Loguetown, the place where the dream began, and the source of the new era.
In the Sea Circle Calendar year 1498, the death of the Pirate King Roger opened the curtain on the Great Pirate Era.
Aside from Roger and his crew, no one knew what the great treasure, One Piece, truly was.
No one knew whether Laugh Tale, the final island, held mountains of gold, piles of silver, or something else entirely.
On the third day of April, a pirate ship arrived at Loguetown’s outer harbor, flying a skull flag with crossed blades beneath it.
“Bonk, remember to buy plenty of fruit that can be stored for a long time.
We’re crossing the Calm Belt this time, and there won’t be any islands where we can restock along the way.” For once, Gavin was not training.
Half his body leaned over the side of the ship as he shouted toward his crewmates, who were about to head into town.
Bonk Punch raised a hand and waved.
“Got it!
We’ll come back as soon as we can!” Outside Loguetown’s harbor stood a triangular archway with the words “Logue Town” carved into it.
Looking ahead, the road leading into town was lined with shops and shouting clerks on both sides.
Bustling tourists occasionally stopped to buy something that caught their interest.
Among them, however, there were even more pirates carrying a faint air of lawlessness.
“So this is Loguetown.
It really does feel different from other places.” Yasopp adjusted the two short pistols at his waist, his face full of excitement.
“Come on, let’s have a proper look around!
With the captain and vice-captain personally watching the ship, nothing’s going to happen.
A sniper can’t go without a good gun!!” Bonk and the others did not object.
They still did not have a clear understanding of what Marines from the Grand Line were really like.
But that could not be blamed on them.
After all, the Marines they had dealt with so far had all been from East Blue.
And in this, the most peaceful of the four seas, they had yet to cross paths with the one Marine vice admiral truly worth any praise—the strongest of them, at that.
…
Buru buru buru~~ At the corner of an alley, the unique sound of a Den Den Mushi rang out.
Kacha— “Reporting to Captain Tokikake!” “The Red Hair Pirates have appeared in Loguetown!
The Red Force is docked at Berth 12 in the outer harbor!” The Den Den Mushi’s face instantly changed from lazy boredom to seriousness.
“The Red Hair Pirates… Shanks, huh?
Tch.
A troublesome one showed up.” “I understand.
Keep observing them.
I’m heading to the harbor now.” Kacha— Inside a low building in Loguetown, Tokikake put on his coat and picked up his khaki cowboy hat, setting it on his head.
“What a pain.
Fleet Admiral Kong really knows how to dump work on people.
Why send the two of us here to guard this place?
Shouldn’t this kind of thing be left to the Marines from the Four Blues?” “Haaah~~” A wisp of smoke drifted out.
A gentle, slightly seductive female voice followed.
“It can’t be helped, Tokikake.
Stop complaining.
The Grand Line is like a hornet’s nest right now.” “Loguetown is where the Great Pirate Era began.
Plenty of pirates come here to ‘check in’ before going out to sea.
This post has already become an independent base Headquarters can’t pull back.” On a lounge chair not far away, a woman with thick, long black hair suddenly sat up.
Her makeup was elegant and understated, and the small mole near her lips gave her a slightly alluring charm.
As she stood, the thin blanket slid down, revealing her straight, rounded legs and the black spider tattoo on one of them.
“Ever since the words the Pirate King said before his death spread last year, the whole sea has been thrown into chaos.
Sister Tsuru has complained to me about it more than once.” “Admiral Sengoku is running around the New World with that sleazy adjutant of his, rescuing people and putting out fires.
Vice Admiral Sakazuki is killing and burning his way through the first half of the Grand Line.
Thanks to that, the Marines’ public reputation has been going up and down lately.” “And Vice Admiral Garp skipped work again and vanished somewhere.
They couldn’t even find him in his hometown.
Who knows where he ran off to fool around this time?” “Men.
Every last one of them’s the same!” Hearing Gion’s complaint, Tokikake’s lips curled upward.
He rubbed his hands together and smiled ingratiatingly.
“Hehehe, Gion-chan, I would never do that!
Once this assignment ends, how about we go on a date?
I’ve already booked the best five star hotel!” Gion glanced at Kake’s overly mature face and curled her lips.
“Forget it.
I’d rather you go fool around everywhere like Vice Admiral Garp.
Too bad you don’t have the power for it.
Speaking of which, how did you manage to look twenty years ahead of everyone your age?” “What are the girls at the taverns supposed to call you?
