The waves of the East Blue stretched endlessly, the salty breeze carrying the scent of distant adventure. Alex stood at the bow of his ship, the Solaris, his eyes locked onto the horizon. Loguetown was nearing, the last stop before the Grand Line
His hands tightened around the railing as he turned to Gin and the other high-ranking members. "We're making our move in Loguetown," he said. "We need to establish our name before we even reach the Grand Line. This is how we'll do it."
The crew gathered around as Alex outlined his strategy. The plan was simple: stage a crisis, manipulate the Marines, and emerge as the hero. The smaller pirate crews, spurred on by rumors subtly planted by Alex's network, believed Loguetown was ripe for the taking – a final, easy score before braving the Grand Line. Little did they know, they were pawns in a far grander scheme.
"We've already spread whispers among these pirate crews that Loguetown is an easy target. They'll plan an attack, thinking it's their chance to loot before setting sail for the Grand Line. Once they're ready, we'll leak their plans to Smoker through indirect channels. He'll be too stubborn to ignore it. When the attack begins, we step in as bounty hunters, take down the pirates, and claim the rewards. The Guild will be seen as defenders of justice, not just some rogue faction."
Gin smirked, his sharp eyes gleaming with approval. "Smart. The Marines handle the pressure, we take the glory. And the bounty money funds our next expansion."
Alex nodded. "Exactly. We'll make the East Blue recognize our power before we even step into the Grand Line."
The Ship docked without issue, blending in among the countless vessels moored in Loguetown's busy harbor. Alex disembarked with Gin and a few key members, moving unnoticed through the crowds. Above, storm clouds brewed—an omen, perhaps, or just the usual weather of the city where Gol D. Roger met his end.
Elsewhere, Luffy and his crew wandered the streets, exploring the legendary city. Their paths hadn't crossed yet, and Alex preferred it that way. For now, he had work to do.
Gin split off to handle the final phase of the plan. The 'whisper' to the Marines, carefully worded and seemingly innocuous, would reach Smoker within the hour, and the stage would be set. The pirates, completely unaware that their plans were already known, continued to prepare, believing their sneak attack would be a resounding success.
Alex leaned against a wall in the marketplace, casually watching the people move. The age of pirates began here, he mused. And now, it's where the Straw Hat Guild begins too. The system notified him of potential investment opportunities arising from the conflict he was orchestrating; soon, the Guild would be raking in profits.
As planned, the attack on Loguetown came just as dusk settled in. The small-time pirate crews, still believing their scheme was foolproof, launched their assault on the marketplace and port. The people screamed, running for shelter as gunshots and the clang of blades rang through the air.
Then, the Marines moved. Smoker and his men rushed in, engaging the pirates, the White Hunter's face set in a scowl of determination. Chaos erupted as battles broke out across the city. Smoker, predictably, focused on the main points of attack outlined in the leaked "intel," leaving other areas relatively unguarded.
And then the Straw Hat Guild arrived.
Alex led his forces into the fray. Gin and the others . They struck swiftly and efficiently, taking down pirates and securing key areas. Where the Marines struggled in Team work , the bounty hunters flourished, their coordination unmatched , with already specified roles .They moved with a precision that hinted at a plan far beyond some small time bounty Hunters
From the rooftops, civilians watched in awe as the bounty hunters held their ground, assisting the Marines without orders, fighting for order rather than chaos. The pirates, now realizing they'd been outmaneuvered, fought with increasing desperation, but it was too late.
Within the hour, the battle was over. The surviving pirates were apprehended, their ships seized, and the city began the slow process of recovery.
Alex stood before the gathered crowd as Smoker surveyed the scene. The Marine captain's expression was unreadable as he acknowledged the bounty hunters' role in securing the city.
"You're not pirates," Smoker finally said, exhaling smoke from his cigars. "And you're not Marines. So what the hell are you?"
Alex smirked. "We're the Guild. And we hunt these scum of the seas"
Smoker scoffed but said nothing more, turning away as his men cleaned up the remnants of the battle. The civilians, however, had already begun whispering among themselves. The bounty hunters left a strong impression with their coordinated word and not a single casuality , what surprised them more was Alex , the young man was alteast comparable to the marine captain smoker , without any seen usage of devil fruit . leaving a lasting impression of power and efficiency
The chaos soon faded, replaced by the bustling energy of Loguetown slowly returning to normal. The Straw Hat crew, however, was far from idle. They meticulously inventoried the captured pirates, tallied the bounties, and prepared to hand them over to the Marine base.
