The Going Merry slowly glided into the port of Loguetown.
Luffy, curious as ever, led the crew off the ship.
He took a careful look around. Observing the strangely quiet scene, he couldn't help but frown.
"Huh~ this is really weird…"
Years ago, he had lived in Loguetown for quite a while.
Loguetown, one of the largest trading ports in the East Blue, was normally bustling with people, so crowded that walking through the streets was nearly impossible.
Yet today, it was eerily silent.
Less than a hundred ships were docked in the entire main harbor.
Fewer than ten were loading or unloading cargo.
Among them were even two Marine supply ships.
Seeing this quiet version of Loguetown, Luffy pushed his doubts aside and led the crew toward the marketplace from his memories.
Their purpose for visiting this town was clear: supplies.
There was no reason to linger longer.
Few places in the world could attract the crew more than the training room aboard the Going Merry.
Ever since Brook's supernatural incident, the crew had been obsessively training.
In less than a month, veteran members like Robin and Nami hadn't changed much.
But the newer members had undergone transformations that were radical and visible to the naked eye.
For Luffy and Zoro, who already had naturally high potential, the short-term training wasn't as noticeable.
But for Usopp and Koby, the training bonuses, combined with their natural talent, meant their strength had improved drastically.
Sanji's growth was especially noteworthy.
Among the crew, his physical talent was among the best, almost third only to Luffy and Zoro.
He carried the mystical "D" bloodline in his veins, and his gourmet cells were accelerated by the glowing culinary energy from their dishes.
At his current pace, it wouldn't take a year before Sanji could confidently claim the third spot in the crew's hierarchy.
But strength alone wasn't everything.
The world was full of devil fruits with bizarre abilities, some could manipulate minds or control emotions.
Hancock's Love-Love Fruit, revolutionary morale-boosting fruits, Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit, Memory Fruit…
In a world of ordinary people, these were rare treasures.
But for someone like Luffy's crew, nothing in that league could be taken lightly.
A single vulnerability could be exploited, and the consequences would be severe.
There were also countless beings capable of psychological attacks purely through skill, hypnosis, Brook's music, even memory-eating seahorses in the Grand Line.
Among the crew, Sanji was clearly the weakest mentally.
Even Koby was two or three levels above him.
Fortunately, perhaps Brook had been right.
The previous incident with the alternate-dimension being had posed no real threat to them.
Though it had dragged Sanji into a bottomless abyss, putting him at mortal risk, it had also elevated his soul.
His mental attribute had jumped from 600 to over 900, nearing the significant threshold of 1,000.
A thousand was a Captain milestone: only beyond it could certain powers and techniques fully manifest.
How long it would take Sanji to surpass it was anyone's guess.
As they delved further into the town, the sense of unease grew stronger.
Every street in Loguetown was unnervingly empty.
Homes had their doors tightly shut, and even the once-thriving shopping districts were deserted. The charm of a port city at the entrance of the Grand Line was gone.
Even more striking, all the weapon shops were sealed with Marine Department tags: "East Blue Loguetown Marine Division."
Luffy and his crew proceeded cautiously, moving toward the town's main market.
Meanwhile, in the Loguetown Marine Headquarters, the office of the highest-ranking commander was tense.
"You're telling me… you let Buggy Pirates escape!?"
A frail figure sat in the chair, glaring at the burly man standing before him.
His tone carried anger, yet there was an air of calm authority, one cultivated only from years of high command.
The small-eyed commander stroked his thin mustache as he examined the heavily bandaged Marine officer, the infamous Lieutenant Brannew.
"I'm aware… Buggy's just a small pirate with a 15 million bounty…"
"You had fifty warships and swore you'd capture him. And this… is what you bring back?"
His eyes narrowed, sending a silent, sharp reprimand that made Brannew's heart skip a beat.
Suddenly, another grating voice interjected:
"You really are useless, Lieutenant Brannew…"
"Shut up!!!!!!"
Nezumi slammed his hand on the desk, silencing the insubordinate soldier.
"This isn't your place to speak!"
Chastised, stepped back silently, aware of the new hierarchy.
Nezumi then turned back to Brannew, his tone calmer now.
"Explain… how could you, East Blue's hero, be made to look this foolish?"
