Chapter 8: The Town of Beginnings and Endings — Loguetown
As soon as Ivan spoke those words, Sanji's face instantly darkened.
This guy was indeed a reliable marine, but he was still an infuriating jerk who made one's teeth itch!
His curly eyebrows twisted together, veins throbbing at his temples. He could hardly resist lifting his foot on the spot and kicking Ivan right in that punchable face.
He admitted he was weaker than Ivan, but did he have to say it so bluntly?
This damn guy!
Ivan didn't have Luffy's gift of gab. Although Sanji was grateful to Ivan for stepping in, he had absolutely no desire to spend any more time with him.
So when Ivan extended the invitation, Sanji refused without a second thought.
Sanji took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and said in a low voice:
"I don't want to hang around with a guy like you. Just you wait—I'll definitely find a crewmate stronger than you, and then I'll go achieve my dream!"
As for inviting Sanji, Ivan hadn't held much hope from the very beginning.
His target, from start to finish, had only ever been Nami.
So he waved a dismissive hand, turned, and headed toward his own warship, leaving only a single sentence that drifted on the wind into Sanji's ears:
"Then don't you go becoming some pirate who kills innocent people indiscriminately. Otherwise, next time we meet, I'll have no choice but to kill you!"
Watching Ivan's bloodstained figure, Sanji didn't doubt his words for a second.
This guy absolutely meant what he said.
But… what the hell was a "pirate who kills innocent people indiscriminately"?
Did it mean that as long as pirates didn't kill innocents, this guy wouldn't go after them?
Then what about marines who killed indiscriminately, or even World Government officials?
This left Sanji somewhat puzzled, his face full of confusion.
Zeff, who had been watching from the side, took it all in. He let out a heavy sigh and said with a touch of melancholy:
"Ah… if only there were more marines like him in this world…"
…
For this trip to the Baratie Floating Restaurant to purchase a lavish feast, Ivan spent one million Berries.
But thanks to the Krieg Pirates' sudden attack, he ended up earning a bounty of a full ten million Berries.
Including this unexpected windfall, Ivan's savings soared to fifty million Berries.
This sum was more than enough to fund his trip to Water 7 to commission a top-tier ship.
After all, truly top-class ships often required rare, hard-to-come-by materials like Treasure Tree Adam, whose value couldn't even be measured in money.
And a ship bought for fifty million Berries was already considered the pinnacle among conventional vessels.
On the sea, a small warship cut through the waves, its hull slicing through the azure water, leaving a trail of fine ripples in its wake.
Flanking it on either side were two large pirate ships, their decks still stained with mottled traces of blood.
The three ships sailed in a formation of two in front and one behind, parting the shimmering waves as they slowly made their way toward the town of beginnings and endings—Loguetown.
Loguetown was located at the edge of the East Blue, right next to the entrance to the Grand Line, Reverse Mountain. It was the final supply station for pirates before they entered the Grand Line.
Logically, such a geographical location would attract hordes of pirates seeking to enter the Grand Line, and the town would descend into chaos.
Yet, Loguetown remained far from chaotic; in fact, it was more peaceful than most islands in the East Blue.
The reason for this lay with the two naval officers stationed in Loguetown: White Hunter Smoker and White Dove Ivan!
Among them, Colonel Smoker was upright and incorruptible, never letting any troublemaking pirate slip away.
However, compared to the even more formidable Colonel Smoker, the pirates feared Lieutenant White Dove Ivan even more!
Although Lieutenant Ivan's epithet was White Dove, his clothes were often stained with blood, and even his Justice Cloak was dyed a layer of red that could never be washed clean.
Unlike Smoker, who would arrest any pirate he saw upon spotting their flag, Lieutenant White Dove didn't bother with arrests—he simply killed them all!
It was this ruthless approach, combined with his handsome appearance, that earned Lieutenant White Dove high prestige among the civilians, though among pirates, the sentiment was entirely different.
At Loguetown's harbor, a fruit shop owner stood on tiptoe, gazing anxiously at the vast sea, and sighed:
"Ah, Lieutenant White Dove has been at sea for half a month now. Why hasn't he returned yet?
I heard he clashed with the Arlong Pirates recently and even got injured. Could something really have happened to him?"
Beside him, an elderly woman selling snacks glared fiercely and scolded him angrily:
"What nonsense are you spouting? Lieutenant White Dove is such a good man—how could anything happen to him? Shut your crow's mouth!"
Just then, the fruit shop owner suddenly rubbed his eyes vigorously and looked out to sea again.
After making out the silhouette of the approaching ship in the distance, his face changed drastically, and he exclaimed in alarm:
"Wait, stop arguing about that! There's a pirate ship coming!"
"Pirates? What's there to fear? Colonel Smoker will capture them all!" the old woman replied, completely unconcerned.
Past experience told her that aside from the few strongest pirate crews in the East Blue, no pirate crew dared to cause trouble in Loguetown.
The fruit shop owner certainly understood this, but instead of relaxing, his legs went weak with fear as he stammered:
"No, it's not just any pirate crew—it's the Krieg Pirates this time!"
"What? The Krieg Pirates?" The old woman's composure shattered instantly, her face turning pale.
Who didn't know that the Krieg Pirates were the undisputed overlords of the East Blue?
With a fleet of fifty warships and five thousand pirates under their command, their scale was enough to conquer a small country!
Even if Colonel Smoker was powerful, could Loguetown's forces truly hold back such a massive army?
"Quick, quick! Report what's happening here to Colonel Smoker!"
In an instant, the entire harbor descended into chaos.
…
Unaware of the commotion his arrival had caused, Ivan remained lying on the deck, basking in the sun.
Perhaps because Gojo Satoru enjoyed sunbathing so much, Ivan had spent the past week doing just that, and his approval rating had actually increased by one percentage point.
This made him quite happy.
Beside him, Tashigi sat on a stool, polishing her beloved sword, Shigure, with sword oil.
Truth be told, Tashigi really loved famous swords, especially those of the Great Grade and Supreme Grade varieties.
However, despite her fondness for these blades, Tashigi only wanted to admire them, not wield them.
Because in her heart, only a powerful swordsman could wield a famous blade. She was too weak and would only bring shame to such a sword.
Thinking this, Ivan said lazily:
"Tashigi, stop maintaining that sword. When I become strong enough, I'll give you a Supreme Grade Sword.
Right now, we're almost at Loguetown. Go and help maintain order."
Tashigi was already used to Ivan making grand promises, and she firmly believed he could do it.
After all, Lieutenant Ivan had never let her down.
"I understand, Lieutenant Ivan!"
Before the words had fully left her mouth, Tashigi sprang to her feet and went to direct the marines as they prepared to dock.
But she had only taken a few steps when the lookout in the distance suddenly cried out in alarm.
Immediately, Tashigi's expression changed. She hurriedly turned back, flustered, and said:
"Lieutenant Ivan, it's bad! Loguetown is under full lockdown. From the looks of it, it seems to have suffered a large-scale pirate attack!"