Loguetown is blessed with a strategically advantageous location. As the gateway from the East Blue to the Grand Line, it's the only island along this long sea route where travelers can resupply. Naturally, it has become a central hub for transportation and trade in the East Blue.
Moreover, Loguetown is both the birthplace and the execution site of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. Thanks to this celebrity association, it has also become the most bustling tourist attraction in the East Blue.
At the same time, Loguetown holds significant military value in the eyes of the Navy. Senior officers from Navy Headquarters are stationed here year-round, tasked with monitoring, eliminating threats, maintaining order, and asserting control over the East Blue.
With its combined strength in economy, culture, and military presence, Loguetown's prosperity far surpasses what the term "town" suggests. It would be no exaggeration to call it a central city of the East Blue.
Against this backdrop, the sea routes around Loguetown are bustling with activity, teeming with ships and full of life and vitality.
The closer one gets to the coastline of Loguetown, the more sailboats fill the sea.
As the docks of Loguetown gradually came into view, the eyes of Garen and his companions were filled with the endless silhouettes of white sails.
This kind of scenery was different from the awe-inspiring majesty of the open ocean—it showcased human ingenuity and civilization in a way that was equally pleasing to the eye.
However...
Smoker's expression was grim as he stared at the ships sailing nearby, his sharp gaze locking onto several black flags fluttering in the wind.
"Those are pirate ships, aren't they?!"
What he saw in Loguetown shocked Smoker to his core.
Despite being a major military stronghold with elite Navy forces stationed from headquarters, this place was nothing like the clean and just port he had imagined. Instead, pirate ships were everywhere, openly sailing about without any attempt at concealment.
What Smoker found even more baffling was this:
He was currently aboard a fully armed Navy warship flying the Marine flag.
And yet, those pirate crews who saw the flag didn't show any hostility at all—there wasn't even the slightest sign of them trying to flee.
Clearly, these pirates had become entirely indifferent to the sight of a Navy flag.
"What the hell is going on?"
Smoker turned directly to Wallace, the young journalist beside him, knowing this local from Loguetown might have answers.
"Well..."
Wallace had an odd expression as he explained, "Loguetown's always been like this."
"What?!"
The cigar in Smoker's mouth flared brighter, and the smoke he exhaled became heavier and thicker.
"Doesn't Loguetown have high-ranking officers stationed here year-round? How are these pirates so brazen?!"
"That's because..."
Wallace said seriously,
"The Navy stationed in Loguetown... has never been exactly clean."
"Not clean?"
Garen couldn't help but interject,
"But didn't you recommend I come to Loguetown to collect bounty payments?"
"That's because, all things considered, Loguetown is still the best choice."
Wallace sighed in frustration.
"Lord Garen, you've lived in high places all your life—maybe you're not familiar with how things are for us at the bottom."
"When bounty hunters try to cash in large rewards, the Navy in Loguetown usually takes around a 30% 'loss adjustment fee.'"
"Thirty percent?! That means I'd be losing three million Berries!"
Garen said in disbelief.
"And this is the best option?!"
"Tch—"
"You really are a palace-raised noble, huh?"
This time it was Nami who spoke up, her tone laced with a bit of sarcasm as she explained:
"Thirty percent is actually the most reasonable rate in the East Blue."
"If you go to certain branch offices of the Navy, you might not even get a single Berry—and worse, you might be robbed and killed by the local 'warlords'!"
"Exactly!"
Wallace added with a sigh,
"At least in Loguetown, once they take their cut, the Navy actually follows through and guarantees the client's safety."
Smoker was already trembling with anger, white smoke beginning to leak from between his silver-white strands of hair.
"Unbelievable!"
He took a deep drag of his cigar, finishing the last half in one breath before tossing the butt to the ground with force.
Glaring at the pirate ships openly heading for the Loguetown docks, he ground his teeth and spat:
"It's one thing if they're corrupt—but they're not even arresting pirates anymore?!"
"But..."
Tashigi also stepped forward, confused.
"Isn't Loguetown's current commanding officer a Major from Navy Headquarters named Hammer?"
