As I had expected, Sanji's three brothers had just discovered, the hard way, that their genetic modifications didn't make them invincible fighters. Their duels against Usopp, Koby, and Charles had ended in three particularly humiliating defeats for the Germa princes, who had approached these confrontations with almost arrogant confidence.
Usopp had exploited his mobility, Observation Haki, and ranged attacks to prevent his opponent from getting close enough to fight properly. He had then completely shocked him by combining the durability granted by his Devil Fruit with Haki to withstand his attacks before knocking him unconscious.
Koby had demonstrated the considerable progress he had made in mastering Armament Haki, while also confusing his opponent by constantly switching between the four abilities of the card kings, alternating between shields, axes, and spells. Only the King of Hearts' ability had seen little use, since he hadn't needed to heal himself.
Charles had used the weapon he had acquired through his Devil Fruit to gain the upper hand over his opponent, disrupting his rhythm by constantly increasing and decreasing its weight until he landed a single decisive blow that ended the fight.
The most interesting part, however, was the reaction of the three brothers. In the past, they would probably have considered these defeats an unbearable insult to their genetic superiority, even if that reaction would have been nothing more than an act, since they couldn't actually feel anything.
Now, however, they seemed mostly frustrated to discover that they were nowhere near as powerful as they had imagined.
"That's impossible... How can you be such a good marksman while also being tougher and stronger than me?" Niji muttered, examining the marks left on his equipment.
Usopp immediately puffed out his chest.
"Because Jordan trained me, and versatility is his motto!"
I let out a chuckle as I watched the scene. At least these confrontations had achieved their purpose: showing the Vinsmoke brothers that they still had an enormous amount of room for improvement.
Sora, who had watched the fights alongside Reiju, seemed particularly pleased with the lesson. She didn't appear the slightest bit upset about seeing her sons lose. On the contrary, she saw it as an excellent opportunity to teach them humility and perseverance.
"All three of you have a great deal of talent," she explained. "But talent alone isn't enough. Your opponents trained hard to reach their current level, and you'll have to do the same if you want to improve."
Ichiji crossed his arms, his expression still serious.
"In that case, we need to train harder."
"Exactly," Sora replied with a smile.
I took advantage of this conclusion to suggest a solution that immediately seemed to interest the entire family.
Since our departure for the Grand Line was approaching, we would leave the Germa 66 fleet in the North Blue, under the supervision of the clone soldiers and officers remaining behind. However, Sora and her children could accompany us to Heartless Island and stay there for a while.
That way, they would have access to our training facilities and could train alongside Dextremih and Xurok, who were continuing their own preparations for their future cloning.
"You'll be able to train as much as you want," I explained. "And believe me, with the instructors we have on the island, you won't have time to get bored."
Yonji immediately broke into an enthusiastic grin.
"Do you really have fighters as strong as the ones who just beat us?"
"Not necessarily stronger, but certainly more specialized. Now that your emotions have been freed, your willpower is no longer restricted, so you'll be able to develop your Haki, which will make you considerably stronger," I explained before continuing. "And most importantly, you can always eat a Devil Fruit if you want to gain a wider variety of abilities. You just have to remember not to rely entirely on it."
Once the necessary arrangements had been made with Germa's officers, I opened a shadow portal large enough for everyone to pass through. Sora and her children watched this method of transportation with considerable fascination, especially since it was so convenient for reaching an island located such a great distance away.
A few moments later, we were back on Heartless Island.
The sea breeze, lush vegetation, and familiar buildings of our refuge immediately welcomed us back. Unlike Germa's floating kingdom, dominated by its enormous military structures, our island had a much more peaceful atmosphere.
Sora gazed at her surroundings with a look of wonder.
"It's beautiful... Did you really build all of this?"
"For the most part, yes," I replied. "But we also have a few particularly efficient assistants."
I was thinking especially of our Rock Titan, which was still gradually reshaping the landscape around the island.
Before letting everyone go about their business, Luffy asked everyone to gather around. I stood behind him with my arms crossed, while our captain climbed onto a small makeshift platform to make sure nobody would miss his announcement.
