Smoker and Vic continued chasing after the Straw Hat Boy, but they couldn't find him along the route he had just pointed out. After wandering around for a long time, they finally arrived at the nearly bankrupt tavern, only to find that Luffy had already finished listening to the story, drinking the milk, and left.
Then Luffy met Zoro, who had already bought the sword. No, Zoro's sword wasn't bought; it was a gift from the weapon shop owner. It's possible that the Yubashiri was given to this young man by Thunder God Vic, which means Thunder God has high hopes for him. In addition, this young man has gained the approval of the Sandai Kitetsu, so his future is definitely limitless. Giving away a cursed sword is fine; keeping it would only harm people.
After Luffy and Zoro met, they agreed to go out for a meal together, but neither of them noticed that Buggy and his crew were disguised right next to them at the table.
After finishing their meal, the two realized they hadn't brought any money. Luffy couldn't possibly have any money, and if he did, he would have spent it all quickly. Zoro, on the other hand, had some money on him, since he hadn't spent any money buying the sword.
However, since the first person he encountered after leaving the weapon shop was Nami, and the money he borrowed was from a loan shark with extremely high interest rates, he naturally had to pay it back as soon as possible since he hadn't spent the money. Otherwise, the compounding interest would be terrifying!
Although Zoro returned 200,000 Beli to Nami in time, he still owes Nami 500,000 Beli, which might become a million Beli tomorrow. Although he has a mouth, it's only for biting knives, so he can't argue with Nami. Therefore, I, Zoro, am determined to be Nami's servant!
Luffy and Zoro, each thinking the other had money, were enjoying their meal at the restaurant when they realized they hadn't brought any. Just as they were debating whether to dine and dash, a kind person next door threw a money bag at Luffy's head.
Since someone was throwing money at him, he figured he shouldn't be polite. Pirates don't stand on ceremony; if a money bag Luffy from the sky, might as well take it. Luffy immediately took out a gold coin from the bag to pay, said thank you before leaving, and returned the money bag!
Everything happened so smoothly that Buggy hadn't even reacted before a gold coin was missing from his purse, and the man even thanked him. Why did that face look so familiar?
Take a bite and think again, hmm? That guy looks like Straw Hat Boy! Take another bite and think carefully, hmm? That guy really does look like Straw Hat Boy Luffy! Then what's the point of eating anymore, guys! Chase after him!
By this time, apart from Luffy, the story had already concluded. Sanji had won the culinary competition and was now carrying a large fish towards the dock.
Usopp also defeated Daddy, the bounty hunter Daddy had brought a child and was his father's former rival, and obtained the goggles he wanted. At this moment, he and Nami, who had just finished buying clothes, were looking for the other people.
Their whereabouts have been exposed to the Navy and Buggy's crew, and both sides are searching for them. Luffy, having eaten and drunk his fill, is getting closer and closer to the Execution Platform!
Sanji encountered Nami and Usopp, who were being chased by the Marines. Naturally, he couldn't just leave them alone; at least Nami had to be safe. As for Usopp? Who was Usopp again? He seemed to have a long nose, right? It didn't matter. As long as Nami was alright, that was all that mattered!
Having learned from Nami that the Navy was hunting Luffy, Sanji gave his culinary contest spoils to Nami and Usopp to take back to the pirate ship. After defeating a group of Marines, he went to find Luffy and Zoro!
The situation in Loguetown has become somewhat chaotic, and we must leave as soon as possible. The naval base commander of Loguetown is not someone to be trifled with!
After a chaotic chase and fight, Luffy finally arrived at the Execution Platform, guided by the hat. At this time, dark clouds had gathered over Loguetown, shrouding the entire Loguetown in gloom, with occasional drizzle falling from the sky.
With a pilgrim's heart, Luffy step by step toward the Execution Platform. The surrounding noise no longer affected him. Luffy felt as if he were in another space. Perhaps he had returned to this place twenty-two years ago and witnessed the grand scene of the execution of Pirate King Roger!
Overwhelmed with excitement, Luffy's limbs became uncoordinated, and he couldn't climb up the not-so-tall Execution Platform no matter what he tried.
"What's that kid doing?"
