"Worst Generation?!"
Smoker muttered.
The next second, he scoffed disdainfully, snorting coldly.
"Hmph! Those guys at Headquarters are truly foolish!"
"A kid like this can be bountied for 60 million Berries?"
Hearing Smoker's words, a Marine soldier next to him said with a panicked expression,
"Colonel Smoker, you absolutely must not underestimate him!"
"The report says this Monkey D. Luffy knocked out Arlong, who had a bounty of 20 million Berries, with one punch."
"He also killed Colonel Nezumi of Branch 16 right in front of Headquarters; he's a vicious pirate~!"
Seeing the soldier's reaction, Smoker's eyes showed disdain.
He snorted coldly again, with contempt.
"Hmph! The report said that when that Nezumi reported, he was flustered, and this Straw Hat also appeared by his side."
"It must be that Straw Hat trying to gain fame, deliberately forcing that Nezumi to say that."
"That Nezumi was already a good-for-nothing; he succumbed to a little threat."
"He's truly an embarrassment to our Marines!"
The soldier was stunned upon hearing this.
"Huh?! Is that so?"
It had to be said, it seemed to make some sense!
Smoker snorted coldly once more, disdainfully.
"Hmph! This is a common trick used by pirates who want to gain fame."
"I think those guys at Headquarters are too far from the front lines, which is why they believe Nezumi's foolish words."
"How could such an unprecedented pirate appear in the East Blue, which is the weakest of the Four Seas?!"
The soldier was now convinced and immediately looked enlightened.
"So that's how it is!"
"As expected of Colonel Smoker!"
Smoker's mouth curved upwards, his eyes filled with infinite confidence upon hearing this.
"Ever since I was transferred to Loguetown, I haven't let a single pirate escape."
"Over the years, Loguetown has achieved unprecedented peace under my guard."
"Just you watch! If that Straw Hat is going to the Grand Line, he'll definitely come to Loguetown."
"At that time, I'll make him realize that the fame gained by playing such small tricks… is vulnerable in the face of absolute strength!!!"
The soldier was completely conquered by Smoker's aura and confidence, the adoration in his eyes even brighter than the stars, and he once again exclaimed from the bottom of his heart.
"As expected of Navy Captain Smoker!!!"
Smoker didn't continue to enjoy the Marine soldier's flattery, but suddenly frowned and asked.
"Where's Tashigi? Has she still not returned after being out for so long?"
"By the time, the Straw Hat should be here soon."
"Everyone must be ready for battle at all times!"
Seeing that Smoker seemed a little angry, the soldier replied with some trepidation.
"Chief Petty Officer Tashigi said she went to the weapon shop to pick up her sword."
Smoker frowned at the words.
"Does picking up a sword take several hours? That foolish woman…"
"Navy Captain Smoker! Navy Captain Smoker…"
Just then, a panicked cry suddenly came from outside the door.
Smoker frowned, quite displeased with such a display.
He looked towards the door, and soon, a Marine corporal ran in.
The corporal saluted, then reported with terror in his eyes.
"Navy Captain Smoker, that Worst Generation, Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy has appeared!"
Smoker was about to reprimand the Marine for his panicked behavior, but as soon as he heard Luffy's name, he slammed his hand on the table and asked.
"Where is he?"
He had finally waited for him; he had to expose Straw Hat's hypocritical mask and let the world see that he was just a shameless scoundrel who only knew how to play petty tricks.
The corporal was also deeply surprised to see Smoker's excited appearance.
He had never seen Navy Captain Smoker so motivated!
It seemed Navy Captain Smoker was determined to catch Straw Hat!
As expected of Navy Captain Smoker!!!
After silently flattering him, the Marine corporal replied.
"There are reports that Straw Hat Luffy went to the execution platform of the former Pirate King Gol D. Roger."
Upon hearing this, Smoker immediately rushed out the door.
At the same time, he left a message for the Marine soldiers behind him.
"Gather the troops, blockade the port, I want to capture the entire Straw Hat here in one fell swoop!"
"Yes! Navy Captain Smoker!!!"
...
Execution Platform!
Because the former Pirate King was executed here, people always came to visit out of admiration.
So at this moment, the square was also packed, overflowing with people.
Luffy stood in the distance, looking through the crowd at the seemingly simple execution platform.
"Is that where Roger was executed?"
Luffy sighed, then his mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.
To truly feel Roger's heroic aura before his execution, he naturally had to personally ascend the execution platform.
Luffy just swung his arm.
The next second, his body was brought onto the execution platform.
Looking at the figure that suddenly appeared on the execution platform, discussions immediately broke out below the stage.
"Hey! What's wrong with that person? Why is he in that place?"
