Watching Roger's Execution from the Start

As soon as she finished speaking, a Marine soldier cautiously pushed open the office door. Whenever he glanced at Atlas, his eyes shone with fervent admiration.

"Vice Admiral, someone outside says he knows you and wants to see you."

"Hm? He knows me?"

Atlas had no family or friends in either of her lives. On the Grand Line, she had only dealt with the Marines, and they wouldn't need an introduction to see her. Who could it be...?

After a moment's thought, Atlas told the Marine, "Send him in."

There was no point dwelling on it. With her current strength, she had nothing to fear from anyone's tricks.

"Yes, ma'am!"

Thud, thud, thud!

At Atlas's command, the soldier hurried out, afraid of delaying her business.

"Hello. Are you Vice Admiral Atlas?"

Before long, a young man with gray-green hair appeared in Atlas's office, looking uneasy.

"And you are?"

Atlas searched her memory but couldn't place him.

"My name is Gild Tesoro. I was a slave." The gray-green-haired young man stole a cautious glance at Atlas. When her expression didn't change, he continued, "I escaped from Mary Geoise."

As if afraid Atlas wouldn't believe him, he moved to take off his shirt and show her the mark on his back.

"Hey! Stop! Don't!"

Atlas hurriedly stopped him. What would people think if they saw that? Besides, Tesoro probably didn't want anyone to see that mark of shame...

"Aren't you afraid I'll send you back?"

A ripple of emotion stirred in Atlas's heart, but her face betrayed nothing. She asked with a faint smile.

Atlas had recognized him now: the future Gild Tesoro! He looked so different from the man he would become in a dozen years that, if his surname hadn't stuck in her memory, she would never have known it