44. A Clash of Fates

Chapter 44: A Clash of Fates

Usopp trotted confidently through the streets of Logue Town, a wide grin plastered across his face as he led a pair of large, burly men alongside him. The men were hulking figures, their muscles straining against their clothes as they each pushed one side of a massive horse-drawn carriage. The carriage itself was packed to the brim with weapons, ammunition, and supplies—a treasure trove of everything Usopp had spent the day gathering.

Swords, pistols, and barrels of gunpowder peeked out from the overstuffed wagon, while smaller crates held all sorts of miscellaneous items: tools, medical supplies, and various trinkets that might come in handy during their voyage. It was a chaotic assortment, but to Usopp, it was the perfect arsenal for their next adventure.

The two men helping Usopp were owners of one of Logue Town's largest weapons and supply shops, and they had been more than happy to assist after Usopp had nearly bought out their entire stock. Grateful for his business, they offered to help transport the supplies to the harbor, lending him their carriage to speed up the process.

"You're quite the customer, Usopp," one of the burly men grunted as they pushed the carriage up the street. "Never seen someone so determined to prepare for a voyage."

Usopp beamed proudly, puffing out his chest. "Well, of course! We're heading to the Grand Line. You can never have too many weapons, especially when you're part of my crew!" He paused for dramatic effect. "The legendary Straw Hat Pirates, led by none other than Captain Goku!"

The men nodded, impressed, though their expressions turned more serious as they glanced around the bustling streets. The air in Logue Town had grown tense, with people hurrying through the market and murmuring to one another in low voices. Usopp's smile faltered as he overheard snippets of conversation.

"...a pirate fleet's on its way. I heard Buggy the Clown and Iron Club Alvida are leading them…"

"...they're after the head of Straw Hat Goku. Looks like we're in for a fight."

Usopp's stomach dropped. His carefree demeanor evaporated as he processed the news. Buggy and Alvida? Coming after Goku? And they had a fleet?

He glanced nervously at the men beside him. "Did you hear that?" he asked, his voice quivering slightly.

The larger of the two men nodded, his face grim. "Seems like trouble's heading this way. Pirates like Buggy don't usually come here without a reason."

As Usopp's mind raced, he overheard more whispers from the crowd. This time, it was about the Marines.

"...Captain Smoker's mobilizing the Marines. The entire garrison is being deployed."

"...heard they're after Goku too. They're going after the biggest bounty in the East Blue."

Usopp felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. Smoker, Buggy, Alvida—all converging on them at once? This was shaping up to be a disaster. If Goku and the others didn't know about this yet, they needed to be warned immediately.

Before he could say anything else, a familiar voice called out to him from down the street. "Usopp!"

Usopp turned to see Sanji sprinting toward him, his blond hair flying in the wind. His expression was tense, and the cigarette in his mouth was nearly burned to the filter.

"What the hell is taking so long?" Sanji shouted, his eyes darting from the overloaded carriage to Usopp. "We've got a situation!"

Usopp blinked in surprise. "I… I've been getting supplies! Look at all this stuff!" He gestured proudly to the mountain of weapons and equipment. "We'll be set for weeks!"

Sanji barely glanced at the supplies before grabbing Usopp by the arm. "Forget the supplies. We need to move. Goku and Zoro are waiting for us at the town square, and things are about to get ugly. There's a pirate fleet coming for us, and the Marines are on high alert."

Usopp's face paled. "Pirate fleet? Marines? You mean… Smoker?"

Sanji nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah, and if we don't get out of here soon, we're gonna be in the middle of a warzone."

Usopp swallowed hard, then quickly turned to the two men who had helped him. "Thanks for your help, guys! I owe you one!"

The men nodded, though their expressions were somber. "Good luck, Usopp. Sounds like you're gonna need it."

With that, Sanji and Usopp hurried down the street, the massive carriage in tow. The supplies rattled as they moved, drawing the attention of a few curious onlookers, but most people were too focused on the growing tension in the air to pay much attention to them.

As they neared the town square, the sounds of chaos became louder. Marines were shouting orders, civilians were fleeing, and the distant rumble of cannon fire could be heard from the harbor. The situation was escalating quickly, and Usopp's heart pounded in his chest as they reached the rendezvous point.

Zoro and Goku were already waiting for them near the edge of the square. Zoro had his arms crossed, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger, while Goku stood with his fists clenched, his expression unusually serious.

