Chapter 152: Thunder!
With the misunderstanding resolved, Rhodes—as a senior in the way of the sword—naturally earned Tashigi's respect. She diligently served tea and attended to him.
"Come to think of it, because of my interference, the Straw Hat Pirates haven't received bounties yet."
Rhodes mused while watching people pass by outside.
In the original story, it was Captain Nezumi's exaggerated report that led to Luffy receiving a 30 million berry bounty and officially becoming a pirate. Before that, they were merely an adventuring crew.
Of course, even without bounties, their reputation should have spread throughout the East Blue by now.
RUMBLE!
A sudden peal of thunder echoed across the sky.
"Huh? The weather's changing so suddenly!"
Seeing the previously sunny skies now covered in dark clouds and crackling with lightning, Tashigi couldn't help but show surprise.
Weather changes in the East Blue were relatively stable and predictable—unlike the bizarre and abrupt shifts seen throughout the Grand Line.
This sudden weather transformation was highly unusual.
Tashigi frowned, sensing something amiss.
"Is it starting?"
Rhodes smiled, standing up and walking outside.
"Wait for me, Rhodes-san!"
Tashigi hurriedly followed, hand on her sword.
Walking down the street, they could see people running in panic.
"Execution!"
"There's going to be an execution!"
"Buggy the Clown is going to execute Straw Hat Luffy!"
Despite the cacophony, Rhodes's keen hearing easily picked out the relevant information.
"So it's really happening? Dragon should have arrived by now. This weather change is quite impressive."
"Coming to see his son off..."
Rhodes thought quietly as he slowly headed toward the execution platform.
Tashigi followed behind. As a Marine, she had to be present when something significant was occurring.
Meanwhile,
the execution platform was already surrounded by crowds. In the inner circle stood members of the Buggy Pirates—including Alvida, and several of Buggy's officers like Cabaji.
On the outer perimeter were armed Marines, led by Smoker himself.
The two sides were in a standoff.
Since Luffy didn't have a bounty on his head, Smoker hadn't simply stood by and watched as in the original timeline. Instead, he'd come to rescue the hostage.
"This is troublesome."
Smoker muttered around the two cigars in his mouth, feeling awkward about the situation.
Luffy was already bound to the execution platform, and Buggy the Clown stood nearby with blade raised, spouting dramatic nonsense.
Under these circumstances, guaranteeing the hostage's safety would be difficult.
Just then, a commotion rippled through the rear of the Marine formation, and the crowd parted like waves. Tashigi approached, leading Rhodes forward.
"Tashigi?"
"Who's this..."
Smoker frowned slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. He said in a low voice:
"The Dragon Slayer?!"
"Captain Smoker, Rhodes-san serves under Vice Admiral Momousagi..."
Seeing this, Tashigi hurried forward to explain.
Smoker's hostility subsided somewhat, though his expression remained stern—clearly indicating his general dislike for the Shichibukai system.
Rhodes, unbothered, nodded slightly to the White Hunter. He then walked slowly to the front of the crowd, gazing at the two comedic figures on the distant execution platform chattering at each other.
"So many familiar faces!"
Rhodes glanced around the plaza, easily spotting numerous recognizable figures. A hint of interest crossed his face.
History had a way of repeating itself.
In a sense, Luffy was born to become Pirate King.
"I'M GOING TO BECOME KING OF THE PIRATES!"
As Luffy's powerful declaration—seemingly etched into his very soul—echoed throughout the crowd, Zoro and the others made their dramatic entrance and charged forward swiftly.
The next moment,
"Even if Zoro arrives, it's useless! Your captain is finished!"
Amidst roaring laughter, Buggy the Clown raised his blade high with both hands. The Straw Hat Luffy who'd just stunned the crowd seemed moments from death.
"Rhodes-san, please save him!"
Tashigi pleaded, leaning toward Rhodes urgently.
In this situation, only Rhodes—the Dragon Slayer swordsman—possessed sufficient strength to save that innocent-looking young man on the platform.
"..."
Rhodes was slightly startled by her request, then snapped out of his spectator mode and realized something was wrong.
Though he'd only been in the East Blue a short time, he'd already significantly interfered with events—at least causing Arlong's demise much earlier.
"Could it be there won't be lightning this time?"
Rhodes pondered, stroking his chin.
Of course, with Dragon nearby, Luffy wouldn't die. Even without lightning, there would still be powerful winds.
But as a transmigrator, having such an iconic scene ruined felt somewhat disappointing.
"Good opportunity to test my new ability..."
Rhodes slowly stepped forward, extending a slender pale finger toward the sky.
Simultaneously, he softly spoke two words:
"Thunder."
BOOM!
Thunder exploded across the heavens.
As everyone watched in astonishment,
a deep blue, branching lightning bolt—illuminating heaven and earth—suddenly descended from the storm clouds above. Piercing the sky and lighting up the world with speed beyond human comprehension, it instantly struck the execution platform.
CRASH!
The massive platform collapsed almost instantaneously, erupting in roaring flames.
The pouring rain soaked clothing, revealing curves beneath. Tashigi seemed oblivious, staring blankly at the figure before her as if witnessing a deity.
Smoker's eyes widened, his cigars falling unnoticed from his mouth.
The other Marines and onlookers who witnessed the scene stood frozen, utterly speechless.
Someone could actually control natural lightning!
Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.
This scene shattered everyone's worldview, leaving them stunned into silence.
Even Dragon—draped in his green cloak atop a distant building—stood momentarily stunned.
He slowly lowered his outstretched hand and gazed at the young man in white standing in the plaza. After a long silence, a faint smile curved his lips.
"Move out! Capture all the pirates!"
Smoker—a Headquarters Captain and someone who'd witnessed the terrifying power of Admiral Akainu—was first to recover and shouted orders.
The Marines received their command. Shaking off shock and surprise, they surged forward.
Tashigi, recovering from her daze, suddenly exclaimed:
"Rhodes-san!"
"You could have killed the hostage too!"
Seeing Tashigi suddenly transform from gentle girl into fierce lioness, Rhodes flicked her forehead and said casually:
"Don't you trust me? That guy won't die so easily."
"Ow! That hurts!"
Tashigi nearly cried from the pain, glaring at Rhodes indignantly before turning toward the execution platform. She was stunned to discover Straw Hat Luffy had actually survived completely unharmed, her mouth falling open in disbelief.
That was natural lightning!
Its devastating power was evident to all.
Even more incomprehensible to her was how Rhodes seemed to know everything in advance.
On the other side...
The cigarette fell from Sanji's mouth as he asked Zoro beside him: "Oi, do you believe in gods?"
"Stop talking nonsense. Let's get out of here."
Zoro didn't reply, but gazed deeply at the white-clothed figure within the Marine formation.
"The Dragon Slayer swordsman? What incredible power."
His eyes flashed with intensity before he quickly broke through the encirclement.
The plaza descended into chaos.
However, because of the lightning strike, the pirates had virtually no will to fight and were quickly captured by Marines.
As for Luffy and his crew, they also swiftly escaped the battlefield.
"Tashigi, where's Rhodes?"
Smoker put away his weapon and asked Tashigi directly.
"He's right behind me..."
Tashigi was puzzled by the question. She looked back and immediately gasped in surprise: "Huh?! Where is he? He was just here a moment ago!"
Smoker immediately clutched his head in frustration, nearly driven mad by his subordinate's airheadedness.
This was one of the Seven Warlords, who'd suddenly appeared in Loguetown. As the highest-ranking officer present, he needed firsthand intelligence about the situation.
He hadn't expected Tashigi couldn't even keep track of one person.
(End of Chapter)
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