East Blue · Loguetown.
A lavish imperial warship sailed into Loguetown's harbor, causing quite a commotion.
Even Captain Smoker, Loguetown's highest-ranking official, was at the harbor to "welcome" the arrival of this powerful figure.
"I hope His Majesty Wang Shi won't cause trouble in the Polaris Kingdom or Loguetown. Otherwise, I'm not like those two useless captains, Morgan and Mouse."
Smoker was hot-tempered and utterly unafraid of Wang Shi, the King of Exile. He even dared to warn the emperor of the Goa Empire.
He had great confidence in his Logia ability and his own strength.
"Don't worry. Since the Goa Empire publicly announced that it was halting its wars of expansion, I won't attack any other countries."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have come with just one warship this time."
Wang Shi casually fanned away the smoke drifting over from Smoker, the old chain-smoker, and gave him a faint smile.
He had brought only a few officers and the Guard Army crewmen sailing the ship to Loguetown.
The Guard Army from the expeditionary fleet had all remained in the Sasba Kingdom and the Flaws Kingdom, helping the large force sent by the Goa Empire occupy the new territories in full.
"Then what's your purpose in landing in Loguetown this time?"
Smoker didn't fully believe the nonsense spouted by Wang Shi, the Demon Emperor.
After the Goa Empire conquered four kingdoms, it had only stopped fighting for a few weeks before attacking the Sasba Kingdom, then capturing the Flaws Kingdom as well.
That behavior was downright despicable.
However, the Marines had no authority to interfere in wars between Affiliated Nations.
Smoker couldn't probe any further into the matter.
"Sightseeing! Shopping! And, while I'm at it, taking a look at Roger's Execution Platform."
With Eric, Van Augur, Zoro, and El Drago among his subordinates, and Nami, Nojiko, and Kaya among his female officers, Wang Shi walked straight past Smoker and the other Marines toward the center of Loguetown.
"Hold it! The pirate El Drago is a wanted criminal!"
"I can't interfere in the Goa Empire's affairs, but I can deal with a pirate!"
Smoker suddenly began billowing white smoke. He stood where he was, not even turning to look at Wang Shi's group, and spoke in a frigid tone.
In an instant,
all the Marines tensed up. Even Tashigi had broken out in a cold sweat.
How could Captain Smoker suddenly pick a fight with Wang Shi?
Were they about to go to war with Wang Shi, the Demon Emperor?
Marine Headquarters would surely tear Captain Smoker to pieces!
"Yohoho! I forgot to tell you: I've already informed Sengoku the Buddha and had the bounties on El Drago and my other pirate slaves revoked."
"Just wait for Marine Headquarters to notify you, or call them on a Den Den Mushi and ask for yourself."
Wang Shi didn't turn around. He continued leading his group onward.
"Ahahaha! I'm the Sonic Baron of the Goa Empire now, so tell me, Smoker—doesn't that make you mad?"
El Drago burst into a brazen laugh, looking thoroughly punchable.
Hearing Wang Shi and El Drago, Smoker's face darkened. The white smoke around him billowed even more fiercely, but in the end, he didn't make a move.
Damn the rights of Affiliated Nations!
They could even change wanted posters!
Just like those Shichibukai, they were all a bunch of bastards and villains!
Places crawling with filth!
Pirates were pirates. How could their bounties be revoked?
Did that mean the crimes they'd committed could just vanish into thin air?
Could the innocent civilians they'd killed come back to life?
"Captain Smoker, Marine Headquarters ordered us to 'protect' and 'keep watch on' His Majesty Wang Shi and his party."
Tashigi cautiously reminded Smoker, whose face was dark with anger.
"I know!"
Smoker snapped back in irritation.
Wang Shi's attitude and behavior had infuriated him.
So today, he'd keep a close eye on Wang Shi and make sure he was uncomfortable too.
Smoker immediately led a group of Marine soldiers after Wang Shi's party.
As soon as they left, the harbor at Loguetown erupted into a commotion.
Nobody had expected even Captain Smoker, who feared nothing, to come off worse against Wang Shi.
The people of Loguetown were now even more afraid to provoke anyone from the Goa Empire.
Inside a bar near the harbor.
"So that's the East Blue Emperor's flagship? It's so cool!"
Twenty-year-old Bartolomeo was already a mob boss ruling dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of streets and villages across the Polaris Kingdom. His headquarters were in his hometown of Loguetown.
He admired Wang Shi, the King of Exile, a little.
In such a short time, Wang Shi had conquered six kingdoms and made his name feared across the world.
That was far more impressive than conquering dozens of prosperous streets and ordinary towns.
And he'd heard that the Overlord of the North Blue's Germa 66 Legion was coming to cause trouble for Wang Shi.
As a man from the East Blue, of course he supported Wang Shi.
He hoped Wang Shi would defeat Germa 66 and bring glory to the East Blue.
Maybe even help the East Blue shed its title as the Weakest Sea.
The North Blue was currently hailed as the strongest of the Four Blues.
If Wang Shi could defeat the Overlord of the North Blue,
wouldn't that mean their East Blue would become the new strongest sea?
They'd have the North Blue, South Blue, and West Blue under their feet.
At the thought, Bartolomeo felt a surge of solidarity with Wang Shi. He wished he could pitch in and help Wang Shi defeat Germa 66.
If Wang Shi helped the East Blue cast off its title as the Weakest Sea, then East Blue natives would have something to be proud of wherever they went. They'd share in the glory.
Just as a saying from the Goa Empire went:
"The Empire's glory belongs to you, too."
If Wang Shi became the pride of the East Blue and a world-famous figure,
then the East Blue's glory would belong to them, too.
Even pirates heading for the Grand Line would have a little more pride.
They wouldn't have to put up with pirates from other seas sneering at the East Blue as the Weakest Sea.
"Boss Barto, why don't we go see the King of Exile in person?"
His tough-loving underlings wanted to see Wang Shi, the famous figure who had shaken the East Blue.
Forget getting his autograph; just seeing him would be enough.
"Good! Let's go see Wang Shi and find out if he needs our help taking on Germa's Evil Legion from the North Blue."
Bartolomeo bared his mouthful of sharp teeth and led his gang of underlings toward the center of Loguetown.
Meanwhile, the Barto Club underlings were all muttering about their boss.
What had he just said?
He wanted to ask Wang Shi if he needed help?
Come on!
They were just a bunch of gangsters. They hadn't even united the underworld of Loguetown, let alone that of the Polaris Kingdom.
How could they possibly help Wang Shi?
They could only hope Boss Barto wouldn't say something stupid and offend this Demon Emperor known as the King of Exile.
At that moment, inside Ipponmatsu's Weapons Shop in Loguetown,
the shopkeeper, Ipponmatsu, had obediently brought out his prized possession, the Ryo Wazamono Yubashiri.
Zoro and Saka were both drawn to the blade and were discussing who would get it.
Meanwhile, Wang Shi found the cursed sword Sandai Kitetsu among the barrels of swords.
Seeing the East Blue Emperor pick up the ominous cursed sword, Ipponmatsu didn't dare warn him.
He wondered to himself, Surely the King of Exile is worthy of wielding this cursed sword?
Smoker and Tashigi watched Wang Shi and his party enter the weapons shop.
They hadn't expected Wang Shi to really come for sightseeing and shopping.
Wang Shi hadn't even gone to see Pirate King Roger's Execution Platform first. He truly was a mysterious man with a clear purpose.