Chapter 83

"Ross, you... it's you? Why are you here?" Buggy exclaimed, his shock palpable as he recovered from the blow and directed his ire towards me. "Bastard, why did you hit me?"

I couldn't suppress a chuckle at Buggy's unpredictable reaction. One moment, he was seething over Roger's execution, and the next, he was indignant at me for a mere smack. "Of course, it's me. And why wouldn't I be here? The Pirate King himself is about to be executed, and I wouldn't want to miss such an era-changing event," I remarked, my tone tinged with amusement as I observed the duo's somber demeanor at the mention of their captain's impending demise.

Shanks, ever the astute observer, voiced his concern. "Are you sure you should be here with such a bounty on your head, especially with the island completely blockaded?" He was well aware of my staggering 500 million Belly Bounty, but the reason behind my sudden transition from a Marine serving under Garp to a wanted man with such a high price on my head remained a mystery to him. Yet, Shanks could sense that something significant must have transpired during my time away.

"We should move away from here. Follow me; there are quite a few Marines patrolling the area," I advised, my voice low as I led the way to a safer location away from prying eyes. Initially hesitant, both Shanks and Buggy reluctantly agreed to follow, their trust in me wavering yet still present.

As we navigated through the shadowed alleyways, Buggy suddenly broke the silence with an unexpected plea. "Ross, you're strong, right? With that high bounty, can you help me rescue our captain?" His words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I pondered his request.

"Rescue your captain?" I mused, my tone reflecting skepticism. "Do you truly believe your captain needs rescuing? He must have orchestrated all of this. Besides, what reason do I have to aid you? I'm merely here for the excitement. You should be cautious; soon enough, the entire world will be hunting the Roger Pirates. I suggest you bid farewell to your captain and leave Loguetown promptly."

Shanks, ever perceptive, sensed there was more to my cryptic warnings. "You know something about what's to come, don't you?" He inquired, his tone grave. However, I chose to remain silent, unwilling to divulge more than necessary.

"Speaking of the future, have you two decided on your next course of action?" I redirected the conversation, leading them towards a relatively safe spot shielded from prying Marine eyes.

Buggy's frustration bubbled to the surface. "You bastard, talking as if our captain is already dead," he snapped, his loyalty to Roger unwavering. But I remained unmoved; sometimes, no matter how hard one tries, they cannot alter the decisions of others. Roger had made his choice, and nothing anyone said could sway him.

As Doflamingo, Mihawk, and I awaited the arrival of the Pirate King, the atmosphere in Loguetown crackled with anticipation. Mihawk, hailed as the Marine Hunter, had just arrived in Loguetown the previous day, his swift ascent to notoriety evident in his current bounty of 364,500,000 Belly. In the past year alone, he had carved out a reputation that demanded respect.

"I never expected so many people to turn out for an execution," remarked a bystander, his voice filled with disbelief as he surveyed the throngs of spectators lining the streets.

"Indeed, it's quite the spectacle," Mihawk replied coolly, his gaze scanning the crowd with keen interest.

"Of course. What did you expect? It's the Pirate King himself, the man who conquered the entire world," another bystander chimed in, awe evident in his eyes as he spoke of Roger's legendary exploits.

Doflamingo smirked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "This is history in the making, my friends. We're witnessing the end of an era."

From every corner, murmurs of excitement and anticipation rippled through the crowd, heightening the sense of anticipation that hung thick in the air. As the minutes ticked by, the anticipation only grew, each moment bringing the execution of the Pirate King closer to fruition.

As the sun rose to its peak over Loguetown, casting a golden hue across the landscape, ten massive marine warships appeared on the horizon, their imposing silhouettes cutting through the shimmering waters. The entire populace of the island watched with bated breath, anticipation hanging heavy in the air like a palpable force.

Then, amidst a hushed silence, the moment arrived. With a thunderous boom, the first of the Marine warships docked at the port, signaling the beginning of the end. All eyes turned towards the approaching procession, and a collective gasp rippled through the crowd as they beheld the sight before them.

Roger, the Pirate King himself, shackled and flanked by hundreds of Marines and Cipher Pol agents, emerged from the bowels of the ship like a titan among men. Despite his restraints, he carried himself with an air of regal dignity, his gaze unwavering as he surveyed the throngs of onlookers.

"Move, move, you bastards! Clear the streets!" barked a Marine soldier, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere like a whip. Without hesitation, his comrades followed suit, wielding their rifles with ruthless efficiency to clear a wide path through the crowd.

Blows rained down upon anyone who dared to impede their progress, the sound of flesh meeting metal echoing through the streets. Under the relentless suppression of the Marines, a clear path emerged, leading all the way from the port to the center of town, where a massive execution platform loomed ominously.

The platform itself was a towering structure of dark wood and iron, adorned with ominous symbols of authority. At its center stood a raised scaffold, where Roger would meet his fate before the eyes of the world.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Roger's demeanor remained steadfast as he strode towards the steps of the platform, each movement deliberate and calculated. To those watching, he seemed less like a man facing death and more like a figure poised to immortalize himself in the annals of history.

Whispers of awe and reverence rippled through the crowd as they beheld the Pirate King in all his glory, a living legend about to meet his destiny head-on.

Among the crowd, I finally spotted the individual I had been searching for. In the canon, this kid was widely believed to be Luffy's rival among the Marines, one of the most underestimated Logia users - Smoker. It was one of the reasons I had agreed to accompany Doffy to witness the event.

