Chapter 34

[3 Hours Ago]

<Logue Town, after Smoker's arrival, has become extremely tight. At the very least, Nami, Bartolomeo, and I got to put on a disguise.>

Log pose, usable weapons, emergy rations—there were additional preparations that had to be done prior to the entry into the Grand Line.

<We've never gone beyond here before, so it doesn't hurt to be prepared. And also, from what I heard, Grand Line is no joke.>

Nami brought out the counterfeit of the World Government's grant.

<Rowan and I learned from our failure the last time. Let's be more thorough this time around.>

<The plan is simple. Deuce can have fun dealing with those marines. If you want a ride to the first island of Grand Line, help him do so, Carina. Meanwhile, Nami and Bartolomeo get log pose other supplies that come in handy. In doing try limit purchase, for buying too many may raise suspicion—that we are preparing enter current Red Line.>

<And you, captain?>

<As I said before, the security here is extremely tight, and my face quite well-known around this area. may be able to fool others with a disguise, but Smoker... he's sharp man. At one point, fight bound break.>

Rowan said with a grin back then,

<I'll be having my share of fun.>

__________

"Are you the owner of this ship?"

Deuce nodded.

"And you have a companion..."

The marine met Carina's eyes for a moment, before turning his head away with a blush.

"Deuce and Carina? Did I get your names correctly?"

"Yep!" Carina responded this time around, to which the marine flinched. Calming himself down, he then flipped around the sheets of paper on him to continue the tiring check-up process.

While such an event was ongoing on Shooting Star, Rowan, Nami, and Bartolomeo easily snuck their way to the street, separately. Rowan was wearing a pair of glasses and a fake mustache. Nami, on the other hand, had a long black-haired wig to cover up her relatively short orange-coloured hair that hovered above her shoulder level. Finally, Bartolomeo wore large sunglasses and a mask that together covered his entire face. He also had a cap above his head.

From some distance away, amidst the crowd, Rowan gazed at Nami, who looked back at him.

'Though you'll likely be fine with the power of Flame Flame fruit, stay safe Nami.'

In return to his thoughts, Nami's eyes seemed to be speaking,

'You better win, Rowan.'

The two of them turned away, going their separate ways. Rowan, adjusting his glasses, couldn't resist a grin on his face as he walked by.

__________

*Bar, Gold Roger*

At the back alley of Logue Town, there lies a bar where no one bothers to pay a visit. Inside, there is a lone old man, one who tends the place and awaits for customers to come.

"Damn you, Smoker..."

This old man, a bartender, couldn't help but curse as he saw the empty state of his bar. Just two years ago, the bar used to prosper with loads of customers—pirates, that is.

"Because of your presence, I'm about to go bankrupt!"

Endorsed by the feats of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, this old man's passion lied on the idea of serving pirates. The ambition in their eyes as they speak of their journey... such was the rum sweeter than anything else to him.

Therefore, the old man, regardless of right or wrong, despised marines, bounty hunters, or any others who serve as the obstacles of adventures. And among all, the name of White Hunter Smoker left a bitter taste in his mouth, for he was far too capable to an extent where no pirates were able to cross the Red Line for the past two years.

"But speaking of them... there was a defect among them, wasn't there?"

What was his name again? Pirate Slayer in the past, and a full-fledged pirate today. Though he's nowhere to be seen yet, the old man believed that he was still alive out there—

"...Speaking of the devil."

The door then opened, revealing Rowan in glasses. The old man, with narrowed eyes, watched as Rowan casually took a seat in front of him.

"I'm back, old man."

The old man stared at Rowan for a brief moment. Then, closing his eyes, he commented,

"...You are a strange one. But because of so, a memorable one as well."

Rowan, placing his elbow on the table, leaned his cheek on his palm.

"Don't come back again, that's what you said to the 'bounty hunter' three years ago. I've come here as a pirate, so that no longer applies to me."

The old man couldn't hold it any further. He let out a laughter,

"Hahahaha!"

Turning around, the old man conjured an ale—a household specialty. Slamming the mug down in front of Rowan, he stated,

"While those self-righteous folks drink water to pretend to be clean, pirates enjoy the rum. But over time, the still water rots while rum gets richer."

Rowan looked at the beverage in front of him. The memories of his past flashed by in his eyes.

"No hint, no clue, and no lead to follow. To sail against the harsh weather, against millions of competitors, and against the World Government. The risk is through the roof, and even if I am to manage through all that, it may be something that Gol D. Roger made up. The title of Pirate King may be nothing but a fluke, and the only supporting evidence behind Roger's claim is the confidence he held behind his final words."

