Chapter 37: Loguetown's Anti-Corruption Campaign

Loguetown enjoys a uniquely advantageous geographical position, serving as the gateway from the East Blue to the Grand Line and standing as a solitary island along this lengthy route. All merchants and pirates journeying toward the Grand Line must pass through this only supply point, making Loguetown a natural transportation hub and trade center for the East Blue. It is also both the birthplace and execution ground of the Pirate King, Roger, and the fame attached to his name has turned Loguetown into the busiest tourist attraction in these seas.

At the same time, Loguetown is a critical military stronghold for the Navy Government, with high-ranking officers from Navy Headquarters stationed here year-round, tasked with surveillance, suppression, maintaining order, and overseeing the East Blue. With economic, cultural, and military significance all converging here, the prosperity of Loguetown far exceeds what one might expect from a place termed a "town"; to call it a central city of the East Blue would not be an exaggeration.

Against this backdrop, the sea lanes around Loguetown are bustling, filled with countless sails and boats racing each other—a vibrant scene that speaks of prosperity. The closer one gets to Loguetown’s shores, the denser the multitude of ships becomes. When the docks of Loguetown finally appeared on the horizon, the eyes of Garen's party were filled with the endless sight of white sails.

Such a view stands in contrast to the vast grandeur of nature at sea, yet in its own way, it showcases humanity’s unique creativity—a sight truly pleasing to behold.

However...

Smoker’s expression darkened as he gazed at the ships sailing nearby, his sharp eyes fixed on the black flags fluttering in the wind.

“Those vessels… they’re all pirate ships, aren’t they?!”

The situation in Loguetown was far beyond Smoker’s expectations. As a military stronghold with elite Navy Headquarters officers stationed here, he had expected a place of discipline and order. Instead, pirate ships, making no attempt to conceal themselves, were everywhere.

What Smoker found even more incomprehensible was this—

He was aboard an armed naval vessel flying the Navy’s flag, yet those pirates showed neither hostility nor any sign of fleeing when they saw it.

Clearly, these pirates had grown accustomed to the Navy’s presence.

“What’s going on here?” Smoker asked Wallace, who stood beside him, knowing this young journalist was a native of Loguetown.

“Well…” Wallace explained, his expression odd, “Loguetown has always been this way.”

“What?” The cigar clenched in Smoker’s mouth glowed more brightly, and the smoke he exhaled came out in heavier rings. “Hasn’t there always been a Navy Headquarters officer stationed here? How can these pirates be so brazen?!”

“That’s because…” Wallace replied seriously, “the Navy stationed in Loguetown… has never been particularly clean.”

“Not particularly clean?” Garen, unable to hold back, cut in. “But didn’t you recommend I come to Loguetown to exchange my bounties?”

“That’s because, by comparison, Loguetown is still the best option.” Wallace explained with a touch of helplessness, “Lord Garen, you’ve always held a high position and probably aren’t familiar with the underhanded dealings at the lower levels.”

“Typically, when bounty hunters come to exchange large rewards, the Loguetown Navy takes about thirty percent as a ‘deduction’.”

“Thirty percent? That means I’d lose three million Berries?” Garen was taken aback. “And you call that the best choice?!”

“Tch…” The one who spoke now was Nami. Her tone was tinged with mockery as she enlightened Garen, “A thirty percent cut is already the most reasonable rate you’ll find in the East Blue.”

“If you went to some other Navy branches, you might not even see a single coin—worse yet, you could be robbed and lose your life to those local tyrants!”

“Exactly!” Wallace added with a sigh, “At least in Loguetown, the Navy will still do their job after taking their share, and you can count on them to ensure your safety.”

Smoker was now trembling with anger, white wisps of smoke beginning to seep from his silver hair.

“Outrageous!” Smoker finished what was left of his cigar in a single drag and slammed the stub to the deck. Looking at the pirate ships openly heading toward Loguetown’s docks, he gritted his teeth and said, “Corruption is one thing, but do they not even arrest pirates anymore?”

“But…” Tashigi, too, stepped forward, a hint of confusion in her voice. “The current officer stationed in Loguetown is Major Hammer, sent by Navy Headquarters.”

