The execution was over,
and a generation's legend had officially come to an end.
Mourning the dead was also the greatest respect one could show them.
Austin did not dwell on it. Shanks and Buggy did not either; they had actually prepared themselves for this long ago.
Captain Roger would not have wanted the young people of the New Era to remain bitter over his departure.
The gathered crowd slowly began to disperse.
Yet several figures remained in the square before the execution platform. They recognized Austin.
He was Black Spear Austin, the man who had invaded Marine Headquarters several days ago.
Some were wary, some curious, some eager to provoke him, and some gripped their blades with battle intent blazing...
This showed just how great an impact Austin's heaven-cleaving slash had left on them.
Especially the young man carrying a black blade on his back. It was as though he had found a priceless treasure, the sharp battle intent in his eyes seemingly ready to surge forth.
Under normal circumstances, Austin would not have minded having some fun with these future "big shots."
For example, teasing Little Hawk or petting Little Crocodile.
But he was in no mood for that right now.
Because his attention was still on Captain Roger's body.
He slowly took a Den Den Mushi from his pocket.
"Buru buru buru..."
"Click."
Austin calmly faced the Den Den Mushi and slowly spoke.
To outsiders, no one knew whom Austin had called or what they had discussed.
They only knew that, after the call ended, Marine Headquarters received a supreme order from the World Government—
—Captain Roger's body was to be handed over to Black Spear Austin.
"He is the chief criminal responsible for destroying Marine Headquarters, the common enemy of all Marines. If we simply hand the body over to Black Spear, then our Marines..."
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Fleet Admiral Kong wore an ugly expression as he responded to the Den Den Mushi.
"Watch your words, Kong!
What does the Marine's dignity amount to? You are merely an outer appendage of the Government."
The Five Elders' unyielding attitude left Kong speechless. Several times, he wanted to speak, but the icy gaze from the other end of the Den Den Mushi drove the words away.
In the end, he could only accept the order in humiliation.
The command was passed down layer by layer.
Though they did not understand it, not a single Marine dared defy it.
"Black Spear Austin? What does he want to do?"
"That guy... The Marines and World Government agents are still here. Does he want to start another war?"
"Hehehehe, what a reckless fellow!"
"What an imposing man..."
Yet, to their surprise,
whether it was the Marines or the World Government guards, they could only watch as that tall, slender figure climbed the platform step by step, not daring to make a move.
Even the Marine officers could only glare at Austin furiously.
Everyone who saw this found it hard to believe.
Austin ignored them. He simply walked up onto the platform step by step, then slung Captain Roger's bloodstained body over his back.
After lowering his gaze to sweep over the people below, he turned away.
Carrying the body, he vanished from sight in an instant.
Indeed, his Devil Fruit ability had not yet developed to the point where he could teleport with other living beings.
But Captain Roger was already dead, so that restriction naturally no longer applied.
As the main figure departed, the remaining people in the square also gradually left.
After failing to find Austin, Buggy and Shanks headed toward the outskirts of Loguetown together.
However, the two close friends got into an argument along the way. Buggy looked at Shanks's indifferent expression and roared,
"Shanks, you said it yourself! That one day, you would take your own ship to Laugh Tale!"
Shanks remained calm and slowly lowered his head. His straw hat hid his eyes, but his answer caught Buggy completely off guard:
"Yeah, but I've changed my mind.
I'm not planning to go for now, but I'll still become a pirate."
At the same time, he invited Buggy aboard.
"Come with me, Buggy."
The moment he heard those words, Buggy's heart was overwhelmed by anger and a sense of betrayal.
He gritted his teeth, glared at the calm-faced Shanks before him, and slapped away his outstretched hand.
"You coward, you idiot! Compared to someone like you, only Austin deserves to be called the King of the Next Generation.
Captain Roger was truly wrong about you!!!"
Wasn't Captain Roger's wish for Shanks to inherit his legacy?
Even now, Buggy could not understand why Captain Roger had not chosen Austin to inherit his will.
And now, he was utterly disappointed in Shanks!
"You haven't forgotten, have you? You lost my treasure map. The next time we meet, we'll be enemies!!!"
With that said, Buggy ran off resolutely, leaving this place of sorrow behind.
Watching Buggy's retreating figure, Shanks merely stood there in a daze, unmoving for a long while.
Come to think of it, these two really were stubborn fools of the century.
If Shanks had just explained that now was not the right time, so they would go later instead,
Buggy would not have left in a huff, believing Shanks had betrayed Roger's final wish.
As a result, two close friends who had grown up together could go more than ten years without meeting even once over this.
"Buggy really is always so impulsive..."
At some point, Austin appeared beside Shanks. Looking at Buggy's departing back, he did not choose to stop him.
Men of the sea all had their own choices. As Buggy's good friend, Austin would not force anything upon him.
When Buggy truly pulled himself together, Austin would naturally appear.
After all, he was rather interested in becoming an Imperial Father.
"I know, Shanks. Now really isn't the right time, but..."
Austin paused for a moment, then looked at Shanks's resolute eyes. That familiar smile appeared on his face once more.
"How can you be sure that you're the right person? The future Pirate King might be Buggy, you know~"
But Austin had no intention of playing peacemaker.
After all, if Buggy truly became Shanks's Emperor's First Mate, would Four Emperors Buggy still exist in the future?
Buggy...
had never lacked the potential to become a king.
Everyone had their own life to choose and their own journey to take.
In fact, when the Roger Pirates disbanded, The Three Little Ones of the Old Era had also disbanded.
They seemed to have drifted farther and farther apart. They had been happy together in the past, but now no ship could accommodate them all. They should part ways.
That was life. (Patrick's quote)
And besides,
they would meet again on the seas someday.
When that time came, it would surely be very interesting.
It was also on this day
that Austin, Shanks, and Buggy officially parted ways,
setting out upon their paths toward the sea...
(Old Era Arc · End)
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