One Piece: With Sign-in System

After leaving the Island of Giants, it didn't take long before Ron and his group arrived at the Red Line.

Crossing the Red Line, they entered the East Blue.

The weakest of the Four Seas, the East Blue was infamous for having few pirate crews with bounties exceeding 30 million Berries. Along the way, every pirate ship they encountered was left for Conis, Enzo, and Robin to handle.

Ron didn't interfere at all.

When they reached the small island near the entrance to the Grand Line, where Loguetown—known as the "Town of Beginning and End"—was located, Conis and the others had already defeated five pirate crews attempting to enter the Grand Line.

The highest bounty among them was a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user with a 17-million-Berry bounty, who had been easily taken down by Conis.

At Loguetown…

As Ron stepped onto the streets, a notification sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Location detected: Loguetown. Meeting the sign-in criteria. Successful sign-in grants a reward. Would you like to sign in?]

"Sign in," Ron answered without hesitation.

[Sign-in successful! Reward obtained: +10 Vitality Points.

Reward obtained: Conqueror's Haki.

Current Conqueror's Haki: Level 1.]

Feeling the unfamiliar power surging within him, Ron's eyes sparkled with excitement and joy.

The reward was Conqueror's Haki!

With this, he had finally received all three types of Haki!

"What's wrong?"

Robin, noticing the change in his expression, looked at him curiously.

"It's nothing. I just thought of something amusing," Ron replied, a smile tugging at his lips that he couldn't quite suppress.

"Is that so?" Robin didn't press further.

"Robin, come here! Look at this—it's so interesting!"

Conis, captivated by the bustling streets and shops of Loguetown, waved enthusiastically at Robin.

Robin was drawn to her excitement, and Ron, in good spirits, decided to take Enzo along for a stroll as well.

The sight of a seemingly harmless, handsome black-haired boy with a black sword at his waist, accompanied by a strange animal clad in a steel vest, drew curious glances and double-takes from the crowd.

However, among the crowd, a suspicious-looking man's gaze fell on the sword at Ron's side, and his eyes gleamed with greed.

"That sword… it must be worth a fortune."

He whispered to his subordinates, "Stay here and keep an eye on him. I'll go inform the captain."

"Understood!"

Not long after, in a quiet alley with few people around, Ron and Enzo found themselves blocked by a group of pirates.

At the front stood a man wearing a pirate captain's hat, holding a pistol. He sneered as he aimed it at Ron.

"Kid, hand over that sword at your waist, and I might just let you walk away alive!"

"Master, master, can I handle this?" Enzo asked excitedly, his voice startling the group of pirates.

"What the hell? A talking… animal?!" one of the pirates exclaimed, recoiling in shock.

Ron glanced toward the alley's exit and smiled at Enzo.

"Looks like you won't get the chance to fight."

Before Enzo could react, a fist, wreathed in smoke like a cannonball, blasted into the alley.

The pirate captain was struck directly, sent flying into a wall with a loud crash! His face was sunken, and his eyes rolled back as he collapsed unconscious.

"C-Captain!"

"What a bunch of trash," a cold male voice came from within the smoke. "With your level, you think you can survive the Grand Line? Off to prison with all of you."

The group of pirates, weapons trembling in their hands, stared at the smoke as it coalesced into a human form.

When the figure solidified into a man with a cigar in his mouth and a white Marine coat draped over his shoulders, someone among the pirates cried out in terror:

"It's the White Hunter! Run!"

The group of pirates panicked and scattered in all directions.

"Trying to escape?"

Smoker, the White Hunter, smirked coldly. With another punch, his fist shot out like a cannonball, knocking out every last pirate.

Before long, the alley was littered with unconscious bodies, and footsteps echoed as a group of Marines arrived on the scene.

"Lieutenant Smoker," the leading Marine saluted.

"Perfect timing. Take these idiots into custody," Smoker ordered, exhaling a puff of smoke.

