The Shout from the Crowd

Rock strode toward Execution Square.

With each step, the packed, noisy crowd parted as though pushed aside by an invisible force, opening a path for him.

No soldiers drove them back, and no one gave an order.

It was his presence alone.

The pressure he radiated was hard to describe.

It was like a sky hanging low before a thunderstorm, or a storm brewing out at sea.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Is that... Vice Admiral Rock?"

Someone asked in a hushed voice.

"Azure Dragon... the legendary Marine who captured the Pirate King..."

"What a terrifying presence..."

One onlooker swallowed and muttered,

"He looked at me just now, and my legs nearly gave out..."

The person beside him nodded.

"No wonder he caught Roger."

"That presence... he hardly seems human."

On the other side of the crowd, someone cursed under his breath, his tone conflicted.

"Bastard..."

"He's the one who caught Roger?"

Frustration rang clear in his voice.

The person beside him went pale and grabbed his sleeve.

"Are you crazy?!"

"You dare say that out loud?!"

He glanced around nervously and lowered his voice even further.

"If you want to die, leave me out of it!"

"That's Azure Dragon!!"

"I heard he can blow an island apart when he gets angry!!"

The man shut his mouth at once.

Rock paid none of it any mind. The voices passed his ears like wind.

He simply walked to the front of the Execution Platform and stopped.

The sea breeze blew in from the harbor, stirring his Justice cloak.

In that moment, it was as though an invisible hand slowly pressed down on the entire square.

The crowd gradually fell quiet, and the air grew heavy.

Just then—

Heavy footsteps rang out in unison from the distance.

"Thud—thud—thud—"

Their steady rhythm beat