Chapter 20 – Return to Loguetown & The Honeymoon Voyage
During Ding Li's journey, encountering pirates was merely a minor interlude in life, leaving no deep ripples in his heart. Two days later, their ship arrived smoothly at Windmill Village. There, they recruited five crew members: one to steer the ship, one for cleaning, one for cooking, and one to handle various miscellaneous tasks. Notably, all five were middle-aged women—Ding Li deliberately avoided hiring any men to prevent unnecessary awkwardness between him and Koya during their time on board.
With the crew assembled, Ding Li began planning the next step. He decided to return to Loguetown first—partly to revisit old ground, and partly to check on Roger's situation and confirm whether he had already set sail to begin his legendary adventure. For Ding Li, Roger's every move held special significance—he knew this man's actions would one day shake the entire sea.
Fifteen days later, Ding Li's ship finally docked at Loguetown's harbor. He had no intention of staying long; he planned to come and go quickly—alone. The heavy presence of Navy patrols at the port gave him some reassurance about Koya's safety. After all, any pirate bold enough to ignore the Navy was currently beyond his ability to handle.
Ding Li leaped lightly off the ship. His eyes fell on the familiar sign towering above the main road: "Loguetown"
This place was filled with memories and emotion for him. But right now, he had no time for nostalgia. He walked briskly into town.
Ding! "+109 emotion points collected."
Four years had passed in the blink of an eye. Ding Li stepped onto these familiar streets once more, feeling the familiar yet slightly changed atmosphere around him. His pace was light; soon he arrived at the tavern that held so many memories.
Pushing open the door, a rush of familiar scents hit him.
"Hey, buddy! What'll it be?" The barman with the big mole greeted him enthusiastically.
Ding Li smiled and walked to the bar. Before he could speak, the barman's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh! You look familiar… wait, aren't you that weird guy from four years ago?"
Ding Li was surprised—he hadn't expected the man to remember him after so long. He smiled and nodded, confirming it.
"Hahaha! What a surprise to see you again! You left back then—why are you back now?" the barman asked excitedly.
Ding Li shrugged casually. "Nothing much. Just passing through and thought I'd drop by. By the way… how's Roger been lately?"
The question sounded offhand, but for Ding Li, Roger's status was the main reason for this visit.
"Hahaha, Roger? He set sail to become a pirate! Said he wanted to make a name for himself, that life was too boring. He wanted adventure. Sigh…" The barman's expression showed a hint of regret.
Ding Li murmured to himself: "So he really did set sail…"
He looked back at the barman. "When did he leave? And… why do you sound disappointed? What's there to regret?"
The barman sighed. "Most pirates go to sea because they have no other choice—life pushed them into it. Of course, not all of them. But Roger? He's the exception. He had such a great girlfriend, plenty of money… everyone in the tavern was jealous. Yet he just up and left—abandoned his girl to become some pirate. What a waste."
Ding Li listened in silence, feeling a complex mix of emotions. He knew well that in this era, the Celestial Dragons' endless exploitation left many with no other path but piracy. Even if he overthrew them someday, there was no guarantee a better ruler would rise in their place.
"Thanks for the info. I'm leaving now. Here—take this for the drinks. Consider it payment." Ding Li tossed down a pouch of 100,000 Berries and turned to leave.
The barman stared at his back. This guy always comes and goes in a hurry… strange fellow.
"Hey! Come back anytime!" he shouted.
Ding Li didn't look back. His figure vanished through the door.
Back on the ship, sea wind brushed his face, cool and refreshing. He looked at Koya standing at the bow, and warmth filled his heart.
In the days that followed, they continued their honeymoon voyage. The ship sailed across the vast blue sea, far from the noise of the world. Only the two of them remained, surrounded by endless ocean. Every day they watched breathtaking sunrises and sunsets together, savored fresh seafood, and talked about their dreams and future.
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