"Yes, sir!"

As the pirates were being taken away, Smoker turned to Ron, his gaze lingering for a moment on the black-haired boy with the black sword and his strange companion.

"Be more careful next time. Stay away from pirates," Smoker advised, chewing on his cigar as he prepared to leave.

Just as he was about to walk away, a voice called out behind him, laced with amusement.

"Don't you recognize me, Smoker?"

Smoker's eyes widened slightly.

That voice…

He turned, his gaze locking onto the boy with the black sword and an easy smile.

As their eyes met, Smoker's expression shifted, a mix of shock and realization spreading across his face.

"It's you!"

When Enzo returned alone, Robin and Conis exchanged curious glances.

"Where's the captain?" Conis asked, her tone tinged with surprise.

"Master ran into someone he knows. He told me to let you know that we should head to the execution platform first. He'll catch up with us later," Enzo said, scratching his head.

"I see," Conis nodded, her expression thoughtful.

Inside a bustling tavern along the lively streets of Rogue Town, Smoker and Ron sat side by side at the bar counter.

"I didn't expect you to leave Marine Headquarters," Smoker remarked, downing his glass of liquor in one go. His eyes, sharp and assessing, fixed on the harmless-looking, clean-cut young man beside him.

"Did the Fleet Admiral actually let you go?"

Even three years later, the memory remained vivid. At the age of 11, this boy had defeated Smoker—who had been regarded as the strongest new recruit in the Marine School of Justice!

While Smoker had relied on his Logia-type Devil Fruit powers, this boy was a natural-born monster, his strength terrifyingly pure.

"When I showed a firm desire to leave, they didn't want to let me go. But there wasn't much they could do about it," Ron replied with a faint smile, his tone casual. "After all, it was something I had agreed upon long ago."

"True," Smoker muttered. "The Marines can't force someone to stay if their heart isn't in it—unless they choose to silence them permanently. But the Marines stand on the side of justice and would never execute someone innocent of any crime."

"Exactly," Ron said, nodding.

Smoker gave him a sidelong glance. "So, when you initially joined the Marines as an intern, you'd already decided to leave eventually, hadn't you?"

Ron didn't bother hiding it. He nodded.

For him, joining the Marines had been just another step in his journey to becoming stronger.

"But why?" Smoker's voice held a mix of curiosity and frustration. "With your strength, you could've captured countless criminals as a Marine. You could've reached the highest ranks, maintained order on these seas, and protected the people. Do you really think your personal freedom is worth more than fighting against the chaos out there?"

Ron's gaze settled on the bubbling liquid in his glass. His tone remained calm, but it carried a weight that made Smoker pause.

"Do you think strength requires a grand reason? Simply striving for the freedom to live as I choose is reason enough," Ron said.

"Even as a Fleet Admiral or a Marine Admiral, you're still bound by the orders of the World Government. If they commanded you to destroy this very town, would you obey—or defy them?"

The question hit Smoker like a punch. He found himself at a loss for words, unable to answer.

Silence stretched between them, heavy and contemplative.

Breaking the tension, Ron took a sip of his drink before his expression lightened. "After our fight back then, I never saw you again at headquarters. Later, I asked Dalmatian about it and learned you had voluntarily requested a transfer. I didn't expect you to end up in the East Blue…"

Smoker's jaw clenched at the memory. He had transferred because he'd feared Hina discovering the truth about his humiliating defeat. He'd assumed she'd spread the story and mock him endlessly at Marine Headquarters.

But, to his surprise, Hina had seemed completely unaware of the incident. The headquarters had remained silent, and the story had faded into obscurity.

No one remembered—except Smoker himself.

Grumbling under his breath, Smoker took a long gulp of his drink, then shifted the conversation. "So, what are you planning now that you've left the Marines? Don't tell me you're going to become a pirate."

"Hm… I haven't decided," Ron replied, tracing the rim of his glass thoughtfully.