"You guys took your sweet time," Zoro muttered as they approached.

Sanji shot him a glare. "We were busy hauling this," he said, gesturing to the carriage. "And I had to drag Usopp back here."

Usopp, still catching his breath, was about to respond when a voice interrupted their reunion.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here."

The voice was nasally and filled with glee, and as the crew turned toward the sound, a group of cloaked figures stepped out from the shadows. The hoods of the cloaks were pulled down, but as the figures approached, they threw them back to reveal their true identities.

It was Buggy the Clown and Alvida, flanked by a handful of pirates.

Buggy grinned wickedly, his red nose gleaming in the sunlight. "I've been waiting for this moment," he sneered, his eyes fixed on Goku. "Straw Hat Goku, the pirate with the biggest bounty in the East Blue. I'm gonna enjoy taking your head."

Alvida, standing next to him with her massive iron club resting on her shoulder, gave a smirk. "It'll be nice to finally get my revenge."

Goku's eyes narrowed, his muscles tensing as he prepared for a fight. "Buggy, Alvida. You don't know what you're getting into."

Before anyone could make a move, the sound of marching feet echoed through the square. Marines flooded into the area, surrounding the pirates and cutting off any chance of escape. At their head was Captain Smoker, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the square. He puffed on his cigars, thick smoke curling around him as he walked, his eyes locked on both Buggy and Goku.

Tashigi stood at his side, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword as she surveyed the scene.

Smoker stopped a few feet from Goku, Buggy, and Alvida, his voice low and menacing. "I don't care what grudges you all have against each other. You're all under arrest."

The tension in the square was palpable, and for a moment, no one moved. The entire town seemed to hold its breath as the showdown between pirates and Marines began to unfold.

---

High above the chaos unfolding in the square, the rooftops of Logue Town sprawled out like a network of forgotten pathways. The narrow tiles and rusted gutters, stained by years of salt and sea breeze, were rarely disturbed by human feet. From up here, the din of the town—of merchants hawking their wares, of Marines shouting orders, of cannons firing in the distance—was muffled, almost peaceful. But the tension below told a different story.

Standing at the edge of one of these rooftops, a lone figure observed the scene with quiet intensity. His form was tall and imposing, cloaked in shadow. He stood motionless, the wind tugging at the dark hood that covered his face. From his vantage point, he could see everything—Buggy's twisted grin, Alvida's smirk of satisfaction, Smoker's unwavering resolve as he commanded his Marines. But most of all, he watched the man at the center of it all: Goku.

The figure's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixated on the young pirate. Below, Goku stood ready to face off against enemies on all sides—Marine and pirate alike. There was no hesitation in Goku's stance, no fear, only the readiness for whatever came next. The figure's lips curved slightly, though whether in admiration or something darker, it was impossible to tell.

Slowly, the figure lifted a hand to his hood, pulling it back to reveal his face. Beneath the cloak was a man of middle age, his features weathered yet strong. His skin was tanned, a testament to years spent beneath the open sky, and his eyes—sharp and calculating—held the weight of a man who had seen much of the world and still yearned for more. A distinctive tattoo, curling like a dragon, adorned the side of his face, giving him an air of mystery and power.

His hair, dark and wild, framed his face, moving slightly in the breeze. Despite his rugged appearance, there was a certain grace to him—a quiet intensity that seemed to ripple under the surface. His presence was palpable, even though no one below had noticed him yet.

The figure crossed his arms over his chest, continuing to watch as the confrontation in the square escalated. He had no intention of intervening just yet, but the time might come when he would have to. It was clear that forces beyond just the pirates and Marines were at play in Logue Town today, and he would need to decide where to place his allegiance.

As he stood there, observing the scene with a calm, almost predatory gaze, the question remained: which side would he choose? He had no love for the World Government, that much was certain, but neither was he aligned with the chaos of the pirates below. Yet the figure on the rooftop couldn't deny the pull he felt toward the young man standing defiantly in the square, facing overwhelming odds with nothing but his resolve.

The shadowy figure exhaled softly, his breath barely audible against the wind. He had seen men like Goku before—men destined for greatness, for change. The world was on the brink of something monumental, and it was men like Goku who would shape the course of history.

But for now, the figure would wait. He would watch. And when the time was right, he would act.

For the storm that was brewing in the square below was only the beginning.

[A/N: Read 10 chapters ahead for this series available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]