"The Great Incident at Loguetown"
Admiral Defeated - Buggy the Clown Harbors Dark Secrets
The Vanishing of Loguetown: Salvation or Catastrophe?
Human Ancient Weapon: Artoria Pendragon
World's Greatest Female Swordsman - The World's Strongest Swordsman's Ultimate Rival
The Mightiest Marine in History - The End of New World Pirates?
The Strongest Pirate Buggy the Clown's Fate Unknown
Under Morgans' personal supervision, the World Economic News Agency—the newspaper with the largest circulation in the pirate world—published multiple special editions in rapid succession, ensuring this earth-shaking news reached every corner of the globe.
A full day had passed since the battle's conclusion, and Smoker remained aboard the Marine warship. He spent a hundred Berries purchasing a newspaper, its headlines more shocking than the last. That avian entrepreneur was the ultimate sensationalist in the pirate world, deliberately fanning flames while placing the Marines in an impossible position.
The newspaper featured several large, high-quality photographs. The first captured Buggy the Clown's maniacal laughter after defeating Admiral Sakazuki. The second showed Artoria wielding her ultimate technique—a kilometer-long lightsaber obliterating an entire island. The third displayed Loguetown's aftermath as it vanished beneath the waves.
Their reporters were undeniably professional—every photograph surpassed anything taken by Marine personnel. Logically speaking, the Five Elders had access to numerous Tori Tori no Mi (Bird-Bird Fruit) users, yet their printed newspapers couldn't match Morgans' quality, let alone the authenticity of his reporting.
The World Government had been targeting the World Economic News Agency through both overt and covert operations for years, never ceasing their investigation of President Morgans. They had attempted assassination and treated him like a rabid dog countless times, forcing this king of the underworld to constantly appear in his Zoan transformation for protection.
Despite decades of persecution, he remained alive and thriving, firmly controlling the most influential newspaper while serving as a major intelligence provider. In the end, nobody could eliminate Morgans entirely.
The newspapers subtly demeaned the Marines while exaggerating Buggy the Clown's influence and continuously praising Artoria's overwhelming strength. Two previously unknown individuals had become household names through Morgans' deliberate promotion—now everyone knew their identities.
"You really can't judge people by their appearance," Smoker observed, watching Artoria's voracious eating habits.
This stunning "noble lady" had accumulated a mountain of empty bowls and plates before her—all consumed personally.
"Another serving, please," Artoria requested, handing her empty bowl to the warship's chef.
She alone consumed as much as a dozen grown men. Every Marine cook now revolved around her needs. Despite her diminutive frame of less than two meters, her stomach seemed bottomless.
Tashigi, as the only other woman present, sat beside the blonde girl and continuously served tea and refreshments to Artoria. This level of attentiveness had never been shown to her superior, Smoker.
As an avid collector of famous blades, Tashigi was intensely interested in Artoria's weapon. Her eyes never left the legendary sword. After considerable contemplation, she finally voiced her burning question.
"Lady Artoria, forgive my curiosity, but I've never encountered the sword you carry. Is it a Supreme Grade Blades?"
"Please don't use honorifics—just call me Artoria," she replied warmly.
"My blade isn't among the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades. It's called the Sword of Promised Victory—I obtained it from a great lake."
The blonde girl answered while noticing a grain of rice at the corner of her mouth. She licked it clean and swallowed it without waste. Having been summoned to this world several days ago, this was her first truly satisfying meal. Moreover, Marine cuisine was quite excellent.
"Your culinary skills are exceptional—please prepare another serving."
"Certainly, Lady Artoria. Please wait a moment—you've finished the previous batch entirely. I'll prepare a fresh batch immediately."
The ship's chef harbored no resentment toward this gluttonous girl. Though her appetite was substantial, her strength was undeniable. Without her intervention to rescue Marine forces, countless sailors would have perished.
Murderous pirates showed no mercy to non-combatant cooks. Between Marines and pirates, only the latter could hope for surrender—the former faced grim fates if they capitulated.
After the catastrophic battle at Loguetown, only two Marine warships remained functional. Admiral Sakazuki had commandeered one ship, transporting fallen Marines' remains back to headquarters alongside Artoria.
Another ship, under Admiral Borsalino's command, conducted extensive search operations across the affected sea area, hoping to discover any trace of the Buggy Pirates—even a single piece of debris from their ship would suffice.
Under that terrifying island-destroying technique, all evidence had been obliterated by a single sword stroke. The Buggy Pirates had vanished without a trace. Had Buggy truly perished from that devastating attack?
A group of military doctors attended to Sakazuki's wounds when Fleet Admiral Sengoku's Den Den Mushi contacted him. The first concern was his physical condition; the second involved Artoria's situation.
"She has agreed to join the Marines," Sakazuki reported. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you should consider her proper treatment and rank."
Transferring this problem to the Fleet Admiral gave the strategic genius a severe headache. This wasn't the later period of large-scale Marine conscription. Rapidly promoting someone with zero Marine experience to Admiral rank was unprecedented in Marine history.
The Marines functioned as a military agency under World Government jurisdiction, with their primary budget allocation coming from that source. Adding an additional Admiral would consume enormous resources, requiring negotiations with the Five Elders. Fleet Admirals didn't possess ultimate authority over such decisions.
"I've discussed this situation with Tsuru," Sengoku replied thoughtfully. "We've decided to temporarily appoint her as an Admiral candidate for the new position. I need to consult with Commander-in-Chief Kong regarding this matter."
However, financial concerns were secondary. The Marines' ability to absorb such a powerful individual represented tremendous spiritual encouragement for Marine forces worldwide. In future battles against pirates, they wouldn't need to exercise such extreme caution.
The Marines never lacked middle and lower-ranking personnel. Their critical shortage was high-end combat power. Too many strategic locations required elite defenders, constraining them everywhere and preventing concentrated efforts to completely eliminate seafaring piracy.
The New World in the Grand Line's second half had always served as a pirate paradise, where Marine influence could barely maintain basic presence. With Artoria's addition, this balance might finally shift decisively.
After eating her fill, Artoria was assigned to a private quarters. Such accommodations were rare aboard warships—only personnel ranked Vice Admiral and above possessed usage rights. Two female Marine officers stood guard outside, ready to respond to any requests. The Marines' courtesy toward her was exceptionally high.
The blonde girl retrieved what resembled a communication device from her pocket, placing it directly against her left ear. After activating the switch, she received a man's voice.
"Artoria, your performance has been exemplary," the voice praised. "Focus on your mission within the Marines and report any new intelligence immediately."
"Understood, young master," she responded with unwavering loyalty.
Perfect, Kaito thought with satisfaction from his distant location. Phase one is complete. With Artoria positioned as a high-ranking Marine officer, I'll have unprecedented access to their internal operations, strategic planning, and classified intelligence. Meanwhile, the world believes Buggy the Clown is dead—giving me complete freedom to operate from the shadows.
The real game is just beginning.
Behind this major incident at Loguetown, a pair of hidden hands had been orchestrating events from the darkness, manipulating every development according to a grand design that none of the participants truly understood...
The chess pieces were now in position for the next phase of an intricate plan that would reshape the very balance of power across the seas.