The town came into view as Logan's small boat crested the last wave. It was a modest settlement, nestled along the coast, with wooden docks extending into the water and small ships anchored nearby. Smoke rose lazily from chimneys, and the sounds of bustling activity reached his ears as he drew closer.
"Finally," Logan muttered, steering his boat toward an empty spot on the dock.
His first impression of the town was that it was lively, but rough around the edges. Fishermen hauled their catches, merchants shouted to passersby, and children darted between stalls, laughing. However, something felt off. People seemed wary, their eyes darting toward an imposing group near the town square.
Logan tied his boat to the dock and stepped onto solid ground for the first time in months. He kept his head low, but his sharp Observation Haki caught snippets of conversations around him.
"They've been terrorizing us for days…"
"Someone needs to stop those pirates."
"But who? The marines won't get here for weeks!"
Logan's gaze shifted toward the source of the tension. A gang of pirates lounged in the square, openly flaunting their weapons and jeering at the townsfolk. Their leader, a burly man with a wild beard and a pistol strapped to his hip, barked orders to his crew.
A poster fluttered on a nearby wall, catching Logan's attention. It was a wanted poster with the pirate leader's face on it.
Rogue Captain Garth "Ironhand"
Bounty: 5,000,000 Berries
"Not much by One Piece standards," Logan muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "But a good warm-up."
---
Logan stepped into the square, drawing the attention of the pirates. Their leader, Garth, turned to him with a sneer.
"Well, look what we have here," Garth said, sizing Logan up. "You lost, stranger?"
Logan crossed his arms, his claws itching to make an appearance. "Nope. Just thought I'd clean up some trash while I'm here."
The pirates laughed, their mocking jeers filling the square.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that," Garth said, cracking his knuckles. "But guts won't save you, boy."
Logan smirked. "Let's find out."
Garth snapped his fingers, and three of his crew rushed forward, drawing rusty cutlasses. Logan shifted into a defensive stance, his Observation Haki flaring. The first pirate lunged, but Logan sidestepped easily, slamming his fist into the man's jaw and sending him sprawling.
The second pirate swung his blade, but Logan's claws extended with a metallic snikt. With a single swipe, the cutlass shattered, and the pirate froze, staring at the claws in horror before Logan knocked him out with a kick.
The third hesitated, fear in his eyes, before Logan lunged forward, delivering a swift punch to his stomach. The pirate crumpled to the ground.
Garth growled. "You little—" He drew his pistol, but Logan was faster.
In a blur of motion, Logan dashed forward, his claws slicing the pistol in half before it could fire. Garth roared in rage, swinging a massive fist, but Logan ducked under it and drove his claws into the man's armored gauntlet. With a sharp twist, the gauntlet shattered, and Garth staggered back.
"Had enough?" Logan asked, retracting his claws.
Garth tried to charge again, but Logan slammed his fist into the pirate's face, knocking him out cold. The square fell silent as the remaining pirates dropped their weapons and fled.
The townsfolk stared in stunned silence before erupting into cheers.
---
Logan wasted no time. He tied up Garth and the other unconscious pirates, hauling them to the town's small marine outpost. The marine stationed there—a young ensign—looked surprised but grateful.
"You took down Garth and his crew?" the ensign asked, incredulous.
Logan shrugged. "They weren't much."
The marine counted out the bounty money and handed it over. "Here. 5,000,000 berries, as promised. Thanks for your help."
Logan pocketed the money and left without another word.
---
With cash in hand, Logan wandered through the town, purchasing clothes, food, and other essentials. He traded his tattered, makeshift training outfit for sturdy boots, dark trousers, and a sleeveless vest that gave him freedom of movement. He bought dried rations, fresh water, and a few tools to restock his kit.
As he sat by the dock that evening, eating a fresh meal and watching the sun set over the ocean, Logan reflected on his next move.
The fight with Garth had been easy, but it reminded him of the vast gap between himself and the true monsters of the One Piece world. He needed more money, more experience, and—most importantly—a real ship.
His hand rested on the wooden planks of his makeshift boat. It had served him well, but if he wanted to carve out a name for himself, he'd need something bigger and better.
I'll need money to build a ship… and to build a reputation, he thought.
That left him with one obvious choice: bounty hunting. He could earn money while testing himself against increasingly dangerous opponents.
Logan leaned back, staring at the stars. "Bounty hunter today, pirate tomorrow," he said with a grin.
With that, Logan closed his eyes, letting the sound of the waves lull him to sleep. His journey had only just begun.
---
To Be Continued…