Chapter 50: 50. Arriving At East Blue, Isshin Gym

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"Well, of course," Maria replied. "Most of the seas across the Four Blues are quite similar. The truly unique and unpredictable regions are on the Grand Line." Even so, East Blue held special significance for Alex. This was the birthplace of legends—home to Roguetown, Cocoyasi Village, Windmill Village—all places that marked the beginnings of the Pirate King's journey. Thanks to the proximity of the Red Line and Reverse Mountain, they soon spotted Roguetown, the famed "Town of Beginnings and Endings" and the site of Gol D. Roger's execution platform. Though Alex didn't have much interest in the town itself, he allowed the crew a few hours to explore and replenish supplies, indulging their curiosity about the execution site. Afterward, they set off again, armed with a new map he purchased in town. With Roguetown behind them, Alex navigated toward the Oykot Kingdom. Though East Blue had the reputation of being the "weakest sea" and a symbol of peace, the tides had shifted since Roger's execution. The influx of pirates, eager to follow Roger's footsteps, now caused upheaval across the sea. The Oykot Kingdom, a once-peaceful land, was among the regions suffering most. Recently cut off from World Government support, the kingdom had become a target for pirates, leading to yearly invasions and plundering. This year's conflict had spiraled into a full-blown war, tearing the country apart. Through the News Coo's reports, Alex had learned of the kingdom. Knowing he could get more members, he set his course for this war-torn land as soon as they entered East Blue waters. The World Government's neglect only worsened the kingdom's suffering. With Oykot Kingdom unable to pay the "Heavenly Tribute," the government and Marines had intentionally delayed their intervention, waiting weeks before dispatching any aid. By the time Alex arrived, the entire kingdom was engulfed in chaos. Battles raged in the streets, and large swaths of the land lay in ruins, still smoldering from recent bombardments. Even if the Marines eventually came to "save" the country, Alex knew the damage would be irreversible. The kingdom would be reduced to rubble, with its cities and infrastructure obliterated, eventually shrinking into little more than scattered villages and islands. Under the smoke and debris, countless orphans wandered the battlefields, left to fend for themselves amid the destruction. Alex moved through the ruins, enhancing his Haki to sense the presence of those scattered in hiding or fleeing through the rubble, scanning the countless children displaced by the conflict. Finally, in the third ruined town, he caught sight of a small figure with vivid blue hair, holding an orange-haired child tightly in her arms. Alex's gaze locked onto her, and he instantly knew—this was Nami, the child he had been searching for. The blue-haired girl with the cautious expression was Nojiko. They were easily taken in by Alex, who knew the potential within them. As Alex's ship docked, his crew gathered curiously to see who he had brought aboard. They hadn't expected to see two young children, clearly orphaned by the chaos of war. Yet, for Laffitte, who had traveled with Alex for some time, this wasn't entirely surprising. He'd observed Alex's unusual habit of taking in young talents—but only those he found remarkable. From Maria and Yamato, whom he'd rescued from Wanokuni, to Perona and Robin from West Blue, each had been singled out by Alex for their potential. Laffitte noticed that these new additions had also caught Alex's eye, particularly the blue-haired girl, as the other was just a child. In truth, Alex hadn't initially planned to come here as the primary destination. It was a spontaneous decision prompted by a newspaper report on the turmoil in Oykot Kingdom, which reminded him of Nami's origins. Intrigued by the timing, he decided to investigate, seeing it as an opportunity to find someone who possessed a rare skill set: Nami's exceptional navigation abilities. As one of the future "twin goddesses" of the Straw Hat Pirates, Nami's natural talent for sensing the weather, predicting storms, and adapting to combat situations set her apart. To Alex, her navigational prowess was particularly valuable, especially for someone with his own floating abilities; she could harness weather patterns in ways that could reshape battle strategies. If she later acquired a weather-related Devil Fruit, her potential would be nearly limitless. With Nami now in his care, alongside her adoptive sister Nojiko, Alex felt his detour to East Blue had been worth the effort. After this unexpected addition to the crew, Alex resumed his course, reaching his next destination, Shimotsuki Village, within a few days. Once ashore, he led the crew directly to the Isshin Dojo, a renowned establishment on the island, even if not widely known beyond East Blue. It didn't take long for Alex to locate the building. Under the plaque labeled "Isshin Dojo," a young girl, no older than four or five, was practicing with a wooden sword, slicing through the air with focused strikes. She glanced up at the approaching footsteps, noticed Alex, and called into the house, "Father! We have guests!" Moments later, a man with round glasses and a gentle expression emerged. Alex recognized him immediately and introduced himself. "Shimotsuki Koshiro, I presume? My name is Alex, the current shogun of Wanokuni. You may find this familiar." He held out a silver medal, finely crafted with the Shimotsuki family crest. One side read "Honorary Swordsman," and the other bore the name "Shimotsuki Kozaburo".