Chapter 23: The Navigator

As Taiyo and Van Augur left the bar, the stunned gentleman—still smiling faintly—picked up his cane sword's sheath and began following them. He knew that both Taiyo and Van Augur were aware of his presence, but they said nothing and simply continued their conversation.

"Taiyo, are you going to let him follow us? What if he has bad intentions? We should get rid of him now," Van Augur whispered, glancing at Taiyo, who was walking silently with a serious expression. Seeing this, Van Augur decided not to press further. He didn't understand the sudden shift in Taiyo's mood, but it became clear after a few minutes of walking.

They soon arrived at the plaza—at its center stood the execution platform. Taiyo stopped and gazed up at it, then tapped Van Augur on the shoulder.

"Remove your hat. We're here to pay our respects," Taiyo said solemnly, eyes still fixed on the platform. The image from the anime played in his mind—Roger's execution, the moment that sparked the Golden Age of Piracy. It was a sight he had watched countless times.

Van Augur obeyed without question, removing his hat. The navigator, who had now caught up to them, also removed his top hat and looked toward the platform where the legendary Gol D. Roger had died.

"This is where the Pirate King started the Golden Age of Piracy. An incredible sight—and a perfect end to his incredible journey. The beginning and the end… how poetic, isn't it, Captain?" the gentleman said, addressing Taiyo for the first time with a title he hadn't used before.

"Didn't you reject the invitation earlier? Why are you calling Taiyo your captain now?" Van Augur asked sharply, still suspicious. He raised his rifle toward the man, who responded by drawing his sword.

Before either could act further, Taiyo stepped between them and stopped the confrontation.

"Augur, that's enough. He doesn't mean to betray us. He's curious—interested in how I plan to change the seas. Fate brought him to us. If we're going to turn people away just because of their flaws, then I never should've invited you… or anyone in our crew," Taiyo said firmly.

His words struck a chord. The navigator looked at him, intrigued—Taiyo had read him effortlessly, as if peeling back his thoughts. That only deepened his curiosity about who Taiyo truly was.

"Then introduce yourself properly, navigator," Taiyo added, wanting to make it official.

"Laffitte. Take care of me, Captain," the man replied with a sly smile.

Taiyo had already recognized him earlier, but hadn't said anything—Laffitte was cunning, calculating, and likely one of the most intelligent men on the sea. But Taiyo could read minds, desires, and intent. He wasn't worried. Not at all.

"You? No wonder why you looked so familiar," Van Augur then said, as he also recognized who the Laffitte is.

"Do you know him, Augur?" Taiyo then asked curiously.

"Yes, I read of him in a newspaper once; he was given the epithet of 'Demon Sheriff'. I read that he was banished from the West Blue as he was excessively violent and unnecessarily cruel towards those he was supposed to protect. I know that we cannot trust him, Taiyo," Van Augur then explained his reasoning, and why he just reacted like that as he introduced who Laffitte really is, while this is happening, Laffitte was just smiling towards them, as he was incredibly proud of his name.

"My my, I didn't know that my reputation had crossed the sea, I'm flattered that even in the East Blue, there's someone who knows my name," Laffitte said, with a proud tone.

"Why are you proud of this reputation?" Taiyo then asked, which confuses Laffitte.

"If my name is well known as a pirate, wouldn't it be a sign of being feared in the sea?" Laffitte then answered.

"I see, I just see it as a sign of weakness, if you earn your name and epithet due to trampling against those weaker than you, then you would just be at that level, I want my name to be known in the seas due to me trampling against those the sea deemed too strong, no matter who they are, whether they are shichibukais or even the yonkos, that's the only time I would be proud," Taiyo then said towards Laffitte, whose proud expression in his face disappeared, while Van Augur, smiled at Taiyo as he was the one that spent most of his time with Taiyo and he would like to believe that he knew the personality of Taiyo and what kind of man he is, the three then went to explore and enjoy the Loguetown.

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Meanwhile, in Loguetown, a marine was seen receiving a report about Laffitte in a Den Den Mushi; it was none other than Smoker, who was responsible for protecting the marine base in Loguetown.

"Are you sure of what you saw? Because it could lead to a false arrest if we move now," Smoker said towards the Den Den Mushi.

"Yes, Captain, it was him, I compared his face from the bounty posters multiple times, and he was seen walking with two other people, one was carrying a rifle, and the other, have a huge sword with him, there's a chance that they are with him due to the way they are talking with each other," the marine that was following Laffitte, Van Augur, and Taiyo reported, with other marine soldiers in the vicinity.

"If you are sure, then do not engage, we all know how dangerous Laffitte is, and we have no idea towards his two companions, just wait for me," Smoker said, as he did not want his soldiers to die needlessly. He then picked up his jitte and immediately informed the other soldiers in the marine base as they immediately went towards where Laffitte is last seen, he wanted to capture Laffitte and his companions before they could do anything wrong with the civilians of the Loguetown.