Marine Base, Loguetown.
Smoker had all the unidentified intruders who tried to wreak havoc on Loguetown locked up.
But after removing their armor, they were shocked to discover—despite varying heights and builds—they all looked exactly the same!
"What the hell is this?" Smoker asked in disbelief. "Why do these guys all look identical?"
Aokiji rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Clones… This reminds me of an organization from the North Blue."
"North Blue?" Smoker looked at Aokiji in surprise. "But this is the East Blue. What are people from the North Blue doing here?"
Aokiji shook his head. "No idea. But these are just disposable grunts under someone's control. Whoever's pulling the strings is still in Loguetown."
"Damn it!" Smoker scowled. "They dared to stir up trouble in Loguetown. I don't care if I have to turn over every rock—I'm going to drag the mastermind out!"
At the Port.
Lin Mo was in a great mood as he walked back.
He hadn't expected that simply seeing Rayleigh off would trigger a system progress event. Plus, he'd gained a favor from Rayleigh for free. It seemed today was a lucky day.
Though he still found it odd that he earned recognition from Smoker.
Judging by the trend, he might even finish the last 10% of his progress today.
As Lin Mo passed under the triangular archway at the port and entered the main street, he saw a tall man approaching from the opposite direction—wearing a golden mask over the upper half of his face, long blond curly hair, holding an umbrella, and followed by four kids with red, blue, green, and pink hair.
Germa 66?
What were they doing in Loguetown?
Lin Mo stared curiously.
Germa 66 was a powerful military organization from the North Blue, a science-based combat unit led by the Vinsmoke family—the royal representatives of the Germa Kingdom.
And the tall man leading the kids was Vinsmoke Judge, the head of the Vinsmoke family. The four children behind him, all born through genetic modification, were his offspring.
The pink-haired girl was Vinsmoke Reiju.
The red-haired boy was Vinsmoke Ichiji.
The blue-haired boy was Vinsmoke Niji.
The green-haired boy was Vinsmoke Yonji.
Aside from being modified humans created through genetic manipulation, they had another identity: they were Sanji's siblings.
Yes, that Sanji was also a child of the Vinsmoke family.
But since Sanji's modifications had failed, leaving him unable to keep up with his siblings in training—and often being beaten by them—his father Judge locked him up.
Later, when Germa 66 invaded a nation in the East Blue, Reiju helped Sanji escape from prison. But Judge found out and exiled him instead.
That's how Sanji eventually met Zeff, nearly starved to death, and went on to help establish the Baratie restaurant.
But Germa 66 was only supposed to have come to the East Blue years later. Their presence in Loguetown now—was it a coincidence, or planned?
Lin Mo didn't think much more of it.
Judge and the four kids walked right past him.
"What trash," Yonji sneered.
Ichiji added, "Hah! They actually got captured by the Marines. Perfect—we'll see how loyal those test subjects really are."
Niji laughed, "This batch had explosive devices wired to their hearts. If they all blow up, the whole Marine base—and probably half the town—will be gone. Bad luck for the townspeople—they just became our testing ground! Hahaha!"
Reiju smiled gently and stayed silent.
Judge chuckled, "They're programmed to self-destruct if captured. Even if a few Marines survive, with no evidence pointing to us, they can't do a thing. Hahaha."
The group walked arrogantly onward.
Ichiji suddenly noticed Lin Mo and scoffed, "What are you looking at?"
"Father," Niji grinned, "I think that kid overheard us. Should we take care of him?"
Judge glanced at Lin Mo with disdain. "Just a brat. What kind of trouble could he cause? Ignore him."
With that, Judge and the others left Loguetown.
Lin Mo silently continued on his way.
Now he understood why those people earlier at the plaza all had the same aura.
Even if what Judge said was true and the test subjects did self-destruct after waking up, with Aokiji and Smoker present, it probably wouldn't escalate too far.
Just as Lin Mo finished that thought—
Suddenly—
A massive explosion rang out from the Marine base.
But it was only one explosion—then all went silent.
If all the test subjects had self-destructed like Judge said, then half of Loguetown should've been a firestorm by now.
But from Lin Mo's vantage point—nothing. Not even smoke.
Clearly, the rest of the blasts had been contained by Aokiji and Smoker.
Marine Base.
When the first clone woke up and bit the detonator in his mouth, he exploded on the spot.
But just as the others prepared to follow suit, Aokiji activated Ice Age, freezing the entire Marine base and forming a massive protective ice dome, containing the ensuing chain reaction of explosions.
"Damn it!" Smoker, covered in ash and debris, was furious as he looked at the wrecked base. "They self-destructed!"
Aokiji released the surrounding ice, revealing the scorched wreckage. He sighed, "Now we've lost any evidence of their origins."
"Damn it!" Smoker glanced at the wounded Marines and barked, "Aokiji—help me get everyone treated first!"
Lin Mo could more or less guess what had happened at the Marine base.
Whatever it was, it wasn't his problem.
Without dwelling on it, he casually turned into an alleyway toward the tavern.
As he rounded a corner, Bartolomeo appeared.
"Lin Mo! Bad news—remember that cursed sword that made me try to attack you? After you knocked it out of my hands, I just left it there. Now someone else picked it up and they're running around slashing people with it!"
Bartolomeo looked worried. "I tried to stop him, but I couldn't…"
"Oh." Lin Mo replied flatly, continuing forward.
Bartolomeo froze for a moment, then quickly caught up, walking backward in front of Lin Mo. "A lot of people are already hurt! Only you can stop that guy—please, come with me!"
This guy…
Lin Mo shot him an exasperated glance.
Since when was Bartolomeo the type to care this much about anything?