Chapter 8: Louguetown

"Oh? Recognized me, huh? Hahaha, don't worry, you won't go hungry," Zeff laughed heartily.

Having worked here for over a decade, it was normal to be recognized. However, he had retired long ago, and it didn't bother him.

"What does that mean?"

Entering the restaurant with Zeff, Lida asked quietly.

"An old pirate."

Kuro shrugged. "He used to be a big shot pirate, but after retiring for so many years, the World Government doesn't pursue him anymore. We, Marine, don't care either. Just ignore him; as long as the food is good. If he charges us, I'll arrest him."

Arresting an old retired pirate was no big deal.

He wasn't Gol D. Roger.

Zeff chuckled inwardly, finding it amusing that they took their meal so seriously. Just having a meal, how much could they eat?

...

The sound of stacked plates echoed in the restaurant.

Marine members were scattered at other tables, while three individuals sat in the center.

Clow sat upright, occasionally adjusting his glasses, with red wine and steak on the table.

Kuro was laid back, smoking a cigarette, occasionally glancing at the white-haired girl chewing heartily beside him.

Lida's table was piled high with plates, and she was earnestly focused on eating.

The chefs serving nearby looked pale.

Initially, the chefs had looked down on Kuro, thinking that Lida's eating habits were a sign of mistreatment, assuming the young girl wasn't fed properly on regular days.

But soon, they sensed something was off.

She could eat a lot.

A LOT.

The high stack of plates was already the third round.

Many Marine members had finished eating, but the number of plates in the kitchen didn't decrease. It was all because of this girl. 

Her eating speed was comparable to the combined speed of eighty Marine members, and it seemed like an endless pit that couldn't be filled.

The dishes disappeared as soon as they were served, and a constant flow of dishes was needed to ensure that Lida's eating process never stopped.

Kuro took a drag from his cigarette, not to express indifference, but to subtly convey to the chefs that Lida's appetite was insatiable.

Watching the chefs go from indulgence to amusement, then to anger, and finally to resignation was truly amusing.

Ah, the days of raising a foodie were filled with constant surprises, fears, and boredom.

"Head Chef, we're running out of ingredients!"

There were shouts coming from the kitchen.

Zeff, with a gloomy expression, walked out of the kitchen and, looking at Lida still eating, forced a smile. "Little one, how's the food?"

"It's good, about 60% full!"

Lida nodded heavily, still chewing. "Baratie is truly Baratie. The food here is much better than the mess hall back at the branch!"

"60%."

Zeff was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. "Not full yet, huh? Okay, as a chef, I won't lose to the customers!"

He went back into the kitchen, where his loud shouts could be heard: "Go buy more ingredients now! Make sure the customers are full. This is the purpose of Baratie's existence, a battle – this is a battle!"

Immediately, some chefs left Baratie on a boat to purchase more ingredients.

"Kuro, is it okay for me to eat like this?"

Having finished another plate, Lida licked her oily lips and asked with some concern.

"A foodie like you worried about consequences? Eat without worries. The chefs here all have a fighting spirit. Eating is a battle, and they won't rest until they've fed you."

Kuro replied casually.

There was a town near Baratie, and soon the procurement ship returned. The chefs continued their battle, and Lida... well, she was delighted to continue eating.

The feast continued until late at night.

"I'm full, I'm full. Haven't eaten this much in a long time. Feels really comfortable."

Lida, without any sense of decorum, leaned back, rubbed her round belly, and let out a long sigh.

"Kuro, this place is amazing. After we're done with the headquarters, let's hurry back to the East Blue. I want to come here and eat again."

Kuro glanced at the chefs who were now exhausted and collapsed, his lips twitching slightly.

Show a bit of kindness and spare these people.

"Ensuring the guests are full is the biggest principle of Baratie."

Zeff, visibly fatigued, managed to walk out, forcing a smile.

What a loss!

At this moment, he regretted why he said that sentence, why he insisted on treating the girl, and why this little girl could eat so much.

Kuro, of course, wouldn't really let the old man suffer losses. After all, Lida ate too much. Before leaving, he left behind the bounty poster with a reward of eight million berries, conveniently sharing the credit.

The Marines boarded the ship, rested when needed, sailed when needed, and set their course directly for Loguetown.

...

"Loguetown, huh?"

Clow looked at the town gradually getting closer and sighed.

"Hmm? Have you been here?" Kuro asked.

"No, I never thought about going to the Grand Line. This is my first time here," Clow replied. "Besides, there's Captain Smoker here. Since he arrived, pirates can't land in Loguetown."

A few years ago, Loguetown was chaotic, with pirates often gathering here on their way to the Grand Line. However, since Smoker took charge, the town became calm.

After all, he was a natural type.

What? You say he's weak?

It depends on who you compare him to.

