Chapter 67: Face the World

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The will passed down through generations, the changing tides of the era, and people's dreams are things that cannot be stopped. 

As long as people seek freedom, everything will keep moving forward. Freedom! It's the dream that everyone chases. 

When does a person truly die? When they are forgotten.

"Boom!" The sky over Loguetown was filled with thunder and lightning as a heavy downpour began, scattering the crowds gathered on the ground and forcing them to turn and leave. 

Yet, even more powerful than the storm was the memory of the Pirate King's last words, Roger's words, which left everyone ecstatic, exhilarated, and filled with a newfound madness.

"Everything is on that island!" "The One Piece!"

People's hearts now harbored an indelible seed of ambition, waiting for the right moment to bloom. 

Numerous ships launched from the shore, and figures hurried down every street in town. 

This island, crowded with people gathered to witness Roger's execution, began emptying visibly by the minute.

"Boom!" Lightning cut through the sky, rain pouring down in torrents. Arashi strode forward, followed by Kuzan, Borsalino, Sakazuki, and Bullet. 

Their pace was hurried as they departed from the execution platform. 

If one looked closely, one could see that the highest point of the platform was stained with a trace of blood, which had fallen and mixed with the raindrops below before spreading. 

The man known as the Pirate King, wild and optimistic, the great figure who had reached the pinnacle of the world, now hung his head as if peacefully asleep in the storm, unmoving.

Lightning flashed behind him, illuminating the area brightly. A gust of wind swept over, blowing his red coat, but he remained still, his lips curved in a faint, final smile.

Arashi suddenly paused. Before him, a shadowed figure appeared at the top of a building as a flash of lightning struck. 

With a green hat whipped by the wind, the figure's face was hidden in the shadows.

"The era hasn't ended," the figure said in a low, resonant voice. "It's only just begun!" 

"You and I are mere grains of sand in the new age—what waves can we truly stir?" 

The voice echoed around them. Arashi pursed his lips, but when he looked back again, the figure had vanished as if it had never been there.

"There sure are many strange and terrifying people on this island," Borsalino remarked.

"No kidding," Arashi replied, flashing a grin.

In the rain, he could see numerous silhouettes running toward the harbor. 

They moved on, and after navigating through several alleys, Rosinante's footsteps suddenly halted. 

Arashi noticed the water pooling underfoot, flowing toward the shore, and followed Rosinante's line of sight.

"Rosinante," he said quietly.

"Yes, sir!" Rosinante snapped back to attention.

"Stay focused on your path, and watch your step. Don't get too caught up in others."

Rosinante paused for a moment, then nodded in understanding. "Yes, Vice Admiral!" 

He took a deep breath and glanced again toward where that familiar figure had disappeared into another alley. 

At that group's lead, the figure had been none other than Doflamingo—Rosinante's brother.

Fifteen minutes later, they reached their designated gathering point. 

Unlike the pirates and other forces, which had retreated chaotically, the Marines maintained order, leaving in well-disciplined, staggered groups. 

Shortly after, a command arrived, even amid the downpour.

"Deploy immediately and capture all pirates currently in Loguetown!"

The order came swiftly, allowing the Marines barely a moment to react. After a brief rest, they donned raincoats and took up arms, setting out again. 

Yet the rain obscured visibility, posing a disadvantage for the operation.

"Serpent-Slayer Sabros!" 

"Barbie's Pirate Crew!" 

"The infamous pirate Siril!" 

"The mafia's Luniane!"

The names of these pirates echoed from the transponder snail in Arashi's hand. 

Each was notorious in their own right, instilling fear among ordinary people, even if they weren't as famous as Roger.

"Kuzan, Borsalino, Sakazuki," Arashi instructed. "Spread out!"

The three nodded and quickly dispersed. And so began a massive pursuit through the storm. 

Arashi's domain expanded, giving him precise knowledge of every reported pirate's location and movement, though he made no rush to engage. 

Loguetown was in utter chaos amid the pouring rain, filled with fighting and bloodshed at every turn. Time passed, and by evening, the rain had stopped.

Loguetown grew noticeably quieter. The ground was clear, the earlier storm having washed away the blood that soaked the streets. 

Sunlight broke through, casting a rainbow across the distant horizon.

"Buggy, what are your plans for the future?" Two figures stood side by side on the beach, gazing at the sunset and the rainbow hanging in the sky.

"I…I'm not sure," Buggy muttered, looking lost.

"Then join my pirate crew! I plan to keep being a pirate," Shanks replied, smiling at the lifelong friend who had stood by him through life and death.

"You're going to inherit Captain Roger's will, go to Laugh Tale, find the legendary treasure, and become the Pirate King, aren't you, Shanks?" Buggy asked.

Shanks shook his head. "Didn't you once say you'd go to Laugh Tale one day?"

Buggy froze.

"I've changed my mind. I have no plans to go for now, but I'll keep being a pirate. Let's sail together, Buggy!" Shanks explained.

Buggy's face flushed, tears welling up. "You're nothing like I thought. The next Pirate King should be you! Captain Roger was counting on you to take his place!"

Buggy shouted, overcome with emotion. "You've given up on the dream of becoming Pirate King!" 

He turned sharply. "I'll never join your crew!"

"Next time we meet, we'll be enemies!"

Shanks froze at his words. The next moment, his eyes widened as lightning suddenly struck the ground before Buggy, charring it black.

"You're right—you should be enemies," a voice said, echoing through the storm. 

Out from the lightning extended a hand, hovering in front of Buggy's forehead with five fingers splayed. Buggy's eyes widened in terror.

"Shanks!"

"Thirty million volts…"

"Discharge!"