He waited a few seconds for the conversations to die down, then flashed his usual enormous grin.
"LISTEN UP, EVERYONE!"
The last few stragglers immediately turned toward him.
"I'VE DECIDED! TOMORROW MORNING, AT DAWN, WE'RE SETTING SAIL FOR THE GRAND LINE!"
His declaration was initially met with stunned silence, which was quickly replaced by an explosion of reactions.
"FINALLY!" Zoro exclaimed with a satisfied grin.
"The Grand Line, huh?" Usopp murmured, visibly excited.
"This should be interesting," Kuina added.
Sanji casually leaned against a tree with a smile.
"All Blue, here I come."
Luffy threw both arms into the air.
"WE'RE GONNA FIND THE ONE PIECE!"
I smiled as I watched everyone's enthusiasm. Our captain had officially brought our exploration of the Blues to an end, at least for the time being. There was still an enormous amount left for us to discover in those seas, but nothing would stop us from returning later.
Besides, I had to admit that our crew was now more than capable of facing the dangers of the first half of the Grand Line.
"We're leaving tomorrow at dawn," I added. "So make the most of this last day to rest, check your equipment, and take care of any personal matters. Once we're out at sea, we don't know exactly when we'll have another chance to come back."
"GOT IT!" several crew members replied.
Luffy, meanwhile, seemed to have already finished his speech.
"RIGHT! NOW I'M HUNGRY!"
"YOU JUST ATE!" Nami shouted.
"BUT THAT WAS AGES AGO!"
I shook my head, laughing. Some things really would never change.
After that announcement, everything happened rather quickly.
Kaya grabbed Usopp by the arm and dragged him toward her house, claiming that she needed to check her medical equipment and wanted his help preparing a few things. However, judging by her smile and the way she was pulling him along behind her, I suspected that packing wasn't her only motivation.
"Hey, Kaya! Wait a second! I can walk on my own!"
"Then hurry up!"
I watched them disappear around a bend in the path before turning my attention to Zoro and Kuina, who had decided to spend their last day swimming in the new lagoon near the island, where they could enjoy some privacy.
This lagoon was one of our Rock Titan's latest creations, and I had to admit that the gigantic creature possessed a remarkable talent for reshaping landscapes.
Ever since I had asked it to slow down the expansion of Heartless Island, it had found a rather original way to keep itself occupied.
Instead of continuing to expand our main island directly, it had begun shaping a new rocky island approximately eight kilometers off our coast. And when I called it a small island, the term was rather misleading, since this new landmass had already reached nearly half the surface area of Heartless Island.
The most impressive part, however, was the long stone pathway it had created to connect the two islands.
This immense causeway now stretched across the sea for several kilometers, providing a solid passage between the islands. But rather than building a simple straight road, the Titan had added numerous rock formations along the entire route.
Some formed small coves sheltered from the currents, while others enclosed magnificent lagoons filled with crystal-clear water. Large natural arches occasionally towered over the pathway, and several shallow pools were already providing habitats for various marine species.
I had even noticed that vegetation was gradually beginning to spread across the first rock formations, giving the whole place an increasingly natural appearance.
Honestly, that Titan is really good at this.
I had simply asked it to slow down its work, and now it had started creating an entire little archipelago.
Meanwhile, Sanji and Kazuki had initially planned to spend some time alone together. However, they eventually decided to postpone their date so they could help Sora and the other Vinsmokes settle in.
After all, our guests would be staying on the island for several weeks, perhaps even several months, and it would be better for them to have comfortable accommodations near the training facilities.
Sanji seemed particularly happy to be spending more time with his mother. He showed her around the various buildings with almost childlike enthusiasm, explaining how our facilities worked and introducing her to the residents they encountered.
Kazuki accompanied him with a smile, regularly joining the conversation to add to his explanations or answer Reiju's questions.
"And this is one of the buildings where we train," Sanji explained.
"It's impressive," Sora replied. "You've really managed to create a wonderful place."
"Just wait until you see the kitchens, Mom!"
Kazuki burst out laughing.
