Loguetown was louder than I expected.
The moment we stepped off the Going Merry, the energy of the city hit us like a rogue wave. Shops were bustling, food stalls wafted the smell of fresh seafood and grilled meat, and everywhere—everywhere—people were talking about the same thing.
"Did you hear? The Knight's Requiem sold out again!"
"Ugh, don't remind me! Damn Phantom writes the most heartbreaking stuff! My wife cried for two days!"
"He's a menace! Who writes tragedies like this? First Naruto, then Attack on Titan, now this? I just want a happy ending, damn it!"
I let out a quiet chuckle, adjusting my coat. The obsession was growing.
"Oi, Ren, you hearing this?" Zoro muttered beside me, hands in his pockets. He didn't care for books, but even he couldn't ignore the sheer volume of voices discussing it. "People are acting like this guy's some kind of god."
I smirked. If only they knew.
Luffy was already charging ahead, eyes darting toward the food stalls. Sanji, predictably, was distracted by the first woman he saw. Usopp was muttering something about legendary weapons, and Nami was scanning the crowd with the practiced eye of someone looking for an easy payday.
I was about to follow them when a deep voice caught my attention.
"Something about this doesn't sit right."
I flicked my gaze toward the nearby Marine base, where Smoker stood at the entrance, arms crossed, a pair of cigars dangling from his lips. His sharp eyes scanned the crowds, but something in his posture told me he wasn't just looking for criminals.
"Tch." Zoro frowned. "That guy looks like trouble."
I didn't answer immediately. Smoker wasn't a man to underestimate, but his focus wasn't on us—not yet. He was watching the people, listening to their obsession with The Phantom, and from the way his brow furrowed, he didn't like it.
Interesting.
"Let's move." I nudged Zoro. "We've got our own business."
He grunted in agreement, and we slipped into the alleys, away from the growing crowd.
The Shadow in the Rain
Our detour led us through the quieter parts of Loguetown, where rain-slicked rooftops dripped onto cobblestone streets. I wasn't expecting anything unusual—until I saw him.
A man stood in the alley's shadows, wearing a dark green cloak, the fabric shifting slightly in the wind. His presence was almost too unnoticeable, which made it all the more obvious.
Dragon.
The leader of the Revolutionary Army. Luffy's father.
I didn't react, didn't let my expression change. I knew exactly why he was here, knew what would happen soon.
I wasn't about to change it.
"Oi, Ren." Zoro's voice was low. He hadn't noticed the man but could tell I was focused on something. "You good?"
I exhaled slowly and forced a lazy grin. "Yeah. Just a weird feeling."
Zoro shrugged. "Happens."
We kept walking, leaving Dragon behind without a second glance. Some things were meant to play out.
Loguetown's Curse
As we made our way back to the main square, I heard more grumbling from the locals.
"This Phantom guy is cruel."
"Why does every story of his make me feel like my heart got ripped out?"
"I swear, if his next story is sad, I'm starting a riot."
Luffy, munching on some skewered meat, blinked. "Oi, Ren, you read this Phantom guy's stuff?"
I smirked. "A few."
Sanji scoffed, exhaling smoke. "Romantic tragedy, right? Doesn't sound like your thing."
I chuckled. "You'd be surprised."
Nami, holding her newly acquired bag of Berries, gave me a knowing look. "You'd probably get along with him. He sounds like a secretive bastard."
I barely held back a laugh. More than you know.
The Execution Platform Awaits
As the day went on, Loguetown only got rowdier. Luffy, of course, found himself at the execution platform—and before I knew it, things were spiraling towards the moment I had been expecting.
I kept my stance relaxed, arms crossed as I watched history play out before me.
Luffy stood atop the platform, facing Buggy's blade. The storm rolled in, the sky darkened.
I smirked.
Here it comes.
The world was shifting, and no one even knew it yet.