Chapter 8: Chapter 8 : Logue Town, Bounty And Marine
Logue Town was said to be the town of both beginning and end. All this is becuase of one man, a man who ended up becoming the king of pirates and opened the great pirate era.
Gold D. Roger.
It is said that Roger was born here and after he became the pirate king and was captured, he was brought back to this very town 19 years ago to be executed.
But for Ragna, Logue Town was the first proper human settlement Ragna had come across after coming to this world, his own village was nothing in comparison to what he saw here.
Proper two to three-story buildings made out of bricks and cement over just huts like he used to live in.
A port with enough range to dock a dozen medium-sized boats easily and even after that there would be space for larger boats for docking.
Proper drainage with roads and an entire marketplace for the citizens.
This would be a dream place for anyone in this world with such primitive technology to live in. He certainly would love to bring her Mom and give her the keys to their big house.
A sad expression appeared on his face thinking about this so he immediately shook his head and started to look around.
As soon as they were about to dock, Toll ended up removing the Pirate flag from the ship and put up a complete white flag.
According to him, there is a Navy Branch and due to this place being close to the entrance of the Grandline, almost all the pirates come here to get rations and refill their supplies.
After the opening of the great pirate era, the Pirate influx was much more than what it used to be 17 years ago.
To counter that, Marine, arguably the sole entity which maintains order on the sea, came up with many counter-measures.
From recognizing powerful pirates and giving them license to plunder just to stop them from completely going against the law to establishing more navy bases on the point of interest, Marines did everything to reduce the pirates' numbers and yet the reality was that to this date the numbers of Pirates are increasing.
Since Logue Town was just a strategic place, there was no way Marin wouldn't put a competent Marine here to stop anyone from the East Blue from venturing to the Grand Line.
"So, what are you planning on doing from now on ?" Ragna asked as their ship docked and he jumped outside. The sea was good and all but for someone who has spent the majority of his life, present or past, on land, Ragna would always prefer the stable ground over the bumpy sea.
"Nothing, the Golden Hook Pirates are over with the death of Captain Hook, our pirate ship will disperse now. As for me, I never wanted to become a Pirate in the first place, I was forced to come aboard due to my navigation talents." Toll came down, as he breathed in the fresh air before saying this.
Later Ragna learns that Toll was not only the Navigator of the ship but also the Vice Captain, however unlike what should be the norm, there was no bounty on his head.
This was pretty surprising to Ragna but he just shrugged it off, there are too many strange things in this world to keep count at this point.
"I see, however, my question remains the same, what are you planning after this ?" Ragna nodded but yet again asked him the same. This was mainly due to Ragna wasn't done with the sea, he was no nagivator and needed someone to help him when he ventured out again.
However, his hopes were cut short the next second.
"As I said, I didn't want to become a Pirate. My hometown was burned and there is nowhere I can go. So, I'm planning on settling down here.
Will find a job do honest work." Replied Toll.
Ragna had no idea how much the man was telling the truth. But if someone was ready to do honest work then he had no right to make them work something else. He can always find someone else to be his navigator or better yet, if time allows and Toll agrees then he rather just learn Navigation from the man.
"I see…" Ragna nodded, thinking about how to asked for the man for this favour, he didn't had anything to offer to him. He can certainly force him but he didn't want to. He might kill when necessary and he might lie sometimes but he was no Pirate and he had his morals in a time like this.
However, just as he was thinking about this, it was Toll himself who asked him this.
"So, about the money on the ship. Are you planning on taking it all ?" Toll asked with a little hesitation on his face. He looked nervous and Ragna understood why.
If Toll was really planning on settling down here then he needed that money, however, he couldn't take it when Ragna was there and arguably Ragna had to claim on that money as someone who beat the captain of the ship. In this case, Toll can only hope that Ragna can give him some money. At least he didn't believe that Ragna was that ruthless.
Unknown to him, Ragna had a smile on his face, now he know how to make Toll teach him navigation.
"Hmm technically I should have a claim on all of it, including the bounty price of your captain Hook…" Ragna narrowed his eyes while still a smile on his face.
Toll frowned, he was expecting this but didn't like it at all, without money, his initial life here would be really hard.
