Kapitel 91: Chaos at Loguetown

The air in Loguetown was thick with tension as Luffy clambered onto the infamous execution platform where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had once met his end. High above the bustling crowd, he stretched his arms up, grinning wildly as he took in the view.

A guard below called out, looking visibly annoyed, "Hey! Get down from there, kid! This is a sacred platform!"

Luffy waved dismissively, "I just wanted a better view! Isn't this cool?"

Before the guard could respond, a loud WHAM! knocked him off his feet. From the shadows stepped a tall woman with glossy skin and a curiously smooth, almost unnatural glow. The crowd gasped as they recognized her.

"Who… is that?" someone murmured.

The woman tossed her hair, smirking. "You don't recognize me?" she purred. "I'm Alvida! Thanks to the Sube Sube no Mi, I'm now smoother, and far more beautiful!"

Luffy tilted his head, scratching it as he squinted. "Al-vi-who?"

Before she could respond, a loud explosion shook the square. BOOM! Smoke filled the air, and a fountain in the middle of town erupted as pieces of stone flew through the air. Luffy shielded his eyes, squinting through the dust, only to see Buggy the Clown appear, laughing maniacally as he lowered a small cannon.

"Did you miss me, straw hat?!" Buggy cackled, aiming another Buggy Bomb, nearly hitting Alvida, who shrieked and ducked behind a stone pillar.

The crowd panicked, recognizing the infamous clown pirate. "It's Buggy the Clown!" they cried, scattering in every direction.

Luffy burst into laughter. "Buggy? What kind of name is that? Sounds like a bug!" He laughed, slapping his knee.

Buggy's face went beet red as he barked to his second-in-command, Cabaji. "Enough! Grab him!" Within seconds, Luffy found himself locked in stocks by Cabaji, still laughing at Buggy's expense.

Buggy grinned with malicious satisfaction. "This is the end for you, Straw Hat. I'll finish you here on the very platform where Gol D. Roger was executed. Isn't it poetic?" He raised his blade high, ready to bring it down on Luffy.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in town, Nami glanced up at the sky, a shiver running down her spine. "There's a storm coming," she murmured, her senses tingling. She glanced at the others. "We have to get back to the Going Merry. Something doesn't feel right."

As Nami made her way through the crowds, the Marines were mobilizing, led by none other than Captain Smoker, who had just received word about Luffy's presence in town. Smoker paused, recalling the day of Gol D. Roger's execution, when he'd been among the crowd as a young Marine, watching the Pirate King face his death with a grin.

"Could this kid… really be the one to find the One Piece?" Smoker muttered to himself, before signaling his men. "Let Buggy soften him up. Then we move in."

Back on the platform, Luffy, still grinning in the stocks, looked at Buggy. "You know, I've always wanted to say this," he said cheerfully.

Buggy sneered. "What are your last words, Straw Hat?"

Luffy's eyes sparkled. "I'm going to be King of the Pirates!"

The crowd gasped. Buggy's jaw dropped, and even Alvida looked slightly taken aback.

Just then, Raja, Zoro, and Sanji burst onto the scene, panting and looking exasperated.

"There he is!" Zoro muttered. "Always getting himself into trouble."

Sanji raised an eyebrow. "Who decides to get executed in the middle of a shopping trip?"

Before they could act, Buggy raised his blade, ready to strike down on Luffy. But as he swung, a blinding flash of lightning crackled through the sky. The bolt struck the execution platform directly, shattering it with a deafening BOOM! Luffy, still grinning, was unharmed, the stocks falling apart from the impact.

The platform splintered, and the sudden downpour of rain sent the crowd into a frenzy. Raja, Zoro, and Sanji didn't waste a second, grabbing Luffy by the arms and dragging him away from the chaos.

"Let's go!" Zoro barked, pulling him along as Buggy and his crew stumbled around in confusion.

Captain Smoker watched the scene unfold, his face a mixture of awe and frustration. "That kid… he's just like Roger." With a determined look, he gave orders to his men. "After him!"

As they sprinted through the marketplace, rain pouring down on them, the Straw Hats glanced back, spotting Buggy and Alvida hot on their heels, each determined not to let Luffy escape.

