A Grand Entrance

With less than an hour remaining before the public execution, the square surrounding the execution platform was already packed with people.

Locals from Loguetown, along with countless travelers from all over the world, had gathered in one place.

The sheer number of spectators had already exceeded ten thousand, creating a sea of people, all pressed together in anticipation.

Beyond the square, people filled the streets, crowded the alleyways, and even stood atop buildings—all waiting for Roger to appear.

Gol D. Roger's name was legendary, but few had actually seen him in person.

Most only recognized him from wanted posters.

Now, they had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness the Pirate King with their own eyes.

Everyone—from civilians to pirates, from nobles to outlaws—wanted to see him before his final moments.

The Marine Procession

Finally, the Marines arrived.

A large unit of troops marched in to clear a path through the crowd, forcing people to step aside and open a corridor leading directly to the execution platform.

Marines then lined up along both sides of the corridor, blocking any attempt to break through.

As the execution neared, the crowd became increasingly restless.

People pushed and shoved, eager for a better view.

The Marines struggled to maintain control, working desperately to contain the chaos.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

A metallic sound suddenly echoed through the square.

Like chains dragging across the ground, the ringing of iron shackles sent a wave of silence through the previously deafening crowd.

All eyes turned toward the end of the corridor.

There—

A man, bound in shackles, walked slowly into view.

With each step, the metal cuffs clanked, their sound clear and distinct—as if drowning out every other noise.

The moment had arrived.

Under the watchful gaze of thousands, Roger appeared.

His shackles marked him as a prisoner, yet—

He was nothing like the broken man people had imagined.

Instead of despair or fear, Roger wore a grin.

His expression was relaxed, his gait steady.

As he stepped into the corridor, he scanned the crowd, his smile widening.

It was as if—

Rather than walking to his execution, he was simply a king surveying his subjects.

A Presence Like No Other

Despite being surrounded by thousands, Roger remained completely unfazed.

He walked confidently, exuding an undeniable charisma.

The sheer force of his presence made it seem as if the entire world had momentarily stilled—as if every spectator had become part of his audience.

As he moved forward, Roger's gaze swept across the sea of faces.

He saw admiration, worship, fear, hatred, and countless other emotions.

Some idolized him.

Some despised him.

And others simply stood in awe, unsure of how to feel.

The Marines' View

From a tall building overlooking the square, the Marine high command watched the event unfold.

"Admiral Sengoku, we've identified multiple pirates in the crowd. Should we take action?"

A Marine vice admiral pointed toward the spectators, addressing Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the commanding officer of the operation.

Despite the large crowd, the Marines had sharp eyes.

Many in the audience had attempted disguises, but there were still plenty of recognizable pirates among them.

However, without orders, no Marine dared to act rashly.

Standing by the window, Sengoku looked down at the scene below, his expression cold and stern.

"Do nothing."

"Roger is the star today. As long as the execution proceeds smoothly, the rest don't matter."

On any other day, Sengoku would never have let these pirates go.

But today was different.

Every part of the execution setup had been carefully planned to maximize the impact of Roger's death.

Compared to that—any other pirate was insignificant.

The purpose of this execution was to send a message.

And nothing would be more impactful than executing the Pirate King himself.

A Man Who Would Not Break

"Roger is infuriating. He's about to die, yet he still acts so arrogant!"

Inside the observation room, several Marine officers clenched their fists in frustration.

To them, a prisoner facing execution should be terrified.

Yet Roger's unwavering confidence—his relaxed smile—was an insult to the Marines who had captured him.

Jon also peered out the window, scanning the crowd.

He was looking for familiar faces, but with so many people, he could only recognize a handful.

Perhaps some notable figures were hiding too well—or perhaps he just hadn't spotted them yet.

Voices in the Crowd

"So that's the Pirate King?"

"I heard he's a ruthless murderer. Even now, he dares to smile?!"

"All pirates deserve to die. The Pirate King should be erased from history!"

"It's my first time seeing him in person. He truly looks like a legendary figure."

A Farewell from His Crew

Amidst the massive crowd, two young men stood frozen in place.

"It's him… It's Captain!"

Buggy and Shanks had come to see Roger one last time.

The moment they laid eyes on him, their emotions overwhelmed them.

Wearing his signature straw hat, Shanks stared at Roger with sadness in his eyes.

Ever since they heard that Roger would be executed in Loguetown, they had rushed to the East Blue—all for this moment.

They never intended to rescue him.

They knew Roger's illness was already incurable.

Even if he escaped execution, he wouldn't have long to live.

This was his choice.

As his former crew, all they could do was honor his wishes.

They weren't the only ones from the Roger Pirates who had come.

Several former crew members were hiding in the shadows, silently watching.

None of them stepped forward.

None of them tried to interfere.

They simply witnessed history unfold.

The Execution Begins

A short corridor had taken over ten minutes to cross.

At last, Roger reached the execution platform.

Under Marine orders, he ascended the steps—

And then—

He sat atop the towering platform, dozens of meters high, for all to see.

His smile never wavered.

He did not fear death.

And seeing so many people gathered for him—even if their intentions weren't pure—he felt happy.

As the execution was about to commence, the square fell silent.

Tens of thousands of eyes widened, locked onto the platform above.

At this moment, many felt a chill run down their spines.

Even the Pirate King couldn't escape the Marines' grasp.

Many who had once dreamed of piracy suddenly felt a sense of dread.

And that—

Was exactly what the Marines wanted.

By publicly executing Roger, they sent a message to the world:

"If even the Pirate King could not escape… then what chance do you have?"

This was their greatest warning—a final attempt to crush the spirit of future pirates.

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