"Commodore… the number of pirates around here has increased recently."
Bruce looked down at the shattered remains of the pirate ship drifting across the sea and spoke to the tall white-haired woman standing beside him.
Saint Roselith Seraphina gazed silently across the ocean.
She had already noticed it.
More pirates.
And far stronger ones than usual.
None of them resembled the ordinary rabble that typically plagued East Blue.
"None of these crews look familiar," Bruce continued while examining the wanted posters recovered from the wreckage.
"Judging by these bounty posters… most of them are pirates from the Grand Line."
He frowned deeply.
"But how did they even reach East Blue?"
"The Calm Belt should make passage nearly impossible."
"And crossing the Red Line without a proper route is even harder."
"It doesn't make sense…"
Bruce's brows knitted together as he struggled to piece together the mystery.
"Commander Bruce."
Liva suddenly interrupted lazily.
"You're overthinking this."
He dragged a bound pirate across the deck as if hauling a sack of grain.
"If you want answers… just ask one."
Liva grabbed the pirate by the collar and lifted him into the air.
"Hey, pirate."
"What are you doing all the way out here in East Blue?"
His tone was cold and threatening as he tried his best to look intimidating.
The pirate glared back with defiant eyes.
"Damn Marines!"
"You'll get nothing from me!"
He spat directly at Liva's face.
A vein bulged on Liva's forehead.
"Looks like you need some color on that face."
His fist slammed into the pirate's stomach.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Still the pirate refused to speak.
Just as Liva prepared to continue
"Enough."
Saint Roselith Seraphina spoke calmly.
She had not stopped the interrogation earlier.
But she also had no intention of allowing the man to be beaten to death.
Pirates and Marines were enemies.
No one expected polite tea conversations.
But cruelty for cruelty's sake was pointless.
"Understood, Commodore."
Liva reluctantly stepped back.
"I'll grab another one."
"Someone always values their life."
Seraphina nodded silently.
Moments later another pirate was dragged forward.
Liva pointed at the unconscious man lying on the ground.
"He refused to talk."
"Now it's your turn."
"Why are pirates from the Grand Line showing up in East Blue?"
He raised his fist threateningly.
The pirate immediately panicked.
"D-Don't hit me!"
"I'll talk!"
Not every pirate possessed iron resolve.
This one clearly didn't.
"Our captain heard a rumor!"
"A Marine officer in East Blue forced the Red-Haired Pirates to retreat!"
Bruce and Liva both froze.
"Our captain said… if someone could defeat that Marine…"
"They might become famous enough to rival legendary pirates."
The pirate continued nervously.
"Everyone in the Grand Line is talking about it!"
"They say whoever defeats that Marine could challenge the legends!"
"So our captain brought us here…"
"Across the Red Line."
Silence fell across the deck.
Liva blinked.
Then burst out laughing.
"You idiots crossed the Red Line…"
"To challenge our Commodore?"
LoguetownMeanwhile…
In Loguetown, the final island before pirates entered the Grand Line.
"RUN!"
"FASTER!"
The pirate fleet scattered in complete panic.
At the center of the chaos stood a single coffin-shaped boat.
A tall man sat calmly inside.
A massive black sword rested across his back.
His golden eyes were sharp enough to kill with a single glance.
Eyes like a hawk.
The man was none other than Dracule Mihawk.
Also known as Hawkeye.
The world's strongest swordsman.
"Who… who is that monster?"
A trembling pirate asked.
"Are you blind?!"
"That's one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"Hawkeye Mihawk!"
Nearby, Marines inside the Loguetown garrison were equally alarmed.
"Why would a Warlord suddenly appear here?!"
"No idea!"
"Contact Marine Headquarters immediately!"
"Yes sir!"
The officer saluted.
"Commodore Seraphina, this is Loguetown!"
"Dracule Mihawk has appeared in the harbor!"
"His intentions are unknown!"
"We await your orders!"
At SeaSaint Roselith Seraphina listened calmly.
Hawkeye Mihawk.
Of course she knew that name.
From both this life…
And her previous one.
Among swordsmen, his reputation stood at the absolute peak.
Even Roronoa Zoro would one day seek to surpass him.
Mihawk lived an unusual life.
Alone.
Inside a lonely castle.
His only pleasure was dueling powerful swordsmen.
Years ago he had crossed blades countless times with Shanks, the captain of the Red-Haired Pirates.
Why would such a man come to East Blue?
"Stabilize the situation."
Seraphina spoke calmly.
"A Warlord would not cause chaos without reason."
"Yes, Commodore!"
She then turned to Bruce.
"We're heading to Loguetown."
"A Warlord is waiting for us."
Since her battle with Shanks, Seraphina knew something clearly.
She was still far from the top of the world.
And Mihawk
A man capable of rivaling Shanks in swordsmanship
Was not someone to underestimate.
But if he had come here for her…
Then she would face him.
Without retreat.
Loguetown HarborA nervous Marine captain stepped forward cautiously.
"My name is Roy."
"I command the Loguetown Marine base."
He bowed respectfully.
"May I ask what brings you here, Lord Hawkeye?"
Dracule Mihawk ignored him completely.
He crushed the pirate's camera under his boot.
Apparently the terrified pirate had fainted from fear.
Roy swallowed nervously.
Just being near Mihawk felt like standing beside death.
"Lord Hawkeye…"
"Commodore Seraphina is already on her way "
Mihawk finally spoke.
"The Marine officer who fought Red-Hair?"
Roy nodded quickly.
"Yes."
"Saint Roselith Seraphina drove the Red-Haired Pirates away."
The newspapers had already spread the story across the seas.
Roy personally doubted the truth of it.
After all
How could a Marine Commodore truly force Shanks to retreat?
More likely, the Yonko simply had other matters to attend to.
Still…
Mihawk's golden eyes sharpened.
"Perfect."
"Then I will wait."
The world's strongest swordsman leaned back in his coffin-boat calmly.
"No need to search anymore."
"I'll meet this Marine officer here."
"In Loguetown."