Rashed stood in the shadows of Loguetown, his mind working through every angle of the plan he was about to execute. The underground network of smugglers and black-market traders in the city was vast, a perfect web to manipulate. He crafted a rumor—whispered it through the right channels, bribed the right people—that a mysterious seller was auctioning a rare Devil Fruit, one capable of granting the power to control storms. The word spread like wildfire among the pirates docked in Loguetown, enticing those greedy for power.
The auction location was carefully chosen: an abandoned warehouse at the edge of the city, far from Marine patrols. Rashed ensured that only pirates heard of the event, carefully using intermediaries to keep the Marines unaware. He even planted fake guards at the entrance, reinforcing the illusion of secrecy and exclusivity.
The warehouse was dimly lit, packed with 29 pirates, all notorious in their own right, their combined bounties totaling 220 million Berri. A pedestal stood at the center, where a glass case displayed a shiny fruit with swirling patterns—a fake Devil Fruit, crafted meticulously using materials from the system shop.
Rashed, disguised in his black mask and cloak, stood before the crowd. His voice carried authority as he began the auction.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, his tone confident, "this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Storm-Storm Fruit—a power that can turn the tides of battle, sink ships, and control nature itself. Let the bidding begin."
The pirates, overcome with greed, shouted their offers, their voices echoing through the warehouse. Rashed watched with cold detachment, waiting for the perfect moment.
As the bids reached their peak, Rashed subtly activated his Smoke Manipulation ability. A dense, almost invisible fog began to creep through the room, unnoticed by the rowdy crowd. Embedded within the smoke were carefully controlled gases:
Tear Gas: To blind and incapacitate.
Serve Agent Gas: A synthetic compound to cause confusion and loss of coordination.
Hallucinogenic Gas: To incite paranoia and hysteria.
The pirates began coughing, their eyes watering, their movements growing erratic. One by one, they collapsed, their strength sapped by the concoction. Within minutes, the warehouse was silent, save for the sound of Rashed's boots clicking against the floor.
He moved methodically, tying up the incapacitated pirates and organizing them based on their bounties. The system's Scan feature allowed him to catalog their identities and confirm the total bounty: 220 million Berri.
As dawn broke, Rashed arrived at the Loguetown Marine base with a large cart, the captured pirates piled high and bound. Smoker and his crew were outside, finishing their morning drills when they noticed the commotion.
Smoker's eyes widened as he took in the sheer number of pirates. "What the hell is this?" he growled, his cigar dropping slightly from his lips.
Rashed, still wearing his mask, simply gestured to the bound pirates. "Your trash," he said coldly.
Tashigi stepped forward, her shock evident. "These… these are some of the most wanted pirates in the region. How did you—?"
Rashed cut her off with a sharp glance. "That's not your concern. Their combined bounty is 220 million. I assume you'll honor the payout."
Smoker's expression was unreadable as he studied Rashed. "You're efficient, I'll give you that," he muttered. "But how you managed this without us even hearing a whisper… that's something else entirely."
Rashed turned to leave, his voice trailing behind him. "Efficiency is key, Captain. Maybe your Marines could learn a thing or two about it."
As he disappeared into the distance, the Marines began processing the captured pirates, their whispers filled with awe and suspicion. Smoker lit another cigar, watching the bounty hunter vanish into the horizon.
"This guy… he's something else," he muttered, a mixture of irritation and begrudging respect in his voice.
Two Marine patrol officers walked through the now eerily quiet streets of Loguetown. The air, once filled with the chaos of pirate activity, was now still and calm.
"Have you noticed how empty the town feels lately?" one Marine asked, adjusting his rifle.
The other nodded. "Yeah, it's strange. It's like all the pirates vanished overnight. No brawls, no drunken shouting… nothing."
"You think it's because of Captain Smoker?" the first Marine ventured.
The second smirked. "Must be. Word is, he's been cracking down hard. Clearing out pirates faster than anyone in East Blue."
Unbeknownst to them, the man responsible for the peace wasn't a Marine at all.
Marine Headquarters
News of the mass pirate capture in Loguetown reached Marine Headquarters. Vice Admiral Momonga sat at his desk, reviewing the reports. He read the details of the 29 captured pirates and the bounty totals, but one thing was missing: the identity of the individual responsible.