Kuro could relate a bit. Two years later, Smoker became a Vice Admiral heading to the New World. Look at the kind of monsters he encountered.

The Warlords, with the likes of Doflamingo, a natural-born conqueror's haki user and a big freak.

Vergo, a complete Haki user, both in Armament Haki and martial arts, was indeed an exceptional freak.

As for Law, his Devil Fruit abilities were developed to a considerable extent, and later, he even became one of the Seven Warlords.

Kuro acknowledged that there was still a bit of a gap between himself and Hawkeye. 

If he were to be too exposed and sent to the New World, getting entangled with the Yonko there, he might not survive.

"Low profile, it must be a low profile!" Kuro clenched his fists.

The warship docked, and a group of Marines escorted the Creek Pirates toward the Marine Base.

Meanwhile, inside the Marine Base.

"Captain Smoker, reporting that Ensign Ruxiru Kuro from Branch 153 has arrived!"

In a smoke-filled room, a Marine reported to the looming figure.

"Quiet, a Branch Ensign, he's here now, what's the big fuss."

A deep voice echoed.

"Yes! I heard that Ensign Kuro prevented the exactions by the former Captain Monka in his branch and captured a six-million Berries bounty Devil Fruit user, so he was allowed to come to the headquarters for further training."

"Oh, a somewhat capable Marine, but what does that matter."

"They also captured the Creek Pirates!"

Snap.

The high stack of stones on the table fell.

The figure stood up, pushed open the window, and the smoke gradually dispersed. Smoker, holding two cigars, looked surprised and said, "Creek Pirates? A Branch Ensign?"

Tatatata...

Outside, a series of footsteps resounded. Smoker looked out the window and saw a group of Marines escorting a bunch of pirates.

Leading them was a figure wearing a furry overcoat, with 'Justice' printed on the back, looking quite lazy. Next to him was a white-haired child munching on snacks, and a slender man in a black suit with glasses.

"That man."

Smoker's gaze lingered on the man in the black suit. "Seems a bit familiar."

"Captain Smoker, Captain Smoker!"

A woman's voice echoed through the corridor. A bespectacled woman, holding a sword, panted as she said, "There's big news!"

"Tashigi, how many times have I told you not to be so agitated."

Smoker frowned. "What's the big news?"

Tashigi, filled with excitement, exclaimed, 

"Hawkeye, Hawkeye has come to the East Blue! He's in the East Blue, challenging a Marine, claiming that the Marine is qualified to vie for the title of the world's greatest swordsman! It's the throne of the world's greatest swordsman, such a surprising development!"

"Oh? So, Hawkeye is saying something like that."

Smoker was taken aback. "Which Marine is it?"

"I heard it's a Marine from one of the branches, named... Clow, yes, Clow!"

Smoker looked back at the man in the black suit below. "Indeed, quite familiar. Interesting."

Loguetown belongs to the East Blue, and according to logic, it should be supervised by the East Blue Branch. 

However, Smoker was assigned here and decided to station himself near the entrance to the Grand Line in the East Blue, eliminating the possibility of East Blue pirates entering the Grand Line.

The Weakest Sea?

Could a Pirate King and a Marine hero emerge from the weakest sea?

Who knows what pirates from the East Blue might stir up once they reach the Grand Line?

Like becoming the Fifth Emperor?

But that had nothing to do with Kuro.

His current goal was to become an ordinary Marine, not too prominent or insignificant. 

Since he couldn't escape this assignment to the headquarters, he would approach it in a different way.

If he could come back, that would be great. If not, he had other options.

Such as someone he admired.

Fullbody, who liked to wander around the East Blue when he wasn't taken seriously by the headquarters. 

He casually caught small-time pirates, arranged dinner dates with pretty women, and lived a comfortable life.

A role model!

At the base office.

Kuro met Smoker, and Smoker noticed Kuro.

"There's no ship to the headquarters for now. Wait for the recruitment ship with the others. After all, you're just one person, and the headquarters won't dispatch a warship just for you. You should understand that."

"All right."

Kuro was even quite happy.

What a good thing!

It meant that the headquarters didn't attach much importance to him!

Smoker looked at him in surprise. It wasn't usual to encounter a Marine who remained calm and composed, especially when they had achieved significant success. It was rare to find a Marine unfazed by honor or disgrace.

"Want one?"

Smoker handed him a cigar.

Kuro raised an eyebrow, took the cigar, and lit it, first circling the match to ignite it.

He had wanted to try a cigar for a while now.

Previously, for the sake of keeping a low profile and not having the rank, he didn't dare to smoke cigars. Now, as an Ensign, he could switch from cigarettes to cigars.

A Marine without cigars has no soul!

"Good quality. Truly fitting for a Captain from the headquarters," Kuro exclaimed.