Smoker's expression hardened. "Hey, kid. That's not something you should joke about. If you become a pirate, the Marines won't let you off easily. You'll have Vice Admiral Garp or one of the Admirals hunting you down in no time."

Ron chuckled at the warning, then turned to meet Smoker's serious gaze. "Relax. For now, I'm just an ordinary adventurer. As for whether the Marines will issue a bounty on me someday… who knows? That's for the future to decide."

He downed the rest of his drink with a casual air, his tone light.

Finishing his drink, Ron tossed a pouch of Berries onto the counter and stood. "Take care, Smoker. Oh, and if you see Hina or Gion, send my regards."

As he turned to leave, Smoker's voice, steady and resolute, stopped him.

"If you ever become a pirate, know that I'll be among those coming to capture you."

Ron glanced back with a teasing smile. "Feel free to try, but don't expect to stand a chance."

With that, he pushed open the tavern door and disappeared into the bustling streets.

Sitting alone at the bar, Smoker clenched his fist tightly. His pride still burned from their past encounter, but he couldn't deny the strange respect he felt for Ron's conviction.

One thing was certain—if their paths crossed as enemies, Smoker would be ready.

"That guy… just how strong is he now?"

Smoker gritted his teeth, frustration etched across his face.

"Even without fighting, I can already feel like I have no chance of winning..."

"Has he grown even stronger than three years ago?"

"Damn it..."

Ron arrived at the execution platform and reunited with Robin, Conis, and the others.

After taking in the sight of the legendary site where Pirate King Gol D. Roger had met his end, the group decided it was time to leave the small town and head toward their next destination.

Before leaving, however, Ron's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a green-haired, sharp-toothed young delinquent with a nose piercing amid the bustling crowd.

This was most likely the younger version of Bartolomeo—the fanatical admirer of Luffy described in the original story.

At this moment, though, it seemed Bartolomeo had yet to acquire the powers of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit.

Barrier-Barrier Fruit…

Ron's eyes flickered with interest.

Obtaining that fruit could be a valuable opportunity.

However, he quickly dismissed the idea. The chances were slim. After all, he had no idea when or where Bartolomeo might come across the fruit, nor could he afford to shadow the young punk constantly.

With a calm demeanor, Ron shifted his gaze and continued walking, following Robin and Conis as they left the crowded area.

Unaware, Bartolomeo glanced in their direction briefly, only to see nothing out of the ordinary.

"What is it, boss?" one of his subordinates asked.

"Nothing… must've been my imagination," Bartolomeo replied, shaking his head.

After leaving Rogue Town, Ron and his companions continued their aimless travels across the East Blue.

Ron made a habit of marking every island they passed through. Meanwhile, Conis and the kung-fu dugong Enzo sought out sparring matches wherever possible to hone their combat skills through real battles.

Robin, on the other hand, immersed herself in acquiring knowledge. At every stop, she would buy and collect books, documents, and information to add to her growing collection.

Over time, their reputation as a group of self-proclaimed travelers began to spread across the East Blue.

Before they knew it, the last month of the year arrived. Winter had draped the seas in a blanket of snow, and the frosty winds carried the promise of a long season ahead.

On a snowy winter night, their ship, The Traveler, drifted aimlessly as always. This time, it brought them to the island where Cocoyasi Village was located.

The village, under the tyrannical control of the Arlong Pirates, was slowly being painted white by the falling snow.

Outside the village, in a small house with a backyard filled with orange trees, a young girl sat engrossed in a book on navigation.

Her short, orange hair glowed faintly in the dim light as she turned page after page, her concentration unbroken by the cold winds outside.

This girl, no more than ten years old, seemed completely lost in the world of the sea. The quiet determination in her eyes hinted at a strength far beyond her years.

And so, in this peaceful yet troubled village, Ron and his companions were about to encounter a new chapter in their journey.

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