Raising the mug, Rowan gulped it down in one go.

"The future is unknown, but that's what's fun about it. Instead of lingering over the past, regardless of whatever tragedies that you may have faced, live each and every second of your life to the fullest."

Slamming down the empty mug, Rowan looked at the old man.

"I don't have many stories to tell at the current moment, so put this on my tab."

The old man didn't seem mad at Rowan's rudeness. Instead, he snorted,

"Are you trying to stop me from closing down this bar? Will your stories in the future truly be worth listening to, such that I should keep this empty bar going for an unknown number of years?"

"Indeed."

Rowan nodded.

"What you'll be hearing by then, is the tale of the Pirate King himself."

The old man couldn't resist his laughter. Laughing heartily for the second time, he mumbled,

"From Pirate Slayer to Pirate King... now that's quite a remarkable story!"

Having enjoyed his time, Rowan stood up. Adjusting the glasses that he was unused to, he turned and waved his hand as he walked out.

"Don't die, old man."

"That's for me to say!"

Before Rowan closed the door following his exit, he heard a last shout from the old man.

"My name is Raoul! You better remember that, brat!"

Then the door closed with a thud,

and Rowan found himself surrounded by numerous marines, with the familiar face of the white-haired marine captain in front of him.

"So," Rowan asked in a genuine curiosity, "How did you find me out this time around?"

The marine captain replied as two cigars between his teeth continued to emit smoke,

"I shouldn't be called a marine captain if I cannot even recognize the face of East Blue's worst criminal."

Rowan chuckled.

"Since when have I become the worst?"

"Since you massacred the 16th branch!"

Ignoring Smoker's sharp retort, Rowan took time to look around his surroundings. There were over thirty marines who were pointing their firearms at him. He dryly remarked,

"Well, I guess I should be thankful to you for waiting."

The marine captain, Smoker, frowned as he replied,

"Because regardless of that old bartender's delusional thoughts, he still is a civilian whom I must protect."

"That's what I like about you, Smoker."

SWOOSH! Then, as Rowan quickly ducked to evade Smoker's jitte, the fight abruptly began.

Simultaneously, the surrounding marines simultaneously shot bullets at Rowan and Smoker, knowing that bullets would simply bypass Smoker, who was the user of Smoke Smoke fruit.

Numerous holes appeared over Smoker's body, but they simply emitted white smoke before getting enclosed as if nothing happened. Meanwhile, Rowan, with incredible flexibility, weaved through the bullets—such that all bullets ended up hitting the brick wall just behind.

"White Blow!"

Rowan quickly tilted his face sideway just in time to see that Smoker's fist, which detached from his arm and flew along with a trail of white smoke just behind, grazing his cheek. Quickly backflipping, Rowan aimed to kick Smoker by the chin, but the latter's face simply deformed into smoke upon contact, rendering his strike useless.

Boom.

Smoker, quickly flying right above Rowan, slammed down the jitte. Rowan rolled by the side before springing upward to dodge numerous bullets shot at him. Kicking off the walls by the sides repeatedly, Rowan then began to move upward at a rapid speed.

"I'm not letting you go for the second time, Grimheart!"

Smoker gritted his teeth as he morphed his legs into white smoke and flew toward Rowan. Marines who were still in the alley shot bullets at Rowan far above, but eventually, Rowan disappeared from their sight along with Smoker.

<<All 40 civilians immediately evacuate. I repeat, all 'Grimheart' Rowan, wanted for Million Beli, has made his appearance at the central plaza of Logue Town. Captain Smoker is under chase, however, casualties may arise should get themselves involved in fight. Quickly evacuate and lock down doors.>>

The speakers that are stationed throughout Logue Town relayed those words as Rowan and Smoker fought near a fountain.

"White Blow!"

Once again, Smoker blasted a fist that detached from his arm, reminding a rocket punch to Rowan. This time around, Rowan grinned as he met Smoker's fist with his. From a sheer impact behind Rowan's punch, Smoker's fist exploded into a small cloud of smoke.

Not expressing any emotion, Smoker quickly closed in Rowan and swung his jitte horizontally. Rowan leaped upward to dodge the jitte, before rotating midair and sending a kick at Smoker's head.

With a puff, Smoker's head exploded into smoke as his fist reformed. For this brief moment, although Smoker received no physical damage, he momentarily lost his vision. To accomodate for this, Smoker swung his jitte vertically at where he assumed Rowan will be, but he ended up cutting through the air.

When Smoker's vision returned, he found Rowan standing right next to the functioning fountain. Rowan grinned,

"After we fought the last time, I thought hard, of how I can pull out a win against you and that damned fruit ability of yours."

