The next morning.
At this ti, the Dragon Hunter Pirates were already nearing the waters just outside Logue Town.
"Brother Lu Yu! A navy warship has appeared ahead!" Aka's voice rang out from the mast.
"It's one of those standard navy patrol ships. Probably stationed in Logue Town. Should we avoid it?"
Since Roelki had gone ashore to purchase supplies, Aka had once again taken over as lookout.
Lu Yu stood calmly on deck, smiling. "We're here to cover Roelki's supply run, aren't we? Naturally, we need to draw so attention from the navy."
"Let's go, then!" Najenda added cheerfully.
"You got it, Captain!" Aka replied with a grin.
Kuina, watching the exchange, covered her face in disbelief.
She'd been part of the Dragon Hunter Pirates for a while now, but she still couldn't get used to how fearless—or reckless—these people were.
Any other pirate crew would've avoided the navy entirely. A pointless fight like this? Most would steer clear.
But Lu Yu had explained it to her once.
"This is for the reputation of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. We're going to be a crew that stands at the very top of the world. How can we be afraid of the navy?"
That answer had completely shattered Kuina's understanding of how pirates were supposed to behave.
If it weren't for certain reasons, she probably wouldn't have been so easily swayed by Lu Yu's conviction.
---
On the Navy warship...
"Captain Smoker! We've spotted a pirate ship!"
The lookout saluted and spoke quickly. "Judging by the flag, it's the Dragon Hunter Pirates."
"But..."
He hesitated.
"But what?" Smoker asked, frowning impatiently.
"They're sailing toward us... It looks like they intend to attack."
The lookout looked visibly nervous.
Lu Yu didn't have a huge reputation yet in the East Blue, but the fact that he had killed a navy Captain back in Shells Town had made him infamous. He clearly didn't care about the power or authority of the navy.
Now he was charging straight toward them, even though Smoker himself—an elite from Navy Headquarters—was on board.
Still, the sailors were worried.
"You're saying that as a captain from Navy HQ, I should retreat? Go back, call Vice Admiral Gion, and wait for reinforcents before fighting?" Smoker's voice was cold, his tone serious.
Even though the lookout hadn't said it outright, it was obvious from his face what he was thinking.
"Captain Smoker... The Dragon Hunter Pirates are far stronger than intelligence suggests," the lookout said finally. "One of them reportedly wiped out an entire navy fleet alone. Their individual combat ability is off the charts."
"If you're restrained by just one of them... the rest of us could be wiped out instantly."
It was bold to say such things to a superior officer, but it was the truth.
They were just standard patrol troops—capable of handling small-ti pirates, sure, but utterly unprepared for opponents like this.
Smoker, initially irritated, quickly cald down.
Charging in recklessly now could lead to everyone on this ship dying. Even if he sohow managed to capture the Dragon Hunter Pirates, it would be a hollow victory if his n were slaughtered.
"...I understand," he said at last.
"Return to the main ship. Leave a daughter ship."
"Tashigi, you'll evacuate with the rest of the crew and report everything to Vice Admiral Gion through Den Den Mushi."
"Once you link up with her fleet, co back here and rescue ."
Smoker gave the orders without hesitation.
Letting the Dragon Hunter Pirates flee—or worse, retreating in front of them—would be a stain on both the Navy's reputation and his personal sense of justice.
So he made his choice.
He would stay behind. Alone.
Vice Admiral Gion's warships were fast—at most, she'd be here in half a day. Smoker was confident he could hold out.
"But—"
"No buts," Smoker interrupted. "That's an order, Master Chief Petty Officer Tashigi. Execute it."
Tashigi wanted to object, but when she saw the look in Smoker's eyes, she could only nod solemnly.
"...I'll be back as fast as I can."
"Leave a daughter ship for Captain Smoker!" she called out.
As soone who'd trained with Smoker back at Navy HQ, she knew how powerful he truly was.
He could handle it.
As the main warship began to retreat and contact Vice Admiral Gion, Smoker stood tall and alone on the daughter ship, waiting for Lu Yu and his crew to arrive.
---
Back on the Dragon Hunter Pirates' ship...
"Huh?" Kuina furrowed her brows. "Aren't we the ones they're supposed to be chasing? Why are they retreating?"
"Because they're afraid," Lu Yu said calmly.
"Kuina, you still don't realize it. The Dragon Hunter Pirates... we're no small fry anymore."
His voice carried pride, and Aka and Najenda raised their chins in agreent, standing tall beside him.
"Afraid?" Kuina echoed.
"Why would the navy be afraid of rookie pirates?"
"...Because we're strong," she realized.
It wasn't about being new or not having a big na. What truly mattered was power.
And the Dragon Hunter Pirates... their record was terrifying enough to strike fear into even experienced naval crews.
Soon, a single daughter ship appeared on the sea not far ahead.
Lu Yu recognized the man standing at the front.
"Smoker, huh..." he murmured, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "Figured it'd be him."
According to the tiline, Smoker should be the current Captain stationed at Logue Town.
If he was the one making the call, then this kind of cautious—but righteous—approach made perfect sense.
Even though the main warship had backed off to a safe distance, it hadn't left completely.
There was definitely soone important backing him up.
Soone bigger than Smoker...
Could it be a Navy admiral?
Or worse—could that old bastard Garp be on his way?
If Garp showed up, Lu Yu wouldn't hesitate to retreat—no matter what it took.
Lu Yu stepped up to the bow, arms crossed, wind brushing past his coat.
"Hey, Captain Smoker! You planning to arrest us here?"
Smoker looked up, slightly surprised. "You know who I am?"
Lu Yu smirked. "Looks like you know a lot about us too."
"You're a criminal," Smoker snapped. "Turn yourself in and co quietly, pirate!"
As he spoke, white smoke curled from his mouth.
But even as he issued the challenge, Smoker's expression grew tense.
He could feel it.
Killing intent.
Not just from Lu Yu—but from every single person on that ship.
Each of them radiated an overwhelming, suffocating bloodlust. Even the ship itself felt like a beast, ready to devour anything in its path.
What kind of monsters are these people?
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