New Era

Loguetown was especially stifling today.

The sun hung high in the sky, its brilliant light illuminating every corner of Loguetown and baking the damp, muggy air.

But that did nothing to dampen the residents' enthusiasm. Early in the morning, they had all poured into the streets, crowding onto the main avenue to find themselves a good spot.

This was the widest street in all of Loguetown, and the only one connecting the Loguetown Marine Headquarters to the execution grounds.

Countless Marines were already standing guard on both sides of the road, keeping order.

The crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder, everyone gazing toward the end of the street, waiting for the person they had come to see.

The Pirate King: Gol D. Roger.

Ye Mu had also brought Enel, Tiger, Freya, and Baby-5 here.

"Wow... it's so high up, Lord Enel..."

Baby-5 was so small that she couldn't see a thing from within the crowd, so Ye Mu had forced her to sit on Enel's shoulders.

Enel looked a little reluctant, but Baby-5 was delighted, wrapping her arms around his neck as she looked all around.

Ye Mu turned to Freya beside him and asked,

"Have you said goodbye to your father?"

Though she had already joined the crew, Freya still wasn't quite used to being around Ye Mu. Even so, she tried her best to fit in as she answered,

"Yeah, I said goodbye last night. He told me all sorts of things about the Grand Line, too. But now that I've become a pirate, won't the Marines give Pops trouble?"

"Don't worry. Vice Admiral Kuzan gave his word. We can trust him."

"Tch. A Marine and a pirate making deals behind everyone's backs."

"Hahahaha..."

Remembering the promise he had made to Kuzan yesterday, Ye Mu laughed, then continued,

"Starting today, you're a member of the Sky Pirates, and our head chef, too. Normally, we'd hold a welcome party for you and Baby-5, but things are a little unusual right now. Once we've made it out of here safely today, we'll throw a party for you both."

Then he turned to Tiger and gave him instructions.

"Tiger, once the execution is over, you'll have one job: protect Freya and Baby-5. Enel and I will clear a path for you."

"Don't worry. Leave it to me, Captain Ye Mu."

Freya looked a little displeased.

"Don't underestimate me. I'm pretty strong, too..."

"I know that, of course. But the fight that might break out next isn't something you can afford to get involved in... Still, there's no need to worry too much..."

Freya was about to argue, but just then, a commotion rose from the distant crowd, accompanied by a steady stream of shouts.

"Roger's coming out..."

Everyone immediately looked toward the far end of the main avenue.

Surrounded by countless soldiers, a burly man in a captain's coat, shackled at the wrists and ankles, was slowly escorted down the street.

"So that's the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger..."

"Gulp..."

Roger was a condemned criminal on his way to the gallows, about to die, yet he walked like a victorious general, a calm smile on his face.

Everyone who saw him was awed by Roger's imposing presence. No one dared even breathe too loudly as they watched him stride toward the execution grounds, step by step, like a king.

As he passed the spot where Ye Mu stood, Roger seemed to notice him. He grinned and continued on his way.

In a building not far away,

Sengoku, secretly watching the scene, let out a long breath.

This was the moment he had feared most. Fortunately, it had passed without incident.

But for some reason, the smile on Roger's face only made him more and more uneasy. Still, unless something serious happened, he couldn't change the plan. Roger's public execution was being broadcast live across the world, after all. The point was to boost the reputations of the Marines and the World Government. If Roger died too casually, it wouldn't have the same effect.

After thinking it over, he picked up the Den Den Mushi in his hand.

"Keep the plan unchanged. And... stay on guard."

"Hey, Sengoku, what are you still worried about at a time like this? Besides, aren't Kuzan and Borsalino already nearby?"

Garp sat on a sofa nearby, eating doughnuts with a carefree look on his face.

But Sengoku didn't dare relax at all.

"The closer we get to the end, the more careful we have to be. Take this seriously... and stop eating..."

Fortunately, everything went smoothly after that. Nothing unexpected happened. Roger arrived at the execution grounds and, escorted by the soldiers, climbed the steps one by one to the Execution Platform. Then he sat down like an emperor, looking down upon everyone below.

At that moment, the world fell silent. Every eye was fixed on the emperor seated on the Execution Platform.

By now, Sengoku had relaxed considerably. He even began thinking about other matters as he gave an order.

"Have all the Marines get ready. Once Roger has been executed, we can't let any of them leave—not the Sky Pirates or any of the other criminals here."

"Understood, Admiral Sengoku. When will you make your announcement about Roger's execution to the world?"

"I'll do it right away..."

But at that moment, a voice suddenly rang out across the silent plaza, startling Sengoku, Kuzan, Borsalino, and Dragon. It was a voice all of them recognized.

"Hey, Pirate King..."

"Where did you hide all the treasure you found? Is it really somewhere on the Grand Line?"

"You found it, didn't you? That legendary treasure, the one and only treasure!"

"The One Piece!!!!"

Sengoku's expression changed dramatically. As soon as he realized what was happening, he forgot everything else and hurriedly grabbed the Den Den Mushi.

"This is bad..."

"Do it now! Don't wait any longer—execute him immediately!"

"But it's not time yet..."

But it was clearly too late.

"Ahahahaha..."

Roger burst into joyful laughter on the Execution Platform. He was truly happy.

Under the gaze of everyone present, he finally delivered the great declaration that would usher in the Great Pirate Era.

"My treasure..."

"If you want it, you can have it!"

"Go find it! I left everything I've gathered in one place!"

At that moment, the entire plaza—not just the plaza!!!

Everywhere people were watching the public execution broadcast erupted in a clamor. Everyone shouted at the top of their lungs.

"Whoa!!!"

"Yeah!!!!"

"The One Piece is mine!!!!"

Sengoku's face darkened completely as he clenched the Den Den Mushi in his hand.

"Damn it... So that was Roger's plan... Ye Mu of the Sky Pirates... I won't let you get away with this!"

And at that moment,

Enel, Tiger, Freya, and Baby-5 all stared at their captain in shock.

Because those words had just been spoken by Ye Mu.

"Hey, Ye Mu, you didn't arrange that with Roger beforehand, did you?"

Enel asked, sounding surprised.

"Of course not. I just thought I was better suited to laying the groundwork for this new era, hahaha..."

Ye Mu had never felt so excited and happy. Then he suddenly shouted, drawing everyone's attention to the plaza.

"Everyone in the Sky Pirates, it's time! Let's set sail for the Pirate King's treasure together. Our adventure begins now..."

"Whoa!!!"

Ye Mu's words lit up the eyes of everyone in the Sky Pirates. They felt as if the fate of this era had fallen into their hands.

Everyone else in the plaza, along with everyone watching the execution, heard him too.

In an instant, they all came to their senses. Shouts rang through the sky, and without a moment's hesitation, people surged toward the sea, one after another.

At that moment, they all shared a single thought...

"The Pirate King's treasure is mine..."