-Loguetown Marine Base-
Smoker wore a white coat. He strode out with a Seastone jitte strapped to his back. He immediately mounted his amphibious three-wheeled motorcycle powered by smoke.
Clatter! Clatter!
A communications soldier walked over. His face was filled with panic.
"Captain Smoker, the latest news just arrived from the plaza. Aside from Fire Fist Ace, an unidentified swordsman has appeared. The soldiers guarding the eastern intersection were all silently taken down by this swordsman!"
"A swordsman?"
"Yes. The distance was too far for us to see his face clearly. The intruder carried two longswords, so he was classified as a swordsman!"
"To be able to ambush our Marines without making a sound, this swordsman possesses quite the strength." Smoker clamped his teeth down on his cigar. He frowned. "Just in case, Tashigi, take your men and fill the gap in the east. That is the only path to the harbor."
"Order the men on standby not to attack Fire Fist before I arrive!"
"Yes, Mr. Smoker!"
Tashigi stood at attention to receive the order.
She led the base's elite soldiers and immediately rushed toward the blockade lines.
"A nameless swordsman. Just who is it, and why is he with Fire Fist Ace?"
Smoker muttered to himself as he watched the soldiers leave. His expression was quite grim.
Another rookie pirate had appeared in the East Blue. His very first bounty had reached a staggering 73 million beli.
Smoker originally kept Loguetown under strict surveillance to prevent the emergence of such great pirates. He simply did not expect the first to appear would actually be Fire Fist Ace.
As for the other one.
"After collecting the Marine bounty, where did Lius go?"
With this thought in mind, Smoker violently started his motorcycle.
Rumble!
The smoke-driven engine erupted with a beastly roar. Two trails of pale gray smoke spewed out like a pale dragon.
In the next moment.
The amphibious three-wheeled motorcycle shot forward like an arrow. It disappeared at the end of the dark street in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, at the massive plaza in the center of the town.
A tall execution platform stood in its center.
Tap.
Lius slowly touched down.
Ace followed closely behind. He flipped over and landed nimbly on the execution platform.
Looking out from this high vantage point, one could see the scenery of the harbor.
The darkest hour before dawn was about to pass. A pale white hue emerged on the horizon. The morning glow pierced through the dark clouds, eager to shine down.
The ocean was vast and boundless, filling one's heart with yearning.
The duo stood silently on the execution platform. They seemed completely oblivious to the Marines' movements around the plaza.
"To tell you the truth, I have no desire to become the Pirate King at all."
Ace took the initiative to speak, breaking the silence out of nowhere.
"Then just don't be."
Lius swept his gaze over the boundless scenery and gave a casual reply.
"Don't you want to know why?"
Ace looked over. His eyes were filled with curiosity.
"Why would I?"
"What a weird guy. How could you have remained completely unknown in the East Blue all this time!"
"I have been studying under an old man all these years. I only set sail not too long ago."
"I also had an old man frequently coming back to teach me over the years. However, I failed to live up to his good intentions."
Ace offered a bitter smile. A fleeting look of gloom flashed across his eyes.
"What a coincidence. It seems we both have an extraordinary old geezer backing us." Lius laughed.
"What did you set sail for?"
Ace turned his head to look. Deep doubt filled his eyes.
He had already asked this back on the ship.
Lius simply never answered him.
"For what? Naturally, to open up a new era!"
"A new era? Just like Roger?"
Ace was completely taken aback.
"No. I won't use my own death to achieve a certain goal. Even if my days were numbered, I wouldn't do it!"
Lius possessed a sharp gaze. He grinned. "I will live to open up a new era. I will also live to witness the arrival of this new era."
His tone made it sound like a matter of fact.
Even Ace could not help but freeze in place.
It felt just like returning to Foosha Village and listening to his cute little brother constantly clamoring about becoming the Pirate King.
However, unlike Luffy, the words Lius spoke were filled with far more reason and power.
It was not the impulse of hot-blooded youth.
Right then.
The darkest hour before dawn was about to recede.
The morning light pierced the darkness. A golden morning glow spilled down from the edge of the sky, instantly landing on the towering execution platform.
It also landed on Lius and Ace.
"The old era will eventually come to a close. The new era will follow. And we..."
Lius flashed a wild smile. His tone brooked no doubt. "We are the new era!"
The moment he finished speaking.
The system's notification tone suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host. You have obtained an extraordinary check-in opportunity!]
[Would you like to check in?]
Extraordinary?
Lius blinked. A pleasant surprise lit up his eyes.