Loguetown—the city known as "The Town of the Beginning and the End." It was here that the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was both born and executed, marking the genesis of the Great Pirate Era.
Imai and her crew arrived after a few days' voyage. The moment they disembarked, the weight of their presence became evident. Stares followed their every move, forcing them to don cloaks to conceal their identities.
To avoid immediate detection, Imai had taken precautions to cover Shiki's corpse. Even so, she was certain word of their arrival had already spread.
"Imai, I saw a group of Marines patrolling nearby," Uta whispered, her tone edged with concern. "Are we really going to be okay? There's over a billion berries on our heads combined."
"As long as we don't cause trouble, they'll only observe us from a distance," Imai replied calmly, glancing at Rei. "So make sure you don't do anything reckless—especially you, Rei."
Rei frowned, pouting indignantly. "What did I do? I haven't caused any trouble since we got here!"
Imai sighed, recalling the incident at the clothing store earlier. "Let's not forget how you nearly froze the entire inventory and knocked over half the racks."
"That was an accident!" Rei protested.
"Just stay close to me," Imai instructed firmly. "And you too, Uta."
"Hai, hai," Uta replied, rolling her eyes playfully. "So where are we headed? We've been walking straight for a while, and people are starting to give us weird looks."
"We're going to the execution platform," Imai said, her voice tinged with reverence. "The place where Gol D. Roger met his end and where the Pirate Era began."
"Oh! I've always wanted to see it!" Rei exclaimed, her earlier pout forgotten.
The three walked through the bustling streets, drawing wary glances as they passed. A cloaked trio hauling a suspiciously large bag was bound to attract attention.
Suddenly, a commanding voice stopped them in their tracks.
"That's far enough."
Imai glanced up from under her hood, her eyes narrowing as she took in the figure before them—a white-haired man with a cigarette clenched between his teeth, clad in a Marine uniform adorned with Vice Admiral insignia.
"A Marine Vice Admiral," Imai muttered. "What can I do for you?"
The man's gaze was unwavering. "That bag you're carrying. Open it. I need to confirm you're not transporting a corpse."
Imai's lips curved into a faint smile. "You're surprisingly direct. But I don't have the obligation to comply with your request. If that's all, we'll be on our way."
As she turned to leave, the man's next words froze her in place.
"I know who you are—Imai Ryujin, the Empress of the Blade. Or should I say, the Fifth Emperor?"
Imai turned back slowly, her smile unfaltering but her eyes sharp. "And if you know who I am, what do you intend to do about it?"
The Marine removed his cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke. "I'm Smoker, the White Hunter. And I'm here to take you in."
Without warning, Smoker lunged, his jitte swinging toward her. Imai reacted instantly, unsheathing her blade and deflecting his attack with a single, fluid motion. The force of the clash reverberated through the air.
"A smoke human," Imai remarked, her tone more intrigued than concerned. "Interesting. But I advise you to reconsider. A Vice Admiral like you doesn't stand a chance against me."
"I don't have to defeat you," Smoker retorted. "I just need to stall until reinforcements arrive."
Imai chuckled, her blade dancing as she parried his next strike. "And what good will that do you? By the time they arrive, you'll already be dead."
With a flick of her wrist, she sheathed her blade and used the scabbard, coated in Haki, to strike Smoker's ribs. The impact echoed, and faint cracks sounded, yet the Vice Admiral remained standing, his resolve unshaken.
"You had six opportunities where I could've killed you," Imai said, her tone casual as though she were discussing the weather. "And if I had let my crew join in, you wouldn't have survived the first."
The weight of her words settled over Smoker, though his stance remained firm.
"Vice Admiral!"
The voice was sharp and familiar. Both Smoker and Imai turned to see a young woman running toward them, her Marine coat fluttering behind her.
"Captain Tashigi," Smoker acknowledged, his expression softening slightly.
Imai leaned lazily on her blade, her interest piqued. "Well, this is a pleasant surprise. A pretty Marine joins the fray."
"Captain!" Rei exclaimed, excitement bubbling in her voice. "Are we fighting her too?"
"No," Imai said, her tone firm. "Calm down."
"But—"
"Relax," Imai interrupted. "We're going to talk this out."
"Talk it out?" Uta asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"Exactly," Imai replied, pulling back her hood to reveal her face.
Smoker's and Tashigi's eyes widened as they took in the infamous pirate standing before them.
"Vice Admiral Smoker, Captain Tashigi," Imai began, her tone smooth and measured. "I'm not here to fight. My crew and I are simply sightseeing. Consider this a… vacation."
"Vacation?" Tashigi repeated, incredulous. "Do you expect us to overlook the countless crimes you've committed?"
"Tashigi," Smoker interrupted, his voice calm but firm.
"But, Vice Admiral—"
"Stand down."
Reluctantly, Tashigi obeyed, though her eyes remained locked on Imai, burning with righteous anger.
Smoker took a deep drag from his cigarette. "Do I have your word that you won't cause trouble while you're here?"
Imai smiled, her gaze flicking to Tashigi. "You have my word. We're only here to enjoy ourselves. No fights, no trouble—just fun."
Her emphasis on the last word made Tashigi bristle, her cheeks flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment.
"Don't even think about it," Smoker warned.
Imai laughed. "Relax. There's already someone in my heart, and I'd rather die than betray them."
Both Marines blinked in surprise, caught off guard by her sincerity.
"If you don't trust me," Imai added, "you're welcome to follow us."
Smoker and Tashigi exchanged a glance before nodding, trailing the cloaked figures as they continued toward their destination.
"Wow, Imai," Uta teased, "I didn't know you could actually talk your way out of something."
Imai shot her a sidelong glance. "That's what impressed you? Not the part where I confessed I'm dedicated to you?"
Rei, oblivious to the exchange, tugged at Imai's sleeve. "Captain! I saw a candy store. Can we stop for sweets?"
"No," Imai replied flatly, shaking her head as Uta burst out laughing.