"Of course, he just had to start talking about food."
"It's an essential part of any civilization, my darling Kazuki!"
I left them to continue their tour, pleased to see Sanji making the most of his reunion with his family.
Koby, meanwhile, had headed in a completely different direction.
He had gone to meet Alice on the neighboring island, located on the opposite side from the one the Rock Titan was currently developing.
This island was directly connected to Alice's Wonderland and now contained almost everything from her original dungeon, along with a few additional features. Its strange landscapes, extravagant buildings, and many of the peculiarities that made the place so different from the rest of our archipelago could all be found there.
Unlike Heartless Island, however, this island had no real permanent population.
Its only inhabitants were Heartless and card soldiers, who were responsible for guarding and maintaining the various locations. This gave the island a rather peculiar atmosphere, almost as though the kingdom were constantly awaiting the return of its queen.
Alice didn't visit it very often, either.
She generally preferred staying on Heartless Island, where she could enjoy the company of the other residents. However, whenever she wanted to spend some quiet time with Koby, her island provided the perfect refuge.
Nobody came to disturb them, and they could enjoy the magnificent gardens and whimsical landscapes in complete peace.
Koby really has changed a lot, too.
After making sure everyone had found something to keep themselves occupied, I took some time to greet the island's various residents. Some asked me a few questions about our upcoming departure, while others simply wished me good luck on our journey.
I also checked on the Heartless responsible for security to make sure everything was in order. Heartless Island's defenses were fully operational, and our absence shouldn't cause any particular problems.
Once these final checks were complete, I found Nami near the coast.
She was quietly gazing out at the sea, her hair gently lifted by the breeze, while the last rays of sunlight were beginning to paint the horizon with color.
I silently approached her from behind before wrapping my arms around her waist.
"So, my beautiful navigator, have you finished your preparations?"
She turned her head slightly toward me with a smile.
"Almost. I've checked the maps and navigation instruments, but I still need to plan our route to Loguetown."
"You can take care of that tomorrow. For now, I'd like to suggest something."
She raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
I gave her a mischievous smile.
"How about a little flight?"
Her face immediately lit up.
"You know perfectly well I never turn down an offer like that."
I smiled before gently scooping her up into my arms.
"Then hold on tight."
"Jordan, I'm warning you, no loops this time!"
"Oh, come on, sweetheart. You know me."
"Exactly!"
I let out a laugh before slowly rising above the ground.
Within moments, we left the coast behind and began gaining altitude, flying over the buildings of Heartless Island and the magnificent landscapes stretching out around us.
Nami wrapped her arms around my neck and snuggled comfortably against me, enjoying the cool breeze and the breathtaking view before us.
From our position, we could see the entire main island, along with the new rock formations created by the Titan. The long stone pathway looked like an enormous pale line stretching across the ocean, while the lagoons reflected the orange hues of the setting sun.
"It's beautiful..." Nami whispered.
"Want to go a little higher?"
"Yes, but slowly."
I gradually climbed higher until our archipelago resembled an immense mosaic of lush green islands surrounded by turquoise waters.
For a long while, we remained silent, simply enjoying the view and each other's company.
Then Nami gently rested her head against my shoulder.
"So, the Grand Line..."
"Are you scared?"
She shook her head.
"No. Well, not really. I know that sea is dangerous, but we're much stronger than we used to be. Besides, I've always dreamed of sailing through it to complete my map of the world."
I placed a kiss on her forehead.
"In that case, you'll finally be able to start mapping the most unpredictable islands in the world."
She smiled.
"As long as you don't decide to redraw an island's geography before I finish mapping it."
"I don't blow up the islands I visit!"
"No, you just make pieces of them disappear."
I pretended to think about it.
"That's a particularly unfair accusation."
"Of course, my love."
She burst out laughing before kissing me tenderly.
We continued our flight for quite some time, soaring over the coastline, the new coves, and the calm waters surrounding our refuge. The sun eventually disappeared beyond the horizon, gradually giving way to a star-filled sky.
By the time we finally returned to Heartless Island, it was already quite late at night.
