With his sharp eyesight, Roldy clearly saw the procession advancing down the distant street.
Six executioners carried gleaming blades.
Over a hundred Marines lined the sides as escort.
And in the center—
Gol D. Roger.
Roger looked worn.
His thick black mustache had gone untrimd for a long ti. Dark hair shadowed his forehead and brows. The once-proud red captain's coat hung slightly tattered over his shoulders.
His aura had weakened.
Awaiting execution, he had been given only one al per day. Criminals of his level were not afforded the luxury of a "last al."
And yet—
The mont he appeared, a visible tremor ran through the crowd.
Even seasoned fighters felt their breathing tighten.
This was the pressure of the Pirate King.
Heavy chains bound his wrists and ankles.
He walked slowly.
In the crowd, Buggy's eyes overflowed with tears. Shanks clenched his fists, biting back a sob.
They watched their forr captain ascend the steps—
One step at a ti—
Onto the execution platform.
For the first ti, the mysterious and mighty Pirate King stood fully revealed before the entire world.
Yes.
The execution was being broadcast worldwide.
The World Governnt intended to celebrate its victory.
Roger stood tall on the platform.
The executioners tried to force him to kneel using the blunt ends of their weapons—standard procedure.
Roger endured two strikes.
Then he lifted his head slightly.
Surveyed the sea of faces below.
A smile spread across his lips.
With a sudden motion—
He sat cross-legged at the center of the platform.
The executioners exchanged glances, helpless.
By protocol, four stood at the corners.
Two positioned themselves directly behind Roger.
For reasons they couldn't explain, sweat poured from their brows.
"That's the Pirate King… the man worth billions of Berries…"
"He's terrifying. Just looking at him makes your heart tremble…"
"And yet he lost to the World Governnt! Pirate King or not—Justice prevails!"
The civilians whispered among themselves.
The true powerhouses remained silent.
Roger's gaze swept the crowd.
He saw familiar faces.
Buggy. Shanks. Rayleigh.
Roldy—and the two youngsters at his side.
The Red Count.
Old acquaintances.
Rising rookies.
So this was his funeral.
Before the entire world.
How cool.
The sun climbed to its zenith.
Execution ti.
Behind him, the two executioners began the ritual:
They spun their blades, clashed them once—
Twice—
Three tis.
After the final clash, they gripped their weapons tightly.
The blades aligned toward Roger's back.
Even Gol D. Roger would not survive such a strike.
And yet—
The crowd gasped.
Because—
Roger was smiling.
Why?
Why smile at death's door?
The civilians were stunned.
Even the great pirates could not comprehend it.
The blades rose.
Shanks and Buggy clutched Rayleigh's coat.
Roldy remained silent, eyes unreadable.
And then—
"Hey, Pirate King!"
"Where did you hide your treasure?!"
"Is it in the Grand Line?!"
"You found it, didn't you?!"
"The legendary treasure—One Piece!"
A scruffy, unremarkable man cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted.
The crowd froze.
The executioners froze.
Roger's smile deepened.
The man's eyes burned with excitent.
Perhaps it wasn't just the one million Berries he'd been paid.
Perhaps it was sothing more.
The atmosphere shifted.
A fever ignited.
Greed spread like wildfire—
Among pirates.
Among nobodies.
Even among civilians.
"Silence!" roared a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral present at the scene.
But a terrible premonition clenched his heart.
Too late.
Roger began to laugh.
Softly at first.
Then louder.
Then like rolling thunder.
This was human nature.
The promise of the legendary treasure.
Wealth. Fa. Power. Status.
Even civilians weren't immune.
"Maybe I'll find it," they thought.
"How hard could it be?"
They didn't realize—
The sea devoured fools like them first.
Roger didn't care.
"You want my treasure?"
"Don't speak!" shouted the executioner, voice trembling.
It was useless.
Even his own heart pounded violently.
Roldy exhaled slowly.
"So that's your plan…"
"Just like you, Roger."
Roger's voice rang out.
"If you want it—"
"I'll let you have it!"
All caras focused on him.
All eyes locked onto the Pirate King.
"Go find it!"
"I left everything in that place!"
"In this very sea!"
Ti stopped.
For a heartbeat—
Silence.
"Execute him imdiately!"
From a building behind the platform, a window burst open.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's furious face appeared.
The two executioners struck without hesitation.
The blades crossed—
Piercing Roger's heart.
Blood sprayed outward.
With his final strength—
Roger looked toward the rising sun.
His smile—
Unrestrained.
Year 1498 of the Sea Circle Calendar
Gol D. Roger—
The Pirate King—
Was executed at Loguetown.
It should have been a day of celebration for the World Governnt.
Yet among its officials—
Not a trace of joy could be found.
Only among the crowd—
Yes.
There it was.
What expression?
The sky darkened suddenly.
Rain poured in sheets.
Lightning split the heavens.
Thunder roared.
Sengoku flinched as lightning illuminated the plaza.
And in that brief flash—
He saw their faces.
Greedy.
Twisted.
Exhilarated.
The Great Pirate Era had begun.
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