"Boom!" Thunder roared, and blue arcs of electricity shot across the sky, lighting it up even brighter and striking Buggy forcefully. 

It all happened in an instant, giving no time for any reaction. 

Nearby, Shanks watched the lightning disperse, revealing a figure. His expression suddenly changed, and he turned and fled without hesitation.

"Shanks!" Buggy, his body smoking, shivered uncontrollably. He couldn't believe it — Shanks had left him behind to escape.

"Buggy, let's go our separate ways! I believe in you!" Shanks' laughter echoed from afar. 

"This guy's too powerful; I'm no match for him yet." Buggy's body shook, and he spat out a puff of black smoke. 

He wanted to yell something, but seeing the burly man standing just before him, he could only manage a shaky smile.

"Um, Mr. Marine, sir, I don't know you. Why attack me all of a sudden?" Arashi bent down, looking at the red-nosed young man in front of him with a smile.

"Buggy the Clown. Former apprentice on the Roger Pirates." Arashi smirked. "And the one who just fled… that was Shanks, wasn't it?"

Buggy shook, his face forced into a wry smile. "You've got the wrong guy."

"Oh, I remember you," Arashi replied with a grin. 

"Back then, you were the first to charge during that battle… and the first to be defeated by me." 

Buggy's mind flashed with a painful memory, one of the worst he'd ever endured. His terror deepened as he realized who was standing before him.

It was him! The monster who rained cannonballs down relentlessly! 

Since then, Arashi had become even taller and more muscular, which made him harder to recognize at first glance.

"Arashi!" Buggy's smile was twisted, but he stammered out the Marine's name.

"The moment I saw you, I figured I should probably keep you around, Buggy the Clown," Arashi said with a smile.

"Huh?" Buggy was stunned, but then his lips trembled. "Why… why me?" After all, there was a stronger guy there, too, but this guy had come for him.

"Because…" Arashi grinned. Then, he raised his right hand again, lightning crackling between his fingers.

"Fifty million volts! Discharge!" Another bolt of lightning flashed, and Buggy collapsed his body smoking. 

Arashi picked him up by one hand and looked where Shanks had fled.

"Compared to the future Red-Haired Emperor," Arashi murmured, "I think you have more potential worth nurturing, Buggy."

"The future Emperor, Buggy!" Arashi muttered, studying the unconscious boy he was holding. 

His hand glowed with electricity, and they disappeared from the spot in a flash.

Back at the temporary base, Arashi placed Buggy on the ground before him, studying the young man thoughtfully. 

Bullet, who recognized the former apprentice of Roger's crew, gave a skeptical look.

"From today, he'll be an apprentice on our ship," Arashi announced, pointing at Buggy.

"That useless clown? What's he good for?" Bullet said bluntly. To him, both Buggy and Shanks had been dead weight on Roger's ship.

"Oh, he's got plenty of potential," Arashi chuckled. Crocodile, Rosinante, and Ivankov exchanged curious glances at the red-nosed youth. 

They knew Arashi didn't take people on lightly; if he recruited someone, there had to be something special about them. 

Crocodile and Bullet, for instance, had terrifying power, capable of challenging high-ranking Marines.

Arashi's faint smile returned. In his view, the Bara Bara no Mi was an exceptionally versatile ability. 

It provided near immunity to slashes, giving its user a natural advantage against swordsmen. 

And if Buggy's strength developed enough to awaken the fruit… he could picture it now.

The power of Buggy's awakening! The split and fractured world! Not to mention, the red-nosed guy had incredible luck — a rare double-fruit ability. 

Arashi was sure that, with time, Buggy would become a force to be reckoned with and make a striking impression on the future world.

Meanwhile, the Marine officers were preparing to leave Loguetown. Dozens of Marines boarded their respective warships, ready to depart from the port. 

Sengoku and Garp, however, stood outside, looking at the lively scene with furrowed brows.

"Garp, you go," Sengoku said, stretching. 

"Just say a few words to those journalists from all over the world to get rid of them, and then we can return to headquarters. I'm exhausted."

Garp burst out laughing, his tone cheerful. 

"Don't count on me. You know I've never been good with words. That'd be bad if I said something wrong and caused even more chaos."

Sengoku sighed, looking toward Zeyphr with hope. "You know, I'm good at teaching students, not facing the press," Zeyphr grumbled.

Sengoku put a hand to his forehead in frustration. 

He didn't want to face this group of journalists; they asked embarrassing questions that left him speechless. Then, suddenly, an idea lit up his mind.

"Let Arashi handle it! He's got the rank and a strong track record — he's the one who captured both Roger and Shiki! He's the perfect choice!"

Indeed, Arashi had recently become a regular on the world's front-page news, a Marine star, and a hero to many young recruits. 

If he took on the task, he'd be more suitable than anyone else.

A few moments later, Arashi was summoned and looked bewildered as Sengoku issued the order.

"But I… I don't know what to say," Arashi protested.

Sengoku laughed, pushing him toward the door. "Doesn't matter! Just say whatever comes to mind." 

"Talk about your dreams, your belief in justice, anything. This'll be a big achievement for you!"

And so, still unsure what to say, Arashi stood before a group of eager journalists and a Den Den Mushi projecting the scene.

"Vice Admiral Arashi, we've heard you were the one who captured both Roger and Shiki the Golden Lion. Is that true?" one journalist asked.

"That's right," Arashi nodded.

"It's also said you're the disciple of Marine Hero Vice Admiral Garp. Is that true?"

"Yes. Vice Admiral Garp has always been a hero I deeply respect and admire," Arashi answered.

"Vice Admiral Arashi, what does justice mean to you?" another excited journalist inquired.

<End Chapter>

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