"I just saw that person's arm stretch, could it be a Devil Fruit user from legend?"
"Hey! You with the Straw Hat, get down quickly."
"That is an execution platform under the special jurisdiction of the World Government, and no one is allowed to go up there."
"..."
The crowd below the execution platform was noisy, discussing animatedly.
Luffy stood on the high platform, looking down at the common people below, as if he had personally seen the scene Roger saw back then.
The next moment, his vision gradually blurred, and everything turned dark.
And when his vision cleared again, a completely new scene entered his eyes.
On the square, there was a sea of people.
Everyone's gaze was directed at the same place, a towering, isolated execution platform.
The path to the execution platform had a long staircase.
At this moment, a tall man with a walrus mustache was stepping up one step at a time.
He wore shackles on his hands, but he was like an arrogant king.
Making everyone in the audience only able to look up to him, amazed by his world-defying aura.
On the high platform were two executioners waiting to carry out the death sentence on the man.
But at this moment, it was the two executioners who were sweating profusely, their expressions tense.
The man walked onto the high platform, then sat cross-legged, his head slightly bowed, and with a calm smile, he said to the two executioners beside him.
"Come on! Get it over with quickly!"
The two executioners, hearing this, raised their twin swords and crossed them in front of the man.
Preparing for the final execution.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.
"Hey! Pirate King!"
"Where did you hide all the treasures you found?"
"Is it really in the Grand Line?"
"You got it, didn't you?"
"That legendary great treasure…"
"That unique great treasure…"
"...ONE PIECE!"
At these words, the entire audience fell silent!
Everyone held their breath, looking at the high platform, at that sole king.
The man suddenly raised his head slightly, and his mouth began to tremble.
The next second, it turned into a sky-splitting laugh.
"Wahaha ha ha ha ha…"
The thousands of spectators below the stage were all shaken by his aura upon seeing this scene.
Then, everyone saw the man on the execution platform suddenly stop laughing, his mouth slightly curved.
"Do you want my treasure?"
"If you want it, I can give you all of it…"
Upon hearing this, the audience below swallowed hard, their eyes burning, filled with suppressed excitement and ambition.
The two executioners, however, were flustered, raising the long swords in their hands.
"Hey! Shut up!"
The man was unmoved by the executioners' warning and spoke loudly.
"Go find it!"
"I put all the treasure there!!!"
As soon as his voice fell, two long swords crossed and pierced his body.
Blood, gurgled out, pooling.
And below the high platform, after a moment of silence, it suddenly erupted, with cheers shaking the heavens!!!
...
Luffy's vision once again gradually blurred, slowly falling into darkness.
At the same time, in his mind.
"Your comprehension is heaven-defying; through personal visualization and realization, your spirit has been enhanced."
"Your spirit has been enhanced, and your Conqueror's Haki has been strengthened!"
In the hazy vision, Luffy felt as if his Conqueror's Haki had suddenly broken through some kind of shackles.
Immediately after, prompts continued to appear in his mind.
"Your strength has broken through!"
Indeed!!!
Luffy thought to himself.
Before, he was only a hair's breadth away from breaking through to Admiral level, and the most crucial point was the insufficient strength of his Conqueror's Haki.
And after this experience, which was like personally witnessing Roger's execution, his Conqueror's Haki, as he personally visualized Roger's kingly posture, had made a significant leap.
Now, he was like Roger, who once looked down upon the world, possessing a hint of true kingly demeanor.
"Hey! Straw Hat! Get down quickly!"
"Did you hear me? Are you playing deaf?"
In the haze, Luffy faintly heard the voice of the guard who had told him to get down earlier.
Although he had experienced an execution in his mind, in reality, it was only an instant.
Luffy slowly opened his eyes, and his vision became clear again.
The sky had suddenly become covered with dark clouds at some point.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
Boom!
In an instant, strong winds also swept in with thunder.
The world suddenly changed color, the scene like the end of days.
Just as Luffy was about to leave, he suddenly saw a large number of Marines, almost a hundred, pouring in from both sides of the square.
Boom boom...
Accompanied by a motorcycle roar, Navy Captain Smoker, with a cigar in his mouth and his hair slicked back, sped over.
With a drift in the middle of the Marine-cleared passage, he stopped steadily right in front of the execution platform where Luffy was standing.
The onlookers stared blankly at this exaggerated display, not understanding what had happened to cause so many Marines to be dispatched.
Many in the crowd were especially surprised to see Smoker appear.
Even this super-strong individual, a Logia-type Smoke-Smoke Fruit user, Navy Captain Smoker, who had never been defeated since being stationed in Loguetown, was alarmed.
Just who could command such respect?
Just then, a Marine responsible for crowd control suddenly shouted to everyone present.
