Loguetown.
Known as the "Town of Beginnings and Ends," it was the East Blue's closest port to the Great Line's entrance.
It was also the birthplace and execution site of the previous Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
At the Loguetown Marine Base, Big Beard's squad had just been settled, while Prosius Island's villagers were housed in the town's grand cathedral, awaiting World Government arrangements.
In the white building behind the base's training yard, the base commander's office spewed white smoke through the door's cracks.
To the unaware, it'd seem the place was ablaze.
Yet patrolling Marines passed by without a hint of alarm.
They were long used to the smoke.
Just then, a female Marine burst in, wearing a light orange shirt with pink flowers, dark blue jeans, and thick black-rimmed glasses over her short black hair.
Hurrying, she flung open the base commander's door.
Standing in the smoke-filled room, she frowned, addressing a hazy figure shrouded in haze.
"Colonel Smoker, could you open a window before lighting up?"
She marched to the window, shoving it open.
A breeze swept in, dispersing the smoke, revealing a burly man on a single sofa behind the desk.
Around 30, with short silver hair, he was shirtless, legs propped on the desk, two cigars in his mouth, reading a newspaper.
How he read in that fog was anyone's guess.
Smoker glanced at the female Marine, slapping the newspaper down, lowering his legs, and growling, "Sergeant Tashigi, mind your place. My habits are my business."
His gruff tone and scowl didn't faze her.
Tashigi slammed a faxed document onto the desk.
"Colonel Smoker," she said sternly, "Headquarters just sent word. Silver-Haired Sora, 70 million Belly bounty, is heading to Loguetown."
"Hm! 70 million? Pretty steep."
Smoker skimmed the file.
"Silver-Haired Sora!"
A puzzled look crossed his face. He looked up at Tashigi. "Isn't he fighting Golden Lion Shiki above Prosius Island? Did they settle it already?"
Before receiving Big Beard's squad, the base had gotten word of Sora's clash with Shiki.
Smoker had planned to sail to Prosius, hoping to nab both pirates mid-battle.
But Headquarters rejected his request, keeping him grounded.
"Silver-Haired Sora, 70 million on his first bounty, and he fought the legendary pirate Shiki, escaping unscathed," Tashigi said, frowning, hands slamming the desk as she leaned forward, voice rising. "Colonel Smoker, take this seriously. We don't know who won, but facing Shiki proves his strength."
"So what if he tangled with Shiki?" Smoker set the file down, calm. "Panicking over small fry won't do. I've got my methods, got it?"
Unaware of Shiki's death, their reaction would've been different had they known.
Smoker rose, grabbing a white coat emblazoned with "Justice" from the rack, its pockets stuffed with cigars—a testament to his chain-smoking obsession.
Lighting a fresh cigar as the old one burned out, he turned to Tashigi, coolly saying, "When have I ever let a pirate slip by easily?"
He paused, then barked, "Idiot woman!"
Tashigi, hearing his scold, eased her tension.
A 70-million-Belly pirate, East Blue's highest bounty—she'd be odd not to worry.
But worry didn't mean fear.
Meeting Smoker's glower, her eyes sparked with admiration.
With Colonel Smoker here, even Silver-Haired Sora couldn't waltz through Loguetown.
Since Smoker's arrival, few pirates had crossed this gatekeeper to reach the Great Line.
Despite his gruff demeanor, Tashigi knew Smoker's heart was kind.
Adjusting her glasses, she stood tall, declaring firmly, "Understood, Colonel Smoker."
"Good."
Smoker stepped to her side, ruffling her hair, voice stern. "We're Marines. Our job is to catch pirates. They should fear us, not the other way around. Sora's no invincible foe, right?"
Though he often ribbed Tashigi, he saw her as a sister.
Sure, she seemed ditzy, but she was brave, charging pirates without flinching.
In training, she outworked most men.
Like him, she held her own sense of justice—why he valued her most.
At the window, Smoker watched the training Marines below, then asked Tashigi, "Any word on when Silver-Hair's crew arrives?"
Tashigi straightened, grabbing the file. "Per Headquarters, after a brief clash with Admiral Borsalino, Sora flew toward Loguetown. As for Shiki… no trace yet."
Pushing up her glasses, she met Smoker's gaze. "Given his ship's departure this morning, they've likely regrouped and are heading back."
"Specific time?"
Smoker lit another cigar, puffing as he eyed her.
"Noon."
"Noon, huh?"
Smoker rubbed his chin, frowning, then ordered, "Get everyone ready. I'll make sure Silver-Hair doesn't leave Loguetown."
Tashigi snapped to attention, saluting. "Yes, Colonel Smoker!"
She turned and left.
After she'd gone, Smoker stared at Sora's bounty poster on the desk, lost in thought.
Then he grabbed a massive jutte from the wall.
Not only did it counter swordsmen, but its tip held Seastone to neutralize ability users.
Whether Sora fought Shiki or fled Borsalino, Smoker wouldn't let him slip through.
Not on "White Hunter" Smoker's watch.
(End of Chapter)