Loguetown, also known as "The Town of the Beginning and the End." Almost everyone heading to the Grand Line stops here to stock up on supplies for the journey ahead. Thanks to its strategic location and its significance as the birthplace and execution site of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, Loguetown enjoys considerable fame in the East Blue and even worldwide. Every day, countless ships dock, and bustling trade makes the town exceptionally prosperous.
But with benefits come drawbacks. While bringing wealth, the town attracts hordes of pirates and outlaws en route to the Grand Line. To counter this, the Navy stationed Captain Smoker, known as the "White Hunter," here.
In the East Blue, where Haki is barely known and Devil Fruits are the stuff of legend, Smoker's Logia-Type Smoke-Smoke Fruit makes him a devastating force against pirates trying to slip through. With Smoker as the town's anchor, the number of pirates escaping from the East Blue to the Grand Line is pitifully small compared to the other seas.
Reno docked the Going Merry at the port. Smoker might intimidate other East Blue pirates, but for Reno, who wielded Haki, Smoker was the one facing a one-sided beatdown. So he didn't bother hiding his presence. In fact, he planned to poach the glasses-wearing Tashigi while he was here.
After securing the Going Merry, Reno led the eager girls into the bustling town. Their mission? Spend money.
On the way, the girls had already made lists of what they wanted to buy. Nami eyed the latest fashion—clothes, jewelry, cosmetics—and hoped to find unique trinkets in the town's shops. Kaya wanted to visit a bookstore to pick up new medical texts, having finished the ones she brought from home. Makino was after raw materials for brewing, as the growing crew's wine consumption was substantial. Nojiko and Carue (in human form, presumably female in this context) were tasked with buying food and daily essentials for the journey.
Reno wasn't stingy. With the girls so excited for this rare outing, he generously approved their budgets, adding an extra 200,000 Berries each. Buy whatever they wanted.
After agreeing on a meeting point, the group dispersed into the famous town.
Instead of immediately seeking out Tashigi, Reno decided to take in Loguetown's unique charm. Leaving a teleportation coordinate, he strolled down the streets.
"No wonder it's Loguetown—so lively!"
The streets were lined with shops, vendors' calls echoing everywhere. People's faces brimmed with smiles wherever he went. Say what you will about Smoker's strength, but he'd managed the town impeccably. Pirates, knowing Smoker's jurisdiction, didn't dare act out. Many had learned the hard way from their predecessors' mistakes.
Reno wandered leisurely, occasionally pausing at a stall before moving on. He spotted plenty of novelties not found in other towns. As he left one stall, he brushed past a Navy soldier exiting a shop.
Reno walked by calmly, but the soldier glanced at him, did a double-take, and rubbed his eyes in disbelief. He was certain he hadn't been mistaken.
"The captain of the Reno Pirates, Reno?! He's here?!"
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the soldier didn't hesitate, rushing back to the Navy base. He had to inform Captain Smoker immediately. A 30-million-Berry bounty was a big deal in the East Blue. And that wasn't counting Reno's navigator, with a whopping 50-million-Berry bounty.
…
Navy Base
In a smoke-filled office, Smoker was working as usual. Managing this chaotic town required endless tasks, his desk buried under a mountain of paperwork.
"Report!" a soldier's voice called from outside.
"Come in," Smoker replied.
The soldier entered, unfazed by the smoky office, accustomed to the secondhand haze.
"What is it?" Smoker asked without looking up.
"Captain Smoker, I've spotted the captain of the Reno Pirates, Reno, in Loguetown."
"Oh? They got here this fast?" Smoker said, surprised.
When he'd received the bounty posters from above, Reno's crew had just left Cocoyasi Village. How little time had passed, and they were already in Loguetown?
Still, their arrival wasn't unexpected. He glanced at the two bounty posters on the edge of his desk:
[Reno: Captain of the Reno Pirates, suspected Cloud-Cloud Fruit user, bounty 30 million Berries.] [Nami: Navigator of the Reno Pirates, suspected Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, bounty 50 million Berries.]
"Tricky," Smoker muttered, frowning.
The Cloud-Cloud Fruit was one thing, but the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's destructive power far surpassed his Smoke-Smoke Fruit. If they clashed, he'd be at a disadvantage.
"When's Vice Admiral Garp arriving?"
"About four hours, sir," the soldier reported.
After leaving Navy Headquarters, Garp had rushed back to the East Blue, searching for Luffy to no avail. Resigned, he headed to Loguetown. He knew his grandson's stubborn nature—Luffy wouldn't stay in the East Blue forever. He'd aim for the Grand Line, and Loguetown was a must-pass point. Rather than chase aimlessly, Garp would wait here, ready to deliver his "Fist of Love" when Luffy showed up.
"Four hours is too long," Smoker said, shaking his head. "Any sign of the others besides Reno?"
The soldier shook his head.
"Then we'll arrest Reno first." Smoker made a snap decision, grabbing his coat.
"Where's Tashigi now?"
"Sergeant Tashigi is on patrol, sir."
Smoker nodded, picked up his Jitte, and strode out of the office.
…