"Shadow," Momonga muttered under his breath. "A bounty hunter causing this much chaos."
He tapped the desk, considering the implications. Announcing Shadow's deeds might embolden bounty hunters or undermine Marine authority.
After a moment, he made his decision. "Credit Smoker for the operation," Momonga ordered his staff. "Spread the word that the Marines are tightening their grip on East Blue."
Smoker's Frustration
In Loguetown, Smoker sat at his desk, a cigar burning furiously as he read the official report. His promotion had been fast-tracked, and the streets were alive with talk of the Marines' triumph over piracy. But it wasn't his triumph, and the weight of false credit sat heavily on his shoulders.
He clenched his fists, Shadow's words echoing in his mind:
"Not every justice bearer brings justice."
Smoker exhaled sharply, grinding his cigar into the ashtray. The hypocrisy was undeniable, and the more he thought about it, the more his frustration grew.
Far out at sea, Rashed leaned back on the deck of his ship, the salty breeze brushing against his face. He chuckled softly as he read the headlines about Smoker's "heroic deeds." The irony wasn't lost on him.
"Justice, huh?" he muttered, a sly smile creeping across his lips. "Let's see how far their hypocrisy goes."
He scribbled a note, sealing it with precision, and gave it to a messenger bird.
The letter read:
"Captain Smoker, if you seek true justice, start with Shells Town. See the rot within your own ranks. Perhaps then you'll understand what you're truly fighting for."
With the letter sent, Rashed turned his attention to the horizon. The East Blue was waiting, and he intended to clear it of every pirate crew—except for Arlong's. The sea would remember his name, even if the world chose to forget.
SP Calculation for Clearing Out Loguetown and Altering the Timeline
Eliminating Pirates in Loguetown: 300 SP
Freeing Slaves and Servants: 150 SP
Sowing Doubt in Smoker's Mind: 250 SP
Timeline Alteration: 300 SP
Total SP Earned: 1,000 SP,
New Total SP: 2263 SP
For three relentless months, Shadow became a name that sent shivers down the spines of pirates across East Blue. Rashed's approach was surgical, precise, and utterly merciless—targeting only those who had committed heinous crimes. Those pirates who merely dreamed of adventure or sailed for the joy of the sea were left untouched, their lives spared by a bounty hunter with a strict sense of justice.
Whispers spread like wildfire. The black-masked figure, cloaked in shadow, had swept through the seas, leaving destruction in his wake. Entire pirate crews abandoned their ships upon hearing the rumors, fleeing to distant islands to escape his wrath. "A man in a black mask," they whispered, "his eyes like death itself." He earned the title Evil Pirate Hunter, Shadow, though the "evil" moniker came more from fear than truth.
His earnings in these 3 months are not bad. A total of 1200 SP and 300 million berri.
He used 200 million to upgrade the semi-submarine to an army-level firepower in the ocean. The canon range is 20 km where marine can't even see their shadow before getting shot down. But it is not the time to show off power.
" Feing weak when you are strong and appear strong when you are weak" Sun Tzu the art of war.
Zoro, meanwhile, grumbled as he wandered aimlessly through port towns and harbors. "Damn it, this Shadow guy's ruining everything. I can't find a decent fight!" he muttered to himself, his swords clinking at his side. Crossing his arms, he scowled, vowing, "If I ever meet this guy, I'll beat him so bad he'll regret stealing my prey."
Not far away, Luffy heard the same rumors. Sitting cross-legged on the Going Merry's deck, he grinned ear to ear. "A super-strong bounty hunter taking down pirates? Sounds like fun! We need someone like that on our crew," he declared with his usual enthusiasm, much to the bewilderment of his crew. "I'll convince him to join us!"
While the seas buzzed with stories of his deeds, Rashed remained focused. The fear he instilled was not his end goal—it was a byproduct of his methodical approach to justice. On one fateful evening, sitting in a quiet tavern on a small island, he overheard a rumor.
"There's a pirate on Gekko Island, a user of the Sube-Sube no Mi," a drunken sailor muttered to his companion. "Slippery as an eel, no one's been able to catch him. But I hear he's as cruel as they come…"
Rashed's eyes gleamed beneath his mask. Hoo! Someone finds the alvida's fruit. I have been searching for it for quite a while. I need the frictionlessness for my speed and blunt weapon immunity.
Time to hunt.