"I found him, Doffy," I remarked, nudging my way through the crowd, heading towards where Smoker stood. Despite the chaos around him, Smoker was focused, determined to get a good view of the Pirate King's arrival.

However, just as I located Smoker, I sensed someone's gaze lock onto me. Immediately, my senses heightened, and I turned to identify the source. My eyes met Roger's, who had singled me out amidst the crowd. His already bright smile widened, stretching ear to ear, and I found myself unable to look away.

Behind Roger, a Marine grew incensed at the delay, ready to push him forward. Yet, despite his efforts, Roger remained unmoved, as if he were a mountain impervious to the man's attempts. His gaze remained locked onto mine, an unspoken connection forming between us.

"Hehe, the world's going to be quite interesting," Roger murmured, his voice carrying a weight of significance.

I acknowledged him with a smile and a nod, a silent understanding passing between us. With that, Roger continued on his final journey, leaving me to ponder the implications of our brief encounter amidst the chaos of Loguetown.

As Roger ascended the scaffold, the air crackled with tension, and every eye fixed upon him as if drawn by an invisible force. Flanked by two imposing executioners, he stood tall and unyielding, a beacon of defiance in the face of his impending fate.

As the Marine Rear Admiral stepped forward, ready to deliver a grandiose speech about the deeds of the Marines, the restless crowd showed little interest in his sermon. Instead, their attention was focused on the Pirate King, eager to hear his words.

Suddenly, a voice pierced through the murmurs of the crowd—a lone pirate daring to speak out amidst the sea of onlookers. "Oi, Roger! Is it true that you've found the final island? And that it's brimming with unimaginable wealth?" The question hung in the air, the crowd buzzing with anticipation despite the Marines' attempts to identify the interloper.

Roger, however, remained silent, his expression a picture of enigmatic amusement as he regarded the inquisitive pirate with a wide smile.

"It seems lackluster," remarked Doflamingo, his gaze sweeping over the plaza. "I thought with the Pirate King being executed, the Marines and the World Government would have sent a stronger force."

I couldn't help but chuckle at Doflamingo's naivety. "Doffy, are you sure about that? It seems like you still need to work on your observation Haki," I teased, my eyes scanning the area. "They have enough forces hidden; even if Roger's entire crew were to descend, they might be able to hold them back."

Indeed, amidst the throng of spectators, I had already noticed a dozen powerhouses lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Yet, even with their numbers, I knew that once the crowd was completely riled up, even the mightiest of forces would struggle to maintain control.

As the question about the final island and its rumored wealth hung in the air, it acted as a spark, igniting a wildfire of curiosity among the crowd. Voices rose in a cacophony of questions, each person eager to glean a morsel of information from the Pirate King himself.

"Does the One Piece really exist, as they say?"

"Have you seen the legendary treasures with your own eyes?"

"Are the rumors of ancient civilizations and lost technologies true?"

The plaza buzzed with excitement, and the fervor of the crowd was palpable as they pressed closer, desperate for answers. Despite the efforts of the Marines to maintain order, the sheer volume of inquiries made it impossible to silence the multitude.

Roger, however, remained unperturbed, his smile never faltering as he soaked in the adoration and curiosity of those gathered before him. With a knowing glint in his eye, he allowed the questions to wash over him like waves crashing against a steadfast rock.

Meanwhile, Doffy and I observed the scene with a mixture of amusement and anticipation. It was a testament to the allure of the One Piece, a treasure so legendary that it had captured the imaginations of pirates and civilians alike for generations.

"It looks like everyone's eager to uncover the mysteries of the Grand Line," I remarked to Doflamingo, a wry grin playing on my lips.

Doflamingo chuckled in response, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Indeed. The prospect of unlimited wealth and power has a way of stirring up even the most serene hearts."

As the questions mounted and the plaza grew increasingly rowdy, the Marines made the decision to expedite the execution before the appointed time.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Roger declared from atop the scaffold, resigned to his fate as he kneeled with a serene smile on his face.

"The man who conquered the seas as the Pirate King should not go down kneeling, don't you think, Doffy?" I remarked, a sense of urgency coursing through me as I swiftly drew Kitetsu, sending a flying slash towards the scaffold. The crowd gasped in shock at the sudden turn of events, but before anyone could react, a figure appeared from the side, clashing with my flying slash and diverting it away from the scaffold before landing gracefully upon it.

In an instant, more than a dozen figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding the scaffold with calculated precision. However, I had already concealed my presence amidst the chaos of the crowd, making it nearly impossible for them to pinpoint the source of the surprise attack.

It seemed that Roger had grasped my intent, for instead of kneeling, he sat cross-legged upon the scaffold. With a simple tug, he broke free from the restraints that bound his arms. The two executioners, their resolve shattered by the sudden turn of events, dropped their blades in fear and scrambled to flee the scene.

The tension in the air was palpable as Roger's defiant smile illuminated the plaza, a silent testament to the indomitable spirit of the Pirate King. And as chaos erupted around us with my action, the dozen or so power houses quickly tried to bring the situation under control.

By my side, Doffy couldn't contain his laughter at my audacious actions. Meanwhile, Mihawk observed with a mixture of amusement and disbelief the spectacle unfolding before him. The two "crazy brothers," as he dubbed us, were brazenly inciting chaos at such a pivotal event.

Even the pirate powerhouses in attendance were frantically searching for the culprit behind the disruption, but to their dismay, none possessed observation Haki as keen as mine. Smoker, who had been forcefully brought to our side, could only stare at me with a dumbfounded expression, clearly bewildered by the turn of events.