As the saying goes—some rejoice, while others grieve.
After prolonged salvage efforts and emergency treatment, the rescue operations in Loguetown finally drew to a close.
Fortunately…
Because the Straw Hats' attacks were aimed at warships rather than individual Marines, the East Blue Marines ultimately retained a survival rate of over eighty percent despite the failed campaign.
Though many had suffered injuries of varying severity during the chaos, in a world with the absurdly advanced medical standards of the seas, such wounds were hardly worth mentioning.
Even so—
This battle still cost the East Blue Marines hundreds of soldiers permanently.
This was the cruelty of war.Behind every cold statistic lay a living, breathing life, now tragically lost.
And if such losses were barely within the Navy's acceptable threshold…
Then the prestige they had lost in this campaign was something the Marines could never hope to reclaim.
…
…
Grand Line — Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Bang!!!
Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed the intelligence report just sent from the East Blue Command onto his desk, then roared furiously at the Marine hero across from him—who was casually munching on rice crackers.
"Garp, you bastard! Why can't you ever keep your family under control?!"
"This disaster in the East Blue—your family is behind it again!!!"
Overcome with rage, Sengoku stepped forward and grabbed Garp by the collar, yanking him up.
"If it weren't for your status as a Marine hero, I'd have tossed you into prison long ago and made you take responsibility for your family!!!"
Yet Garp, completely unfazed despite being sprayed with saliva, kept crunching away and laughed heartily.
"Wahahahaha…"
"This old man couldn't possibly take responsibility for something that serious!"
"You—!"
Bang!
With a snort of irritation, Sengoku flung Garp back into his chair, then strode to his desk and picked up a Den Den Mushi receiver.
"There's no need to bother with damage control anymore. What happened in the East Blue can't be concealed."
"The priority now is to make the world realize how dangerous and evil the Straw Hat Pirates are! Immediately convene a meeting and issue updated bounties for the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"And also…"
"According to the intelligence, they're likely preparing to enter the Grand Line."
"Inform the East Blue Marines to remain on high alert!"
"We absolutely cannot allow the Loguetown incident to embolden more pirates!!!"
Sengoku issued command after command into the receiver.
From the Den Den Mushi came a series of crisp replies: "Yes! Yes!"
After hanging up, Sengoku let out a heavy breath.
The seas were chaotic every single day—Loguetown alone wasn't enough to cloud his judgment.
In fact, if not for this pirate crew's direct connection to Garp, he wouldn't have personally intervened at all.
Still…
"Even if the East Blue's armaments and soldier quality are far inferior to the other seas—let alone Marine Headquarters…"
"To possess fleet-level combat power the moment they set sail…"
"Garp's grandson has grown far too terrifyingly fast, hasn't he?"
Personal ties were one thing. Duty was another.
Both Garp and Sengoku understood that distinction perfectly.
Otherwise, back when Dragon formed the Revolutionary Army, Garp would have already been dragged before a court-martial.
…
…
Meanwhile—
Inside the Marine hospital in Loguetown.
Tashigi, who had collapsed from exhaustion, jolted awake on a pristine white hospital bed.
"No!!!"
She cried out sharply, then froze as confusion filled her eyes.
Clearly, she had just suffered through an unpleasant dream.
Hearing the disturbance, the Marine stationed outside rushed in.
"Tashigi, Chief Petty Officer!"
"I'm fine."
Before he could finish, Tashigi raised a hand to stop him.
Pressing her other hand to her forehead, she took several deep breaths until the cold sweat gradually faded.
Once fully conscious, something suddenly occurred to her.
"Right—have you found Colonel Smoker!?"
"Ah… well…"
The Marine stiffened, his gaze flickering.
In the end, under Tashigi's trembling stare, he lowered his head apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Tashigi."
"We searched the entire surrounding sea area and found no sign of Colonel Smoker."
"According to other soldiers, the Colonel went alone to apprehend the Straw Hat crew."
"Not long after that… he disappeared."
"Our current assessment is that he was either captured by the Straw Hat Pirates—or…"
The Marine paused before continuing slowly,
"…killed by them."
"That's impossible!!!"
Tashigi slammed a fist into the bed and shouted.
"The Colonel is a Logia-type Devil Fruit user! How could he possibly—how could he possibly—"
Her voice caught abruptly.
She could not continue.
After all, the power the Straw Hat crew had displayed had already exceeded anything they could comprehend.
And in this world, there was no shortage of methods capable of countering Logia abilities.
With Colonel Smoker still missing, the likelihood of defeat was almost absolute.
The only uncertainty was whether he was still alive.
Whether killed or captured, either outcome was a colossal humiliation for someone who served as a base commander and overall operation leader.
Recalling how Luffy and Zoro had defeated numerous Marines in Loguetown's plaza—yet clearly held back without killing anyone…
That fragile sliver of hope lingered in Tashigi's heart.
Suddenly, Red's words from the Loguetown plaza flashed through her mind.
"The news!"
"The newspaper!"
She looked up sharply.
"How long was I unconscious!?"
"Exactly twelve hours," the Marine replied after checking the time.
"Twelve hours… then it's already the next day."
She snapped her head toward him.
"Bring me today's newspaper—now!"
"And make it the World Economy News Paper!!!"
"Huh?!"
Though startled, the Marine quickly rushed off.
A short while later, he returned with the latest East Blue edition of the World Economy News Paper.
Tashigi opened it at once.
Splashed across the front page was a massive headline:
[Shocking! East Blue's Most Notorious Pirates Attack Marine Base—All For…!]
Clearly, the paper's writers knew how to craft attention-grabbing titles.
Yet the article itself was free of sensational distortions.
Instead, it meticulously laid out every detail provided by Red—
From the Marines' release of the Arlong Pirates, to their tyrannical rule and slaughter of humans for nearly a decade, to their collusion with Marine Branch 16's commander, Captain Nezumi…
Every claim was supported by photographs and concrete evidence.
No embellishment was necessary—any kind-hearted reader would feel chills reading it.
Not only did this scandal deal a devastating blow to the East Blue Marines' credibility—
This single report was enough to instantly recast the Straw Hat crew—once reviled pirates—into heroic figures.
Because without them, the people oppressed by Captain Nezumi and the Arlong Pirates would have continued suffering unspeakable agony and shedding endless tears of blood.
"…How could this be?"
Tashigi clenched the newspaper tightly.
Reading of Captain Nezumi's deeds, the justice she believed the Marines embodied began to waver.
…
…
Good news never leaves the house, bad news travels a thousand miles.
The truth behind the Straw Hats' attack on Marine Branch 16 spread rapidly throughout the East Blue.
Alongside it came reports of their defeat of an entire Marine fleet.
The World Economy News Paper loved exaggeration and flamboyant language—that much was expected of the profession.
But compared to other publications, its credibility was unquestionable.
For a time, the entire East Blue erupted in heated debate.
And as the villains of the narrative, the Marines were subjected to fierce public condemnation.
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates—who had uprooted evil—were paradoxically hailed as righteous heroes.
Yet for the Straw Hat crew themselves…
None of this mattered.
Because right now, they had something far more pressing to figure out.
…
…
Inside the cabin of the Going Merry.
Red stared blankly at Smoker, who had been tied up so thoroughly by Usopp's ropework that he couldn't even make a sound.
Turning to his companions, Red asked with utter confusion,
"So…"
"Can someone explain to me why this guy is on our ship?!"
(End of Chapter)