That afternoon, the Loguetown harbor shimmered under the heat haze. Karl had originally planned to visit in a few days, but since Ain didn't have much leave time, they set sail that very night.
Karl stepped off the Saint Light with Ain on his arm, taking in the sights. It felt like ages ago that he'd last been here — back then, he was investigating corrupt Marines alongside Smoker.
Behind them, Tashigi murmured in awe:
"So this is where the Pirate King Gol D. Roger was executed… It's huge!"
Karl glanced back at her, faintly amused. In the original timeline, Tashigi had been Smoker's aide; now, she was Ain's deputy — and a Marine major. He'd even cured her eyesight along the way. If Roronoa Zoro ever met her like this, he'd probably short-circuit.
"Lieutenant General Karl… why are you staring at me like that?" Tashigi asked, flustered.
Ain's eyes sharpened instantly.
Karl chuckled. "Just curious. It's your first time here, right?"
Ain glanced at the nearby Marine base. "Smoker still hasn't shown up. Should we head there first?"
Karl folded his arms. "We're guests! If he doesn't come welcome me, I'm not moving."
Ain rolled her eyes. "Childish. Come on, Tashigi."
As they started to walk away, smoke coiled from the sky and landed before Karl, forming into Smoker himself. The smoke cleared.
"Long time no see!" Smoker said, clapping Karl on the back.
Karl coughed. "Hey— easy! You never used to greet me like that."
Smoker smirked and handed him a cigar. "Here. A Loguetown specialty."
"Figures. You and your cigars."
Ain grinned. "You two catch up. Tashigi and I are going shopping."
When they'd left, Karl turned to Nelson.
"Nelson, dock the ship and take everyone to the Loguetown base. We'll be here a few days."
"Aye, sir!"
Smoker exhaled a slow plume of smoke. "Let's walk."
The Execution Platform
They stopped at the execution scaffold.
"I was twelve when Roger walked past me to this platform," Smoker said quietly. "Now I'm thirty-four… and the Great Pirate Era he started hasn't ended."
Karl looked up at the empty gallows. "What if I told you… the age of piracy will end soon?"
Smoker scoffed. "Even if you locked every Emperor in Impel Down, new pirates would rise. Someone will always take their place."
Karl smiled and said nothing.
"Anyway," he added, "how's East Blue?"
"Not exactly quiet," Smoker said. "Yesterday, the Anti-Corruption Office sent intel about Axe-Hand Morgan, the colonel of Marine Branch 153. He's abusing power, extorting civilians. I was planning to go arrest him in a day or two… then you showed up."
Karl blinked. "So I've interrupted your work?"
"Nah. Now I've got a Marine Hero to do the heavy lifting," Smoker said shamelessly.
"You really know how to use people," Karl sighed. "Fine. Let's wrap it up."
Smoker grinned. "We leave now."
Heading for Shells Town
The Saint Light cut through the waves at impossible speed — Smoker wasted no time commandeering it.
"Feels nostalgic," Smoker said. "Back before the Anti-Corruption Office existed, we went around purging corrupt Marines together."
Karl smiled. "Our first job was Cocoyasi Village, right? Arlong Pirates and that crooked rat of a Marine."
Smoker laughed. "All I remember is that orange-haired kid. Wonder what she's doing now."
He was talking about Nami, of course.
Karl chuckled. "She's grown up, that's for sure."
It normally takes a day to sail from Loguetown to Shells Town, but by nine the next morning, the Saint Light was already offshore. They anchored away from the port.
"Better to verify the evidence first," Smoker explained. "Complaints aren't always reliable. We confirm, then we arrest."
"Fair enough," Karl said, slipping on a mask.
Smoker stared. "Why the mask?"
"So I don't get swarmed. Recognizable face, remember?"
Smoker grunted. "Figures."
Branch 153 — The Execution Yard
At the yard, Roronoa Zoro hung tied to a post, left under the blazing sun and gnawing hunger.
And a straw-hatted boy had just wandered in — not to gawk, but to recruit.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus (OP)Chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus (OP)Chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 (OP)Chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/SwipeSage