Farewell, Eternal Pirate King...

Austin was startled by his own thoughts!

Actually, if he really thought about it from this angle, there would be too many possibilities.

Not just these, but even Luffy, Zoro... Akainu, Aokiji...

Or, thinking more broadly, about the older generation, Whitebeard, Garp, Rayleigh, Gaban...

Austin shivered!

Betraying one's master, This is too perverse...

Austin dared not think further. He was afraid that if he continued, he would end up thinking about himself.

Striving to cast all these dirty thoughts out of his head, Austin finally regained a little clarity.

Regardless of what others did, At least Crocodile shouldn't be gender-bent.

Austin quite liked her current appearance.

Having made up his mind, Austin's playful spirit returned. How should he stop Crocodile from seeking help from Ivankov?

He slowly came up with an idea.

Perhaps noticing Austin's gaze, Crocodile, who was still a woman at this time, frowned and glared at Austin.

But in Austin's eyes, If it were a male version, it might have had some deterrent effect. But with this frosty beauty glaring at him, Austin only felt a wicked urge to toy with her fate surge within him.

Crocodile, You are destined to be a woman.

Even if Imu came, it wouldn't matter, I said so!

Fortunately, this small interlude

did not cause any impact.

A few minutes later, cheers began to erupt from the distant crowd. Within Austin's Observation Haki, he clearly felt the aura of that man again.

Thump... thump... thump...

Accompanied by slow and powerful footsteps, all eyes were drawn to the approaching figure.

Led by two guards holding flags, and escorted by two teams of guards, a figure with a large beard, wearing a dark red captain's coat and shackles, slowly appeared.

His steps were powerful and steady, as if he were not facing death, but his expression was calm and divine.

"Captain Roger..."

Upon seeing the man, Buggy and Shanks' mouths hung open in shock, their faces flushed with excitement, their eyes fixed on the magnificent figure.

As they watched Captain Roger walk alone onto the high platform step by step, tears and snot streamed uncontrollably down their faces.

Even though they were prepared, Upon seeing that figure, their hearts were instantly engulfed by immense sadness!

This was destined to be a great man.

Below the stage, even the most rebellious new pirate stars, upon seeing Roger smiling even at this moment of facing death, were all awestruck by his presence and watched in silence.

And Austin?

He just stood there dumbfounded, His eyes somewhat vacant as he looked at the figure sitting on the high platform, about to be executed.

He had thought that he, who had seen this famous scene so many times, would be immune when it happened before him again.

At least, He wouldn't be as grief-stricken as Shanks and Buggy.

But...

Austin reached out his palm and looked at the glistening drops falling on it.

This was completely different from how he thought it would feel...

"Hey, Austin, be careful not to catch a cold without a shirt. Let's go buy some clothes together."

"Hahaha, Austin understands me best. I told you drinking a little won't affect my health, cough cough cough..."

"Want to wrap Armament Haki around your weapon? I'll teach you, watch closely."

"As expected of Austin! Let's have a banquet to increase Austin's bounty!!!"

"...Thank you, Austin."

Scenes flashed through his mind like a film reel. Facing life and death, Austin felt both happy and sad.

He was happy that Captain Roger had gone out in such a glorious manner, for his own dream, without regrets.

He was sad that he would also lose his respected captain and mentor forever.

With a smile that seemed like it would never fade, Roger sat cross-legged on a high platform, his eyes showing no fear of death.

He looked more like a true, victorious king!

Before the execution, someone finally couldn't hold back their impatience and excitedly shouted out the famous question:

"Pirate King! Where did you hide all the treasure you found?

You definitely got it, that legendary Great Treasure, the one and only Great Treasure—

the One Piece!!!"

"Silence!"

The soldier executing him roared, but it couldn't stop Roger's final words!

With a carefree smile on his face, his heroic voice echoed throughout the entire square, and even spread throughout the whole world thanks to the Den Den Mushi.

"Do you want my treasure? If you want it, I'll give it all to you!

Go search for it, on the Grand Line!

I've put everything in the world there!!!"

After he finished speaking, the entire crowd fell into a brief silence and shock.

No one even paid attention anymore to the figure pierced by the sword, the blood slowly flowing and spreading.

The whole world went mad, incredibly excited about the existence of the Great Treasure.

Amidst the rampant ambition and cheers of setting sail, only three figures silently stared at the bowed head, tears streaming down their faces like a bursting dam.

Especially Austin, a remnant of the Old Era.

As someone who knew everything, he didn't care who would eventually find Laugh Tale, or who would possess the world's treasure.

He only knew that

this man who claimed to have fame, fortune, status... and even everything in the world, in reality, only brought a small bag when he left the ship, lived with Rouge, and only had one change of pants. He even wore the same captain's hat for so many years without changing it.

Captain Roger, you scoundrel...

Once, Austin had heard many doubts about Roger.

Some said that the Great Pirate Era he started caused a surge in the number of pirates at sea, endangering countless people.

But Austin, who had truly traveled the world and witnessed all sorts of countries, understood that

even if Captain Roger hadn't shouted that one sentence, there would still be countless wars and thefts in the world.

This was the consequence of the Celestial Dragons' and World Government's eight hundred years of corrupt rule, the oppression of nobles, and the opportunism of ambitious individuals, combined with various other reasons.

On the contrary, the beginning of this Great Pirate Era, behind the chaos, would also lead to the emergence of someone who could truly inherit the will of Captain Roger or even Joy Boy, and thus liberate the entire world.

Roger might not have been a good person in the traditional sense, but he was indeed a good captain, a true hero.

And for Austin, understanding this was enough.

Just then, the sky became overcast, as if the world itself was mourning Roger's passing. Drizzling rain began to fall.

Shanks lowered his Straw Hat, weeping silently. Buggy was much more boisterous, his mouth wide open in grief for his captain's death, tears streaming down his face.

Austin slowly looked up at the sky, staring intently at the dark clouds.

He couldn't tell if the water flowing down his face was tears or rain.

"Overcast? What a joke!"

His eyes held a hint of anger, his expression terrifyingly cold.

"Captain Roger's death was for his ideals and beliefs, not something to be sad about!"

His long hair moved as if in a wind, and Austin slowly drew the long sword at his waist.

A massive amount of Conqueror's Haki transformed into lightning, surging outward, instantly causing commotion and shock among those present. Countless people looked with astonishment at the figure flashing with black and red lightning.

Buggy and Shanks also stared blankly at Austin.

"That sword... it belongs to Captain Roger..." Shanks recognized it.

He pointed his sword to the sky, like a certain man who once defied the world, "Divine Departure!!!"

Instantly, under countless shocked gazes, The sky...

Split open!

Strands of sunlight poured down once more, Illuminating the figure departing with a smile, In a brilliant, golden light.