"Why are those two following us?" Luffy asked, bewildered.

Sanji groaned. "Because you insulted them, idiot!"

Just as they rounded a corner, Buggy and Alvida found themselves blocked by Marines, who quickly surrounded them.

"Well, well, look who we caught," a Marine said smugly. "Buggy the Clown and… a very smooth lady?"

Alvida fumed, clenching her fists. "Smooth or not, I'm still Alvida!" But before she could retaliate, she and Buggy were restrained by Marines, both shouting threats as they were dragged away.

Meanwhile, at the harbor, Zoro was confronted by Tashigi, who had been tailing him after the earlier encounter in the sword shop.

"You lied to me!" she snapped, drawing her sword.

Zoro blinked. "I didn't lie. I just… didn't say anything."

"That's the same as lying!" she argued, raising her blade. "I'm a Marine, and I can't let you get away."

They locked swords, the clash of steel ringing out amidst the rain as they fought, each one giving their all. Zoro noted her technique was strikingly familiar, reminding him painfully of his late friend, Kuina.

Meanwhile, Usopp and Nami had just reached the Going Merry, only to see Mohji, Buggy's henchman, preparing to set it on fire.

"Hey! That's our ship!" Usopp shouted.

Mohji turned with a wicked grin. "Oh? You think you can stop me?"

Before he could light the torch, a squad of Marines arrived, firing their guns. Mohji yelped, ducking out of sight, allowing Usopp and Nami to quickly board the ship and push off, steering it toward the open sea.

At the marketplace, Luffy and Sanji bumped straight into Smoker, who looked at Luffy with cold eyes.

"You're not getting away, Straw Hat."

Luffy grinned, cracking his knuckles. "You want to fight? Let's go!"

They clashed, Luffy's rubbery punches bouncing off Smoker's smoke-powered defenses. Smoker seemed unfazed, his Logia abilities giving him the upper hand, and soon enough, he had Luffy pinned, his smoke tendrils wrapping around him tightly.

Sanji, having slipped away earlier, was almost at the shore when he found himself surrounded by Marines. He spun, kicking each one down with swift, powerful moves.

"Do I look like a guy with time to play?" Sanji muttered, dodging and delivering punishing blows to the Marines trying to capture him.

Meanwhile, Usopp, showing a rare burst of bravery, dove into the sea. He bobbed up beside Sanji, slinging rocks at Marines with his slingshot, giving Sanji cover to get back to the ship.

Back at the marketplace, just as Smoker was about to cuff Luffy, a powerful gust of wind shot through the air. Raja appeared, a sly grin on his face.

"Did you really think I'd let you catch him, Marine?"

With a flick of his wrist, Raja unleashed his Magic-Magic Wind Blast, sending Smoker flying back just enough to loosen his hold on Luffy. Luffy scrambled up, nodding at Raja with a goofy grin.

"Thanks, Raja!"

"Don't mention it," Raja replied, chuckling. "Now, let's get out of here before Smoker gets his bearings."

As they darted through the streets, Zoro joined them, still panting from his duel with Tashigi, and together, they made a mad dash for the Going Merry.

Luffy, without a second thought, extended his arms. "Gomu Gomu no… Rocket!" He grabbed hold of his crewmates, launching them across the harbor and onto the ship, where Usopp and Nami were waiting.

"Everyone's here!" Nami shouted. "Let's go, NOW!"

As the Going Merry pulled away, Smoker, Tashigi, Buggy, and Alvida stood at the shore, watching the ship disappear into the misty horizon, each one simmering with determination.

"We're not done yet, Straw Hat," Smoker murmured, signaling his men. "This isn't over."

Onboard the Going Merry, the crew was finally safe, drenched and exhausted, but their spirits were high as they set sail for the Grand Line.

"We made it!" Usopp cheered, clutching his new goggles. "We really made it!"

Luffy, standing at the bow, grinned widely, looking out at the sea before them. "The Grand Line… here we come!"

The Straw Hat crew erupted into laughter and cheers, each one vowing to stick together no matter what lay ahead, their journey just beginning as they ventured into the unknown, bound by friendship and dreams.