A washed-up middle-aged uncle who never made it?” Tokikake clutched his heart and fell to his knees as the world behind him turned gray and white.
“My… my twenty-ninth confession failed…” “Stop messing around, Tokikake.
We’re moving.
The Red Hair Pirates are dangerous people that higher-ups specifically told us to watch.” Gion picked up her sword, Konpira, and strode outside.
“Just the captain and vice-captain’s bounties together are almost five hundred million, and that’s in a place like East Blue.
I really don’t understand why they’re marked ONLY ALIVE!” “Yes, yes, I know.
Be careful too.
Getting a bounty like that in East Blue is more than enough to prove those two aren’t simple.” Tokikake hurried after her, his wooden clogs clacking rapidly against the ground.
“Speaking of which, Gion, do you know about Admiral Zephyr’s situation?” “Zephyr?” Gion frowned slightly as they walked, turning to look at Tokikake, whose expression had turned serious.
“I know what you’re trying to say.
None of us wanted that tragedy nine years ago to happen, the incident where Zephyr’s family was killed by pirates.” “That matter has already been settled.
It was done by a crew of pirates who hated the Marines.
Don’t overthink it.” Click.
The sound of a lighter opening rang out.
“Hiss… haaah…” Smoke covered Tokikake’s eyes.
“Is that really how it is?
Those pirates still haven’t been caught, have they?” Gion’s steps paused for an instant before quickly returning to their previous pace.
“…One day, justice will reach them.” The khaki cowboy hat swayed left and right inside the smoke.
Having gotten the answer he wanted, Tokikake did not say anything more.
“Let’s go.
To the harbor.” …
Loguetown’s harbor was still crowded with people, and the dockworkers had not stopped working just because pirates had arrived.
There were even bold foremen who ran over to the side of the Red Force and asked whether they needed help moving supplies.
“No need.
You should leave quickly.” Shanks rejected the men, his gaze fixed on the only main road leading from Loguetown to the harbor.
“Gavin, we’ve got work.
Two people with very strong presences are coming this way.” “I see them.
They’re Marines.” Gavin stood at the bow, his vision stretching into the distance through a telescope.
“…That black spider tattoo.
Is that Gion from Marine Headquarters?” “Shanks, we’ve got a real fight this time.
They’re officers sent down from Marine Headquarters.” “The Grand Line?” Shanks looked up at Gavin.
After receiving a confirming look, his brows drew together.
“That’s troublesome.
Be careful!
If they were sent down from the Grand Line, then they definitely have both Observation Haki and Armament Haki!” “I know.” Whoosh.
Gavin leapt down from the ship, drew Shinso with his right hand, and slashed forward.
A beautiful figure rushed in at high speed, drawing her sword and cutting down just in time to collide with Shinso’s short blade.
“Nice strength.
As expected of a pirate with a two-hundred-million-Berry bounty.” Gion wore a seductive smile, and her rounded tongue, shaped almost like half a heart, slipped from her mouth and traced the corner of her lips.
“Hey, handsome, how about coming back to the Marines with me?
If you’re willing to join us, I might even agree to go on a date with you.” “A date?” Gavin kicked out without the slightest hint of mercy toward a beautiful woman.
“Auntie, are you trying to rob the cradle?
I’m in the prime of my youth here!” ‘A-auntie?’ Gion nearly failed to keep the expression on her face.
Using her beauty in battle had already become routine for her.
After all, those pirates would not live afterward anyway.
If they wanted to look, she would let them look all they wanted, then collect their lives as the ticket price.
But this was the first time anyone had called her auntie, Least of all a man with a face this easy on the eyes.
“You’re really not a sweet one, little man.
Big Sis still in the prime of her youth too, I’ll have you know.” “Little?
If you mean my age, then I’ll admit that much.” Gavin’s mouth never stopped running, but the short blade in his hand also never stopped moving.
Sharp metallic screeches rang out one after another.
Not far away, Tokikake, who was locked in a heated fight with Shanks, felt the corner of his mouth twitch.
After knocking Shanks several meters back with a Haki-wrapped punch, he roared at Gavin.
“Shut that mouth of yours, you pirate bastard!
Gion is the treasure of our Marines!” Gavin dodged Gion’s three-hit slash combo and took a quick glance at Kake.
“You washed-up middle-aged uncle who never made it in the Marines—kindly keep your focus on my captain, and stop butting in on my date with Gion-chan.”