Rogue Town.
A place known far and wide as the Town of Beginnings and Endings.
Anyone with ambitions to enter the Grand Line almost always passed through here—stocking up on vital supplies and preparing for the journey ahead.
With its strategic location, and as both the birthplace and execution site of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King himself, Rogue Town had become one of the most renowned places in not just East Blue, but the entire world.
Each day, fleets of merchant ships, traders, and travelers arrived, making the town lively and prosperous.
But prosperity came with a price.
For every merchant ship that entered the port, there was also a pirate vessel. Rogue Town became the final checkpoint for criminals, fugitives, and pirates heading to the Grand Line.
To control this volatile flow, the World Government stationed one of their top officers here—Captain Smoker, known across the seas as the White Hunter.
In East Blue, a region where even Haki was virtually unknown and Devil Fruits were whispered legends, Smoker's Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit made him an overwhelming force.
He was a one-man blockade.
With Smoker as Rogue Town's anchor, very few pirates managed to sneak through to the Grand Line compared to other seas.
Reno brought the Going Merry into port without hesitation.
While Smoker might be a nightmare to other East Blue pirates, Reno—with his command of Haki—was an entirely different beast.
If anything, he was the one capable of overwhelming Smoker.
He didn't even bother hiding his presence. In fact, he was planning to steal Tashigi, the bespectacled marine swordswoman, before the day was done.
After docking, Reno and his eager crew disembarked onto the vibrant streets of Rogue Town.
Today's mission was simple:
Spend money.
The girls had been preparing their shopping lists since the moment they left the last island.
Nami wanted new outfits, accessories, cosmetics, and maybe some novelty trinkets.
Kaya had finished all her medical books and hoped to restock at the local bookstore.
Makino needed brewing ingredients for the ever-growing crew.
Nojiko and Karumen would handle the food and household essentials.
Reno didn't skimp.
With a rare wave of generosity, he approved everyone's budgets—and threw in an extra 200,000 Berries per person.
"Buy whatever catches your eye," he said casually.
After agreeing on a rendezvous location, the group split up to explore the town.
Reno, however, wasn't in a rush to find Tashigi.
Since he was here, he figured he might as well experience the charm of this historic city.
After all, this was where Gol D. Roger had been born—and where he'd died.
Reno casually walked the streets, setting a location marker as he strolled. The air buzzed with the sound of hawkers, music, and clinking coins. Colorful storefronts lined both sides of the avenue, and the atmosphere brimmed with life.
Not bad, Smoker. You've kept this town well in check.
Though his combat ability wasn't exactly impressive in Reno's eyes, the way Smoker ran Rogue Town was commendable. Pirate or not, anyone who set foot here knew better than to make trouble.
Too many had learned that lesson the hard way.
Reno continued wandering, occasionally stopping at stalls to inspect the odd gadget or unusual trinket.
And then—just as he stepped away from one such booth—a Marine soldier brushed past him.
Their eyes met briefly.
Reno paid him no mind and kept walking.
But a moment later, the Marine did a double take. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Wait a second… was that—?!"
"Captain Reno of the Reno Pirates?!"
He couldn't believe it.
But he trusted his instincts.
He sprinted back toward Marine Headquarters, heart pounding.
With a bounty of 30 million Berries, Reno was already considered a major threat in East Blue.
And worse—his crew's navigator was none other than Nami, the Lightning-Logia user with a 50 million bounty.
At the Marine Base
Inside a smoke-filled office, Captain Smoker sat buried behind a mountain of paperwork.
To manage a chaotic town like Rogue Town, Smoker worked relentlessly. The only thing thicker than his cigars was the stack of unsorted reports on his desk.
Knock knock!
"Come in," Smoker growled through a cloud of smoke.
The Marine from earlier burst in.
"I've spotted Captain Reno of the Reno Pirates! He's currently in town!"
Smoker's brow lifted. "So he's finally here, huh…"
He glanced toward the edge of his desk, where two wanted posters lay clipped together:
Reno — Captain of the Reno Pirates. Suspected Cloud-Cloud Fruit user. Bounty: 30,000,000 Berries
Nami — Navigator of the Reno Pirates. Suspected Lightning-Logia user. Bounty: 50,000,000 Berries
Smoker exhaled another stream of smoke, frowning. "This might be a problem…"
The Cloud-Cloud Fruit was tricky enough. But the Lightning Fruit? That was one of the most destructive Devil Fruits ever recorded.
He wouldn't have the upper hand in that fight.
"How long until Vice Admiral Garp arrives?"
"About four hours," the soldier replied.
After leaving Marineford, Garp had rushed back to East Blue, scouring the islands for any trace of Luffy.
So far, he'd come up empty.
But Garp knew his grandson's nature well.
There was no way Luffy would spend his life drifting around East Blue.
Sooner or later, he would pass through Rogue Town.
So Garp decided to wait.
And when Luffy showed up—
BAM!
Iron Fist of Love, incoming.
"Captain Smoker, should we wait for the Vice Admiral?"
"Four hours is too long." Smoker shook his head. "Have we spotted any of the other crew?"
"No sir. Just Reno."
"Then we move now," Smoker said, grabbing his jitte from the wall.
"And what about Sergeant Tashigi?" the soldier asked.
"She's out on patrol."
Smoker nodded, then marched toward the door, smoke trailing behind him like a storm cloud.