Nami took my hand and led me toward our bedroom with a smile that left little doubt about her intentions.
"You know, we have to get up early tomorrow," I reminded her with amusement.
"Then stop talking and come on."
I certainly didn't need to be told twice.
The night was particularly enjoyable, although it also turned out to be much more eventful than we had originally planned. Between our kisses, tender moments, and a little playful teasing, we barely noticed the hours slipping by.
Fortunately, we still managed to get enough sleep to feel refreshed the following morning.
At dawn, the first rays of sunlight were already illuminating the shores of Heartless Island when we made our way to the ship.
The entire crew was present, the provisions had been loaded, and the final preparations were complete. Merry seemed particularly excited about setting sail again, while Luffy was already standing at the bow, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
"IS EVERYONE READY?!" he shouted.
"YEAH!" several voices answered.
Nami checked her maps one last time before looking up.
"Our first destination will be Loguetown. It's the most convenient place to prepare for entering the Grand Line."
Luffy immediately turned around with an enormous grin.
"YEAH! AND I WANNA SEE THE EXECUTION PLATFORM!"
I let out a small chuckle.
Of course, our captain had insisted on stopping in the town where Gol D. Roger had been executed. He absolutely wanted to see with his own eyes the place where the Pirate King had spoken the words that launched the Great Pirate Era.
Personally, I had no objections. Loguetown represented an important symbolic milestone for Luffy, and we could also take advantage of the stop to replenish our supplies.
I took one last look at Heartless Island, whose familiar buildings and landscapes were slowly beginning to fade into the distance.
Sora had almost immediately taken charge of looking after Léa and Jerry, while her own children now had a place where they could train. Dextremih and Xurok would continue their preparations, and our various facilities would keep operating during our absence.
Everything was in order.
I joined Nami near the navigation station and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Ready for the next stage of our adventure, sweetheart?"
She answered with a confident smile.
"More than ever."
At the bow of the ship, Luffy raised his fist toward the sky.
"ONWARD TO LOGUETOWN! AND AFTER THAT, THE GRAND LINE!"
Loguetown — Colonel Smoker's Office
At the Marine base in Loguetown, the atmosphere had been particularly tense for several weeks. The soldiers continued carrying out their usual patrols, reports piled up on desks, and merchant ships entered and left the harbor under constant surveillance. Yet something had changed profoundly since Colonel Smoker's last major confrontation.
In the past, merely mentioning his name had been enough to make any pirates unfortunate enough to venture into the town tremble with fear. The White Hunter was renowned for his explosive temper, his formidable efficiency, and his determination to prevent even a single criminal from leaving Loguetown and reaching the Grand Line.
But those days now seemed like a distant memory.
In his office, the colonel sat behind an imposing wooden desk, surrounded by reports he hadn't even bothered to read. Several files lay open in front of him, while a cup of coffee had been growing cold for nearly an hour beside an unusually empty ashtray.
Smoker stared silently out the window overlooking the harbor.
His face still bore the marks of his recent confrontation, but his physical injuries were nothing compared to the wounds inflicted on his pride. His shoulders seemed heavier, his back slightly hunched, and his eyes had lost much of the confidence that had once defined him.
The sound of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed through the corridor.
A few seconds later, a young woman in a Marine uniform entered the room after knocking on the door. Her black hair was neatly tied back, a sword hung from her belt, and her glasses slipped slightly down her nose as she stopped in front of the desk.
It was Tashigi, one of the colonel's most loyal subordinates.
"Colonel Smoker, we've just received an urgent report from our maritime patrols!"
Smoker slowly turned his head toward her.
"What is it now, Tashigi?"
His voice was surprisingly calm, almost weary.
The young woman adjusted her glasses before consulting the document she held in her hands.
"Several merchant ships have reported a pirate vessel approaching Loguetown. Based on the descriptions of its flag and crew, it appears to be the Straw Hat Pirates."
At the mention of that name, Smoker straightened slightly.
Tashigi continued without immediately noticing his reaction.
"Observers estimate that they'll reach our harbor within three hours at the latest. But that's not all, Colonel. The reports also indicate that the Heartless in the surrounding waters are showing absolutely no hostility toward their ship."
