A long time later, Nami and Luo Chen gradually suppressed the emotional turmoil in their hearts.
The members of the Straw Hat crew gave the two of them space and didn't ask too many questions. They could all tell that the Genzo who had died, according to the newspaper, seemed to be a friend of theirs.
Nami leaned against the railing of the Going Merry, gazing out at the distant sea as the wind blew through her orange hair.
She said softly, "Luo Chen, don't take the risk. Let's just pass through Loguetown and leave directly."
Loguetown was located at the crossroads of the East Blue and the Grand Line.
It was both the birthplace of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and the place of his public execution, earning it the name "The Town of the Beginning and the End."
It was very famous throughout the East Blue and even the world, with a large flow of people. Pirates, Marines, and civilians all mixed together in Loguetown.
Genzo had chosen to commit suicide by poison at Loguetown's execution platform precisely to attract the attention of a large enough crowd, hoping to use his own life to declare to the world that Luo Chen was innocent and that the Marines' wanted poster was false.
Luo Chen knew all of this.
He knew Genzo was worried that he couldn't resist the massive Marine force and hoped to use his own life to win the court of public opinion and trust.
Luo Chen rejected Nami's suggestion and said calmly, "No matter what, I have to at least bring back Genzo's body. I will definitely make the Marines admit to all the framing and false accusations. Genzo's death will absolutely not be in vain."
Nami's brow furrowed. "But that Smoker is in Loguetown. And the Marines are hanging... Genzo's body. It's possible they've laid an inescapable trap, waiting for you to go."
Nami bit her lip but still said, "Luo Chen, if you die, Genzo will have died for nothing."
Luo Chen was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "I won't die. Smoker, or anyone else, it doesn't matter."
Nami looked at him. "Why are you so confident? Luo Chen, if you're in danger, I won't run. If you really want to take this risk, then you'll have to gamble with my life as well."
Luo Chen frowned. "When the time comes, you'll stay with the Straw Hat crew. Don't follow me."
Nami shook her head resolutely. "If you're going to throw your life away, then you'll be throwing mine away with it."
Luo Chen sighed helplessly. "Don't worry, I won't be reckless. Even to retrieve Genzo's body, I will plan before acting. I won't make a move until I'm sure."
Only then did Nami agree, no longer being stubborn.
She said softly, "Whether it's Genzo or me, we both want you to live, not to risk your life and throw it away."
Luo Chen nodded.
He knew that, of course.
However, Luo Chen had his own principles.
Genzo had sacrificed his life to help him. If he were to stand by and do nothing while his body was hung on the execution platform, his conscience would not be at peace.
As long as there was more than a 50% chance of success, Luo Chen was willing to take the risk.
Based on his time calculations, even if Vice Admiral Onigumo from Headquarters was coming to capture him, he shouldn't have arrived in the East Blue yet.
Captain Gal Locke, who had arrived in the East Blue in just seven days, must not have departed from Marine Headquarters. It was more likely that he had come from a sea area in the Grand Line close to the East Blue.
In other words, Vice Admiral Onigumo was definitely not in Loguetown right now. As long as it wasn't an enemy at or above the level of a Vice Admiral, Luo Chen was confident.
'Not yet. First, I have to find a way to get at least one billion Berries from Dragon.'
'After I've increased my strength, I'll go and retrieve Genzo's body.'
Luo Chen made up his mind and silently thought about his next plan.
...
Loguetown, on a rooftop near the execution platform.
Smoker, with two cigars in his mouth, looked at the man's body hanging from the execution platform and frowned.
"Do you really think we can lure Luo Chen out with the body of an ordinary person?"
"Rear Admiral Marcus, don't forget, Luo Chen is a cold-blooded character who massacred hundreds of civilians."
Beside him stood a tall, thin man with slicked-back silver hair, the sides of his head shaved short to reveal his scalp. The man's face was sharp and angular, with a diagonal scar under his left eye, giving him a very capable look. Under his "Justice" coat, a corner of a large bow and a quiver could be faintly seen.
