"That's right, this texture, this craftsmanship—this is none other than Frostbite, one of the Fifty Skillful Grade Blades!!"
Tashigi exclaimed loudly, unable to contain the joy on her face.
"You... you're really going to sell this famous sword?!"
She looked at Kyle again, asking in disbelief.
Tashigi could hardly believe that the legendary blade she had dreamed of was now right in front of her, just like that.
But facing the excited Tashigi, Kyle only scoffed lightly and waved his hand helplessly:
"Miss Tashigi, I'm not a swordsman."
"No matter how good this sword is, I have no use for it."
"It's better to sell it early and use the money to buy gear that suits me."
"What a shame," Tashigi said, but the joy on her face only deepened as she kept caressing the blade.
At that moment, seeing how utterly entranced she was, Kyle realized...
The time had come!
He slowly took out the sleeping drug he had prepared earlier.
To ensure proper disguise, he had carefully placed the drug into an ornate spray bottle.
Kyle presented the spray bottle.
"Miss Tashigi, I happened to buy a blade-enhancing polish. It's said to better reveal the sword's patterns."
"Why don't you take a closer look while I use this spray? You'll be able to appreciate the blade more closely."
"Really? There's something that useful?"
Naive and inexperienced, Tashigi suspected nothing, her attention fully absorbed by the sword...
She obediently leaned in closer, preparing to admire the blade's shine up close.
But just then, the spray nozzle abruptly shifted away from the sword—
SPLASH—!
A mist of unknown liquid sprayed directly onto Tashigi's face.
"Ah!"
Startled and unaware of the danger, Tashigi cried out and reached to wipe the fog from her glasses.
But at that moment, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her like a crashing tide.
"W-What's going on…?"
Half-conscious, she instinctively reached for her sword Shigure, but in the next second, her body went limp and collapsed forward.
"Hehehe…"
Kyle caught her slender waist, chuckling wickedly as he felt her weightless form in his arms.
Ignoring the horrified stares from nearby customers, he quickly pulled out a worn burlap sack.
In a few swift motions, he stuffed Tashigi inside the bag and slung it over his shoulder.
After completing the act, Kyle even waved Frostbite and gave everyone present a crazed grin:
"What are you looking at?!"
"Never seen a kidnapping before?!"
"Keep staring and I'll bag all of you up and sell you to the mines!"
"Hmph~"
With a snort, Kyle glanced at the terrified townsfolk, completely cowed by his brazenness...
Then he dashed out of the café, carrying Tashigi on his shoulder, sprinting straight toward the harbor.
Mission Target: Tashigi — GET!!!
Moments later—
On the street.
Two panting marines returned to their previous patrol area, leaning against a wall as they gasped for air.
"Huff— Huff—"
"No wonder she's Colonel Smoker's chosen adjutant—even as just a young girl, she runs unbelievably fast!"
"Exactly," the other marine replied between breaths.
After resting a bit, they slowly straightened up, only to suddenly freeze in place.
"Huh?"
"Hey, look over there—isn't that the guy who was selling the sword earlier?"
"Whoa, yeah! That's definitely him!"
"And that huge sack—looks like he made a big sale."
The senior marine watched Kyle's fading silhouette with envy.
But the younger one scratched his head in confusion:
"Weird... I don't remember Lieutenant Tashigi bringing any money with her~"
"Could it be someone else bought the sword?"
"Hahaha, that's impossible."
"In Loguetown, who would dare take what Lieutenant Tashigi has her eye on?"
"Come on, let's go check it out."
"Maybe she's inside admiring her new sword right now!"
The two marines chatted casually as they approached the café.
But…
When they pushed open the door and saw the crying waitress collapsed on the floor—
Their smiles froze instantly.
"What... what happened here?"
"WHAT?!"
"You're saying Tashigi was kidnapped?!"
Inside the smoke-filled office, Colonel Smoker shot to his feet, the three cigars clenched in his mouth quivering. His eyes bulged in fury.
The two marines who had rushed back to report trembled with fear.
BANG!
A rough fist slammed onto the desk, shaking the entire room.
"Outrageous!!"
"Where are those bastards now?!"
"Gulp…"
The marines jumped and quickly recounted what they had learned at the café.
"Reporting, Colonel Smoker! There was only one kidnapper, a man who looked around 20 years old, dressed casually."
"According to the café staff, he used some sort of sleeping agent to knock Lieutenant Tashigi out, stuffed her into a sack, and escaped toward the harbor!"
"What?! Sleeping drug and a burlap sack?!"
"Despicable pirate scum!!"
"This is an insult to the Navy!!!"
Enraged by the report, Smoker's fury exploded.
Billowing smoke surged from his body like a storm.
"The harbor, huh?"
"Fine. Excellent."
"To dare cause trouble on MY turf—so, they think I'm a joke now?!"
CRASH!
The office window shattered.
A fierce gust roared through the room as all the smoke condensed into a white stream, shooting straight toward the harbor.
Utilizing the properties of smoke, Smoker could fly briefly through the air.
From the elevated height of the Navy base, he could reach the harbor in no time.
At that moment—
The Loguetown harbor remained lively and bustling.
No one knew that not long ago, the Navy's second-in-command had been kidnapped like a sack of potatoes.
"Almost there. If I can just make it to the ship, the mission's a success!"
Kyle didn't slow down for a second, weaving through the crowd as he sprinted toward the harbor.
He had already decided how to make Tashigi join his pirate crew.
It was a reason she simply couldn't refuse!
In other words…
He was about to gain his very first crew member!!!
In that moment, even Kyle felt a spark of excitement.
Just a few more steps to the ship…
Just a few more to the Tiga…
BOOM!!!
A blast of smoke erupted like a cannon, slamming into the harbor's center!
Instantly, the entire harbor was shrouded in a thick smokescreen.
"What the hell?! Who turned out the lights? I can't see anything!"
"We're under attack! It must be pirates!!"
"Everyone take cover—find shelter, quick!"
"......"
"......"
The sudden blast threw the harbor into utter chaos.
Some even screamed to "call the Marines!"
But...