Sea Circle Calendar, year 1520. East Blue, Loguetown.
The town known as "the town of beginnings and endings" had been especially bustling lately. Ships of every description filled its harbor, and its streets teemed with pirates, merchants, and adventurers from all over the East Blue. The square around the Execution Platform was even more packed, every gaze fixed on the boy in the straw hat-Monkey D. Luffy, who had just charged into the square and was being driven into a corner by Marine Captain "White Hunter" Smoker.
Three hundred meters from the square, on the roof of a three-story tavern.
Chen Yu stood quietly in black everyday robes beneath an ink-dark cloak, his hem stirring faintly in the sea breeze. He wore no imperial crown with its twelve strands of beads, his hair simply tied up instead. Yet the natural majesty in his eyes, deep as a sea of stars and looking down upon all living beings, made anyone who happened to glance his way hurriedly avert their gaze.
Beside him, Guo Jia leaned against the chimney, a wine gourd dangling from his hand. He watched the farce in the square through narrowed eyes, his usual playful smile on his lips. Xun Yu stood in attendance on the other side, his expression solemn.
"So this is where the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was executed." Chen Yu's voice was calm, betraying no emotion. "And where that boy in the straw hat's dream began."
"He certainly is an interesting young man." Guo Jia took a swig of wine and smiled. "He ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, yet fought his way through the East Blue to Loguetown, defeating Captain Kuro, Don Krieg, and Arlong's crew... More remarkably, he's gathered such distinctive companions as the former Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, Cat Burglar Nami, the