Right at that moment.

"Hm?"

Will, who had been gazing up at the sky, suddenly wore a puzzled expression.

Out of nowhere, a flock of white birds wearing hats soared overhead. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

From the leather pouches hanging around their necks, a cascade of newspapers fluttered down.

"Look at that! What’s going on?!"

"So many News Coos!"

"Huh? They’re dropping free newspapers!"

"Something big must’ve happened somewhere in the world!"

"I think I’ve seen something like this before!"

"A major event?! Quick, grab one and check it out!"

As the crowd buzzed with excitement and astonishment, Will casually snatched a falling newspaper from the air, his curiosity piqued as he scanned its contents.

When he saw the report detailing his recent exploits, accompanied by a photo of him snapped mid-battle, a satisfied smirk crept across his face.

"Not a bad angle," he remarked.

The photo showed him with blood smeared across his face, clearly taken during the events at the Land of Bridges.

"Probably that guy hiding nearby who took this," Will mused.

He’d noticed those two lurking in the distance long ago. With his Observation Haki enveloping the area during the fight, their presence hadn’t escaped him. But since he sensed no malice from them, he’d let it slide.

As for the newspaper’s claims of his "atrocities," "crimes," or "heinous acts," and the bounty now on his head, Will couldn’t be bothered to read them.

Just as he was about to toss the paper aside, he felt something tucked inside. Flipping it open, he found a wanted poster featuring the same photo.

"Huh? 650 million Berries?!"

"That’s insane! Who is this guy?!"

"Must be some new big-shot pirate!"

"No, wait! Look! Everything mentioned here happened in the East Blue!"

"No way, really?!"

"So this monster of a man is still in the East Blue?!"

"Oh, come on! He wouldn’t dare show up in Loguetown, would he?"

"Probably not. This is the ’White Hunter’s’ turf. That guy wouldn’t have the guts."

"You’re underestimating what a 650-million-Berry bounty means!"

"And didn’t you see? The paper says this ’Madman’ Will even took on a Celestial Dragon!"

"Yeah, a pirate that crazy might actually show up in Loguetown. This is where Roger was executed, after all."

"Wait, you mean he could be right here among us?!"

"Hey, don’t scare me like that! I’m not built for this!"

By now, others in the crowd had noticed the wanted poster tucked into their newspapers. The already lively atmosphere erupted into a clamor of voices, turning the plaza into a chaotic hub of speculation.

But Will couldn’t blend into the excitement. If anything, he found the noise grating.

To his dismay, the wanted poster branded him a pirate.

"Those damn bastards," he muttered, brow furrowing. "Calling a simple battle-loving adventurer like me a pirate..."

He couldn’t accept it. The thought alone sparked a fire of irritation in his chest.

"Madman Will—!!"

A gruff shout cut through the din, tinged with a hint of surprise.

The voice stood out, especially since it called his name. Will slowly turned, his gaze settling on the crowd parting in panic.

There, emerging from the throng, was a man with a cigar clamped between his teeth. White hair, furrowed brows, and a jacket slung open to reveal a chiseled chest. A weapon strapped to his back, he exuded an imposing aura.

His expression, however, was stern, as if perpetually displeased with the world.

Piecing together the clues, Will raised an eyebrow, his tone thoughtful. "You’re the ’White Hunter,’ Navy Captain Smoker?"

"So you know who I am, ’Madman’ Will," Smoker replied, the cigar shifting as a faint smirk tugged at his lips.

He sized up the man before him, who stood noticeably taller. Smoker couldn’t help but feel a twinge of surprise. This guy lived up to the hype—his presence alone carried a subtle, threatening edge.

Truth be told, Smoker hadn’t expected to run into the newly wanted man while on a routine patrol of the plaza. His shout had been an impulsive reaction, born of sheer excitement.

Unaware of Smoker’s thoughts, Will—completely at ease, with no trace of his own aura on display—watched the captain approach. Curiosity laced his voice as he asked, "What’s this? Eager to arrest me already?"

"Not quite," Smoker shot back, quick to deny it. "If I’m gonna take you in, that’s for later."

He stopped a few steps away, pausing for a moment. Then, with a serious tone, he spoke again. "But first, I owe you a thank you."

"Thanks for taking out that pest Colonel Mouse and his crew, and for dealing with Arlong’s band of scum."

Will blinked, mildly surprised. "Sounds like you’ve got the full story."

"Yeah, I know everything..." Smoker’s mood darkened, his voice growing heavy. "That was my failure."

"I’m sorry for the people who suffered because of my oversight."

"You don’t need to apologize to me," Will said, shaking his head. "I wasn’t one of the victims."

"Fair point," Smoker conceded, his tone shifting to something more resolute. "But that’s exactly why I’m thanking you."

"You cleaned up the mess I missed. If you hadn’t, those bastards would’ve kept hurting innocent people."

Will noticed Smoker’s expression growing complicated and decided to steer away from the topic. Cutting to the chase, he said, "Alright, I’ll take your thanks."

"Now that you’ve said your piece, how about we get to the main event?"

Smoker froze for a moment, then frowned slightly. "You’re that eager to get arrested?"

"Or maybe," he added, "you’re just underestimating me?"

"Not at all," Will replied, a grin spreading across his face. "I’m just itching to have a fight with you."

"We’re both here, so why not? We can sort out the rest after we’re done, right?"

Smoker’s eyes glinted with a sharp edge. Shifting his cigar, he broke into a wide grin. "You’re one interesting guy."

--

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