The Great Pirate Era Begins!

The tavern had lost its usual liveliness.

Small groups sat eating here and there. Even when they spoke, they kept their voices low; the usual clamor had long since vanished.

Dawn and the others sat amid this silence, their expressions somewhat grave.

Looking at Hina and the others' serious faces, Dawn relayed his analysis to them.

Afterward, he could clearly see the youngsters relax somewhat.

Seeing this, Dawn reassured them again. "Don't worry. If someone truly manages to break through all those layers of defenses, then it makes no difference whether we're here or not, so there's no need to put too much pressure on yourselves.

"I think the higher-ups arranged this simply so we could witness the moment the Pirate King became history."

Seeing how encouraged everyone was, Dawn inwardly grumbled, Although it will be a completely different historical moment from the one they imagine. Still, the Navy higher-ups' obvious arrangement is really straightforward. It's nothing more than a way to deepen our sense of identification with the Navy and our pride in it, isn't it?

At that thought, Dawn shook his head. He did not particularly object to it. After all, he could openly witness history and the beginning of a new era, so he had no complaints whatsoever.

"Still, quite a few powerful people have come..." Dawn swept his gaze over the seated patrons around him. Some of them radiated formidable presences.

Of course, no matter how strong they were, no one dared cause trouble under these circumstances.

"I wonder where those future Shichibukai are right now." Dawn was quite interested in the influential figures who had appeared in the anime.

And if he could meet Crocodile, he could confirm the mystery of his gender.

For the first major boss to enter the New World twenty years after the series began—a secret that had been planted as early as his initial appearance and remained unresolved even before Dawn transmigrated—Dawn was extremely curious.

While Dawn's thoughts wandered, the square in Loguetown had already become densely packed with people.

This was no metaphor. They were truly pressed shoulder to shoulder without even the slightest gap.

The sun hung in the sky like an enormous furnace, and the heat even distorted the air.

There was not a trace of shade. With so many people crammed together, the temperature around them felt even hotter.

The scorching heat from above and the unconscious shuffling of the crowd stirred dust into the air, making the environment even worse.

Yet no one cared about any of it. The stifling air even made breathing feel difficult.

Still, not a single person left. Everyone simply stood there quietly, waiting for the Pirate King's execution.

At this moment, the figures Dawn had been curious about—the people who would shake the seas after the era began—wore all manner of expressions.

"Clatter... clatter..."

At some unknown point, the sound of shackles scraping against the ground began to ring out. At some unknown point, a broad path opened through the packed crowd.

Roger walked down that path, flanked by orderly soldiers. His back was straight, and if not for the handcuffs on his wrists, his fearless, imposing bearing would have made him seem more like a king parading through his own kingdom.

The restraints on his hands did not make Roger look the least bit disheveled. He was the first Pirate King in history to conquer the seas!

At some unknown point, the noisy crowd gradually fell silent around Roger.

"It's Roger..."

"Pirate King Roger!"

Dawn and the others stood at the very innermost edge of the execution platform, serving as little more than a backdrop. Yet the hushed discussions around them all conveyed the same message.

The Pirate King had arrived!

Hina and the others beside him instinctively tensed, their expressions grave. The oppressive atmosphere and surrounding tension made their hearts increasingly unsettled.

The man who possessed wealth, fame, power—the man who possessed the entire world—Gol D. Roger.

Though he was now walking toward death, he remained like a proud king. His composure in the face of death made anyone who saw him tremble from the depths of their soul, just as the young Smoker had.

"The will inherited through generations, the changing of the times, the dreams of mankind—as long as people continue to seek the answer to freedom, none of this will ever cease."

Roger slowly climbed the steps. As his voice echoed, he made his way toward the highest point of the execution platform, like a king ascending a stage to deliver a speech.

At last, he stepped up the wooden stairs and slowly mounted the execution platform beneath the gazes of countless people.

The eyes of the entire world were gathered here. Countless broadcast Den Den Mushi were transmitting images of this place to every corner of the world.

At this moment, everyone in the world—whether Marines, civilians, or pirates—was waiting for Roger's execution.

"Any last words?"

Roger grinned broadly and raised the shackles on his hands. "Take these off for me. They're itching like crazy."

"That can't be done!"

"How could I possibly run away?"

Feeling the executioner's silence, Roger muttered, "What the hell? That's no fun at all."

Roger casually sat cross-legged facing the crowd, the smile on his face never fading. Even in the face of death, he remained so unrestrained and flamboyant.

Dawn knew Roger had long since cast life and death aside. As for what he was about to do, no one knew why. Perhaps only his companions understood Roger's intentions.

Clang!

Clang!

The sharp blades crossed, and a piercing metallic ring echoed through the air.

The area beneath the execution platform began to stir. Everyone stared fixedly at the platform. Even as sweat dripped into their eyes, they did not dare relax in the slightest.

"Hey, Pirate King! Where did you hide all the treasure you found? Is it really on the Grand Line?!"

"You got it, didn't you? That legendary great treasure, that one and only great treasure—One Piece! Ah!!!"

"Ho ho ho ho... hahahahahahaha!!!!!" Roger's mouth curled upward as his incomparably Haki-filled laughter echoed throughout the entire square.

"Do not speak without permission!" The execution soldiers pointed their weapons at Roger, but he did not waver in the slightest.

"Want my treasure? You can have all of it if you want it. Go find it! I left all my treasure there!"

"Execute him!!!"

The executioner roared as he drove the blades into Roger's body, but his final words plunged the entire square into wild cheers!

The king who had conquered the seas, even as he died, had also opened a new era!

The best and worst of eras!!!

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!"

Countless people shouted and cheered wildly, driven mad by this news.

At the same time, the news reached every corner of the world. Countless places erupted into cries at once, while News Birds blanketed the skies as they flew toward every part of the world.

Dreams, ambition, wealth, fame.

Roger's words carried everyone's ambitions and set off the tide of a new era!