The Great Pirate Era Begins!

The tavern was no longer as lively as before.

A few scattered people sat eating, and even when they spoke, it was in hushed tones, the usual clamor long gone.

Dawn and the others sat in this heavy silence, their expressions somewhat grim.

Seeing the serious looks on Hina and the rest, Dawn relayed his analysis to them.

Afterward, he could clearly see the group of youngsters relax a little.

Seeing this, Dawn couldn't help but reassure them again: "Don't worry. If someone really breaks through all the defenses, then having us or not having us won't make a difference. So don't put too much pressure on yourselves. I think the higher-ups arranged this just so we could witness the moment the Pirate King becomes history."

Watching the group he had motivated, Dawn inwardly grumbled: "Though the 'historic moment' they're thinking of is completely different from the reality. But the Navy higher-ups' obvious arrangement is simple and clear enough—it's just to deepen our sense of identity and honor with the Navy."

Dawn shook his head at this thought. He wasn't opposed to it, after all, being able to openly witness history and the dawn of a new era—he had no complaints about that.

"But the number of strong people who've gathered here is really something..." Dawn glanced around at the seated patrons, some of whom exuded a very formidable aura.

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

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

And if he could meet Crocodile, he might even confirm the mystery of that person's gender.

That secret, left hanging from the early days of the series when Crocodile first appeared as the first major boss of the New World, all the way until Dawn's transmigration—he was very curious about it.

While Dawn was lost in these random thoughts, the plaza of Loguetown was now packed with a dense crowd.

Not a metaphor—literally people pressed against people with no gaps in between.

The sun in the sky blazed like a giant furnace, and the heat was so intense that the air itself seemed to warp.

There was no shade at all, and the sheer number of people packed together made the surrounding temperature feel even hotter.

The scorching heat above and the unconscious shuffling of the crowd kicked up dust that hung in the air, making the environment even more unbearable.

But no one cared. Even though the stifling air made it feel hard to breathe.

Not a single person left. They all stood there silently, waiting for the Pirate King's execution to begin.

Meanwhile, the people Dawn was curious about—those who would shake the seas once this era began—each wore a different expression.

"Clank... clank..."

The sound of chains scraping against the ground rang out at some point. Without anyone noticing, a path opened through the dense crowd.

Roger walked down that path, flanked by orderly soldiers. His back was straight. If not for the handcuffs on his wrists, his fearless, dignified posture would make him look more like a king parading through his own country.

The shackles on his hands did nothing to make him seem pathetic. He was the first man in history to conquer the seas—the Pirate King!

At some point, the noisy crowd inexplicably fell silent, centering on Roger.

"It's Roger..."

"The Pirate King, Roger!"

Dawn and the others stood at the innermost edge of the execution platform, serving as the backdrop. But listening to the hushed murmurs around them, one message was clear.

The Pirate King had arrived!

Beside him, Hina and the others instinctively tensed up, their expressions grave. The oppressive atmosphere and tension around them made their hearts increasingly unsettled.

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

Even now, as he walked toward death, he was still like a proud king. His calm composure in the face of death made anyone who saw him, even a young Smoker, tremble from the depths of their soul.

"The will that is passed down through generations, the changing of the times, people's dreams—as long as people continue to pursue the answer to freedom, these things will never stop."

Roger slowly climbed the steps. As his voice echoed, he walked toward the highest point of the execution platform, as if a king ascending a podium to give a speech.

Finally, he stepped onto the wooden stairs and, under the gaze of countless eyes, slowly mounted the execution platform.

The eyes of the entire world were fixed here. Countless Den Den Mushi were broadcasting this scene to every corner of the world.

At this moment, everyone in the world—whether Navy, civilian, or pirate—was waiting for Roger's execution.

"Is there anything else you want to say?"

Roger grinned widely, lifting his shackled hands. "Take these off for me. They itch like crazy."

"That's not possible!"

"Why would I run away?"

Feeling the executioner's silence, Roger muttered, "What's this? No fun at all, hey."

Roger sat down cross-legged, facing the crowd, his smile unrestrained. Even in the face of death, he was still so wild and unbridled.

Dawn knew that Roger had long since put life and death behind him. And what he was about to do—no one knew why. Perhaps only his crewmates knew what Roger was planning.

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

The sharp blades crossed, the metallic ring echoing in the air.

Beneath the execution platform, the crowd began to stir restlessly. Everyone stared fixedly at the platform, not daring to relax even as sweat dripped into their eyes.

"Hey, Pirate King, where did you hide all the treasure you found? It's in the Grand Line, isn't it!!!"

"You got it, didn't you? That legendary great treasure, that one-of-a-kind great treasure—One Piece! Ah!!!"

"Hmph, hahahahahahaha!!!!!" Roger's mouth curled up, and his overwhelmingly domineering laughter echoed across the entire plaza.

"Don't speak without permission!" The execution soldiers aimed their weapons at Roger, but he didn't waver in the slightest.

"You want my treasure? If you want it, I can give it all to you. Go find it—I put all the treasure there!"

"Execute!!!"

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

The king who conquered the sea, at the moment of his death, also ushered in a new era!

The best and the worst era!!!

"Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!"

Countless people screamed and cheered, driven mad by the news they had received.

At the same time, the news reached every corner of the world. Countless places erupted in shouts simultaneously, and News Birds blotted out the sky as they sped off in all directions.

Dreams, ambition, wealth, fame.

Roger's words carried everyone's ambitions and stirred the tides of the era!