Weapons

Ye Mu was, of course, neither a fool nor a madman.

He knew perfectly well that, after killing a Celestial Dragon, he was already considered "utterly vile" in some people's eyes.

Whether it was the Marines or the World Government, they all wanted to capture him immediately and execute him. Yet he still dared to appear so openly in Loguetown—the place in the entire pirate world with the tightest Marine defenses, the most Marines, the greatest military strength, and the most World Government spies.

Because he had thought it through clearly.

For one thing, the most dangerous place was also the safest.

At this moment, if one were to name the safest place in the world for Ye Mu and the Sky Pirate Crew, aside from hiding in the Calm Belt, it would be Loguetown.

Because apart from Loguetown, no matter which other island they went to, as long as there were people there, they probably could not evade the World Government spies' investigation. By then, who knew what terrifying forces the Marines or the World Government would deploy to eliminate the two utterly vile criminals?

The Marines might not be able to spare the manpower, but the World Government's reserves were still too deep. Ye Mu had no choice but to be a little careful.

Loguetown was different, however. A major event that would affect the entire world was about to take place here: the public execution of the Pirate King, Roger.

At this moment, who knew how many people and how many pairs of eyes across the world were watching this place?

Before Roger's execution, whether it was the Marines or the World Government, they would certainly be unwilling to let anything go wrong in Loguetown—or take such a risk—in order to make Roger's execution go smoothly.

After all, whether it was Ye Mu's Flame-Flame Fruit or Enel's Rumble-Rumble Fruit, if a real fight broke out, capturing them without resistance would probably not be easy.

As for after the execution, Ye Mu had even less to worry about.

Because once Roger opened the Great Pirate Era, even if the Marines and the World Government still refused to let him go, they probably would not be able to spare much military strength.

The establishment of the Shichibukai was proof of that.

As the Marines, they actually needed to recruit pirates to deal with pirates. This showed, in one respect, that their control over the Grand Line had already slipped out of their hands.

Later, when Tiger climbed the Red Line, entered Mary Geoise, and freed the slaves imprisoned by the Celestial Dragons, it further proved that the World Government—or the Five Elders—could no longer control the situation across the world.

By then, the first half of the Grand Line might still be somewhat dangerous, but once they entered the New World, they would soar through the skies like birds and dive through the seas like fish.

For another thing, as the beginning of the Great Pirate Era and a major event that would affect the entire pirate world, Ye Mu could not refrain from coming to Loguetown to witness the opening of the new age with his own eyes.

As for the final reason, it was related to the matter he had entrusted to Tiger.

Ye Mu was, after all, merely a transmigrator. His understanding of this world was superficial, but when sailing the seas—especially the Grand Line—even the slightest carelessness could cost him his life.

Fortunately, Tiger was a professional in this regard. He was an explorer who had completed a round-the-world voyage all by himself, so the task of stocking supplies in this area could be left to him.

Of course, besides the three reasons above, Ye Mu had one other, particularly minor reason.

He remembered very clearly that Loguetown had two excellent blades.

They were Yubashiri, which Zoro would later buy in Loguetown and which, like his Lion Maru, was one of the Skillful Grade Blades, and Sandai Kitetsu, which belonged to the cursed swords.

Although, with his current strength, he did not particularly need these two swords, and he was not a professional swordsman either, how could a pirate possibly let treasures that appeared right before his eyes slip away?

Even if he had no use for them now, he could collect them and give them to his future companions later.

The only problem was that time had been brought forward by nearly twenty years. He did not know whether these two swords had already appeared in Loguetown, or whether that weapons shop was still there.

Still, Ye Mu was not going to force the matter.

After splitting up with Enel and Tiger at the ship, Ye Mu made a simple disguise, put on a trench coat, pulled up his hood, and slowly walked through the streets of Loguetown.

Clearly, his disguise could only fool ordinary people. From the moment he set foot in Loguetown, countless pairs of eyes had already appeared behind him. Ye Mu did not care, however.

He acted as though he were genuinely out shopping and began browsing the weapons shops on the island...

In the conference room of the Marine building in Loguetown.

Sengoku asked the people before him,

"What's the situation now? Are all three members of the Sky Pirate Crew being watched closely?"

"We've already sent people over. CP9 has deployed personnel as well. Should we make our move, Admiral Sengoku...?"

Sengoku shook his head. Just as Ye Mu had expected, unless they had a way to quickly deal with and capture Ye Mu, or unless Ye Mu deliberately provoked them, they could do nothing before Roger's execution was completed tomorrow.

"Not yet. But criminals this vicious absolutely cannot be allowed to leave Loguetown tomorrow. Tell Kuzan and Vice Admiral Kizaru that once Roger's execution ends tomorrow, their top priority is to join forces and capture the Sky Pirate Crew."

"Yes, sir!"

After his subordinates left, Sengoku finally let out a long breath and stared sternly at the wanted posters for the three members of the Sky Pirate Crew spread across the table.

"Heaven has a path, yet you refuse to take it; hell has no door, yet you barge right in. Since that's how it is, I'll make sure you stay here for good this time."

Unfortunately, Sengoku did not know that tomorrow, this world would usher in a new era because of a single sentence from Roger. By then, even if the Marines had the will, they would no longer have the strength...

Because his memories had grown blurry, and because this was twenty years earlier, Ye Mu could no longer remember which shop contained Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu.

However, Ye Mu had his own method.

Every time he entered a weapons shop, he would take out the pouch at his waist, place it on the table, and let the glittering gold inside spill out.

Without exception, every shopkeeper's eyes immediately gleamed with golden light as they asked enthusiastically,

"Oh... What would you like, sir...?"

"Bring out your best and most expensive swords..."

"No problem... Please wait a moment..."

Unfortunately, the best blades Ye Mu saw belonged only to the Wazamono grade, a level beneath the Skillful Grade Blades. They were good swords, but there were simply too many of that grade. They were not particularly precious, nor were they worth collecting.

Thus, Ye Mu continued walking from one weapons shop to the next.

Fortunately, although Loguetown was quite large, it did not have that many weapons shops. When he reached the fifth one, he stepped inside and saw the shopkeeper's rather distinctive appearance and bearing. Some memories in his mind began to resurface.

"Looks like this is the place..."

But before Ye Mu could speak, the weapons shop's owner immediately spotted Lion Maru at his waist. His eyes widened, and he said in terror,

"You're... the captain of the Sky Pirate Crew... the... the extremely evil man... Ye Mu..."