Tuanzi stared blankly at the group blocking their path.
There was no fear in her eyes.
Instead, she frowned slightly, as if seriously thinking something through.
"Master," she asked,
"in a situation like this… do I still need to think carefully?"
Logan looked at her in surprise—then burst out laughing.
He reached out and ruffled her messy hair, praise clear in his voice.
"Very good. Looks like you actually remembered what I taught you."
He then added calmly,
"But rules aren't absolute.
If someone is about to harm you directly, then there's no need to overthink."
He smiled.
"Just draw your blade."
"Hehehe… then I really like this kind of situation."
Tuanzi's face lit up instantly.
Her hand tightened around the hilt of Dragon-Slayer, the blade angled upward at her waist.
Miss Valentine shot Mr. 5 an annoyed glare, signaling him to shut up, then slowly walked toward Logan.
Her voice softened, sweet and gentle.
"Big brother… don't worry.
As long as you hand over your money obediently, I promise no one here will hurt you."
Logan smiled faintly and gave her an unhurried once-over.
"You look decent enough," he said casually.
"Long legs, slim waist. You could stay by my side someday—pour tea, serve water, that sort of thing."
Miss Valentine's expression instantly darkened.
"Don't think being handsome gives you the right to spout nonsense," she said coldly.
Mr. 5 had completely run out of patience.
With a sharp wave of his hand, the men in yellow robes behind him drew their weapons, forming a tight circle around Logan and Tuanzi.
"Enough talking!"
Mr. 5 snarled.
"If you really like this pretty boy so much, I'll just tie him up later—play with him however you want!"
Then he glared straight at Logan.
"I'll give you three seconds.
Hand over your valuables and walk away—
or I kill you and take them myself."
"1…
2—"
Logan calmly took Town-Sea into his hands.
"There are Devil Fruit users among them," he said to Tuanzi.
"You can handle the small fry, but those two from Baroque Works are still a bit much for you."
"So this time—let Master handle it."
"Got it, Master!"
Tuanzi's eyes gleamed as she looked at the encirclement, excitement flashing across her face—as if she were staring at prey.
This time… I can finally kill.
Shing!
She drew Dragon-Slayer in one smooth motion, the tip scraping across the sand as she shot forward like a starving wolf, charging straight into the crowd.
At the tea shop, she had only swung once.
That wasn't nearly enough.
Logan raised Town-Sea high, then drove the blade point-down into the desert.
He barely used any strength—yet half the massive sword sank straight into the sand.
"Tch. At least this pretty boy knows when to give up."
Mr. 5 snorted and strode forward to claim the weapon.
But when he was less than a meter away—
His expression suddenly changed.
An unfamiliar, terrifying heat washed over him.
Instinctively, he halted.
The next instant—
BOOM!
A colossal pillar of flame erupted from the buried sword, roaring straight into the sky.
The previously calm white clouds were torn apart, a massive hole burned clean through the heavens.
The inferno dragged violent winds with it, whipping up endless sand.
A scorching heatwave slammed into everyone present.
Shouting in panic, the crowd scrambled backward.
Mr. 5 reacted the moment he sensed danger, retreating at full speed—but still too slow.
His trench coat and afro were instantly scorched black.
After desperately patting out the flames, he ignored the pain, staring at the towering fire column in sheer terror.
Miss Valentine, farther away, felt less of the heat—but the instant the flames erupted, she opened her parasol and floated upward like a feather, trembling as she looked down.
As for Tuanzi—
She had just raised her blade to strike when she saw every single yellow-robed man engulfed by fire.
She froze in place, furious.
Screams echoed across the desert.
Bodies rolled and writhed in agony—then went still.
One by one, they became charred black corpses, wisps of white smoke rising from them.
Strangely enough, Logan felt no hostility from the flames at all.
On the contrary—
He was delighted.
Because there was only one person who could command fire on such a scale.
As the flames slowly faded, the temperature dropped.
At the center of the scorched ground, a figure emerged.
Logan turned to look.
A young man stood there shirtless beside Town-Sea, smiling warmly.
Well-built muscles.
Bronze skin.
Black hair.
An orange cowboy hat sat atop his head, adorned with two badges—one smiling, one crying.
A red bead necklace hung around his neck, brown shorts on his lower half.
His sharp features and faint freckles only added to his rugged charm.
In the next instant, his body turned into fire.
With a burst of flames, he vanished—
and reappeared right in front of Mr. 5.
"Daring to rob my big brother's money?"
The young man grinned.
"You got a death wish?"
Mr. 5's pupils shrank.
His finger trembled as he pointed at the man, voice shaking.
"Y-you… who the hell are you?!"
The shirtless youth smiled calmly.
He clenched his fist.
Orange-yellow flames wrapped around it instantly, growing larger and hotter.
The air itself warped from the heat.
Miss Valentine descended nearby—and by chance caught sight of the tattoo on his back.
Her face changed instantly.
"He's from the Whitebeard Pirates!"
She screamed.
"RUN!"
She didn't even wait for Mr. 5—floating away at full speed.
The moment Mr. 5 heard Whitebeard Pirates, his mind went blank.
Only one thought remained:
Run.
Run with everything I've got.
The young man slammed his fists together.
Flames surged across both arms.
He threw two punches at once.
The fire stretched into twin blazing dragons, roaring through the air in pursuit.
Moments later—
Two piercing screams echoed across the desert.
Both figures collapsed unconscious into the sand.
The young man didn't spare them another glance.
He turned toward Logan and smiled.
"Big Brother Logan… we finally meet again."
"You little brat," Logan said, laughing as they bumped fists and pulled each other into a tight embrace.
"Did you really need to make such a flashy entrance?"
"Aren't I just following your example?" Ace grinned.
Then he glanced at the small girl glaring daggers at him.
"…And who's this kid?"
Before Logan could answer—
Tuanzi snarled furiously:
"I'm your ancestor!"
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