Smoker ignored him and took out Kuro's file, glancing through it.

Ruxiru Kuro, currently twenty-four years old, entered Branch 153 at the age of fourteen. 

He served as a Marine for ten years, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer. Recently, due to the incident with Morgan, he defeated a bounty of six million and was promoted to Ensign. 

He was then summoned to the headquarters for further training.

Although the report from Branch 153 praised the Marine highly, Smoker found him quite ordinary.

"That's quite some luck catching the Creek Pirates."

"It wasn't me who caught them. When we arrived at Baratie, someone had already defeated the Creek Pirates. We just took advantage of the situation."

Kuro immediately denied it.

He didn't want to deal with a bounty of 17 million. Besides, the person had already been captured, and Kuro wasn't interested in the rewards or credit.

Smoker nodded, "You don't seem to have that kind of strength, but you're pretty honest. Not bad; a Marine should look like a Marine."

Putting down the file, he asked, "The two people with you, who are they?"

"Oh, them? They are righteous individuals aspiring to join the Marines. I was thinking of having them enlist, so you might as well process their applications along with mine."

Kuro, who had been planning to mention this, promptly handed over the prepared information of the two individuals.

As a Branch Ensign, he didn't have the authority to recruit direct subordinates. He had to let Smoker handle it.

"The short one is Florida, a native of Germaoro Island. Don't be fooled by her height; she's already an adult and has a strong desire to join the Marines."

"Another one is named Clow. You don't know how miserable he is."

Clow repeated the set of explanations he had given to Kas and the others before.

"Clow? This name."

Smoker looked at the profiles of the two and frowned. "Is that Clow?"

Kuro nodded. "Yes, it's the same Clow as the one with 'Hundred Strategies' Clow. It's so pitiful; I can hardly bear to look at him."

"No, I mean... that Clow."

"?"

Is there another Clow?

Kuro tilted his head in confusion. While he was still puzzled, a very loud exclamation came from outside.

....

"Clow! Are you that Clow?"

In the Marine training ground, Tashigi stared at Clow in amazement.

Clow subconsciously went on guard. Was he exposed? When they were chatting with Kass earlier and casually observing the daily training of the Marine in Loguetown, Kass's address had attracted the attention of the female Marine officer with a sword.

"Darn it, this is Loguetown. If I get exposed, even Clow might not be able to save me. There's no choice."

He suppressed his aura and prepared to take the opportunity to escape.

Tashigi rushed over with excitement. "Are you the Clow recognized by Hawk-Eye as having the qualifications to challenge his title as the world's greatest swordsman?"

"?"

Clow was stunned. "What are you talking about?"

"It's the Clow that Hawk-Eye compared himself to, the one he acknowledged as having the qualifications to challenge his position as the world's greatest swordsman!"

Clow looked bewildered and pointed at himself. "Me?"

He himself didn't know.

Clow hastily waved his hands. "You've got it wrong. That person is—"

Cough!

A cough came from above.

Clow looked up, and in a window on the upper floor, Clow and Smoker were looking down, especially Clow, who seemed to be issuing a warning.

"Yes, that person is me," Clow immediately said.

"You! Marine of the East Blue, yes, you are from the East Blue too."

Tashigi exclaimed with joy, then suddenly became serious, drawing her sword. "Please, have a duel with me!"

"Huh?"

Clow looked at the sword in Tashigi's hand, hesitated for a moment, and stammered, "I don't know how to use a sword."

"Are you saying I'm too weak?"

At Tashigi's words, her expression dimmed. "I see, I'm not qualified."

"No, I really don't know how to use a sword," Clow explained.

"No need to say more, Mr. Clow."

Tashigi gripped her sword with both hands and said through gritted teeth, "Although I'm not strong, I also have the heart of a swordsman, Mr. Clow. If you don't duel with me, I'll force my way!"

With her hands firmly gripping the sword, she launched a straight slash.

Clow quickly dodged the attack and said in disarray, "I don't know how to use a sword!"

"I'll force you to draw your sword and acknowledge me!"

Tashigi clenched her teeth, repeatedly attacking and forcing Clow to evade constantly.

"Darn it, you think I'm easy to bully!"

Even a mud figure can have a temper, let alone Clow, who recently stepped ashore. After dodging a slash, he disappeared on the spot, leaving only an open suitcase behind.

Five bright flashes of the blade, heading straight for Tashigi.

Clang!

The cat claw on the finger collided with Tashigi's sword, and the tremendous force made her step back a few paces. 

She showed a pleased expression. "Finally drew your sword, huh? What a peculiar weapon. Is it with this kind of weapon that you made Hawkeye acknowledge you, Mr. Clow?"

"If you won't listen to reason, then I'll give you a little lesson!"

Clow pointed his five claws directly at Tashigi, saying coldly.

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