"Before we came, I looked into him a bit. Supposedly, he has a good record of strong enforcement and outstanding achievements!"
"Of course his 'record' looks good!"
Wallace gave a wry smile.
"Because all the pirates he captures... are the ones who don't pay up."
"He uses those fools to pad his resume—and that's enough to earn him praise for cracking down on crime."
Wallace went on to explain in more detail, and Garen finally understood the brilliance of this Commander Hammer—he guarded the gateway to the Grand Line from the East Blue, and demanded a "toll" from every pirate crew that wanted to pass through.
Pirates who paid became his "brothers." Not only could they pass freely without obstruction, but they could also purchase weapons, ammunition, maps, and other contraband through Hammer's channels.
As for those who refused to pay? They became Hammer's performance statistics.
"A toll station and service center for pirates?"
Garen couldn't help but admire the guy:
"This man is a genius!"
"Hammer is definitely a very clever man..."
"Honestly, given how cautious he usually is, it's surprising he's letting things get this exposed today."
Wallace didn't seem to mind stirring the pot and added thoughtfully:
"Technically, he should've received the notice that Smoker was being transferred here long ago."
"I actually thought he had already cleaned everything up—that's why I didn't tell you the truth about Loguetown yesterday."
"No..."
Smoker took another deep puff of his cigar and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
"Our original plan was to travel from Navy Headquarters along the first half of the Grand Line, then pass through Reverse Mountain to reach the East Blue."
"But Vice Admiral Garp happened to be returning to the East Blue, so we hitched a ride on his Seastone-armored ship."
"Thanks to a convenient current from the Whirlpool Triangle, we bypassed the Calm Belt and made it here in record time."
Smoker spoke in a deep voice:
"In other words..."
"The notice says we're not expected to arrive for another twenty days."
"I see!"
Excitement flashed in Wallace's eyes. Hammer had miscalculated—the intelligence he received was off, so he hadn't had time to clean up his tracks. And now, he had walked right into the hands of a righteous Navy officer like Smoker.
Wallace could already smell the scent of a big scoop.
"Heh."
Smoker snorted coldly and turned to Tashigi.
"Tashigi!"
"I'm going to see the Navy base here myself. Bring the team and follow me quickly!"
"Huh?"
Tashigi was still trying to catch up.
"Where's the Loguetown base located?!"
Smoker asked Wallace sharply, his expression dark.
Before Wallace could answer, a cloud of white smoke enveloped him.
"Never mind, just take me there yourself!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Smoker transformed into a massive plume of smoke, whisking Wallace away into the sky and flying straight toward Loguetown.
"Totally reckless..."
Tashigi muttered helplessly to herself.
But as the highest-ranking officer now remaining in the group, the young Tashigi had no choice but to shoulder the burden of command. Following Smoker's orders, she instructed the Marines:
"Increase speed! Prepare to land!"
"All units, form up! Check your equipment and prepare for combat!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The Navy soldiers responded in unison, full of vigor and morale.
Although small in number, all thirty of them were elite forces from Navy Headquarters. That one unified shout alone shifted Nami's impression of the Navy. For the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope.
Maybe—just maybe—her hometown could be saved with soldiers like these.
At that moment, a burst of popping joints echoed nearby. Turning her head, Nami saw Garen stretching and warming up, his eyes full of fighting spirit.
"Wait—you're going to help Smoker fight?"
Nami looked at him in surprise and warned:
"No matter how corrupt those people are, they're still Navy officers! Fighting the Navy won't earn you any money!"
"And if you accidentally get labeled a pirate, you'll be in serious trouble!"
"Don't worry."
Garen answered casually:
"I'm here as part of an anti-corruption mission with a Navy Headquarters officer—there's no danger for me."
"Besides..."
He thought about how much experience he still needed to reach level 5, and said righteously:
"Those corrupt officials abuse their power, shirk their duties, and bend the law for personal gain. Who knows how many innocent civilians they've hurt over the years?"
"I, Garen the Knight of Justice, shall deliver justice to them today!"
(End of Chapter)