The moment Du Hang activated the Ego-Less State, the world before him suddenly shifted. In just an instant, the enemy's every move was completely analyzed by his Smart Brain. Under the Ego-Less State's precise control and analytical abilities, the thief considered a major headache by the Navy looked to Du Hang as helpless and transparent as a baby!
Under the thief's disbelieving gaze, Du Hang casually threw a punch nothing fancy, no technique yet the thief didn't even have a sliver of room to dodge and was sent flying!
Catching the mid-air bag the thief had dropped, Du Hang deactivated the Ego-Less State and let out a sigh of relief. His first real fight—definitely a bit of pressure there. Good thing the Ego-Less State came with emotion suppression, or that punch might not have landed so cleanly.
Seeing the Marines closing in, Du Hang didn't hesitate. He reached into the unconscious thief's coat, grabbed a wad of cash, then turned and walked off.
"Major! The thief Todd's been taken down!" someone from the pursuing squad yelled.
"What? Was it one of ours?!" a man wearing a Marine Justice cloak shouted in surprise.
"No… no, it wasn't! He's escaping with the energy stone!!"
"Then what the hell are you standing around for?! Keep chasing him! Get someone to flank him from the side! If we lose that stone, we're all screwed today!"
"What about the thief Todd, sir?"
"Beat him up and toss him in jail!!"
Du Hang had no idea his casual punch had landed that poor thief straight in jail—but even if he had, he wouldn't have cared. Let someone else take the blame? Even better.
[Smart Brain: Host, a Marine squad is attempting to intercept you from the flank.]
"Can you draw me a map?" Du Hang asked.
[Smart Brain: Uploading current area map now.]
Downloading the map, Du Hang smacked his lips. Marines really were built different—especially these seasoned ones. It had only been a short run, and yet they were already hot on his tail. If he didn't come up with something quick, they'd catch up in no time.
Scanning his surroundings, Du Hang realized he'd made it from the port into Loguetown proper. Since the Marines hadn't yet arrived in force, the townsfolk were still going about their daily lives, oblivious to the commotion. By a fruit stand, a young man in a straw hat was browsing.
Seeing him, Du Hang let out a quiet, "Huh?" That straw hat looked... really familiar.
At first, he thought it was Luffy. If Luffy had already made it to Loguetown, then he'd really transmigrated at the perfect time.
But in the next second, he shook his head—no way. This guy was way too old. Luffy was seventeen when he set sail, and the man in front of him looked at least twenty, maybe older—closer to Du Hang's own age. Even if that goofy smile looked a lot like Luffy's, this definitely wasn't him.
If it wasn't Luffy... then who?
Du Hang suddenly had a crazy idea.
He grinned wide and strode forward.
"Yo, bro."
The straw hat youth turned, puzzled. "Are you talking to me?"
"Sure am." Du Hang's smile widened as he got a good look at the man's face. A little different from the old man he remembered from later years, but the base features were all there. He'd hit the jackpot! He'd run into that legendary sucker—ah no, that great man who changed history!
"Bro, I'm in a bit of trouble. Got a bunch of thugs chasing me down… You look like a stand-up guy—honorable, brave, a fighter for love and justice. Mind giving me a hand and helping me beat them down?"
"Eh…?" The straw hat youth blinked, utterly confused.
"There he is!"
"We caught up! That's him!!"
"Move! Don't let him escape!"
As Du Hang and the youth were talking, the Marines had arrived. Spotting Du Hang, they cheered and drew their swords, charging without hesitation!
Seeing the blades drawn, the townsfolk screamed and scattered. The straw hat guy opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Du Hang clapped a hand on his back and shoved him forward.
"Didn't think they'd catch up so fast. Looks like we're in this together now, bro! Don't worry, they're just small fry—between the two of us, this'll be a piece of cake!"
"Wait, wait—what the hell is going on?!" the youth shouted, staring at the swarm of Marines and then at Du Hang behind him. His brain filled with a thousand galloping curses—but before he could say another word, a sword came swinging at his head!
"Another accomplice?! Doesn't matter—none of you are getting away!"
"Would it kill you guys to listen for once?!" Furious at being ignored, the straw hat youth snapped and promptly sent a Marine flying with a kick.
"Careful! He's strong!"
"Take him out first! Go!!"
As the Marines swarmed, the straw hat youth's eye twitched. He glared at Du Hang. "Damn it! What did you do to get this many Marines after you?!"
But when he turned to look—Du Hang was gone. The street behind him was empty.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
From behind a nearby tree, Du Hang rubbed his chin.
"Ahh… a lovely summer afternoon. Nothing like watching someone else step up for justice—so uplifting."
Glancing at the energy stone safely tucked into its pouch, he stuffed it into his pocket and strolled into Loguetown.
After single-handedly flooring forty or fifty Marines, Gol D. Roger finally escaped the disaster he'd been dragged into.
Adjusting his straw hat, Roger looked like he'd lost all will to live. What the hell did I do in my past life to deserve this? He was just a normal guy. Sure, he had ambition—but it's not like he'd acted on it yet! And he gets thrown into this mess? If he ever found that bastard again, he'd make sure the guy paid!
Grumbling, Roger headed toward his usual diner. After a brawl like that, he needed to feed his poor, traumatized stomach.
It must've been lunchtime—when he entered, the place was almost packed. Every table was full, except one by the window with just one guy sitting there. Roger figured he could probably share.
He walked up confidently.
"Hey, mind if I sit here?" he asked with a wide grin.
"Sure, be my guest," Du Hang said, smiling up at him.
Roger: "…"
Du Hang: "…"
Roger stared at him, veins popping on his forehead. Just as he opened his mouth to explode, Du Hang beat him to it.
"Say, bro, do you know any skilled craftsmen around here? Someone who can carve and polish Seastone?"
"Hmm… Old Hank on the west side of town might be able to, but I'm not really sure—wait, no, that's not the point!!" Roger shouted mid-sentence, finally snapping.
"You! You're the guy who threw me under the bus! I almost got locked up because of you!"
Getting him caught up in all that mess and then acting like nothing happened Roger had never met someone so shameless in his entire life.