Brannew shifted his bandages uncomfortably and began to report:
"Captain Nezumi! I take full responsibility for this failure and accept any punishment. But… Buggy the Star Clown Pirates are far more cunning than intelligence suggested.
Their crew possesses top-class sailors and navigators. Experienced and skilled, unlike ordinary pirates, they escaped easily from a fleet of over a dozen ships.
Their firepower is astonishing, one cannonball can destroy a small warship. That's why we lost so many ships.
Buggy's Devil Fruit is bizarre. He can split his body into countless pieces, making even Seastone bullets ineffective.
The slash wounds on me… were from being ambushed due to underestimating his ability.
If they hadn't been in a hurry to flee, I might not even be reporting here now.
Yet because of my weakness, the Marine suffered losses. I, Lieutenant Brannew, accept full responsibility, including dismissal if necessary. Please Commander, punish me as you see fit."
Silence fell. Only the sound of Nezumi's fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk echoed.
"Devil Fruits, huh…"
After a long pause, Nezumi stopped and, a sly grin forming, muttered, "Interesting…"
He rose and retrieved two wooden boxes from a safe.
Placing them on the desk, he also produced a Marine-issued red-sealed document.
"Look up, Lieutenant Brannew."
"Hmm?" Brannew looked up, confused.
Nezumi held the document high, declaring:
"Lieutenant Brannew, in recognition of your diligent work in eradicating pirates in the East Blue, your efforts are hereby rewarded. By my order, you are promoted to Lieutenant Commander and permitted to command a small fleet. Continue to fight for the people! Fight for justice!"
BOOM
He dropped the slightly heavy commission on the desk.
"As for the Buggy Pirates… it's surprising, yes. But since they've escaped into the Grand Line, let the Marine divisions there worry about them. Prepare a detailed report, no more intelligence failures! Do you understand, Lieutenant Commander Brannew?!"
Nezumi's expression softened, almost playful, and he turned to Alrita:
"Alrita! Due to your excellent recent performance, you are promoted to Ensign. May you continue to serve justice well!"
"Yes! Thank you, Captain!"
Alrita gave a formal salute, now resembling a proper Marine soldier.
Nezumi opened the wooden boxes. Inside were two Devil Fruits, marked with strange spiral patterns.
"These are for you. I cannot take the entire East Blue force with me, but I can take two officers, my subordinates, into the Marine Headquarters. These fruits will aid you in higher pursuits."
Brannew and Alrita gazed at the fruits, visions of a "higher world" dancing in their minds.
"I swear to follow Captain Nezumi to the death!"
"I swear to follow Captain Nezumi to the death!"
They saluted and bit into the fruits.
Almost instantly, their expressions changed, faces pale, eyes wide, as if forced to consume poison.
Yet knowing the legendary nature of these fruits, they swallowed resolutely.
Alrita's body transformed, her fat melted away, her masculine features smoothed into a stunning beauty. Her uniform loosened around her now-perfect form.
Brannew, on the other hand, transformed grotesquely into a cockroach-human hybrid, growing extra limbs, dark exoskeleton, and terrifying regeneration.
"This is the Cockroach Fruit, Captain Nezumi! I now have the endurance and healing abilities of a cockroach. I can recover from nearly any injury as long as I survive!"
Nezumi laughed maniacally.
"Excellent! Devil Fruits are truly powerful!"
BOOM
He slammed the desk again, shaking the room.
"Marines! A glorious future awaits us. I am your superior, and your comrade. Together, we rise and fall as one! There are challenges ahead, but if we are united, nothing in this world can defeat us!"
"Yes, Captain Nezumi!"
"Yes, Captain Nezumi!"
"From now on, I entrust you to the mission of justice!"
HA HA HA HA HA…
At that moment, the three had fully formed their own team, independent within the Marine hierarchy.
Suddenly, a knock echoed through the room.
"Enter!"
The door burst open. A Marine soldier, breathless and frantic, saluted.
"Report, Captain Nezumi! The Shichibukai crew, the Starry Sky Pirates, have been spotted moving through Loguetown!"
He froze mid-report, taking in the new figure and Brannew's bare, transformed body.
Inside, he wanted to weep: "My career… it's over…"