The journey back to Cocoyasi Village passed without stirring up any further trouble.
Before the eyes of the entire village, Nami personally took action and subjected the sobbing, endlessly begging Captain Nezumi to an extreme form of electrical punishment.
Though the process was brutal, everyone present had suffered under his oppression and that of the Arlong Pirates for nearly ten years.
Not a single person felt even the slightest pity for Captain Nezumi as he screamed amid the lightning.
And so…
After Captain Nezumi was killed, Nami bid a brief farewell to her sister Nojiko and the village sheriff, Genzo.
Before leaving, she went alone to the place where Bell-mère lay at rest and stayed there for a very long time.
No one knew what Nami had said to Bell-mère.
Only that when she finally returned to the Going Merry, something about her had completely changed.
The gentle sea breeze stirred her tangerine-colored hair.
Standing at the bow of the Going Merry, Clima-Tact in hand, Nami gazed out at the distant sea. Light flickered in her eyes, and a confident smile curved her lips.
This time, she could finally cast aside all burdens—
And for her own dreams and ambitions…
Conquer this ocean!!!
…
…
At the same time.
East Blue, Loguetown Marine Base.
As the stronghold guarding the entrance to the Grand Line, the quality of its soldiers and level of armament far surpassed any other Marine branch in East Blue.
Even its commanding officer was an elite graduate who ranked among the top students of Marine Headquarters' training camp—
White Hunter Smoker!
While Smoker's record could not compare with that of the Navy's three admirals, he was still an indispensable pillar of the Marines' future.
The higher-ups had assigned him to Loguetown for two reasons: first, to suppress East Blue with his strength; and second, to temper him and allow him to accumulate achievements.
However, today, Colonel Smoker was clearly in a foul mood.
…
…
Inside a smoke-filled office where visibility was barely a few feet.
Smoker slammed the receiver down, his eyes flashing fiercely through the haze.
"Damn Straw Hat crew!!!"
"Someone, get in here!!!"
Bang!
Smoker smashed his fist onto the desk and shouted toward the door.
Creak—
The door opened.
A capable, sharp-looking young woman with short hair and glasses strode in.
At her waist hung a long, slender blade.
If Zoro were present, he would undoubtedly stare in disbelief.
Because this young woman looked exactly like his late friend from memory—Kuina!
This was none other than Tashigi, a Marine Headquarters officer transferred to Loguetown alongside Smoker.
"Colonel Smoker?" Tashigi asked, unbothered by the thick smoke.
Having followed Smoker for years, she was long accustomed to the stench of secondhand smoke.
"Something happened. Marine Branch 16 was attacked by pirates," Smoker said, directly revealing the intelligence he had just received from Headquarters.
Tashigi's expression changed instantly.
"What!?"
"What kind of pirates would dare do such a thing!?"
"The Straw Hat Pirates," Smoker said darkly.
"..."
Tashigi frowned, pushing up her glasses as realization dawned.
"You mean Monkey D. Luffy—the Straw Hat who was given a 50 million Beli bounty the first time he appeared!?"
"That's right. It's them!"
Smoker stood up and picked up the jitte resting in the corner.
"According to Headquarters, they assaulted the Marine base, seized its highest-ranking commander and all military funds, and then escaped without a trace!"
"This is nothing less than a direct challenge to the Marines' authority and justice."
"Headquarters has issued orders for all nearby Marine bases to dispatch their warships to patrol East Blue, conduct a full-scale search for the Straw Hat crew, and concentrate all forces to eliminate them in one decisive strike!"
"I will be serving as the overall commander of this operation!"
"Understood!"
Tashigi nodded in agreement. "Pirates like this must be eradicated quickly. We absolutely cannot allow them to grow any stronger!"
Smoker wasted no words.
"Handle the deployment of warships and personnel."
"And one more thing…"
"To prevent pirates from stirring up trouble in Loguetown while I'm gone, I need you to remain here and hold the town in my stead."
"Yes, Colonel Smoker. I understand."
Though she could not take part in such a major operation, Tashigi knew the importance of priorities as a soldier and responded at once.
A few hours later.
Dozens of Marine warships departed from bases across East Blue, launching widespread patrols.
The scale was unprecedented, something unseen in the region for nearly a decade!
It was more than enough to demonstrate the Marines' absolute resolve to eliminate the Straw Hat crew.
The news soon spread across East Blue through countless newspapers.
However, the reports differed considerably from the truth.
…
…
"Boss! Something big happened!!!"
"It's news about the Straw Hats!"
In a hidden alley of Loguetown.
The Buggy Pirates' vice-captain, Mohji—wearing a cloak that concealed his entire body, yet somehow drew even more attention—hurriedly pulled out a newspaper and handed it to another cloaked man.
A fleeting flash of red light revealed his identity.
It was Buggy the Clown, who had already pledged allegiance to the Straw Hats.
Buggy took the paper and immediately opened it.
Mohji explained from the side.
"Straw Hat Boss and the others apparently attacked a Marine base a few days ago, but it didn't go very smoothly…"
"They severely damaged the base and captured its highest officer, but in the end, they were driven off by the brave Marines, suffering heavy losses!"
"Brave Marines?"
Cabaji, the chief of staff, looked at him in confusion—as if asking how such words could come out of his mouth.
Realizing it instantly, Mohji hurried to clarify.
"Hey, I didn't say that! That's what the newspaper says!"
Snap!
Buggy folded the paper shut, an inscrutable grin simmering at the corner of his mouth.
He spoke directly to his two trusted subordinates.
"The news is fake."
"Huh!?" ×2
Mohji and Cabaji froze, staring at their captain.
"How do you know, Captain Buggy?" Mohji asked.
Buggy stretched his comically wide mouth into a grin and laughed.
"Simple!"
"Don't forget—there were rumors not long ago…"
"That the Straw Hats fought Hawk-Eye of the Seven Warlords in the Sambas Region."
"At that time, the crew only had a handful of people. How could they have suffered 'heavy losses'?"
"So everything written in that paper is complete nonsense!"
"And besides… that newspaper has been exposed before for being backed by the World Government."
"Don't bother reading trash like this again!"
"If you want real news, read the World Economic Journal!"
Stepping out of the alley, Buggy tore the newspaper into strips and flung them into the air like scattered petals.
Under the sunlight, the fragments fluttered down like colorful streamers.
Cloaked Buggy strode forward, flanked by his two equally mysterious subordinates.
Though it might have lacked virtue…
Even so—
At this moment, he looked undeniably cool.
"Let's go!"
"That bastard Bartolomeo has finally agreed to meet with us."
"I don't know what makes him so special, but since this is our first mission after joining under the Straw Hat banner…"
"There can be absolutely no mistakes!!!"
Buggy's expression hardened as he smiled faintly.
Though he might not yet be a true powerhouse, his unrestrained presence and ridiculous yet arrogant grin left little doubt—
He was someone capable of achieving great things.
(End of Chapter)