"Hm… Loguetown," Leo muttered, gazing at the night sky as he steered the Merchant ship. "The Nearest and busiest town in the whole East Blue… that should be my next destination."
Drawing from the stories of the village elders and the detailed map he had found in the ship's cabin, Leo decided to head toward this major town. A place where he might find a worthy crewmate or at the least the materials needed to upgrade his ship before beginning his adventure in the east blue.
His mother's words echoed in his mind.
Finding a capable crew in East Blue would be like finding diamonds in the rough because it is the weakest sea of the four seas.
Better to wait till he reached the Grand Line because that is where individuals with true strength and skills gathered.
If his goal was to become the Pirate King, he and his crew would face unimaginable dangers. People with weak resolve would break long before the journey ended. Even if they lacked power, he needed unwavering loyalty, people he could trust with his life.
With his course set, Leo climbed up the mast and grabbed the ship's flag, which showed some random insignia altering to the bold lettering of "Leo Trading Company."
A simple misdirection.
Not stopping there, he subtly reshaped parts of the ship's structure keeping its overall color the same, but changing enough details to make it unrecognizable as a stolen merchant vessel.
The ship sailed smoothly across the calm ocean, passing by Conomi Island on a clear path toward Loguetown.
Unbeknownst to him, news about him had already begun to spread.
An unknown figure had caused chaos in East Blue.
Mirror Ball Island had been raided. Several large ships were destroyed, along with countless smaller ones. Nobles were robbed and humiliated, while the image of the "brave" Captain Nezumi spread, severely injured in a supposed battle to protect the island's residents.
At first, it seemed like just another incident in a sea filled with pirates, but what caught everyone's attention wasn't the act but the face of the villain.
A single image, printed across the full front page of the newspaper.
A boy with Snow white hair and crystal blue eyes, accompanied by two beautiful women dancing at the bar.
***
"Wait, Captain Smoker, we've been ordered not to let anyone in—"
"Move."
The man didn't even slow down. He looked more like a ruffian than a Marine officer as he kicked the door open, disturbing the old man's nap.
"Can't an old man get a nap?" Garp grumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Young people these days have no respect for their elders…"
"Then go sleep on your ship or in an inn," Smoker shot back, irritation clear in his voice. "Why are you sleeping in my office?"
"I was just passing by… thought I'd check up on the branch here. Khmm… khm…" Garp replied, coughing awkwardly.
"How thoughtful," the female officer behind Smoker, Tashigi, said earnestly correcting her glasses.
"No, he's not," Smoker cut in flatly. "He came here to loiter around the execution platform and then head back to his hometown." Smoker corrected Tshigi's misconception about garp.
"…Seems I've been caught whahahah..." Garp laughed, completely unbothered as he remained seated in Smoker's chair.
Before Smoker could respond, a Marine rushed in, breathing hard, a report clutched in his hand.
"Captain Smoker! We've received an emergency report. A criminal attacked 16th Branch Captain Nezumi and caused a huge ruckus on Mirror Ball Island!"
"Attacking a captain, huh…" Smoker muttered, taking the report. His eyes sharpened as he read the name. "Portgas D. Leo…"
Three years ago, a rookie named Portgas D. Ace had slipped through his grasp, now that same name surfaced, tied to another troublemaker.
"What did you say his name was…?" Garp's voice cut in, his sleepy demeanor gone.
"Portgas D. Leo," Smoker repeated, handing him the report.
Garp studied the image carefully, the boy's appearance was distinctive but unfamiliar.
"Is he your son, Smoker? Your hair—" Before Garp could finish, a sharp, oppressive aura leaked from Smoker, daring him to say another word.
"…Hahahaha, alright, forget it," Garp waved it off with a grin. "Just thought, since you both have the same hair… but he doesn't look anything like you." He finished the remark anyway.
"Let's go, men. Prepare the ship, we're heading to Dawn Island."
"You're not seriously thinking of going after him, are you? This is my jurisdiction." Smoker stated.
Garp waved a hand dismissively as he walked past.
"What are you talking about? I'm going to visit my grandson, he's turning seventeen next week. I don't have time to chase after some random ruffians." and with that, he left but Smoker remained unconvinced.
***
Meanwhile…
"What a handsome lad…" a large fat woman muttered, staring at the newspaper. "Hey, Coby—this says he's in East Blue." She grinned.
"I think I've found the perfect slave. As the most beautiful woman in the world… it's only natural I claim him." The pink haired young boy polishing her shoes flinched.
"Y-Yes, Captain Alvida… he would be a perfect match for your beauty—" Before he could finish, a kick sent him flying across the deck.