She turned a page.
"Some witnesses even claim to have seen several aquatic creatures deliberately moving out of their path. No incidents have been reported, even though other ships have been attacked in those same areas."
Smoker slowly closed his eyes.
He already knew what that behavior meant.
The Heartless had become so widespread that the Marines now devoted a significant portion of their resources to monitoring them. Their behavior toward certain ships could seem unpredictable, especially since they sometimes boarded vessels to hunt down specific individuals. However, the reports concerning the Straw Hat Pirates showed a troubling consistency.
For pirates to escape being hunted by these creatures, there were only two possibilities: either they were good people sailing under a black flag, or they had some way of controlling them.
Tashigi watched her superior with growing concern.
"Colonel? Should we prepare the interception units? I can have the harbor patrols reinforced and order the soldiers to monitor the main exits from the town."
Smoker abruptly opened his eyes.
"No."
The answer came so immediately that Tashigi stopped in her tracks.
"Excuse me?"
The colonel slowly placed his hands on his desk.
"Listen to me carefully, Tashigi. Not a single Marine at this base is to interfere with the Straw Hat Pirates. Their combined bounties have reached 316 million berries, and that's far beyond what our soldiers can handle. I won't have them throwing their lives away."
The young woman stared at him, her mouth hanging open.
"But... Colonel, they're pirates! We can't just let them disembark in our town without doing anything!"
"That's exactly what we're going to do. I don't think I'm strong enough to face several Haki users, and apart from me, who here could possibly stand up to them?"
Smoker's voice was slightly higher-pitched than usual, as though his throat were tightening at the very thought of having to say those words.
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"They can visit Loguetown, buy their supplies, and leave without anyone causing them trouble. I want every officer informed of these orders."
Tashigi blinked several times.
"Even if we have an opportunity to arrest them?"
"Even then."
"But their captain has a bounty on his head, and his vice-captain is considered extremely dangerous!"
Smoker abruptly raised his head.
"EXACTLY!"
Tashigi flinched.
The colonel realized he had raised his voice and sank back into his chair.
"I'm sorry..."
That simple apology left the young woman even more unsettled.
The Smoker she knew would probably have slammed his fist on his desk, cursed the pirates, and ordered his men to mobilize immediately. He would have been the first to rush toward the harbor, convinced he could capture the criminals before they managed to escape.
But the man sitting before her almost seemed like a completely different person.
"Colonel... Are you feeling all right?"
Smoker turned his gaze back toward the window.
"I'm perfectly fine, Tashigi. Just pass on my orders."
She hesitated for a few seconds before bowing.
"Understood, Colonel."
However, just as she was about to leave the room, Smoker spoke again.
"And Tashigi..."
"Yes?"
"I don't want any would-be heroes. If a soldier decides to provoke them in an attempt to earn a promotion, I'll personally have him brought before a military tribunal."
The young woman stiffened.
"Understood, Colonel."
She finally left the office, gently closing the door behind her.
Smoker was alone again.
For several seconds, he remained perfectly still, staring at the ceiling.
Then he let out a long sigh.
"Fuck..."
He ran a hand over his face before leaning forward, resting his elbows on his desk.
A few months earlier, such a reaction would have been absolutely unthinkable for him. He had always regarded pirates as criminals who needed to be arrested, regardless of their strength or reputation.
His Logia-type Devil Fruit had long given him the impression that he possessed an almost insurmountable advantage over ordinary pirates.
After all, how could an opponent hope to defeat a man capable of transforming his body into smoke and allowing physical attacks to pass straight through him?
Smoker had built much of his reputation on that superiority.
And then he had met Buggy the Clown.
Just thinking back to that confrontation was enough to make him want to smash something.
A pirate whose bounty was only fifteen million berries.
Fifteen miserable million.
In his eyes, Buggy should never have posed a serious threat. Smoker had fought and captured far more impressive pirates, and he had confronted the clown with his usual certainty that he would be able to neutralize him quickly.
But the battle had turned into a disaster.
