Heading To The Grand Line (End Of East Blue Chapter)
Smoker, knocked down to the ground, could do nothing to stop the Straw Hat Crew from leaving. He watched helplessly, his frustration growing.
The feeling of powerlessness made him clench his fist tightly.
After a while, a Marine captain arrived with a large group of soldiers.
"Smoker-sama!"
"Don't worry about me! Chase after them! We mustn't let the Straw Hat Crew escape!" Smoker gritted his teeth and issued the order. "Pirates are pirates, even if they are descendants of heroes. Once they set sail, they turn into indiscriminate killers..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a medical officer examining the wounded cried out, "Captain, the civilians are fine, they just fainted."
Smoker and the captain exchanged stunned glances.
The commotion at the execution square, along with the Marines' massive mobilization, finally alerted the people of Logue Town, who had enjoyed several years of peace, that something was amiss.
"The Straw Hat Crew has landed!"
"Run for your lives! If you don't want to die, run!"
"That's the highest bounty and the most notorious pirate in East Blue... And the Marines? Where's Colonel Smoker?"
Panic began to spread like wildfire.
Countless citizens started to flee, turning the once bustling streets into a frenzy of activity.
Luffy walked through the chaotic streets, and whenever people spotted them, they screamed and scattered as if they had seen ghosts.
This treatment was vastly different from what they'd experienced elsewhere.
"Am I really that frightening?" Luffy wondered aloud.
He hadn't done anything villainous. On the contrary, he had performed numerous heroic deeds. How had news of him spread so wildly?
Bartolomeo, the crew's number one fan, chimed in, "Luffy-sama, you're as terrifying as a ghost, hehehe... People should be afraid and then run away in panic!"
Luffy rolled his eyes at Bartolomeo's enthusiasm.
"I was about to ask, who's this guy?" Zoro glanced at him and inquired.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Zoro-sama of the Straw Hat Crew, right? I saw your bounty poster yesterday!" Bartolomeo approached Zoro, bowed deeply, and introduced himself. "I am Luffy-sama's loyal crewmate, the rookie Bartolomeo. Pleased to make your acquaintance!"
Zoro looked utterly unimpressed and said, "Get out of the way."
"Yes, Zoro-sama!"
Bartolomeo, brimming with excitement, had boundless energy.
Just then, the sound of running footsteps in formation approached from behind.
"The Marines are here!" Johnny turned around and exclaimed in alarm.
"Luffy!!!" Garp sprinted forward, followed by a contingent of Marines, armed with rifles and even rocket launchers, probably loaded with Sea-Prism Stone projectiles.
"Run!" Luffy laughed and took off first.
As they neared the port, Nami, who had been out shopping, was returning with bags in her hands.
"Luffy!" she called out. "I heard a loud noise earlier, and I knew you guys were exposed."
"Get on the ship, Nami. My grandpa's chasing us!"
"Huh?! Grandpa?"
Nami's anxiety spiked as she glanced behind Luffy, spotting a Marine officer in a cape who was grinning and chasing after them.
Is that really Luffy's grandpa? Should I... should I say hello?
Before she could decide, Luffy reached out and pulled her, ushering the three women onto the Sunny.
The rest of the crew boarded the Merry hastily.
"You guys are back?" Sanji was the first to return. When he looked up and saw the approaching Marines, he smirked. "I knew it; that booming sound was definitely not a good sign."
After a brief pause, Sanji noticed Bartolomeo and inquired, "Who's this guy?"
With no time for introductions, Luffy promptly ordered, "Raise anchor and set sail. Is everyone on board?"
"Yes, Luffy-sama, everyone's here."
The crew quickly hoisted the anchor and unfurled the sails.
The two ships slowly moved away from the harbor into open waters.
On the shore, the Marines stopped at the port, and Garp grinned.
"Think you can escape like this? Fetch me some cannonballs!"
He picked up a hefty cannonball and hurled it with his bare hands.
With a whoosh, the cannonball soared towards the Sunny, possessing more force than a warship's main cannon.
Boom!
Luffy swung his arm and shattered it.
"It's about time you give up, Grandpa!"
"Hahaha... Once you enter the Grand Line, the Marines will be hot on your trail, Pirate Luffy. It's not too late to turn back now!"
Garp laughed heartily.
Upon closer inspection, this young brat was accompanied by three women. Has he finally matured? Garp would have been happier if he'd made him a great-grandfather sooner, rather than let him pursue the title of Pirate King.
"Goodbye, Grandpa. See you in the Grand Line!"
Luffy waved with a smile.
"Vice Admiral Garp..." Tashigi spoke softly.
"He got away," Garp shrugged and laughed, his arms crossed. "He's always been a troublesome grandson. Now I'll have to face Sengoku's scolding when I return. Hahaha!"
His laughter was filled with pride.
...
On the deck of the Merry Go.
The crew exchanged puzzled glances.
"Did we forget something?"
"What could we have forgotten?"
"Oh, that's right, we forgot something..."
"Usopp is missing, Zoro."
"Right, where's Usopp?"
Several crew members' faces darkened.
Just then, at the port of Logue Town, a long-nosed man carrying a massive bundle chased after them, shouting:
"Luffy! Did you forget? I'm still not on the ship! Let me on quickly!"
On the Sunny.
Kaya covered her mouth in surprise. "It's Mr. Usopp."
Luffy reached out and pulled Usopp back onto the ship.
Usopp, now safely back on board, pinched Luffy's neck and wept, tears streaming down his face.
"Luffy, you scoundrel! Did you forget about me on purpose because I didn't join you earlier? You monster! Demon!"
"No, no, it was an accident. It was all a mistake."
Luffy laughed heartily.
Kaya attempted to defuse the situation. "Stop choking him, Mr. Usopp. Luffy is going to die."
Nami ignored the commotion, taking out the Grand Line sea map.
"From now on, listen to my commands. Hard to port, heading at seven o'clock, full sails ahead!"
Amidst laughter, noise, and chaos, the two ships embarked on their journey into the Grand Line.