The Execution Platform

Only after explaining Zephyr's painstaking intentions did Lofan put on his signature gentle smile.

"Colonel Smoker, when I was coming to the East Blue, our teacher told me quite a lot about you.

"That attack broke his heart, too, so I hope you can understand his concern, Colonel."

That warmth, as soothing as a spring breeze, instantly melted away Tashigi's apprehension.

Smoker remained silent. His personality did indeed make promotion incredibly difficult.

But that would not affect his efforts to wipe out pirates and bring justice to the people.

He only blamed himself for making their teacher Zephyr, who was already nearly seventy, continue to worry.

Lofan knew Smoker probably still would not take it to heart.

His headstrong nature was ingrained in his bones, so that was no surprise.

"Colonel, who is this?"

Playing dumb, Lofan changed the subject. Ultimately, this had nothing to do with his plans.

Their teacher had merely asked him to pass the message along. Smoker had his own way of living his life.

"Y-your subordinate! Tashigi! Admiral!"

Tashigi immediately saluted, knocking her glasses flying with her raised hand.

At that moment, over a hundred Marines stood in formation behind Lofan opposite her. She wanted to die of embarrassment.

Lofan reached out and caught the red glasses in midair, then smiled as he put them back on the flushed young woman's face.

Then he returned her salute.

"Marine Headquarters Admiral, Yun'ou."

At that moment, she understood completely.

Why newspaper reports about Lofan always bore the headline: Justice that reigns over the world.

Facing Kaido of the Four Emperors, this lone hero had stood his ground alone.

Facing an insignificant recruit like her, he had returned her salute as an admiral.

He was the most perfect image of a Marine hero in her heart, someone she admired beyond measure.

"Then, Colonel Smoker, take me to see that square, the place where that man met his end."

Lofan dismissed the Marines behind him to rest and took off his coat of justice.

That series of actions raised Lofan in Smoker's estimation.

"He's not someone who became overbearing after finding success at a young age."

Loguetown's square was its most crowded spot.

Who would not want to see the Execution Platform where Pirate King Roger had been executed?

Tall buildings surrounded the open space packed with people.

Just as Lofan had expected, it was nothing more than an ordinary execution platform.

It was only Roger's name that had endowed it with incomparable value.

And the people living here could be said to enjoy an absolute guarantee of safety within the East Blue.

The Grand Line lay just ahead.

To prevent another "utterly vicious" pirate like Roger from emerging in the East Blue, the Marines had poured considerable effort into this little town.

The Marines had poured considerable effort into this little town.

It was even under extensive Cipher Pol surveillance, with monitoring on a scale rivaling that of an entire country.

He met the man who sold swords, even bought an ordinary blade in his shop, and also saw Bartolomeo.

That crazed fan known as Luffy's number-one follower was probably still an underworld thug at this point.

His appearance here had originally been intended to intimidate pirates who had entered Loguetown in disguise.

Sengoku's plan had been for him to patrol Loguetown wearing his coat of justice, with troops following behind.

Such a parade through the streets really cheapened the Marines' standing.

Although there was nothing procedurally wrong with it, since inspecting an area was part of a Headquarters admiral's duties.

But Lofan had a more effective method. He took Smoker and Tashigi back to the warship.

Passersby stared at the outlandish Seastone warship in shock, pointing and talking.

He had already sent soldiers to connect to the town's loudspeakers.

Now Lofan stood at the bow holding a Den Den Mushi as the enormous vessel slowly started moving, beginning to circle Loguetown.

Lofan's powerful Observation Haki covered the entire island.

He could easily locate the pirates, then use the Den Den Mushi to direct their arrests on the spot.

"Three hundred paces in front of the town hall. The long-haired man with the blue belt."

"Southeast corner of the square. Three people, wearing brown coats."

The arrests continued for half an hour, completely clearing every pirate out of Loguetown.

A total of 113 people were captured, seventeen ships were seized, and roughly 200 million Beli in valuables was confiscated.

Smoker and Tashigi were utterly dumbfounded. What exactly was this ability? They could not understand it at all.

"Colonel Smoker, assign people to deal with these pirates.

"Some of them have pirate crews behind them. This is a perfect chance to follow the trail and wipe out their bases completely.

"I imagine the people of the East Blue will be able to live peacefully for quite some time."

"Uh, yes!"

"Yes!"

Tashigi unconsciously followed Smoker in saluting and replying. Smoker was completely convinced.

The man had accomplished more in an hour than he could by working himself to death for months.

"Next, let's head to Foosha Village. If I don't go pick her up soon, she might jump ship to Vice Admiral Garp."

Smoker directly notified his superior to handle this unexpected haul, and the Marine commodore was positively delighted.

He had originally thought missing the chance to receive the admiral was his loss.

Yet he had never expected credit to fall into his lap while he sat at home.

Even if the report would certainly have to describe what the Cloud Gull Admiral had done, he would still get to put his own name at the end before submitting it.

In just fifteen minutes, the warship set sail again.

Behind it were countless cheering townspeople from Loguetown, seeing them off. Some had already recognized the young admiral.

Everyone shouted, "Cloud Gull Admiral! Cloud Gull Admiral!"

That joy came from the bottom of their hearts.

Anyone who had never suffered at pirates' hands could not understand their overwhelming gratitude and excitement at that moment.

Tashigi fell silent. The more grateful these people were, the more it showed how inadequately she had done her job.

She needed to grow stronger, stronger still.

They would inevitably pass Cocoyasi Village on the way to Foosha Village. The two places were quite close.

Because Lofan did not recognize the terrain at all, this had not occurred to him at first.

Not until Captain Nezumi appeared out at sea.

The Seastone warship was nearly three times as tall as an ordinary warship.

Such an enormous vessel could be seen even from far away.

Yet the other party still steered that pitifully small wooden vessel toward them, stopping directly in the warship's inevitable path.

As they passed, all the Marine soldiers aboard the wooden vessel could clearly be seen saluting and watching them.

Captain Nezumi stood proudly at the bow, foremost among them.

For what was probably the first time, a solemn expression appeared on his treacherous face, looking grotesque.

They passed in the space of a few breaths, and Lofan deliberately asked Smoker:

"Who was that Marine?"

Smoker frowned and thought, but he simply had no recollection.

Since he had always kept to himself, he remembered plenty of pirate portraits, but he truly did not remember many Marines.

Seeing Smoker's difficulty, Tashigi immediately saluted and answered:

"Captain Nezumi, Admiral."

"How does this man usually conduct himself?"

Tashigi also looked troubled, but still replied:

"The captain is a Marine from the 16th Branch, so I don't really know either."

"Mm."

Lofan nodded, as though the matter had passed.

Smoker exhaled a mouthful of smoke and scratched the back of his neck. It seemed he really did need to pay more attention to his fellow Marines.

Tashigi knew the man, yet he had no impression of him at all.