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Wait a second—why does this feel so familiar?
Don't tell me… the "It smells so good" law again?!
Logan suddenly flashed to Smoker's side."Ah!!"
Tashigi let out a startled scream and instinctively jumped back from him.
Logan pressed his foot down hard on Smoker's head, slamming his face into the ground.
"You bas—"
Smoker's expression twisted as he frantically tried to activate his Smoke-Smoke Fruit powers, desperate to turn into smoke and escape.
But to his horror, nothing happened.
Impossible!
How could a Devil Fruit's power just… stop working?!
"Don't waste your energy," Logan said, his tone half amused, half mocking.
Honestly, this was all Oda's fault—whoever shows up early in the story always gets trashed first.
After all, in this part of East Blue, no one even knows what Haki is yet.
Smoker's mind was spinning. This was way beyond anything he could comprehend.
"What... what are you trying to do?!"
Tashigi's trembling voice rang out, her hands shaking as she gripped her sword. Fear filled her eyes—but so did determination.
Logan ground his heel down again, forcing Smoker's face deeper into the dirt. Blood gushed from his mouth.
"Please… please stop hurting Captain Smoker!"
Tashigi's voice cracked, tears spilling down her cheeks.
She'd been his loyal follower through everything—every mission, every fight. And whenever danger came, Smoker was always the one standing between her and death.
Seeing him beaten this badly broke her heart.
"I already told you," Logan said flatly. "Join my crew. Become one of my people."
Tashigi's eyes shimmered with tears. Her lips trembled as she stared at him.
"Tashigi... don't…"
Smoker managed to choke out a few words before Logan's foot slammed down again.
The ground split under the pressure, spiderweb cracks spreading out in all directions.
"I'll join you! Just please, stop hurting him!"
Her sword clattered to the ground as she dropped to her knees, helpless.
"Now that's more like it." Logan nodded, satisfied, and lifted his foot off Smoker's head.
Then he stepped toward Tashigi and gently helped her to her feet.
She froze up, but didn't dare resist.
"Relax," he said calmly. "He's not dead—just a little banged up. He'll be fine after a few days of rest."
Killing Smoker was never his plan anyway.
"Logan, you bastard—let her go—"
"Enough!" Logan's tone turned ice cold. "Smoker, I'm letting you live today for Tashigi's sake. But if you open your mouth again, it won't just be a few broken bones next time."
Tashigi's face went pale. She quickly stepped in front of Logan, calling out, "Captain Smoker, please! Don't say another word. He really will kill you!"
"Tashigi!!!" Smoker's roar shook with rage and disbelief.
"Logan, sir… let's go. Please," Tashigi urged in a low voice, her tone hurried.
After all these years with Smoker, she knew him too well.
He was the kind of man who'd defy even the Navy's top brass if it came to his principles—there's no way he'd ever bow to a pirate.
But she couldn't just stand by and watch him die.
Seeing her grab Logan's arm and pull him away, Logan didn't bother to argue.
He just smirked and started walking toward the port with her in tow.
By now, it was probably time to regroup with the girls anyway.
Smoker, barely conscious and bleeding, could only watch helplessly as Logan led Tashigi away.
A wave of humiliation washed over him. His fists clenched tight. Deep down, he swore he'd get her back—no matter what it took.
Tashigi followed quietly behind Logan, her mind racing.
Smoker was safe for now. She needed to find a way to escape—to get away from this monster.
"What are you thinking about?"
Logan's voice cut through her thoughts, amused.
"Ah, n-nothing! I was just—"
Her nervous stammer only made him want to laugh.
How could a Marine be this adorably dumb?
And she was quick to bounce back too—crying her heart out a minute ago, already plotting something the next.
His smile faded as he said sternly, "If you don't want Smoker to die, stop thinking about running."
Boom.
That one casual sentence shattered whatever hope she had left.
Her shoulders slumped as fresh tears welled up.
Now she truly felt hopeless.
Logan scratched his nose awkwardly, suddenly feeling like maybe he'd gone a bit too far.
Ah, whatever. He'd explain later.
He brought Tashigi back to where the Going Merry was docked.
By now, everyone except Nami had finished loading up the supplies from the shopping list.
"Logan! You're back—huh?!"
On the deck, Kaya waved excitedly, but froze when she spotted the downcast Marine girl beside him.
"Captain, who's this?" Makino asked curiously.
"She's Tashigi. A Marine," Logan explained casually. "But from now on, she's part of my crew."
All the girls rolled their eyes in unison.
No need to ask—they already knew.
He'd kidnapped her. Again.
Poor girl looked absolutely miserable.
After spending enough time with Logan, they'd figured out the pattern—every time he went out, he came back with a new beauty.
Looking at Tashigi's pitiful face, they couldn't help remembering how they'd been dragged aboard too.
"Tashigi, don't worry," Makino said gently, stepping forward like the big sister of the group. "The captain won't hurt you."
She took Tashigi by the arm and led her inside to calm her down.
"Hey! Wait for me!!"
Nami came running up just then, arms full of shopping bags.
"Nami, what's with all that stuff?!"
Nojiko blinked in shock. Nami was carrying more than ten bags, all stuffed to the brim.
"Hehe… I kinda went overboard," Nami said sheepishly, scratching her head.
But come on—clothes and jewelry that cute? How was she supposed to not buy them?
So she just… bought everything.
"Well, everyone's here. Time to head out!" Logan grinned, forming a small island cloud to lift the Merry gently into the sky.
"LOGAN!! YOU GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!!!"
A thunderous voice suddenly echoed across the sea.
From the distant waves, a warship was speeding toward them—
Vice Admiral Garp had finally arrived, late as always.
"....."