Not only had Buggy managed to defeat him, but he had also humiliated him in a way Smoker still hadn't managed to get over.
The worst part wasn't even the physical pain.
It was the feeling of helplessness.
For the first time in a long while, Smoker had realized just how much he had overestimated his own strength. His intangibility, which he had considered an almost absolute defense, had been completely useless against an opponent capable of bypassing that advantage.
Ever since that day, one sentence had kept echoing through his mind.
A sentence he had heard years earlier, when he was still a young Marine undergoing training under Zephyr's command.
"Never rely solely on your Devil Fruit, Smoker. Logia users aren't invincible."
Back then, he had listened to that advice without truly understanding its full significance.
Of course, he knew in theory that certain opponents could neutralize Devil Fruit powers. He was also aware of the existence of Seastone and fighters capable of using Armament Haki.
But there was a considerable difference between knowing about a weakness and experiencing it firsthand.
Smoker slowly clenched his fists.
"You were right, Instructor..."
He could still remember the training sessions Zephyr had put him through, his harsh remarks, and his almost obsessive insistence on developing fundamental physical abilities.
"A powerful ability is no substitute for proper training. If you encounter someone capable of hitting your body despite your Logia powers, what will you have left?"
For a long time, Smoker had believed that his experience and mastery over smoke would be enough to answer that question.
Buggy had given him a much more brutal answer.
Not much.
He rose wearily from his chair and approached the window.
In the streets of Loguetown, the residents continued going about their daily activities. Merchants were opening their shops, Marines were patrolling peacefully, and merchant ships were still unloading their cargo.
The town seemed peaceful.
Smoker rested a hand against the window frame.
"And now, here come the Straw Hats..."
He was familiar with the reports concerning that crew.
Their captain was already considered a particularly promising pirate, but it was mainly the presence of Heartless D. Jordan that made their arrival so worrying.
The information provided by the Marines described an individual possessing extraordinary abilities, capable of wielding several forms of magic, mastering Haki, and transforming into a gigantic crocodile whose durability and strength far exceeded those of ordinary Zoans.
The latest reports concerning the Germa 66 fleet and the bounty hunters' ships had finally convinced Smoker that a direct confrontation would be madness.
He had also read the warnings issued by the officers who had survived those events.
Avoid any naval engagement with the Straw Hat Pirates.
A recommendation that would once have made him laugh contemptuously.
Today, he didn't feel like laughing at all.
Smoker lowered his gaze toward his hands.
"If I couldn't even defeat Buggy..."
He left the sentence unfinished.
The comparison was humiliating enough without needing to finish it.
His gaze eventually settled on his jitte, which was leaning against the wall near his desk.
For a long moment, he stared at the weapon without moving.
Then he murmured:
"I've become far too dependent on my power."
He slowly returned to his chair and sat down, his gaze distant as he became lost in thought.
For the first time in years, Smoker wasn't thinking about the best way to capture a pirate. He was thinking about how to become a fighter worthy of the name again.
And above all, he had just realized that he would probably have to start his training almost from scratch.
Meanwhile, outside the office, Tashigi was relaying the colonel's instructions to the various officers at the base.
"Direct orders from Colonel Smoker! The Straw Hat Pirates are to be allowed to enter Loguetown and leave without any interference from us!"
Several Marines exchanged astonished glances.
"Wait... We're supposed to let pirates walk around freely?"
"Those are the colonel's orders," Tashigi replied, adjusting her glasses.
A young soldier timidly raised his hand.
"And what if they start causing trouble?"
Tashigi hesitated.
"In that case, we'll protect the civilians. But no one is to provoke an unnecessary confrontation."
Another Marine leaned toward his neighbor.
"Do you think the colonel is sick?"
"Shh! Do you want him to hear you?"
The two men immediately fell silent.
But despite their confusion, the orders were passed on to the entire garrison.
Within three hours at the latest, the Straw Hat Pirates would arrive in Loguetown.
(Author's Note: Just to clarify, Buggy's true identity hasn't been revealed, so Smoker believes he was defeated by a small-time pirate who happened to know Haki.)