Captain Smoker has arrived!
Captain Smoker has been knocked down!
"Luffy!"
Nami's eyes widened as she watched the scene. What had happened in the short time she'd been gone?!
But that wasn't important now. She had found a route to escape.
"This way! We need to get back to the Going Merry quickly and set sail while we can!" Nami shouted.
Being targeted by the Marines was definitely not good. They had to leave fast.
Smoker had lost consciousness.
The Marine soldiers, however, were fiercely loyal to him. Even knowing bullets were useless against Luffy, they surrounded Smoker, their hands trembling as they aimed their guns at Luffy.
Luffy's gaze went past Smoker and the surrounding Marines to look behind them, his expression hesitant.
"Whatever, let's go."
Luffy deactivated Gear Second, grabbed Nami's hand, and started running.
"Huh? Huh?!" Nami let out a surprised sound.
I can walk by myself!
That's what she thought, but when she glanced up at Luffy's face, a tsundere look appeared on her own.
He grabbed my hand first!
But soon, Nami noticed Luffy's expression was a bit strange. "What's wrong?"
"I can feel someone really strong," Luffy said.
"Stronger than that Smoker guy?" Nami gasped.
In her view, that guy who could turn into smoke was already incredibly strong. Luffy's attacks hadn't done a thing to him initially.
Though she didn't understand why he was taken out in one combo later, it had still given Luffy a bit of a hard fight, right?
"Mhmm... He's here again. He's everywhere."
"Then let's get out of here fast!"
She got no response, and Luffy had stopped. Nami felt her hand being squeezed tightly. She followed Luffy's gaze and saw a man ahead, wearing a dark green cloak. His face was stern, with black hair loosely hanging behind him. He had no eyebrows, which only added to his imposing presence.
"I-is that him?"
"Yeah."
"Who is he?"
"Dunno."
The man didn't look like someone easy to get along with, but Luffy didn't sense any hostility from him.
Although the feeling of oppressive pressure was very real.
A storm was raging around them.
As the man slowly approached, Nami, scared, leaned closer against Luffy to feel some sense of security.
The surrounding air felt unnaturally quiet and heavy. Luffy felt the man's gaze fall elsewhere—specifically, on Luffy and Nami's clasped hands.
"My name is Dragon," the man introduced himself, seeming somewhat friendly.
Luffy said, "Oh. I'm Monkey D. Luffy."
Dragon fell silent for a moment. Should he praise his son for his manners?
Who taught him that?
Certainly not him, and definitely not that old man, his father.
"You haven't heard my name before?" Dragon asked.
"Hmm... I think someone might have mentioned it. Who was it again?"
"Forget it."
Dragon's gaze shifted from Luffy and rested on Nami for an instant, a meaningful look in his eyes. "You have a fine nakama."
That sentence greatly increased Luffy's favorable impression of Dragon.
But he still felt the need to correct him. "I have lots of nakama like that!"
He'd gather ten someday!
Luffy's words made Dragon pause again.
He looked at Luffy and Nami's joined hands, a thoughtful expression on his face.
He has lots of nakama... like that?
Perhaps in the future, he could contribute to the Revolutionary Army's cause.
"I wish you a smooth voyage." Dragon walked past Luffy and Nami, gave a small wave, and his figure soon vanished into the curtain of rain.
Dragon had only ever watched Luffy from the shadows as he grew up. The reason he appeared this time was that Luffy had actually noticed him.
It was indeed unexpected.
But then, the bloodline of the Monkey family always had that kind of potential.
Dragon's objective was achieved: to see Luffy off on his voyage. The East Blue was just a small stage; the Grand Line was the future.
Luffy sifted through his memories. He had a photographic memory as a passive skill, but his mind held no clear impression of 'Dragon.' Just a name...
[Reward: Tenfold Conqueror's Haki proficiency.]
[Experience +10.]
[Current situation detected. Automatically adjusting based on physical condition. Please commence study session with Nami within three minutes...]
"Three minutes?!"
Luffy immediately pushed thoughts of Dragon to the back of his mind.
He couldn't possibly discuss "knowledge" with Nami in this downpour! They had to get back to the Going Merry fast. Anyway, their goal in Loguetown was accomplished—they saw the place where the Pirate King was executed, walked the streets he walked.
Luffy hurriedly reached out to Nami.
"Gotta hurry... Nami, let's go!"
Hearing this, Nami was momentarily confused. One of her hands was already in his.
Seeing Luffy's other hand reach for her waist, Nami's breath hitched.
What was he planning?
She soon found out.
"Hold on tight!"
Luffy's arm stretched out, grabbed onto a distant building, and the two of them went flying.
This method was fast, like being launched through the air, but this wasn't a princess carry. Nami couldn't wrap her arms around Luffy's neck for security like before. Without his chin supporting her, she felt like she was about to fall.
So, Nami let out a scream and clung to Luffy like an octopus.
...
Not long after, Smoker regained consciousness. The steady patter of rain quickly woke him up.
He clutched his stomach, utterly incredulous.
A pirate from the East Blue already knew Armament Haki?!
That was an ability he himself was still trying to grasp.
Smoker realized there was a reason that Straw Hat brat had the highest bounty in the East Blue. And judging by the current situation, the 50 million Berry bounty on his head was too low!
He absolutely could not let them set sail.
Smoker stood up, about to give orders to his subordinates. "Deploy all forces to the port! Don't let the Straw Hat crew set sail!"
The next second, an overwhelming presence erupted behind him. All the surrounding Marine soldiers lost consciousness.
"Seeing you in such a pitiful state here in the East Blue is a rare sight, Smoker."
A low laugh came from behind.
Smoker instinctively reached for his weapon, but the newcomer's hand was already grasping the other end of it with a snap.
A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky just in time.
Smoker saw the face of the newcomer clearly.
"Dragon! Why is a guy like you here?!" Smoker exclaimed in shock.
"Just happened to be in the area, taking care of some business. Thought I'd see the youngsters off, though I didn't expect to be noticed," Dragon said with a laugh.
"What?!" The 'seeing off' part was one thing, but what truly alarmed Smoker was that Dragon's presence had been detected?!
He, Smoker, hadn't sensed a thing moments ago.
Don't tell me the person Dragon came to see off was that Straw Hat brat?!
If that was true, what did it mean?
It meant a pirate just about to enter the Grand Line had already mastered both Armament and Observation Haki?!
***
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