"Wait, Luffy, we're coming too," Nami said hurriedly. "I'm a little worried about Cocoyasi Village."
"Alright. Uta, do you want to come?"
Luffy turned to look at Uta.
Uta nodded excitedly. At last, she could set out on an adventure again!
"That's it then. Everyone from the Sunny, everyone from the Merry, plus CP9 and Uta—you head to the harbor and get ready first."
Luffy made the final decision and said with a grin: "As for the rest of you, stay here for now and keep training."
Soon after, those preparing to sail began moving one after another.
Those who remained also left the living room one by one to continue their daily training.
In the living room, only Law and Luffy remained.
"You left me here on purpose. Is there something important?"
"This is for you."
Luffy pulled out a Fruit of Awakening and tossed it to Law. "Eat it, and your Devil Fruit will awaken."
"Awaken?"
Law looked stunned. He had heard of Devil Fruit awakening, but he had never heard of a fruit that could force it.
"This is something extremely rare, and I only have one."
"For now, I'm entrusting the safety of this island to you. Katakuri's heart will also be in your hands."
"I understand. Don't worry!" Law nodded solemnly.
After that, Luffy explained a few things.
Once everything was settled, he left the castle.
By the time he reached the harbor, everyone was ready, eager to set sail at any moment.
Luffy pulled out another Ship Spirit Fruit and placed it on the Sunny's figurehead.
Then, everyone witnessed an astonishing scene.
Golden motes of light converged, and a small, adorable ship spirit suddenly appeared.
"!"
It looked different from the Merry, with a livelier personality.
"So cute~" Robin's cheeks flushed lightly.
"Sunny, take us to Logue Town, please."
Luffy laughed and patted Sunny's head.
Sunny instantly transformed into golden particles and merged back into the hull.
Immediately after, the Sunny lowered its sails on its own and pulled away from the harbor.
"Our destination—Logue Town!!"
At Luffy's loud declaration, Sunny and Merry seemed to slip into a tunnel of time and space, vanishing from the sea in the blink of an eye.
---
East Blue.
More than a dozen islands floated high in the sky.
The islands varied in size and climate.
The highest island was also the largest of them all.
Its name was Vermaeu, meaning miracle.
Upon this island stood a vast snow-covered mountain. At its base stretched a massive royal palace.
Inside the royal palace banquet hall…
Fifty men sat cross-legged in two rows, each with a cup of sake in front of them.
They were pirates from all over the world—North Blue, West Blue, South Blue, Paradise Sea, even the New World—but none from East Blue.
And on the throne sat Shiki.
"Welcome."
Shiki crossed his arms and spoke coldly:
"The time has come. Drink, and then follow me—we will bring this world down!"
At his words, the fifty captains didn't hesitate. They each grabbed their cups and downed them in one gulp.
Shiki's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Then, let's go!"
"Ohhh!!"
---
East Blue, Logue Town.
The harbor bustled as East Blue pirates came and went, bound for the Grand Line.
With Captain Smoker—the marine who had long stationed there—departed, the pirates of East Blue felt an unrestrained joy deep in their hearts.
So today, pirates disembarking at the port had become a common sight.
The new captain had to send soldiers to patrol the harbor daily.
But on this day—
Suddenly, a gust of wind and waves surged on the sea, not far from the port.
The very air seemed to warp, and two vortex-like gateways appeared.
The next instant, two pirate ships—one large, one small—emerged.
"That's… the Straw Hat Pirates' Jolly Roger!!"
The marines patrolling the harbor spotted them quickly, and after checking through their binoculars, their cries rang out.
"Hurry, inform the captain! It's the Straw Hat Pirates!"
At that shout, the bustling harbor erupted into chaos.
Men and women screamed as they fled.
The marines couldn't maintain order—everyone was scattering in panic.
The fear quickly spread into the city itself.
In moments, the once-busy streets became shuttered and silent, as doors slammed shut everywhere.
In East Blue, where the average bounty was around 3 million, it was only natural to react this way when pirates worth more than 3 billion appeared.
When the Merry and Sunny docked at the harbor, the crew disembarked one by one, only to find the place deserted.
Nami couldn't help but cover her face.
"It's really sad that they're this afraid of us… even though we've just returned to our homeland."
"Luffy!"
Everyone turned toward their captain.
Luffy sighed helplessly. "Get used to it. Have you all forgotten? We're pirates."
"Will the Golden Lion come here?" Nojiko asked worriedly.
"Let's head into the city first."
Luffy took the lead, walking toward Logue Town.
Suddenly, Usopp let out a piercing scream.
"Ahhhhhh!!"
"What is it, Usopp?" Sanji asked with a frown. "Did you step on something?"
"No, no, no! Look! Look! The bounty posters—on the wall!"
Usopp's voice shook as he pointed at row after row of posters plastered across the wall.
At the very top was Luffy—3.5 billion.
"300 million?!" Sanji gaped when he spotted his own poster. "I'm actually wanted! We're all wanted!"
Scanning the posters quickly, he saw most of them carried bounties around 100 million.
But then Zoro's voice rang out, tinged with satisfaction:
"577 million? Not bad."
"What?! Why are you so much higher?!" Sanji stared at Zoro's poster in disbelief, then shouted furiously, "Damn it, you beat me again!"
"I… I have 100 million too?" Chopper whimpered, collapsing weakly onto the ground. "This must be a dream!"
Pet – Chopper
Bounty: 100,000,000 Berries!
A hundred million was already high enough, but why label him as pet?!
Nami, Vivi, and the others also spotted their posters in turn.
None of them felt particularly thrilled about their 100-million bounties.
"So I can only be captured alive?" Vivi blinked.
"Ara… I've got 500 million," Robin said with a sly smile.
"Seriously! Why did they use these pictures?!" Nami groaned.
Luffy could only wear a speechless expression.
After they all fussed over the posters for a while, they finally sobered up.
"We're not here to sightsee. Either way, let's ask the Logue Town marine captain about the situation."
---
At the same time—
The newly appointed captain of Logue Town's base, a Headquarters officer, also received immediate reports of the Straw Hats' landing.
Without hesitation, he passed the information to Marine HQ.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, upon receiving the report, stared blankly.
"What's going on? Didn't Garp's grandson head for the New World? How has he appeared in East Blue?!"
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."