"All of you, hurry and leave here!"
"Our Marine will soon initiate an arrest operation against the Worst Generation, Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy, who has a bounty of 60 million Berries."
"This pirate is extremely dangerous; all of you unrelated individuals, leave immediately!!!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the plaza immediately erupted in an uproar.
Everyone looked incredulously at the man wearing a Straw Hat, who was currently surrounded by Marines and standing on the execution platform.
The man was slightly lowering his head, his hat brim covering his eyes, casting a shadow on his face, making him appear incredibly gloomy and terrifying.
"Is that the Worst Generation, Straw Hat, that everyone's been talking about recently?"
"He's just as the rumors say; he looks like a ruthless demon who kills without batting an eye."
"A Super Rookie pirate with a 60 million Berries bounty, I hear it's unprecedented!"
"He's truly terrifying, that Straw Hat!"
Listening to the exaggerated and astonished exclamations about Luffy's reputation all around him, Smoker couldn't help but frown deeply.
He immediately looked at Luffy with extreme displeasure.
"You pretentious fellow, let me beat you back to your true form!"
Smoker muttered to himself, biting his cigar, then said to Luffy.
"Hey! Straw Hat, hurry up and surrender, if you do, I might spare your life."
As Smoker finished speaking, everyone in the plaza stared intently at Straw Hat Luffy, who was slightly lowering his head on the execution platform.
Just like how countless spectators waited for Roger's answer to that question back then.
Luffy slowly raised his head, and the shadow on his face gradually disappeared, revealing his face, which held a faint smile, as if he looked down on the world, confident and proud.
.. ...
This scene caused everyone in the audience, including the Marines, to be stunned.
In that instant, they seemed to see a king standing at the peak, looking down on everything.
Even Smoker's mind was shaken.
He had been present when Roger was executed.
And now, the sight of Luffy raising his head reminded him of Roger.
It was as if Luffy's figure, standing on the execution platform, merged with Roger's.
For a moment, everyone's impression of Luffy as a demon began to change, becoming like that of believers looking up at a deity.
Under everyone's tense gaze, Luffy's lips began to move slightly.
Then, everyone in the plaza heard.
"Sorry! I still have to conquer the Grand Line, I don't have time to play house with you here."
Luffy's tone was calm and his demeanor relaxed, but the way he spoke these words made everyone marvel at his unparalleled aura.
Like a king, looking down upon all living beings.
Immediately, everyone was intimidated by Luffy's aura, standing there in a daze, looking up at him.
"What did you say?"
Smoker frowned, biting his cigar, his eyes filled with rage.
He actually said that fighting him was like playing house?
How could Smoker tolerate this?
He glared fiercely at Luffy, who spoke again.
"I said..."
Crack!
Luffy was halfway through his sentence when, at that very moment, a bolt of lightning suddenly exploded, striking down from the dark clouds.
Everyone stared blankly at the golden lightning bolt, which was clearly aimed at Luffy, who was currently standing on the execution platform.
Immediately, gasps of surprise filled the plaza.
"Hey! That lightning bolt is going to strike Straw Hat!"
"Run, you'll die!"
"The lightning is going to strike you, Straw Hat, did you hear me?"
"Get out of there quickly!"
Perhaps shocked and moved by Luffy's aura just now, countless people began to call out and warn Luffy, urging him to quickly dodge.
Smoker no longer cared about the crowd's opinion of Luffy; he just frowned, staring intently at Luffy.
He wondered why Luffy didn't react despite hearing the warnings.
Was he scared silly?
Or was he seeking death?
Smoker made guesses in his mind.
However, in the next moment, his heart suddenly trembled.
His pupils shook like an earthquake, and the cigar in his mouth fell to the ground because he opened his mouth wide.
His expression was one of extreme shock and disbelief.
All the people in the plaza were also extremely shocked, as if they had seen a ghost or a god.
Their expressions were astonished, their bodies trembled, and their eyes contained incredibly strong shock and disbelief.
On the execution platform at this moment, Luffy wore a faint smile, his expression proud, his gaze looking down as if he disdained the world.
And what astonished and captivated everyone in the plaza was Luffy's raised right hand.
Between his right hand, a golden lightning bolt was held tightly like a spear.
Wild winds raged, and dark clouds pressed down on the city.
Thunder rumbled, and the booming sound shook heaven and earth.
And it was in this apocalyptic scene.
On the execution platform, the man smiled, his expression proud, holding lightning, like a king!
This shocking scene left everyone in the plaza dumbfounded.
Then, under everyone's incredibly shocked gaze.
Luffy looked at Smoker, who was standing dazed, and said in a voice as light as a feather.
"I said, you... are too weak!!!" Mountain.