“Before we set out, I did a little research—he’s reputed to be an effective pirate hunter, with a record of outstanding achievements!”

“Of course he has ‘outstanding achievements’!” Wallace gave a wry smile. “All the pirates who’ve been caught were those who refused to pay!”

“By using those who won’t play along to pad his record, he can easily earn himself a reputation for effective law enforcement.”

After Wallace’s detailed explanation, Garen finally understood the cunning of Loguetown’s commander, Major Hammer:

He guards the gateway from the East Blue to the Grand Line and collects a toll from every crew seeking to enter. Those who pay are considered ‘brothers’—not only can they pass unimpeded, but they can also buy weapons, ammunition, charts, and all manner of contraband from Major Hammer’s connections.

As for those who refuse to pay, they become the targets that bolster Major Hammer’s law enforcement record.

“A toll station and service area for pirates?” Garen couldn’t help but marvel at the ingenuity of the Loguetown base commander. “That man is a genius!”

“Major Hammer is indeed a clever man… In fact, with his caution, he shouldn’t have allowed such blatant exposure as today,” Wallace commented, not hiding his intrigue. “He should have known long ago of Colonel Smoker’s pending arrival for a change of command.”

“I thought he would have had time to cover his tracks, which is why I didn’t tell you all the truth about Loguetown yesterday.”

“No…” Smoker took a deep drag of his cigar, exhaling a thick plume of smoke. “Our original plan was to sail in reverse along the first half of the Grand Line from Headquarters, then cross Reverse Mountain to reach the East Blue.”

“But as it happened, Vice Admiral Garp was returning to the East Blue, so we took a ride on the Seastone warship.”

“We made use of a triangular current to cut the time, crossed the Calm Belt, and arrived in the East Blue much faster than expected.”

Smoker’s voice grew heavier. “In other words…”

“The official notification puts our arrival date at twenty days from now.”

“I see!” Excitement flashed in Wallace’s eyes.

Major Hammer’s intelligence had failed him, so he hadn’t yet covered his tracks, and today, he had walked right into a confrontation with Smoker, his righteous successor.

Wallace could already smell a major story in the making.

“Heh…” Smoker snorted, looking to Tashigi. “Tashigi!”

“I’m going to the Navy base myself to see with my own eyes. Assemble the unit and follow me!”

“Uh?” Tashigi was momentarily caught off guard.

“Where is the Loguetown base located?!” Smoker demanded of Wallace, his face still cold.

Before Wallace could answer, he was engulfed by a swirl of white smoke.

“Never mind, just take me there yourself!”

No sooner had he spoken than Smoker turned into a great mass of smoke, enveloping Wallace and soaring off toward Loguetown.

“What a reckless man,” Tashigi muttered helplessly.

But as the highest-ranking officer remaining, young Tashigi had no choice but to take command. Following Smoker’s orders, she instructed the sailors:

“Increase speed—prepare to land!”

“Form up! Ready weapons! Prepare for battle!”

“Yes, ma’am!” the Navy soldiers replied in unison, their morale high.

Though few in number, these thirty men were the finest of Navy Headquarters; their unified shout alone changed Nami’s long-held impression of the Navy, even after years on the East Blue’s rough seas.

With soldiers like these, perhaps her hometown truly could be saved.

A crisp crack of knuckles sounded nearby, and Nami turned to see Garen flexing his arms and readying himself, eyes alight with fighting spirit.

“You… you’re planning to help Smoker fight?” Nami asked in astonishment, then, a little concerned, reminded him, “No matter how corrupt those people are, they’re still Navy! There’s no money in fighting the Navy!”

“If you’re not careful, you might even get labeled a pirate yourself, and then you’ll be in real trouble!”

“Don’t worry,” Garen replied lightly, “I’m here with a Headquarters Colonel to root out corruption—there’s no danger.”

“Besides…” Garen glanced at the experience he still lacked to reach level five and declared with righteous conviction, “Those corrupt officials, derelict in duty and twisting the law for their own gain—who knows how many innocents they’ve harmed!”

“I, Garen the Lone Ranger, shall uphold justice today!”