Loguetown, East Blue
This was the place where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had been executed.
A small town at the gateway between the East Blue and the Grand Line, it naturally attracted countless pirates who came to see the site of the King's final moments.
It was a place of great importance.
That was why the navy had stationed Smoker here—a powerful Logia-type Devil Fruit user.
With the ability of a natural Devil Fruit, Smoker was a terrifying existence to the young pirates who had not yet matured.
His combat ability was more than enough to qualify him as a vice admiral at headquarters.
Because Logia users were rare, even in the New World, his presence in the East Blue was a statement of strength.
Smoker stood at the harbor, his trademark cigars burning as smoke curled around him. He gazed at the endless waves, knowing that pirates would always be drawn here.
But this time, his orders were different.
Vice Admiral Tsuru had contacted him directly, instructing him to be ready. If he encountered the girl Mina—the one who had defeated Arlong—he was to capture her.
Yet Tsuru's words had carried a softer edge: "Take care of her, Smoker. Be gentle. She may be your future disciple."
Smoker exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes narrowing. "A girl who can defeat Arlong… she's no ordinary pirate. If she's truly that strong, then she deserves more than chains. But orders are orders."
He clenched his fist, smoke swirling around it. "Still… I'll see for myself what kind of person she is. If she's worthy, I won't crush her spirit. I'll test her."
The town bustled behind him, unaware of the storm brewing. Pirates came and went, civilians hurried through the streets, and the shadow of Gol Roger's execution platform loomed over everything.
Smoker's heart was steady, but his mind was sharp. Soon, Mina would arrive in the East Blue's most infamous town.
And when she did, Smoker would be waiting.
In the navy office in town, Smoker made his promise to Vice Admiral Tsuru with a speechless expression.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, I will arrest her and keep her in custody for three months."
Then he hung up the Den Den Mushi.
His face looked grim. He hadn't expected that the terrifying little girl Mina, who carried a bounty of 1 billion berries, had actually been framed.
The marine captain she killed had been colluding with pirates—a true scandal for the navy.
Unexpectedly, the girl was the one who had saved the villagers oppressed by the Arlong Pirates. Such behavior made Smoker respect her.
Beside him, Tashigi, with her glasses, large eyes, and short black hair, was also emotional.
"I didn't expect it to be like this," she said softly. "Vice Admiral Tsuru favors Mina and wants her to join our navy."
To be honest, she was a little envious. After all, Tsuru was one of the most respected figures in the navy.
Tsuru held a very high status—one of the few women to reach such a position. As Chief of Staff of Navy Headquarters, her authority was greater than that of many vice admirals.
The fact that she had risen so high proved her capability. Tashigi feared she might never reach that level herself.
She understood that Mina's three-month imprisonment was meant to temper her character.
Although Colonel Nezumi was detestable, civilians could not simply execute marines. Such matters had to be handled by the navy itself.
It was harsh, but it was the rule. Without it, everything would descend into chaos.
Tashigi turned to Smoker. "Colonel, when are you going to set out to capture Mina?"
Smoker lit a cigar, leaned back in his chair, and replied nonchalantly:
Smoker leaned back in his chair, smoke curling around him as he answered Tashigi with his usual bluntness.
"Who knows where Mina is? How can I catch her if I don't even know her location? I'll wait until she shows herself. Honestly, I doubt someone like Mina will stay in the East Blue for long."
Tashigi adjusted her glasses, considering his words. "That… makes sense. But how will Vice Admiral Tsuru respond?"
Smoker exhaled a heavy plume of smoke. "I'll answer truthfully. What else can I do? Rogue Town is just as important. If I'm not here and pirates invade, the navy's face will be lost. I know how to weigh what's important."
Seeing his resolve, Tashigi said nothing more.
After all, this place was vital—otherwise, such a powerful officer would not have been stationed here. Smoker was once an elite of the Marine Recruit Camp, and as a Logia user, his future was bright.
The navy's other Logia users were all admirals, feared across the seas and capable of intimidating even the pirates of the New World. It was said that Smoker himself might one day rise to such a position.
Out at Sea
On a small boat near Rogue Town, a man wearing a black-and-red hat and carrying a long black blade rowed steadily through the waters. His piercing hawk-like eyes scanned the horizon.
He was preparing to cross the Calm Belt and enter the Grand Line.
Although the Calm Belt was infested with Sea Kings, making it one of the most dangerous routes in the world, he pressed forward without hesitation.
The man was none other than Dracule Mihawk, "Hawk-Eye", the world's greatest swordsman.
His presence near Logue Town meant that fate was about to intertwine the paths of Mina, Smoker, and one of the most legendary figures on the seas.
Almost no pirate ships could pass through the Calm Belt—only the navy had the means to cross it safely.
But with Hawkeye's swordsmanship, there was nothing to fear. Even the strongest pirate would be cut down in a single strike. The scent of blood would draw the Sea Kings, distracting them long enough for him to pass unharmed.
Before returning to his home, Mihawk planned to meet with the red-haired man. He hadn't expected to encounter such interesting figures during this trip to the East Blue.
It wasn't just the boy Straw Hat Luffy, the one Red-Hair often mentioned. Shanks had even entrusted his straw hat to the boy.
Mihawk knew what that hat meant. If memory served, it had once belonged to the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. For Shanks to pass it on carried a meaning that was self-evident.
He had wanted to observe the boy carefully, but instead found himself challenged by another—a young swordsman who dared to fight him, blind to the vast gap between them.
The result had been unexpected. Mihawk witnessed the determination of the youth, a resolve unafraid of death, and a devotion to the way of the sword.
As long as that boy doesn't die, he will surely become a great swordsman in the future, Mihawk thought. Whether he could become Mihawk's true opponent remained uncertain. That was confidence in himself.
Yet Mihawk was still dissatisfied. Though he bore the title of the world's greatest swordsman, Whitebeard was considered the strongest man alive. Mihawk's mastery was supreme in the realm of swordsmanship, but to surpass Whitebeard entirely… that was a path still ahead of him.
At that moment, a small boat drifted slowly out of the Calm Belt.
Mihawk's sharp eyes widened in surprise.
On the boat stood a young man with green tear-like markings on his face, dressed in white, a sword at his waist.
He stood silently, hands in his pockets, as the small vessel glided toward the East Blue—moving as if guided by unseen power.
The boy's outfit made him look like a seasoned kendo master.
Otherwise, how could he have passed safely through the Calm Belt?
The chance of crossing without encountering Sea Kings was practically zero. A small boat drifting across such waters was nothing more than bait—any moment, the monstrous creatures would rise and swallow it whole.
Yet this boy stood calmly, hands in his pockets, as if the threat did not exist.
A thought flickered through Mihawk's mind: Could this youth be a swordsman nearly equal to myself?
His cold attitude, his composure in such a deadly place—it hinted at strength.
But Mihawk quickly dismissed the idea. Impossible. The boy was barely in his teens, not yet an adult.
At his age, he couldn't possibly have the power to cross the Calm Belt alone.
And yet… here he was.
The small boat glided forward, steady and unbroken, carrying the mysterious youth toward the East Blue.
Mihawk's hawk-like eyes narrowed. This boy… who is he?