Grabbing the well-carved stone of the fountain, Rowan broke it with the sheer force of his grip. Upon the break, the metal pipe—one in which the water travels through—was revealed. Smoker, with narrowed eyes, flew at Rowan, but Rowan then used his abnormal strength to yank it out of the place, and when Smoker was right in front of Rowan,

BOOM!

the surroundings behind Rowan and Smoker exploded into a fit of water.

Splash! Splash!

Within the water, two figures continued moving. With water blinding their sight, both of them had their eyes closed, but there was one difference between the two.

Smoker quickly ordered, "Stop the flow of water!"

Rowan, through the use of his Observation Haki, moved as if he could see. However, Smoker was forced to rely on his other senses—ones that were also obstructed due to the continuous interruption by the pressurized streams of water.

Clicking his tongue, Smoker decided that the best way to combat Rowan would be to spread smoke all around them. Hence, he morphed his body into smoke—

"...What?"

With a surprising density, Smoker's smoke-turned body dropped to the ground and refused to fly upward. Smoker was in a state of shock and frustration, wondering why his body didn't respond as he intended to.

"Surprised?"

Smoke particles can absorb water. Upon absorption, they become less buoyant and more dense. They drop to the floor, and hence, the result.

"Of course, you may still be immune to physical blows."

Rowan, with his eyes closed, stood in front of Smoker who quickly reformed his body back. Having learned that fighting in water was not ideal, Smoker raised his jitte while starting to backtrack.

"But what about the wind? In other words, the pressure? If a strong pressure is exerted onto the dense gas, will you be affected or not?"

Clenching his fist, Rowan punched forth with all his might. Smoker's eyes widened as he quickly crossed his arms, and,

BOOM!

he was sent flying back all the way to one wall, away from the broken water fountain. Upon the crash, Smoker grimaced. Quickly standing back up and wiping the water over his eyes, Smoker opened them and proceeded to meet his jitte with Rowan's fist. Another booming noise ensued, and Smoker found himself at a loss for words; his hand exploded into smoke that dropped to the ground, and his jitte flew out of his grip.

"Then, there is another solution."

Rowan then jumped, reaching for the spinning jitte in the sky. Smoker clicked his tongue before jumping upward, knowing that it will be detrimental to hand his jitte, which had a seastone attached on its tip, to Rowan. However, due to the lingering water in him, Smoker's body felt heavier than usual. Coupled with Rowan's much superior physical capability, Smoker found his body falling back to the ground as Rowan took hold of his jitte.

"FIRE!"

In this state, a shout was heard from far away. With banging noises, many bullets were fired at Rowan, but Rowan, using jitte with an incredible mastery that surpassed Smoker's, managed to deflect all bullets skillfully.

Landing back on the ground, Rowan spun the jitte in his grasp as he ran right toward Smoker. Smoker stood back up and clenched his fist. As Rowan swung the jitte, intending to hit Smoker by the seastone tip, Smoker backstepped.

However, Rowan foresaw such intent from Smoker, and immediately after Smoker evaded the first strike, turned his body swiftly before stabbing the jitte forth. The seastone tip struck Smoker at his chest, and due to the incredible strength behind, Smoker was knocked back while coughing blood out.

"Huff... huff..."

Smoker, holding his chest in pain, looked up to see that Rowan stood right in front of him, drenched in water but unscathed.

Clang!

A bullet was fired at him, but Rowan, without looking, simply raised jitte to block it.

"I really need to get some weapons made out of seastone. Strategy or not, this thing is damn too useful against devil fruit users."

Smoker glared, and Rowan grinned. Rowan then swung the jitte, which was 'his' now,

"Have some sleep, Smoker. Don't worry though, I'm not going to cause harm to your town anyway."

With a strong blow at his head, Smoker was knocked out. Rowan, no longer interested in the marine captain, walked away from the scene with jitte in his possession.

The marines, learning that their attacks have no effect on Rowan, lowered their guns and stared at the unconscious Smoker in disbelief.

"...40 Million?"

Among them, one marine, one who followed Smoker from the Grand Line, mumbled,

"There is no way. Captain Smoker has defeated a pirate with a bounty of 65 Million. So how..."

'White Hunter' Smoker—one who hasn't allowed a single pirate to pass by him—suffered his first loss today.

__________

"Everyone back?"

"Yeah!" Nodded Nami.

"With Logue Town in chaos, now is the perfect time to sail."

Rowan ordered with an excitement in him,

"Set sail! We're going to enter today—

—the Grand Line!"