East Blue

Morgans finally had no choice but to agree to help Doflamingo.

But for now, he presumably intended to go through the motions without putting in any effort. Forced into it by Lofan's threats, he really had no other choice.

Still, once a start had been made and a crack had appeared, it meant the matter was not entirely beyond reach.

For now, Doflamingo was only preparing the plan. There was no possibility of taking action within the next year or two.

But finding a soul-type Devil Fruit and the girl Lofan had specifically named-

Those were two tasks Morgans could no longer shake off.

After leaving, he genuinely wanted to throw caution to the wind and publish this big news outright.

A newly promoted Navy Admiral was plotting with a Shichibukai!

Without question, it would become the best-selling newspaper in years.

But Lofan had let him leave so easily that he really could not figure out what was going on.

That left Morgans thinking it over again and again, not daring to make a move.

To guard against one of Morgans's sudden reckless impulses, Lofan had already hypnotized him with Illusion.

Whenever he wrote anything about today, Morgans would naturally turn it into a scandal about himself.

This was how Lofan now operated: combining persuasion with force, while also using cunning schemes to ensure a fallback.

Lofan had also asked Morgans to search for information on Kaido.

Although the Navy was searching far and wide, the Grand Line was simply too vast.

If someone like Kaido truly wanted to hide his tracks alone, finding him would be nearly impossible.

After a brief discussion with Doflamingo, Lofan prepared to leave the Underworld directly. He only had a few days of leave left.

Looking out over this Underworld, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

He immediately felt that Doflamingo truly was a treasure trove, but the time was not right yet.

"By my reckoning, there are still six or seven years until the Paramount War? I'm really looking forward to it."

On that finest of stages, where mighty figures gathered, how could he not let them enjoy the greatest performance in the world?

Foosha Village

"Aah!!!"

A child's scream startled flocks of birds out of the forest.

Garp had originally thought his grandson and Ace counted as rare geniuses.

But only after seeing Lofan did he understand what truly unparalleled talent meant.

The sight of that straw hat only made him angrier!

Thanks to Lofan's connection with Zephyr, Ain had received Old Man Garp's true teachings.

Her foundations in physical combat and Haki had been honed into something like a massive raw crystal.

As things stood, all she lacked was personal enlightenment and a flash of inspiration from a life-and-death struggle.

Then the Navy would gain another major fighting force.

Ace took Luffy away for treatment and stuck out his tongue behind Garp's back.

But unexpectedly, a slipper came flying over, raising a large, red lump on his head.

"Old man! Aren't you ashamed to ambush a kid from behind?! You shameless old geezer!"

"What did you say?! I'm your grandpa!!"

Ain had already grown used to these noisy daily antics. She had even become quite fond of them.

They also made her all the more certain that she had to help Lofan bring the Navy's justice to reign over the world.

So everyone could live peaceful, happy lives.

"It's been a month. If you don't come soon, I'm really switching over to Teacher Garp."

After learning that Ain had followed Garp to the East Blue, Lofan requested permission from Sengoku.

Naturally, Sengoku hoped he would get out and about more.

Now that the Navy had someone who could take on one of the Four Emperors single-handedly, he would have loved to have him roaming the seas every day.

As it happened, there was nothing pressing lately. They were only preparing for next year's Reverie.

And as far as the East Blue was concerned, this was an excellent time for Lofan to visit.

Why was the East Blue the weakest?

Despite producing so many great figures who shook the world, the East Blue was still called the weakest sea.

Wasn't it because the World Government had spared no effort suppressing it and keeping it in order?

Krieg had run into Hawkeye as soon as he set sail.

Whether the World Government had played any part in that was something no one could know.

With his written approval in hand, Lofan boarded a warship.

Another Vice Admiral had already taken over his former posting, while his own actual duties had yet to be assigned.

Perhaps that was partly out of consideration for Lofan's injuries, and partly because of petty matters like power struggles.

Binz and Ain had previously helped manage the place for quite some time.

So it was only natural for him to remain at the branch. It was not that he did not want to return to Lofan's ship.

Rather, he felt he truly was not yet worthy of serving under an Admiral with genuine achievements.

He was also afraid of exposing Lofan to gossip.

He was not stupid. He knew how to seek advantages and avoid harm.

But he had given this opportunity to Ain. She was more useful to Lofan than he was.

Besides, with only one person, people would not say anything too nasty, though he knew Lofan did not care about such things.

But he could not do it, knowing it would bring negative publicity to this hero.

He could not go against his conscience and invite more criticism of Lofan for the sake of his own future.

They entered the sea route reserved for the Navy.

Since this was Lofan's first trip to the East Blue, Sengoku had specifically instructed him to make an appearance in Loguetown.

The town of beginnings and endings.

A sacred place in many people's hearts, it was where the Pirate King had been born and died.

It was also an essential stop on the route from the East Blue into the Grand Line.

The Marines stationed there were Smoker, nicknamed White Hunter, and Tashigi, who had recently become his subordinate.

Indeed, Smoker was also Zephyr's student.

Yet despite Zephyr having students everywhere, none were willing to avenge his lost arm. In the end, he had even met his end at the hands of his own student, Kizaru.

This tragic hero should not have suffered such an unjust fate.

The two had already received orders to welcome Cloud Gull Admiral.

During his time in the East Blue, they would accompany him aboard his ship and guide Lofan wherever he needed to go.

Smoker found it somewhat difficult to work out how to show respect to this Admiral who was so much younger than him.

This was also why so many Marines deliberately gossiped about Lofan behind his back.

He was only eighteen. Although he was powerful, they had never truly witnessed or experienced that strength.

To ask veteran servicemen like them to feel deep respect for a young man about the same age as their own children-

That really was asking a lot of them.

Still, Smoker did not attach much importance to such things. He simply found it strange.

He showed ample respect and care for ordinary people.

Though his personality led him to disobey his superiors' orders, leaving him still only a captain.

When it came to a Marine with sufficient strength and achievements, however, he would not look down on him or resent him because of his age.

"Cloud Gull Admiral!"

"Ad-Admiral Yun'ou!!"

Tashigi was also only eighteen, and she had naturally long admired this Admiral whose reputation had recently shaken the world.

They were both eighteen, and both Marines.

Yet he could already defeat one of the Four Emperors in a resounding victory and had become a pillar of support in the hearts of many ordinary people.

"Colonel Smoker, Teacher Zephyr asked me to tell you something.

If you keep doing whatever you please, he won't speak up for you anymore.

The next time you get into trouble, whether you end up an ensign or a chief petty officer, you'll have only yourself to blame."

Lofan delivered Zephyr's warning without expression.

That oppressive presence instantly reminded Smoker of the first time Zephyr had trained him.

Tashigi lowered her head, clutching her sword uneasily.

He was nothing like the gentle Admiral described in the newspaper photographs. His entire body radiated an overwhelming pressure.