Alex watched the numbers climb, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. This was more than just a bounty hunt; it was an investment in the Guild's future.
Later that day, as the last of the captured pirates were hauled away, the Straw Hat Guild collected their reward. A hefty ten million Beri was wired by the marine's to Alex's . Gin, ever the pragmatist, distributed the funds efficiently, allocating portions to various Guild initiatives: recruitment, equipment upgrades, information gathering, and, of course, a healthy reserve for future operations.
"Not bad for a day's work," Gin remarked, hefting a sack filled with Beri notes.
"It's just the beginning," Alex replied, gazing towards the Grand Line with a gleam in his eyes. "We need a strong foundation now, to ensure our survival and growth in the sea of monsters. The Grand Line is not the same as East Blue. We need to be prepared."
The next morning dawned bright and clear. The merry was stocked, crew morale was high, and the Straw Hat Guild was ready to set sail. As they prepared to leave Loguetown's harbor, nami approached luffy, holding a copy of the East Blue Times newspaper.
"Captain," nami said, his voice unusually excited, "you might want to see this."
luffy took the newspaper, his eyes widening as he scanned the front page. A large, dramatically posed photograph dominated the layout. It depicted Alex, mid-battle, striking down a pirate with a swift, decisive blow. The backdrop was the chaotic marketplace of Loguetown, still bearing the scars of the previous night's attack.
The headline screamed: "SAVIOR OF LOGUETOWN: MYSTERIOUS STRAW HAT GUILD REPELS PIRATE INVASION!" The article lauded the Guild's bravery and efficiency, painting Alex as a heroic figure who had single-handedly saved the city from destruction. Smoker was briefly mentioned, but the focus was clearly on the mysterious Guild and its charismatic leader.
"Well, I'll be," Gin chuckled, peering over Alex's shoulder. "Looks like we made a name for ourselves."
"Indeed," Alex said, his mind already racing. The plan had worked even better than he'd anticipated. Not only had they secured a significant sum of money, but they had also gained invaluable recognition and goodwill.
"This is going to make recruitment a whole lot easier," Gin added, his spectacles gleaming.
luffy slammed the East Blue Times onto the table, the headline still emblazoned on the front page: "SAVIOR OF LOGUETOWN: MYSTERIOUS STRAW HAT GUILD REPELS PIRATE INVASION!" Luffy, Sanji, Zoro, Usopp, and Nami were all crowded around the table, their expressions a mixture of confusion.
Luffy, his mouth still full of meat, pointed a greasy finger at Alex's photograph. "Oi, Alex! What's this?"
"It's called publicity, Luffy," Alex said calmly, entering the galley. "It's how we attract attention and build a reputation."
"But it says 'Savior of Loguetown'! 'Guild'! Bounty Hunter'! We're pirates, not heroes!" Luffy protested, his rubbery cheeks puffed out. "I wanna be King of the Pirates, not some goody-two-shoes!"
Sanji, his cigarette dangling from his lips, squinted at the article. "It says here the 'Straw Hat Guild' apprehended all the attacking pirates and handed them over to the Marines. Ten million Beri bounty collected. Sounds more like a business than a pirate crew."
"A very profitable business," Alex countered, unfazed. "We need resources, Luffy. To become King of the Pirates, you need a strong crew, a powerful ship, and a lot of luck. The Guild provides all of that."
"But...I didn't agree to be part of a Guild!" Luffy exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table, rattling the dishes. "We're pirates"
Usopp, always the voice of reason (or at least, the voice of panic), chimed in. "He's right, Alex! We thought we were joining a pirate crew, not some organized crime syndicate! I'm too young to be part of a syndicate!"
Zoro, who had been silently observing, finally spoke, his voice gruff. "So, what exactly is this Guild, Alex? What's your real plan?"
Alex sighed , "this is called using your brains , we will first build a source of money and manpower from this guild , and continue to grow without worrying about marine and world government , and then we can become pirate whenever we want , this is just our undercover mission for now "
luffy's eyes shined as his hands come together showing he finally understood, "oh , so it's a secret mission , SO COOL "
"yeah"