His gaze swept across the crowd. In an inconspicuous corner, a tall man stood silently beneath a cloak Monkey D. Dragon, the man known as the King of Slippers.
And perched on a rooftop on the opposite side, smirking as he observed the execution platform, was Donquixote Doflamingo.
Even Hawkeye and Crocodile were here.
(The future Warlords... the leader of the Revolutionary Army... Captain, you really gave yourself one hell of a farewell party.)
Suddenly, the crowd erupted.
"He's here! It's Gol D. Roger!"
Marines pushed Roger onto the execution platform. His hands were shackled with seastone cuffs, but his back remained straight, and a familiar, defiant smile played on his lips.
"That's… the Pirate King?"
"He doesn't look all that special."
"Damn it! He's the reason the world's in chaos!"
Insults and laughter rippled through the crowd, but Roger calmly scanned the faces before him. His gaze finally stopped on one person Ritter.
(Captain...)
Ritter bared his teeth in a grin, his white fangs gleaming.
"Boys, ready yourselves—"
He suddenly raised his hand. Crimson mist swirled in his palm.
"let's send this world a little greeting!"
—
"Wrath of the Dragon God FIRE!!!"
BOOM—!!!
A blood-red beam of light roared from the bow cannon of the Blumarine Jackson, tearing through the air. Everything from the harbor to the execution platform and beyond was reduced to rubble. The beam scorched a path of destruction until it was finally shattered by Garp, but the trench it carved remained, deep and smoking.
Through the scar it left in the landscape, Roger could clearly see the silhouette of Ritter and what used to be the Oro Jackson.
"An enemy attack?! We're under attack!!" Marines screamed in panic.
"That ship… it's…" Sengoku stood beside the execution platform, his face dark.
Kong wasted no time: "Execute him NOW!"
He didn't care what Ritter meant by that cannon blast. Roger had to die this was being broadcast live across the entire world.
If they failed, the Navy's authority would collapse completely.
Buggy trembled, almost ready to leap from the rooftop. "No! We can't just let this—"
Shanks gripped his shoulder tightly and muttered, "Buggy. Don't move."
"But—!"
"It's the captain's will!" Shanks growled, pain choked in his voice.
Buggy froze, then slowly lowered his head. His fists clenched, pounding the rooftop in frustration.
Just when the tension peaked
Someone in the crowd shouted the fateful question:
"Hey! Pirate King! Where did you hide your treasure?!"
On the execution stand, Roger suddenly burst out laughing. "You want my treasure?"
The entire plaza fell into silence.
"If you want it, go find it! I left everything this world has to offer… in that place!"
At the prow of the Blumarine Jackson, Ritter stood tall, his crimson cloak whipping in the blast winds.
Behind him, Moria and his zombie legion bowed in unison, joined by Perona and her hollow ghosts. Even Laboon, in his little top hat, bowed his massive head beside him.
Roger's gaze lingered on Ritter. In that fleeting instant, he saw not the mischievous three-year-old, but a towering man who stood like a mountain his eyes brimming with fire and laughter.
"Shing—!"
The executioners, momentarily stunned by Roger's words, came to their senses and raised their blades.
Blood spilled.
And the world… stopped moving.
Then
BOOM!!!
A thunderclap cracked the skies. Rain poured in torrents, as if the sea itself was weeping.
The world ignited.
Roger's final words, carried through den den mushi to every corner of the globe:
"ONE PIECE… it's real!!"
"The Pirate King's treasure!"
"Set sail! I'm heading to sea!"
A roar of fanatic cries consumed Loguetown. Eyes across the world lit up with ambition.
In the pouring rain, Shanks and Buggy stood silently on the rooftop, soaked to the bone.
Tears streamed down Buggy's face, mixing with the rain. "Damn it… that bastard... that damn captain..."
Ritter jumped off the Blumarine Jackson, striding silently toward Roger's lifeless body. The crowd held its breath.
"Ritter! What's he trying to do?!"
Marines quickly encircled him. At this moment, Kong, Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and even the Three Admirals were all present.
With the world watching through den den mushi, the Navy could not afford to let anything go wrong.
Garp shouted, "Ritter! Don't forget your promise!"
Roger had told them Ritter wouldn't interfere with the execution.
Ritter glanced at Garp, face expressionless. "What I promised the captain… is already done."
Garp fell silent. He was right Ritter hadn't stopped the execution.
"Elders of the World Government are you watching?
I'm Ritter, former crewmate of the Roger Pirates. I'm taking our captain's body.
Tell your Navy to step aside."
All of Loguetown fell into a dead silence.
Marine soldiers gripped their weapons tighter. Sweat ran down their brows.
Sengoku's face darkened. Garp remained unfazed. Tsuru squinted thoughtfully.
Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji stepped forward, their presence suffocating.
From the other end of the den den mushi line, in the chambers of Mary Geoise, the Five Elders watched in icy silence.
"…Ritter," said the blond-haired Elder slowly. "Are you threatening the World Government?"
Ritter grinned, slamming the Black Tide Greatsword into the ground with a splash.
"No threat. A deal."
"A deal?" Sengoku frowned.
Ritter's gaze passed over the Marines and locked onto the den den mushi. "In exchange… for a promise."
The Five Elders were quiet for a long moment. Then the bald, sword-wielding Elder finally spoke. "Say it."
"I'm taking our captain."
He drew his massive greatsword, the blade gleaming coldly in the rain.
The entire crowd erupted in chaos.
Ritter sneered. "You all know exactly what I'm capable of."
He slowly lifted the sword, pointing it at the heavens.
"If you refuse—"
"A pirate with a 2.5 billion bounty, who hunts Celestial Dragons... do you really think you can afford to play this game?"
"Oh, and by the way… did you forget about God Valley?"
Akainu roared, "How dare you—!"
But the Five Elders said nothing.
Because they knew more than anyone how terrifying a 2.5 billion bounty pirate truly was. Especially one who still hadn't peaked.
They saw the shadow of Rocks D. Xebec in him.
And they knew if they kept pushing, they just might give rise to another Rocks.
But at the same time, they could not allow someone like Ritter to live unchecked.
Ritter was blackmailing them, true.
But he was also reminding them: the Roger Pirates played a major role in God Valley.
This was a debt the World Government owed.
And it was time to pay up.
From the other end of the den den mushi, the Five Elders' voice rang out, icy and commanding:
"Ritter… aren't you afraid of the World Government's wrath?"
Ritter smiled. Of course they'd try this next the old carrot-and-stick routine.
Bribery was off the table on a live broadcast, so now came the threats.
Rain slid down his cheeks as he looked up.
"It's not about what I want to do. It's about what you have no choice but to do."
Sengoku roared, "Arrogant fool! Do you think you can walk away from here unharmed?!"
Ritter didn't answer.
He simply raised his hand palm to the sky.
"You're welcome to try."
"But I promise you this… from this day forward, for every Celestial Dragon that steps outside Mary Geoise, I'll take a head."
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