"Are you blind?!" she snapped. "No one in this world is a match for my beauty! He's barely worthy to follow me!" She stood, swinging her iron mace with pride.
"I am the most beautiful pirate in the world—ALVIDA!" Her grin widened as she pointed forward.
"Change course! Head toward his last known location!" Her crew scrambled to obey.
***
"Hm… a playboy thief from Mirror Ball Island…" Nami muttered, scanning the newspaper. "I don't like him… but I suppose I should thank him for beating up that corrupt rat. If that man had actually done his job properly, things wouldn't have gotten this bad."
Her gaze darkened slightly as she recalled how Nezumi and his accomplices within the Marine bases had suppressed their complaints.
She paused, her eyes lingering on the image of the boy.
"I just hope he doesn't go to Conomi Island… knowing that ugly fishman Arlong and his gang, they would kill him without a second thought. Not like I'm worried or anything…" Her gaze softened for a brief moment.
"…but he does look a little cuter than the usual brutes roaming the sea." She blinked, immediately frowning.
"What am I even thinking? There's nothing more attractive in this world than berries."
***
"Eat this and don't pick up anymore signals, got it?" Leo muttered, feeding a green leaf to the small snail. "Or I'll knock you out again." The only other living creature on the ship nervously obeyed.
For the past day and a half, Leo had been sailing toward Loguetown, the town of beginning and end, where the Pirate King was born… and executed.
The journey hadn't been quiet.
He encountered two small pirate ships, and one Marine petrolling ship.
All three had been sunk by him swiftly.
Using his ability, Leo destroyed their vessels, looted everything of value, but left them alive drifting in the sea. His haul had grown significantly enough to fetch a good amount once he reached Loguetown.
With time on his hands, he upgraded his Shark Sub-Ski, adding a second seat behind and reinforcing it with parts stolen from Marine and pirate ships.
It was now tough enough to carry two people, faster, and far more durable.
He even installed two small engines beneath it, so it no longer relied entirely on his ability, sparing him the constant exhaustion.
"I hope they change my image in the future..." He looked at the newspaper front page, His own face stared back at him, drunk, smirking with two women wrapped around in his arms.
Clicking his tongue, Leo adjusted the ship's course once again, pushing forward at full speed. Loguetown was only half a day away, he would arrive there by evening.
But then something appeared on the horizon.
A ship.
No…
A massive Marine battleship.
At least three times larger than his own.
Heavy cannons lined both sides, its deck expansive. The sails bore the bold Marine insignia, alongside the marking "HQ3", a clear sign that this wasn't an ordinary marine ship.
At the prow of the ship stood a large bulldog figurehead, its rounded snout and stern expression almost comical...
Quietly, Leo began steering away, increasing the distance between the two ships to assess the intention of the other party because he didn't believe this encounter was just a coincidence.
For a brief moment, It seemed like he might pass unnoticed, but then a cannon was fired.
The explosion rang through the air above him.
A warning shot, ordering him to halt for inspection. The incoming ship was far faster than his merchant vessel thus he stopped.
Soon the ship stopped adjacent to his and Leo's gaze shifted to the deck.
Two figures caught his eyes surrounded by many marines, an old man imposing despite his relaxed posture and a silent swordsman, far too alert then the situation required.
"What do you want, old man?" he said smirking, eyes fixed on him. "Planning to arrest me? That won't end well for you."
"Whahahaha!" Garp laughed, picking his nose like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Answer me first kid what's your real name?" Leo narrowed his eyes.
"Will you let me go, if I answer?"
"Sure," Garp replied instantly, flicking whatever he had picked straight into the sea, the surrounding marines froze.
"…Vice Admiral?"
Leo paused for a moment then smirked.
"Portgas D. Leo."
For the briefest second something flickered in Garp's eyes.
"It is true ha…"
"Tell me, ever heard of someone named Portgas D. Ace… or Portgas D. Rouge?" Leo's expression didn't change, but alarms rang in his mind.
"Never heard of them," he replied. "But… sounds like we might be related." For a moment, the scene turned absurd.
A criminal and a Vice Admiral casually talking about family names while the rest stood confused, unsure whether to intervene or just watch.
Then Garp suddenly pointed at Leo.
"Bogard! Go pick him up! I'm making this brat a Marine!"
Every jaw dropped at once. Wasn't this the same kid who had just beaten a Marine captain? What was the Vice Admiral thinking?
"Hehehe… What about your promise, old man?" Leo said, his voice sharpening. "Didn't you say you'd let me go?" Garp scratched his head, as if recalling his words.
"Oh, I did," he said casually. "Just forget it." Silence fell once again over the deck.
Even the Marines looked stunned by the symbol of justice lying so openly to a kid's face.