Chapter 51: Damn it!

Under the gloomy curtain of rain.

A luxury cruise ship, escorted by three warships, was slowly sailing toward the docks of Loguetown.

"Oh! Loguetown!!"

Altai stood at the bow, gently swirling the red wine in his hand. "Though it's far inferior to my royal capital, it's not bad at all!"

"Hey, Onigumo!" He glanced sideways toward the rear. "That so-called Pirate King, Roger, died right here, didn't he?"

"Yes, your esteemed Majesty Altai."

Beside him, Onigumo, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, nodded in response. "The execution platform in that plaza is where he met his end. If you wish to visit, I shall immediately order the Marine soldiers on the island to lay a red carpet all the way from the docks to the foot of the platform."

"Then go lay it."

Altai waved his hand lazily. "However, just standing at the docks to look around is enough. Go to the foot of the execution platform? I can't be bothered to run that far. I mainly just enjoy watching you Marine soldiers doing the menial labor that low-class servants are responsible for. Hahaha!"

"..."

Onigumo’s brow furrowed, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes, but the next moment, it immediately transformed into a smiling expression as he bowed slightly:

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Smoker stood at the rear of the deck, staring expressionlessly at Altai’s obese figure in the distance.

Compared to a few days ago, he now had several whip marks on his face and chest.

—These were the result of Altai flying into a rage because Smoker had saved a fishing boat and those two old people, leading Altai to whip him personally, lash by lash.

If it were an ordinary king, he naturally wouldn't have this right, but this man happened to possess one-quarter Celestial Dragon blood.

To be precise, more than thirty years ago, a certain princess of the Peace Kingdom was favored by a Celestial Dragon while attending the Reverie, and she returned pregnant.

The royal family of the Peace Kingdom took this as an honor, celebrated lavishly, and promoted the princess to the first in line for the throne.

After one generation passed, Altai, as the princess's eldest grandson, naturally ascended the throne after coming of age.

He was undoubtedly a contradictory and special existence.

On one hand.

All the Celestial Dragon families in the Holy Land would never acknowledge such a descendant with mixed blood, let alone implant a chip in him, nor would they tolerate Altai acting under the identity of a Celestial Dragon.

But on the other hand.

The people below, whether Marine Headquarters or World Government officials, dared not neglect him, truly treating Altai as more than just an ordinary king.

After all, his Celestial Dragon grandfather was still alive and held a high position in the family; it was even rumored he had inquired about his grandson's status several times. If anything were to happen to Altai, they would inevitably face the wrath of the Holy Land.

"..." Smoker touched the whip marks on his face and shook his head self-mockingly.

As a Logia-type user, to be whipped into a state of injury by an ordinary man full of gluttony—what a humiliation.

However, no matter what.

That old couple had been saved in the end.

And the price he paid was just being whipped; it was worth it, wasn't it?

—If only the one who had personally dragged him to Altai hadn't been Vice Admiral Onigumo.

Smoker lit two cigars and looked up, quietly watching Onigumo.

He didn't hate the man; he just had never felt the word "Justice" on the white coat draped over the man's back to be so blindingly offensive.

When exactly did it start?

Smoker exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze lost.

He clearly remembered that when he first met Onigumo over a decade ago, the man was also a hot-blooded youth who dared to slam the table and fall out with nobles to uphold the justice in his heart.

Throughout the Marines.

Was it really just Vice Admiral Onigumo who had changed?

Or perhaps, nothing had ever changed, and it was just his past self who had selectively ignored many things...

Loguetown Central Plaza, second floor of a café.

"Everyone's dishes are served. If you need anything else, I'll be downstairs; just give a shout."

The female manager smiled happily as she placed five bubble drinks on the table, and then, under Gin's expectant gaze, set a large bowl of strawberry cake in front of it.

"Heehee, thank you, Auntie Manager~"

Nami happily sipped her orange soda, glancing at the figure shrouded in a white robe and hood across the table. "Uncle Zeff, it’s not easy for everyone to be here together, yet you’re still wearing that outfit and won't even take it off to eat. Isn't that a bit much?"

"In a place of right and wrong, caution is never a mistake."

Zeff grinned.

His current identity was relatively special; he was the only one on the entire ship with a bounty.

Although the last update to the wanted poster was a long, long time ago, and his appearance had changed quite a bit, an ordinary person really wouldn't recognize him.

But Loguetown was relatively special, a mix of fish and dragons; it had the strongest Marine branch in the East Blue, and bounty hunters were active in the shadows. It was better to keep a low profile.

Of course.

Zeff also knew that Xia Nuo didn't care what identity the outside world assigned him, nor did he care if he was wanted; even before setting sail, he had prepared for a bounty from the World Government.

But when to walk that path—this decision should be in the hands of the captain, and he shouldn't be the one to cause an accident that leads to them being implicated.

As a crew member, one must have this awareness.

"So, that Marine girl who looks exactly like Kuina was dragged off to work five minutes before I arrived here? And she left this, asking you to hand it to me for a signature?"

Xia Nuo held up the old photo he was pinching.

"That's right."

Kuina nodded. "They said some big shot arrived, so almost all the Marines went to the docks to line up and welcome them. Tashigi had to go too."

"She was heartbroken not to see you. Before she left, she said if she could be lucky enough to get your autograph, she would just leave the photo with the café owner here, and she would come to pick it up when she was done."

Tsk, a big shot.

Loguetown was, after all, just a small town; how could a big shot condescend to come here?

Xia Nuo didn't take it to heart. Anyway, after tonight, he planned to steal—no, pick up—the execution platform and leave for Reverse Mountain.

No matter how difficult the royalty or nobles were to entertain, they were the Marines' problem; what did that have to do with him?

It was a pity he hadn't seen Tashigi and Kuina in the same frame with his own eyes.

Glancing at the photo in his hand, Xia Nuo thought that he might not have a chance to see Tashigi for a while, so he casually sacrificed it.

[Sacrifice: Tashigi's Treasured Old Photo]

[Quality: Fine]

[Value: 200 Points]

[Appraisal: A photo Tashigi carefully cut from a newspaper and kept safe, carrying the longing and beliefs of her girlhood, supporting her as she walked step by step from the countryside to the Marine branch, walking alone on the path of swordsmanship and justice. The figure of the black-haired boy standing with a sword is the beacon deep in her heart, and the unspoken, burning yearning during countless days and nights of swinging her sword.]

"..."

A vein throbbed on Xia Nuo's forehead.

—This system is truly damnation!

(End of chapter)