New Era

Loguetown was especially stiflingly hot today.

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

But that did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of Loguetown's residents. They had all rushed out early in the morning, crowding onto Central Street to secure good spots.

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

Countless Marines had long since taken up positions along both sides of the road, maintaining order.

The packed crowd all gazed toward the end of the street, waiting for the person they had been anticipating to appear.

The Pirate King: Gol D. Roger.

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

"Th-this is so high... Lord Enel..."

Baby-5 was simply too small. Standing in the crowd, she could not see anything at all, so Ye Mu had forcibly put her on Enel's shoulders.

Enel looked somewhat reluctant, but Baby-5 happily wrapped her arms around his neck and looked around.

Ye Mu, meanwhile, looked at Freya beside him and asked,

"Have you said goodbye to your father?"

Although Freya had already become their companion, she still was not quite used to staying by Ye Mu's side. Even so, she did her best to fit in and said,

"Mm, I said goodbye last night. He also told me lots of things about the Grand Line. But now that I've become a pirate, won't the Marines really cause trouble for my old man?"

"Don't worry. Vice Admiral Kuzan guaranteed it. His word can still be trusted."

"Tch. One's a Marine and the other's a pirate, yet they're making deals behind the scenes."

"Hahahaha..."

Remembering his promise to Kuzan the day before, Ye Mu laughed as well, then continued,

"Starting today, you're a member of the Sky Pirate Crew, and also our head chef. Normally, according to custom, we should hold a welcome banquet for you and Baby-5, but the situation is special right now. Once we've escaped safely today, we'll hold a banquet for both of you."

After saying that, he looked at Tiger and instructed him,

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

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

Freya, however, said unhappily,

"Don't underestimate me. I'm very capable too..."

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

Freya was about to argue further when a commotion suddenly came from the distant crowd, accompanied by one shout after another.

"Roger's coming out..."

Everyone instantly turned to look toward the end of Central Street.

Surrounded by countless soldiers, a burly man in a captain's coat, wearing shackles on his wrists and ankles, was slowly escorted over from the end of the street.

"Is that the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger...?"

"Gulp..."

Roger was clearly a criminal being taken to the execution grounds to face death, yet he walked like a victorious general, a calm smile on his face.

Everyone who saw this was overwhelmed by Roger's imposing presence. Not one of them dared breathe heavily as they watched him step by step toward the execution grounds, slowly entering them like a king.

Just as he passed the place where Ye Mu stood, Roger seemed to notice him as well. He grinned and slowly walked on.

Elsewhere, inside a building not far away.

Sengoku let out a long breath as he secretly watched the scene.

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

But for some reason, the smile on Roger's face made him increasingly uneasy. Still, as long as no major trouble arose, the plan could not be changed. After all, this public execution of Roger was being broadcast across the entire world. Its purpose was to raise the prestige of the Marines and the World Government. If Roger died too casually, it would not have the desired effect.

After thinking for a moment, he picked up the Den Den Mushi in his hand.

"The plan remains unchanged. And... stay on high alert..."

"Hey, Sengoku, it's already come to this. What are you still worried about? Besides, aren't Kuzan and Borsalino both nearby?"

Garp sat on a sofa nearby, eating doughnuts with an unconcerned expression.

But Sengoku did not dare relax in the slightest.

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

Fortunately, everything proceeded smoothly after that, and no unexpected changes occurred. Roger arrived at the execution grounds and, escorted by the soldiers, climbed the steps one by one to the execution platform. Then, like an emperor, he sat there and looked down upon all living beings below.

At that moment, the world fell silent. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the emperor standing upon the execution platform.

By this point, Sengoku had relaxed considerably. He had even begun considering other matters and issued an order,

"Have all Marines prepare. Once Roger is executed, whether it's those members of the Sky Pirate Crew or the other evil pirates, absolutely none of them can be allowed to leave."

"Understood, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Then when will you step forward and announce the World Government's public declaration of Roger's execution?"

"I'll do it now..."

But at that moment, a voice suddenly rang out across the silent plaza, startlingly familiar to Sengoku, Kuzan, Borsalino, and Dragon.

"Hey, Pirate King..."

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

"You found it, didn't you? That legendary Great Treasure, that one-of-a-kind Great Treasure!"

"The ONE PIECE!!!!"

Sengoku's expression changed drastically. Realizing what was happening, he dropped everything and hurriedly took out his Den Den Mushi, shouting,

"This is bad..."

"Now! Don't wait any longer. Execute him immediately..."

"But the time hasn't come yet..."

But it was clearly already too late.

"Ahahahahaha..."

Roger burst into delighted laughter atop the execution platform. He was truly happy.

At that moment, under everyone's watchful eyes, he finally proclaimed the great declaration that would give rise to the future Great Pirate Era.

"My treasure...?"

"If you want it, you can have it all..."

"Go find it! I left all my treasure there!"

At that moment, the entire plaza—no!

Everywhere people were watching the live broadcast of the public execution erupted into an uproar. Everyone began shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Oh!!!"

"Ah!!!!"

"The Great Treasure is mine!!!!"

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

"Damn it... So this was Roger's plan all along...? Ye Mu of the Sky Pirate Crew... This time, I absolutely won't let you off..."

At that moment,

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

Because the words just spoken had been asked by Ye Mu.

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

Enel asked in surprise.

"Of course not. I just felt that I was better suited to laying the bricks and paving the road for the dawn of this new era, that's all. Hahahaha..."

At that moment, Ye Mu was more excited and happy than he had ever been. He suddenly shouted, drawing the attention of everyone in the plaza.

"Everyone in the Sky Pirate Crew, now, for the Pirate King's Great Treasure, let us all set sail for the sea! The adventure begins..."

"Oh!!!"

Ye Mu's words not only made the eyes of everyone in the Sky Pirate Crew light up, making them feel that the destiny of this era had descended upon them.

Everyone else in the plaza, as well as everyone watching the execution, heard his voice too.

In an instant, everyone came to their senses. Their shouts rang out across the heavens, and without the slightest hesitation, they surged toward the sea one after another.

At that moment, only one thought was shared in all their hearts...

"The Pirate King's Great Treasure is mine..."