The sea below the island was filled with ships.
Reddy had Pyo use his Devil Fruit ability to bring the fleet back, then used the Door-Door Fruit's ability to create a separate space to transport the citizens back to Loguetown.
In the square, a dense crowd of people looked up at the execution platform where Roger had once been executed, their expressions complex.
On the execution platform stood a tall, thin man.
But no one dared to make a sound.
After all, that was the infamous Dr. Reddy, known as the Fifth Emperor of the Sea.
At this moment, the secretary walked up behind Reddy and handed him a Den Den Mushi.
Reddy picked up the receiver, tested the sound, then announced with a smile, "This island now belongs to me. Who agrees, who opposes?"
No one dared to speak.
In the face of the strong, the weak had no right to choose.
They were already used to it.
However, the merchants were inwardly ecstatic, as if they had glimpsed a new path to wealth.
As merchants, their sole purpose was to make money.
When sailing the seas, the greatest dangers besides storms were pirate attacks on merchant ships.
But with a figure like Reddy stationed in Loguetown, the deterrent was far greater than the Navy's.
Because pirates knew the Navy might not catch them.
But most pirates wouldn't dare provoke an Emperor of the Sea.
For these merchants, the waters around Loguetown became a relatively safe zone.
Not to mention, this was the East Blue, known as the weakest sea.
The pirates here were already obscure, and none would dare cause trouble in the territory of the Fifth Emperor.
This was a tremendous business opportunity.
"Good."
Reddy then announced three decrees.
First, conducting business in Loguetown required paying taxes—only five percent. Anyone could do business in the town.
This tax rate was carefully prepared by Reddy.
Compared to other regions, five percent was extremely low.
The lower the tax rate, the more attractive it was to merchants.
The first decree laid the foundation for Loguetown to become the commercial center of the East Blue in the future.
Second, any violent incidents in the town were strictly prohibited. Once discovered, the perpetrators would be hanged.
Merchants loved stability, but they also feared it.
They loved stability because a peaceful environment meant people had more disposable income. More money meant new demands, so stability promoted business growth.
They feared stability because overly peaceful environments made it hard to increase profits.
In chaotic environments, goods were scarce, driving prices up and allowing merchants to achieve soaring profits.
Reddy was not a merchant. He needed a stable commercial center.
So he adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward violence, which severely damaged the town's image and reputation.
Reddy firmly believed that higher crime costs led to lower crime rates.
Once all the troublemakers were eliminated, society would stabilize.
This decree left the merchants with mixed feelings, but for the local residents, it was a godsend.
Loguetown had long been a hotspot for pirate raids.
The locals had suffered deeply.
Nearly every household had lost friends or family to the rampant pirates, especially in recent years.
As Reddy announced the second decree, most locals even wanted to raise their hands and feet in support.
In an instant, the resentment the people had felt toward Reddy for nearly being scammed earlier dropped significantly.
The third decree targeted commerce.
Reddy announced the construction of a trading center where goods would be publicly displayed via listings. He also emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward commercial fraud.
Once verified, the punishment would still be hanging.
Three decrees: one on taxation, one on violent crime, and one on commercial crime.
Reddy did not impose too many laws to constrain his commercial center.
The reason was simple.
He was the Fifth Emperor of the Sea.
All final interpretations belonged to the Emperor.
These three decrees set the baseline. If events exceeded their scope, new decrees could be introduced as needed.
"That's all. Goodbye."
Reddy tipped his hat, and a door appeared in the air behind him.
As Reddy stepped back into the door and vanished from the execution platform, the square erupted into noise.
Everyone was discussing the three decrees Reddy had just announced.
The locals focused more on the second decree, while the merchants gathered to discuss how to profit from the new Loguetown.
...
"Sasiburi, Ark... and all of you."
Reddy stood before Ark and the other orphans, smiling as he spread his arms.
He had arrived in Loguetown when Shiki attacked.
Shiki's island-sized ship floating in the sky was impossible to miss.
But after Garp took over as Shiki's target, Reddy chose to wait, quietly relocating Ark and the others away from the battlefield.
Then came witnessing Garp defeating Shiki, the clones besieging Garp, and other events.
Now that everything was settled, Reddy returned to Ark and the others.
"Dr. Reddy!"
Mia, like a little lark, dashed forward and leaped at Reddy before reaching him, clinging to him like a human accessory.
The other children were excited too, but they regretted that Mia had taken up too much space, leaving no room for them to hang onto Reddy.
"Are you here to take us to create paradise?"
Mia clung to Reddy, looking up at him with expectation in her eyes.
From the start, she had been the most eager.
The other children's eyes lit up, looking at Reddy with hope.
Over the past three years, they had lived well.
They lacked neither food nor clothing, and with Yakovich's protection, no one dared bully them.
But they had not abandoned their ideals.
The paradise Reddy had described was their dream.
Those who had suffered understood others in similar situations.
The children wanted to help Reddy create that beautiful paradise, to bring happiness to more orphans like them.
Reddy shrugged. "You can live very well here."
Seeing the children's rosy cheeks and clean clothes, he knew they had been well cared for over the past three years.
The future Loguetown would become the East Blue's commercial hub, with living conditions at least ten times better than now.
Staying in town was clearly a better option than following him.
"I want to help you!"
Mia was the first to wave her small fist, declaring earnestly, "Paradise will bring happiness to all children like us."
"Not everyone is as lucky as us!"
Remo, meeting his idol for the first time, was too excited to contain himself and was the second to speak up.
He was a beneficiary.
Ark had saved him from the gang and shielded him from retaliation.
This made him realize he was just one of the lucky few.
Without Reddy, he'd likely be collecting protection fees door-to-door—or worse, dead in some brawl.
"Right!"
"We were lucky to meet you, but others aren't as fortunate."
"I want to help others like us find happiness!"
"No matter what enemies you face in the future, I'll defeat them for you!"
"..."
The children clamored to follow Reddy and create that paradise where people could find happiness.
Only Ark seemed hesitant.
Reddy looked at Ark, his smile still warm.
He wouldn't force anyone.
Ark, noticing Reddy's gaze, lowered his head dejectedly. "Dr. Reddy, I want to join the Marines..."