Two months flashed by in the blink of an eye. East Blue was now buzzing with unprecedented activity. Normally known for its peace and stability, the sea was suddenly inundated with pirates, throwing everything into chaos. Wherever people gather, conflict follows – especially when those people are lawless, callous pirates. The massive influx put immense pressure on the Marines' security forces.
The sun shone brightly; it was a perfect day. Ships bearing all manner of Jolly Rogers gradually arrived at Loguetown in the East Blue, preparing to witness the final moments of the Pirate King.
Pirate ships of all sizes crowded the Loguetown docks, yet the Marines, ostensibly upholders of justice, made no move to apprehend them. Instead, they watched as pirates swaggered boldly into the town. In truth, they could hardly be blamed; the sheer number of pirates arriving left the Marines severely undermanned and stretched thin.
"Look! Isn't that 'Black Widow' Sabina, with the 80 million Beli bounty? Even she's here to join the spectacle?"
"Figures. Every ghoul and demon under the sun is showing up, huh?"
"Tch. Say what you want, but that Black Widow's got real charm. That slender yet voluptuous figure, the sheer wickedness she's packing up front, plus those damn seductive eyes… Worth the trip just to see her."
"Oi, oi, buddy, snap out of it! You think a woman like that is someone you can handle?"
"So what if I can't have her? Can't a guy dream? Bah! Haven't you heard? 'To die beneath the peonies makes even a ghost smile.' For a prime specimen like her, this old man would die happy!"
"Alright, alright, pal. You're a real tough guy. I can't mess with you, but I can sure as hell avoid you."
Two petty pirates by the roadside bantered about the newly arrived Black Widow. One fell silent, while the other remained lost in his delightful fantasy.
"Boss, those two little punks were just talking trash about you. Want the boys to… krrk?" A perceptive member of the Black Widow pirates made a throat-slitting gesture towards his captain.
"Forget it. Just a couple of kids. Doesn't it just prove this old lady's charm hasn't faded?"
"Hahaha! You're right, Boss! You're the most charming! Even those young punks couldn't resist!" Her subordinates readily agreed.
The Black Widow composed herself and continued leading her crew deeper into Loguetown. Before leaving the docks completely, she didn't forget to throw a flirtatious glance back at the two men who had been discussing her, sending a flutter through both their hearts.
"Hey, buddy! See that? The Black Widow winked at me! Think she's interested? Damn, she's intoxicating!"
"Tch. You really think so? That woman is not easy to deal with. Her heart is black, trust me. Be careful—remember what they say: desire has a blade hanging over it."
"Get lost! You think I don't know that? Don't need you to remind me!"
Although the Black Widow's timely little gesture had momentarily thrilled them both, it didn't mean she had any real interest. How many times had she encountered situations like this? Even if she'd heard their crude remarks, after surviving so long on the Grand Line, what foul words hadn't she heard? Beauty is justice, and the Black Widow was supremely confident in her looks. But her survival all these years hadn't depended solely on her beautiful face; far more crucial was her ruthlessness. No man who dared climb into her bed had ever left it peacefully.
Such minor incidents happened daily. The pirates remained relatively well-behaved, not causing major riots in Loguetown, which saved the Marines a considerable headache.
The bigger the name, the more significant the pirate crew, the later they tended to arrive. The main players of the era hadn't yet shown their faces. The pirates already in Loguetown weren't anxious; they settled into the town, calmly awaiting further developments. To the Marines, crews like the Black Widow Pirates or the so-called Demon Pirates were nothing—minor players. The real heavyweights hadn't appeared yet, and that was what worried the Marines most.
The East Blue Marine branch in Loguetown was not heavily staffed; it could even be described as weak. Not only had the major pirate figures yet to arrive, but the key Marine personnel hadn't either. This left the local Marines in dire straits. They had never seen so many pirates gathered in one place, and they lived in constant fear, terrified they might be casually eliminated by a pirate one day.
But the march of time continues, unstoppable by anyone.
The day before Gol D. Roger's scheduled execution, the giants of the New World finally arrived. The Whitebeard Pirates, the Big Mom Pirates, the Beasts Pirates – renowned crews from the New World flocked to Loguetown. The era of the Pirate King was about to end, and the stage for the Four Emperors was beginning to form, though these were developments for the future; no one could predict what lay ahead.
"Push forward! Overtake them! The Beasts Pirates will not be second to anyone!" A young, brash Jack stood at the prow of his ship, ordering his crew to close in on the vessels of the Big Mom and Whitebeard Pirates ahead.
"Lord Katakuri, the Beasts Pirates' ship is catching up behind us," a subordinate reported.
"Childish. Accelerate," Katakuri stated coldly, seemingly looking down on Jack's actions. However, he wouldn't simply let Jack pass them. He represented the Big Mom Pirates, after all; appearances were crucial.
A similar report reached the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Interesting. There's certainly no shortage of brave fools these days. We are the Whitebeard Pirates! Full speed ahead!" Marco, observing Jack's maneuver, also ordered his ship to accelerate. They couldn't afford to lose face here.
"Zehahaha! Captain Marco, looks like quite a crowd is showing up!" A burly man with dark, messy hair, a few missing teeth, and a wide grin laughed beside Marco.
"All the big names are here. The Pirate King's execution... it's something no one wants to miss," Marco remarked thoughtfully.
From the shore, the assembled pirates watched as three massive ships charged towards the docks, none willing to yield to the others. Unfortunately for Jack, the 'King of Docking Collisions,' his ambition to arrive first was thwarted. The Whitebeard Pirates' ship docked first, claiming precedence. Jack ended up last.
Jack looked thoroughly annoyed. He hadn't expected Katakuri and Marco to refuse to yield an inch, seeing right through his little ploy. He couldn't say anything now, merely storing the grievance away, planning to make them pay later.
Katakuri and Marco, however, paid him little mind. A mere Jack wasn't yet significant enough to warrant their concern.
The pirates on the shore held their breath as the members of the three crews disembarked, afraid that any sudden movement might provoke them. These were, arguably, the three strongest pirate crews present! No one dared to cross them.
The three groups didn't acknowledge each other, each leading their own people into Loguetown, leaving the numerous lesser pirates staring after them in stunned silence.
"So those are the Great Pirates... Their presence is overwhelming!"
"Yeah, yeah... completely beyond our league."
"If only I could join one of their crews..."
"Dream on! Are you serious?"
"Hey, everyone's allowed to dream, right?"
No one paid attention to the laments of these small-timers, who offered each other meager comfort. Yes, who couldn't have a dream? What if it came true?
And speaking of dream-weavers, Doflamingo finally arrived!
Compared to the other massive crews, Doflamingo's group looked positively shabby. Of course, this was simply because the Donquixote Pirates weren't famous yet; people dismissed them as minor figures. After all, the Donquixote Pirates had vanished from the scene for a long time; it was natural for people to forget them. Doflamingo wasn't bothered by this in the slightest.
The two-month journey had been eventful, filled with enemy attacks, sea hazards, and various other challenges that made their travels quite colorful. Even Enel and Ibes, newcomers to the Blue Sea, found this life incredibly stimulating, their blood pumping with excitement.
Doflamingo had finally reached Loguetown, East Blue.
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