Loguetown, White Hunter Smoker!

Loguetown.

A group of pirates was walking down the street when disaster suddenly struck from above.

A man with blue-white hair descended from the sky, shrouded in white smoke.

"White Vine!"

As he let out a low shout, a miraculous scene unfolded.

The white smoke swirling around the man intensified abruptly, then surged outward with a roar, twisting like ropes.

"What!?"

"It's the White Hunter!"

The pirates were terrified and tried to struggle, but it was completely futile; they were quickly wiped out and captured alive.

Then, the man returned toward the Loguetown branch, controlling the smoke to keep the pirates bound.

Along the way, pedestrians smiled as they witnessed the scene.

"Look, it's Colonel Smoker!"

"Colonel Smoker has caught another group of pirates!"

"He's so reliable; the White Hunter truly lives up to his name!"

"Indeed, compared to the previous colonel, the difference is like night and day!"

"Loguetown has become so safe lately, all thanks to Lord Smoker!"

Yes, this man capable of manipulating white smoke was none other than Smoker!

A Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit user!

Known as the White Hunter!

Seeing Smoker moving forward with the pirates bound by his white smoke was nothing unusual to the pedestrians.

Such sights were far from rare.

Ever since Smoker took command as the colonel of the Loguetown Marine branch, they had seen him capture pirates alive countless times.

It was thanks to Smoker that they had enjoyed such peace during this period.

One must realize that as the gateway town for those entering the Grand Line from the East Blue, Loguetown attracted a massive number of ambitious pirates every year.

The state of public order here could be easily imagined.

But after Smoker took office, the security in Loguetown improved drastically.

A vast number of pirates fell into his hands like prey.

Consequently, besides earning the moniker "White Hunter," this man was naturally beloved by the people of Loguetown.

This sentiment held true for the Marines at the branch as well.

Seeing Smoker return, the branch Marines ran out with great awe to help process the group of pirates.

Smoker retracted his smoke and pulled out a cigar, just about to take a puff, when a short-haired woman with a sword at her waist walked briskly out of the branch.

It was Smoker's adjutant, Tashigi.

The moment Tashigi saw Smoker, her expression darkened as she said, "Colonel Smoker, we just received news regarding Natsuya!"

"Natsuya?"

Smoker muttered, his eyes flickering.

Serving in the East Blue, it was impossible for him not to know of Natsuya's existence.

Due to his connections within the Marine Government, he even knew the true reason why Natsuya had a bounty of 100 million Beli.

Of course, regardless of the details, since the Marine Government had issued a warrant for Natsuya, he had an obligation to take action against him.

However, in Smoker's view, Natsuya should not be acting too conspicuously while being a wanted man.

It was highly likely he would vanish into obscurity; after all, he was an elite from the CP Department.

What Smoker hadn't expected was that news of Natsuya would arrive so soon.

Thinking of this, Smoker became interested. "What news?"

Tashigi replied, "Natsuya appeared in Cocoyasi Village and wiped out both the Marine branch and the Arlong Pirates there!"

"Hmm!?"

Hearing this, Smoker narrowed his eyes.

He hadn't expected that not only would Natsuya fail to disappear, but he would also cause such a significant stir.

He had heard of the Arlong Pirates; their captain, Arlong, had been the pirate with the highest bounty in the East Blue before Natsuya.

Wiping out such a pirate crew, along with a Marine branch, was indeed a major disturbance.

Just as Smoker was thinking this, Tashigi continued, "That Natsuya has already left Cocoyasi Village, and his current whereabouts are unknown."

"By the way, this news came directly from Vice Admiral Garp."

"Vice Admiral Garp is currently leading a team to hunt down Natsuya. They suspect Natsuya will pass through Loguetown to enter the Grand Line, so they've ordered us to tighten patrols and ensure he doesn't slip through."

Upon hearing this, Smoker was genuinely surprised.

Old Man Garp was personally setting out to capture Natsuya!?

However, after a moment of reflection, Smoker understood.

It must have been Sengoku's order.

He probably figured that since the old man was vacationing in the East Blue, he might as well be given a small task to keep him busy.

If that Natsuya were truly worth Garp personally taking the field, his bounty wouldn't be a mere hundred million—it would be at least a billion!

Thinking of this, Smoker became even more intrigued.

Could he manage to capture Natsuya before the old man even made a move!?

In Smoker's view, having Garp deal with Natsuya was a complete overreaction; he himself was more than enough to handle the job.

With that thought in mind, Smoker gave his orders: "Tashigi, take your men and guard every entrance to Loguetown. Notify me the moment you have any news!"

"Yes, sir!"

Tashigi acknowledged the order and immediately went to make arrangements.

However, she felt a sense of wonder in her heart.

Based on her understanding of Smoker, her superior had clearly developed a massive interest in this Natsuya.

A situation like this had never happened before!

Thinking this way, Tashigi herself began to feel a spark of curiosity about the Natsuya she had yet to meet.

But would the man really come to Loguetown!?

Two days later.

A pirate ship appeared on the horizon with a thunderous roar.

Nami stood on the deck, facing the sea breeze, and laughed heartily.

The reason their voyage was so loud was that, pulling the ship forward, a massive sea beast was cutting through the waves!

This giant creature, black and white with the features of both a fish and a cow, was none other than the former combatant of the Arlong Pirates, Momoo!

No, he should be called the former combatant of the Arlong Pirates!

Momoo had now become their ship-puller!

Thinking of this, Nami suddenly turned her head and looked at Natsuya behind her with admiration: "Lord Natsuya, how did you manage to tame even Momoo? That's amazing!"

Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Natsuya's face.

Truth be told, Momoo becoming their ship-puller was a matter of pure coincidence.

After they left Cocoyasi Village, they encountered Momoo while passing by an island.

The beast seemed to have suffered an accident after being severely wounded by Natsuya, leaving him stranded on the beach.

At the time, Natsuya was still busy experimenting with the powers of the Door-Door Fruit, and on a whim, he used his ability to move the beast back into the ocean.

To his surprise, once Momoo returned to the sea, he refused to leave, stubbornly following the pirate ship.

Natsuya hadn't thought much of it at first, but when he tried using the Mirror of Heart Door, he was shocked to discover that it worked on Momoo as well.

Thus, he quickly understood the beast's intentions.

It was essentially a desire to repay him.

Considering that Nami's navigation skills weren't as mature as they would be in the future, Natsuya simply imitated the Caribou of the future and took Momoo on as a ship-puller.

Events had proven that Natsuya's decision was the right one.

A few days ago, Momoo had guided them safely through a storm, and now, he was rapidly bringing them closer to Loguetown.

At this moment, watching the silhouette of the town gradually emerge on the distant sea, Nami's attention was drawn away.

"That must be Loguetown up ahead, right?"

"I heard that the newly appointed Colonel Smoker in Loguetown is terrifyingly strong!"

"His nickname is the White Hunter, and it seems he has some kind of special ability that allows him to capture pirates with ease, just like hunting."

"Lord Natsuya, we need to be careful when we land."

Nami's expression tightened as she finished speaking.

Momoo's presence wasn't entirely a benefit.

At the very least, they required much larger quantities of food.

Therefore, before entering the Grand Line, they had to resupply at Loguetown.

But this meant they risked running into the naval forces of Loguetown, or even that White Hunter, Smoker, who had been the talk of the town lately!

Hearing this, the corner of Natsuya's mouth curled upward.

Smoker, is it?

Heh.