
Soon, they arrived at the Marine base in Loguetown.
The moment they stepped inside, a young Marine woman rushed toward them, clearly anxious.
Light recognized her immediately.
Tashigi.
“Captain Smoker, are you alright?” she asked.
Smoker waved dismissively.
“What could possibly happen to me?”
Before she could continue, he gave an order.
“Report to Marineford.
Tell them the man responsible for eliminating Thatch is here at the Loguetown base.
His name is Light, a pirate hunter.”
“Understood…”
Tashigi responded instinctively, then froze as realization hit her.
Her gaze shifted toward Light, filled with surprise.
Smoker frowned.
“What are you waiting for?
Move.”