In a building opposite the Execution Platform, Smoker and Vic were watching Straw Hat Luffy climb up the Execution Platform, but the kid was like a clumsy child, always slipping and falling, not holding on properly, his feet slipping, his arms getting tangled. He was nothing like a pirate with a bounty of 33 million Beli and a Devil Fruit ability!
This surprised Smoker. He couldn't understand what Straw Hat Luffy was doing. He had already fought this kid before, and Luffy's physical skills and abilities were quite good, but they were no match for Luffy's Logia.
But in the end, that kid still managed to escape by using the terrain. He knew very well how coordinated that kid was and how well he used the power of the Gum-Gum Fruit, but he couldn't understand the kid's current performance!
"Because his heart... stirred, his body became somewhat out of control. Climbing onto the Execution Platform might have been a sacred thing for him, so he couldn't suppress his inner desires! He wanted to see the scenery the Pirate King saw before he died; his ambition was immense! He wanted to become the next Pirate King!"
Vic said seriously from the side, "Although I've been following Smoker the whole time, I'm like air; I haven't lifted a finger."
Just then, Luffy finally climbed onto the Execution Platform Execution Platform. Standing there, he shaded his eyes with his hand and excitedly gazed at the scenery ahead. However, everything had changed; it was no longer the scene that Pirate King Roger had witnessed during his execution. But who knew what Luffy saw? His thought process was destined to be different from others!
The presence of an extra person on the Execution Platform quickly attracted the attention of others in the square. No one was allowed to go up to the Execution Platform; this was a prohibition in Loguetown!
The execution of Pirate King Roger was intended to deter all pirates, although the effect wasn't great. However, the Execution Platform held immense significance, and it was impossible for anyone to casually go up there and trample on its meaning.
Of course, so many years have passed, and people don't care about these things as much anymore, but no one has ever been put on the Execution Platform in front of everyone.
So when the town police in the square saw Luffy's actions, they immediately came over and scolded him, Luffy immediately.
Luffy was still arguing with the town police when Alvida, who had followed Luffy, knocked one of the policemen to the ground with a single blow. Then she started arguing with Luffy again, portraying Luffy as a scumbag who had started a relationship and then abandoned him. But how could Luffy, who has face blindness, recognize Alvida, whose size and appearance had changed so drastically?
Soon! Buggy the Clown appeared, recounting his difficult life after being knocked away by Luffy, vowing to avenge the Straw Hat Boy Pirates. His passionate story moved heaven and earth, but it couldn't move Luffy, Luffy even forgot Buggy's name.
Just as Luffy was trying to remember who the two people below were, Cabaji the Magician from the Buggy Pirates, appeared. He jumped directly from the tall building behind the Execution Platform onto the Execution Platform, and a wooden frame with holes stuck in it, trapping Luffy's neck and hands, Execution Platform him unable to move!
It turns out that Alvida and Buggy's banter was just to distract Luffy; the final blow came from the Cabaji the Magician!
"That's Buggy the Clown, right? And who's the other woman? Looks like they have a personal grudge. This is going to be interesting. This Straw Hat Boy Pirate's journey is about to end in Loguetown. I was somewhat interested in this guy; he gave me a special feeling, but it turns out he's nothing special!"
Smoker exhaled a puff of smoke and said nonchalantly that the Navy loved watching pirates fight amongst themselves, and they would just clean up the mess afterwards. In his opinion, Straw Hat Boy, pinned to the Execution Platform, had no chance of turning the tables; the outcome was already predetermined.
"That beautiful woman is also a pirate, named Alvida. She probably has a bounty on her head. She said she's Paramecia Fruit user who ate the Smooth-Smooth Fruit."
Who knew the Smooth-Smooth Fruit could also help with weight loss, body shaping, and freckle removal? Your bounty posters need updating! But will Straw Hat Boy's pirate journey come to an end? We can't say for sure right now, let's wait and see!
Vic had already sensed Dragon's presence. With his Pops secretly protecting him, how could Luffy possibly perish here? Even if Dragon hadn't come, Vic himself would have taken action. Luffy was a future ally, and Joy Boy's involvement was indispensable in overthrowing the World Government.
"Huh? How could you hear them talking from such a distance?"
"The extension of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's power—you wouldn't understand even if I explained it."