Marcus knitted his brows. "This is Vice Admiral Onigumo's order. He only said it might lure Luo Chen out."
"Your and my main mission is still to guard Loguetown, prevent Luo Chen from entering the Grand Line at all costs, and trap him in the East Blue."
"We wait for Vice Admiral Onigumo to arrive and complete the capture."
Marcus glanced at Smoker. "You let Luo Chen escape last time, Captain Smoker. That doesn't seem like something your strength would allow."
Smoker took two deep drags from his cigars and said, "The information on Luo Chen was incomplete. The man is proficient in the Six Powers' Shave. His short-distance movement speed is too fast."
He did not mention that Tashigi had been captured. Otherwise, that little girl would surely be punished. Marine Headquarters was taking the capture of Luo Chen very seriously, even sending a Vice Admiral. If they learned that the last capture failed because of Tashigi, she would inevitably be severely disciplined.
Marcus smiled slightly, the scar at his left eye twitching. "With me here, if Luo Chen dares to come, Loguetown will become his grave."
"Captain Smoker, when the time comes, you just need to watch from the side. Don't be careless and let a major criminal escape again."
Smoker's eyes turned slightly cold. He said nothing and turned to leave.
He had let Luo Chen escape last time, which left him with no grounds to retort. Moreover, with Marcus's fruit ability and combat power, he really didn't need anyone's help to deal with Luo Chen.
...
A day later, the Going Merry docked at the port of Loguetown.
Luo Chen stayed on deck and did not disembark.
"Nami, you and Luffy's crew go and buy supplies. I'll stay on the ship for now to avoid causing a commotion," Luo Chen said.
The wanted poster for him had been officially issued. The people of the East Blue must now be familiar with him, the "great pirate" with an 80-million-Berry bounty.
Before he had obtained the funds from Dragon, Luo Chen would not easily reveal himself. He wasn't sure of the current strength of the Marines in Loguetown and had to act with caution. Although Onigumo couldn't have arrived in Loguetown yet, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't have other Vice Admirals from Grand Line branches assist.
Nami looked at Luo Chen, a little worried that he would act impulsively.
Only after Luo Chen's repeated assurances did she reluctantly believe him and enter Loguetown with the Straw Hat crew.
After everyone had left, Luo Chen was the only one left on the ship.
With a thought, he split off a Wood Clone and changed its appearance to that of an ordinary middle-aged man.
"Do you know what I want you to do?" Luo Chen asked.
The middle-aged Wood Clone smiled. "Of course. Spread the news in the bustling city that I know the location of the Revolutionary Army's base. Lure out Monkey D. Dragon, then sell him information on the Ancient Weapon Pluton to make a deal."
Luo Chen nodded. "Go. Act as quickly as possible. Don't worry too much about the danger. You're just a clone, after all."
The middle-aged man replied in the affirmative, leaped off the ship, and entered Loguetown.
Luo Chen returned to the ship's cabin to wait quietly.
Next, he just had to wait for Dragon's funds to arrive. Of course, this might take a few days. If the Straw Hat crew was unwilling to stay in Loguetown, he would have to part ways with them. Before retrieving Genzo's body, Luo Chen would not leave.
His eyes flickered. 'If the plot has changed and Dragon isn't in Loguetown, then I'll just have to take a risk.'
Luo Chen estimated that there was a 90% chance Dragon was in Loguetown because his influence on the plot should still be limited at this point. For example, at the Baratie, Zoro had not encountered Mihawk. But on the way to Loguetown, the Straw Hat crew and Luo Chen had still run into Hawkeye.
Luo Chen had personally witnessed the world's greatest swordsman defeat Zoro with his "fingernail clipper." Then Zoro had sworn to Luffy that he would never be defeated again until he became the world's greatest swordsman.
'Just a few more days. Buggy's bounty has already been deposited.'
'Krieg and Gin's should be done soon too.'
Luo Chen looked at the approximately thirty thousand cultivation points on the system interface but did not use them immediately. He needed to see if his plan to find Dragon would go smoothly.
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