After bidding farewell to the others, Logan stepped onto the air itself, launching upward with Moon Walk.
"Flying Nimbus!" Logan shouted toward the sky.
From the distant horizon, a golden cloud streaked across the heavens, dragging a long radiant trail behind it.
In an instant, it arrived beneath Logan's feet.
Under the Straw Hats' gazes, he took off first, flying straight toward Loguetown.
Luffy couldn't help but sigh wistfully.
"So cool… When will big bro give me a Flying Nimbus?"
"Yeah, I really want one too," Nami added reluctantly. She'd spent the past few days joyfully zipping around on it.
Zoro stood up and stretched lazily.
"Let's hurry into Loguetown too. I still need to buy two more swords. A three-sword-style swordsman with only one blade—what kind of joke is that?"
Loguetown — Marine Base
Inside the communications room, a marine operator turned pale the moment he read the fax.
He rushed out at once and bang!—pushed open the door to the highest room in the base.
The interior was pitch-black, thick with cigar smoke, visibility nearly zero. Holding his breath against the choking stench, he shouted urgently:
"Captain Smoker! This is bad!"
"Headquarters just sent word—Monkey D. Luffy's crew is heading to Loguetown!
He's a pirate with a 60 million Beli bounty right from his debut. HQ orders you to capture him immediately!"
From the darkness came a voice full of disdain.
"Sixty million at debut? That is pretty high."
"He defeated Don Krieg and Arlong in the East Blue!" the operator hurriedly added.
"He's extremely dangerous—please don't underestimate him!"
"And we've also received reliable intelligence—at Cocoyashi Village, someone from the Straw Hat crew destroyed three Marine warships with a single attack. We still don't know if it was Luffy himself!"
The voice grew even more dismissive.
"What's all this noise over something so trivial? Have you forgotten what I taught you—stay calm in the face of major events, understand?"
Hearing Smoker's composure, the operator steadied himself and snapped to attention.
"Yes, Captain Smoker. My apologies."
From within the darkness, Smoker slowly stood and pushed open a window.
Sunlight flooded in, driving the smoke outward.
The room gradually brightened, revealing Smoker's bare upper body and fierce expression.
"Since I came to Loguetown," he sneered,
"not a single pirate has escaped my grasp."
"Come on. Let's see what this brat is really worth."
Suddenly—
"C-Captain Smoker! Behind you!" the operator screamed in terror, pointing toward the sofa, his arm trembling violently.
That room was strictly forbidden to outsiders—an iron rule of the base.
And no one except Smoker himself could even endure staying inside for long.
"Idiot," Smoker sighed impatiently.
"What did I just say about keeping your composure?"
But when he turned around—
Even his pupils shrank slightly.
A handsome white-haired young man sat casually on the sofa, smiling at him, a massive stone greatsword resting in his hands.
"Logan… when did you get here?" Smoker asked, lighting two more cigars and placing them in his mouth.
Then he waved at the stunned operator. "You can leave. This doesn't concern you."
The operator fled as if pardoned from execution, hastily shutting the door behind him.
Logan chuckled.
"I've been here a while. But big brother Smoker, I have to say—smoking's bad for your health."
"You little brat," Smoker said, exhaling thick smoke.
"Looks like you've grown a lot stronger since leaving Marineford. Sitting next to me without me noticing at all…"
"Eh, I'm alright," Logan replied lazily.
"Maybe just slightly stronger than you."
Smoker laughed and cursed, "You damn punk. Say it—what do you want? With your personality, you never come looking for me without a reason."
"Nothing special," Logan said with a grin.
"It's just been a long time since I saw you, big brother Smoker. How about we drink today—until we drop?"
Back at Marineford, Smoker had taken good care of him.
Any soldier who mocked Logan for training like a fool would be beaten on the spot by Smoker.
Unless absolutely necessary, Logan truly didn't want to fight him.
Smoker said nothing, only squinting as he smoked in silence.
After a long moment, he finally spoke.
"You're here for the Straw Hat kid, aren't you?"
Logan gave a sincere thumbs-up.
"As expected of you, big brother Smoker—sharp eyes, sharp mind."
"Bullshit," Smoker spat.
"You, of all people, suddenly asking me out for drinks? Don't try to fool me."
"Back at HQ, you spent nearly all your time training with the sword—practically dreaming about it in your sleep."
"So I'm not surprised at all by your current strength.
Everyone at Marineford—even Tashigi, who believed in you—still underestimated you."
Logan smiled awkwardly.
"Luffy… is my little brother."
Even Smoker couldn't hide his shock.
"So that's why you left the Marines—went to join your brother?"
"…But wait. Isn't your grandfather Monkey D. Garp? Then Luffy's grandfather is—?"
Logan nodded.
"…You grandfathers and grandsons are unbelievable," Smoker muttered, taking up his jitte.
"Whether we drink or not—let's fight first."
Logan stood as well, lifting the Zhenhai Sword with a helpless smile.
"I knew there was no avoiding this."
The two left the room together.
The moment Logan opened the door, he saw the corridor packed with Marines.
Smoker barked,
"Get the hell out of here!"
They scattered instantly.
Soon, the two arrived at an empty beach near the shore.
Logan smiled.
"Big brother Smoker—this place good enough?"
"Make your move," Smoker said coldly.
"Let me see what you're really capable of."
…
…
Ten minutes later.
Logan walked slowly toward the nearest seaside tavern—
carrying an unconscious Smoker on his back.
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