Organizations like Marine Headquarters, unless they are in a period of widespread recruitment, promote people based on seniority as well as strength. Sometimes, seniority is even more important than strength.
Why are pirates so powerful? It's because pirates only value strength. As long as you are strong, you can hold a high position. If you have the ability, even an outsider can get the status they deserve.
But a place like Marine is always full of human relationships and formalities. After all, most pirates live for the day, while Marine, like the World Government, is an old organization that has existed for who knows how many years, and there are many hidden complexities within it.
Your position is determined by a comprehensive consideration of your strength, offensive power, and seniority.
Someone like Uta, who became a Commodore at nineteen, is already extremely rare in Marine. It's only because she is Zephyr's adopted daughter that she has this treatment.
Not long after Shanks left Windmill Village, Zephyr returned from the Grand Line. Upon learning about Shanks, he was of course furious, so he directly sent Uta back to Marine Headquarters, and she never returned after that.
Although Zephyr later reinterpreted Luffy's fate, he still didn't let Uta continue to interact with Luffy.
It wasn't until recently, during a meeting of the Twilight Hermit society, that he received more information from Adam. He had to admit he was tempted. If he could kill Luffy or help him achieve his dream, Adam would help him fulfill any wish. Was this the way to eliminate all pirates?
But later, Adam said he couldn't actively seek out Luffy, which made Zephyr give up the idea of finding Luffy, otherwise...
He would kill Luffy!
Even if Luffy was Garp's grandson, he wouldn't hesitate!
If he killed one Luffy, he could eliminate all pirates in this world. In that case, even if he had to go against Garp, he would accept it.
But since he couldn't actively seek out Luffy himself, after thinking for a while, he decided to let Uta search for Luffy without telling her any information.
At that time...
It would depend on Uta's choice.
Would Uta capture Luffy and bring him to her, or would she let Luffy go?
Zephyr decided to prepare for both scenarios. Lanz, under the guise of the Blue Dream organization, would play the role of the killer of Luffy. Publicly, Marine, Zephyr, and Uta would be on Luffy's side to help him. Then, whether Luffy died or succeeded, he would accept it.
Therefore, Uta came to the East Blue.
Uta was unaware of Zephyr's intentions. After arriving in the East Blue, she didn't immediately search for Luffy but went to Loguetown first.
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Even the East Blue, as one of the Four Seas, is very large. If she searched everywhere, she wouldn't know when she would find Luffy. But if Luffy intended to enter the Grand Line, he would surely pass through Loguetown, so she only needed to wait for Luffy to arrive in Loguetown.
He was definitely going to the Grand Line!
"Uncle Smoker, it's been a long time."
As she disembarked from the warship, Uta saw Smoker, who was there to greet her. She put on a feigned unhappy expression and said, "What's wrong? You look disappointed?"
Smoker had received news that a Marine Headquarters Commodore was coming, but he didn't know it was Uta. Seeing her, he took a deep puff of his cigarette and exhaled, "For someone like you to come to a backwater place like the East Blue, what? Are you not satisfied with the position of Commodore?"
"Of course, there's something more important." Uta smiled. "There's a very powerful pirate in the East Blue, and I have to catch him."
"What?!" Smoker was shocked. "A pirate you call very powerful, could he be from the New World?"
"No, he just set sail, but I know his strength better than anyone." As Uta spoke, she walked up to Smoker and patted his shoulder. "In short, I'll be staying here for a while until I catch that guy."
Smoker gave Uta a deep look. "Alright, with you here in Loguetown, those pirates definitely won't be able to leave. I'll go find the pirate you mentioned elsewhere."
"? No way, you're the highest-ranking officer here!"
"It's your turn now, Commodore." Smoker turned around. "Let's go, Tashigi. A great pirate has appeared even in a place like the East Blue, I have to go and see."
"Huh? Right now?" A female Marine next to Smoker followed him, saying somewhat flusteredly, "Before, with Vice Admirals Zephyr and Garp from Marine Headquarters here, there weren't many pirates left in the East Blue. Later, a powerful pirate hunter appeared. Now, there aren't any really strong pirates in the East Blue."
"Pirate hunter?" Smoker asked. "Does he have information about pirates?"
"I'm not sure about that..."
"Never mind, let's go find him first. Where is he now?"
"I heard he went to that Sea of Chaos before..."
"Sea of Chaos?!" Smoker's breathing intensified, his pupils widened. "You... you idiot! Didn't they say no one is allowed to go there!"
The Sea of Chaos was the area where Pirate King Roger once battled a terrifying demon. Because their powers were so immense, they directly altered the magnetic field and environment of the entire sea, making it unsuitable for human survival.
The sea area was vast, stretching for dozens of miles, filled with a violent aura, continuous thunder, strong winds, and tsunamis. Marine had long warned the public not to enter there.
However, many people still believed that it was the site of the Pirate King's final battle and that there might be treasure left behind. This led to frequent expeditions to that place, with some even traveling from the Grand Line to the East Blue specifically to enter the Sea of Chaos.
Since they have decided to court death, Marine naturally doesn't care. After all, good advice is wasted on stubborn fools.
Actually, the main reason Smoker stayed in Loguetown was to guard against pirates returning to the East Blue from the Grand Line, as the pirates in the East Blue had become pitifully weak.
He had initially called the pirate hunter an idiot, but Smoker then stroked his chin and said, "Come to think of it, I've never been to the Sea of Chaos myself. Let's just take a look at the perimeter."
......
The perimeter of the Sea of Chaos...
The sea looked as if it had been artificially divided, creating a starkly distinct world.
On this side, the waves were calm, the blue sea rippled gently, fish swam in the depths, the sky was clear, and a gentle breeze occasionally blew.
And on the other side, it was a dark world. The surging waves were dozens or even hundreds of meters high, thunder rumbled ceaselessly, and strong winds howled as if it were the end of the world.
"Is this what Little Ban was talking about?" Luffy looked into the distance at a small island extremely close to the apocalyptic sea, saying, "As expected, this is a place for powerful people."
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