"But, I don't mind giving you some if you do something for me…" Ragna smiled and said.
"What?" Toll looked eager.
A bigger smile appears on Ragna's face.
---
Ragna moved with vigour and there was a smile on his face, he had a bag in which he carried the decapitated head of the Golden Hook.
Only two people had a bounty on Golden Hook Pirates, Captain Hook himself and surprisingly the useless-looking Lookout.
Ragna was disappointed upon getting no more than 2 million on the ship of the Golden Hook. He wasn't that big of a pirate to begin with but only 2 Million?
What was more disappointing was that Mr Lookout sneak away the moment the ship docked and stole 1 million with him. The rest was safe only because it was hidden funds for emergency which Mr Lookout didn't know.
Ragna had nothing to do with that though, upon Toll agreeing to teach him navigation, Ragna gave him all the money in the ship. So it wasn't his problem what Toll does to get that money back now.
Ragna still retains the bounty money of Golden Hook and the ship though. So it was a win for him.
Now he was looking for the Longue Town Marine Branch to exchange the Golden Hook's Bounty for his head.
Along the way he saw many people living happily and doing their thing, it was a peaceful sight to behold.
Peace was a hard hard-fought thing, no matter which world, he learn this the hard way after coming here. So, when he saw few of the Navy soldiers walking away, besides asking for the Marine Base location he also show his gratitude for their hard work.
"Should I join Marine, that way I can find those bastards who burn my village faster…" He pondered.
But there was something in his mind which was holding him back, maybe it was his own consciousness. He wanted to take revenge no doubt about it, but he didn't wanted revenge to be his entire life. That not what he wants nor what his mother would have wanted.
Joining Marine for that reason felt hollow and…meaningless.
'Mom told me to find my dream, so that is what I should do right now. As for the Navy, let's see the world a little more before looking for a stable job…' He shook his head and soon found the place was looking for.
The branch building was normal looking with just one board stating it was a Marine Branch. Honestly, he was expecting a little more grandeur but whatever…
*Thud…
But, as soon as he entered the building something or rather someone ended up bumping into him. Ragna was slightly startled but the other person stumble down to the floor.
"Ah I'm sorry, I wasn't looking." He said unconsciously.
"No- no, I'm also at fault, I shouldn't be running like this." Came the voice and unlike what Ragna anticipated the voice was female.
He looked down again, blue short hair with same colour jacket outside, while wearing yellow colour shirt with flower patterns on the inside. He didn't even realise that the person he bumped into was a girl.
'She looks like a guy with those short hairs and those clothes…' Muttered to himself, this explained why he hadn't even taken a step back while she was on the floor by that bump.
Only a big weight gap could cause this, now he started to wonder just how much he weighed.
"Ah were are they, Why can't I find them from this close…" She let out an irritated sigh.
And that was when he notice that the girl wasn't getting up but rather looking for something. Closer to his leg he notice glasses.
Feeling apologetic he bent down and took the glasses.
"Let me help, there…" Ragna gave her the glasses, making the worried-looking girl finally break out with a cute smile as she wore the glasses and looked at him.
"Thank you…"
"Ah, don't worry about it, I was the reason you lost them in the first place. You are not hurt are you ?" Ragna asked as he took her hand and helped her up.
"Oh, I'm alright, by the way, I never saw you before. You are ?" Asked the girl after finally getting a good look at him.
"Ah yes, I'm Ragna, I just came to the town. I want to exchange a bounty." Ragna said as he pointed at the Marine Branch.
The girl wasn't wearing any navy uniform but upon seeing her coming out of the branch he didn't mind telling her this.
"Bounty!
You are a bounty hunter ?" The girl looked surprised at this.
"Hmm… ah yeah you can consider me as one." Ragna hesitated what to say but then just admitted the fact.
"Good, then come in I'll help you get your bounty…" A big smile appeared on her face.
"You are a Marine ?"
"Oh yes, Sorry I didn't introduce myself…" She said, maybe this happens to her a lot.
"I'm Seaman Recruit Tashigi…"
xxx
[Word Count: 1815]
"Ah ha, finally a known characters, wonder what development wil happen here...?
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