He forced himself to suppress his discomfort and said:
"Captain, don't make jokes like that!"
"Ah la ah la I got it."
Rosen raised both hands as if to surrender.
"But Captain, if the World Economic News Paper really does become powerful in the future, how could they possibly bend to our will?"
"That's simple. If they don't listen just go cut them down."
"Hah, as expected of Captain."
Shiryu laughed heartily.
"Captain, if we head to Loguetown at this time, won't we run into high-level Marine forces? Perhaps even an admiral!"
Shiryu asked, his tone heavy with concern.
Though he had great confidence in himself, and full trust in Rosen's strength, the title of Marine Admiral still carried a weight that could shake the seas.
Aside from the monsters roaming the New World, no one dared claim they could walk away safely from a clash with an admiral.
That was the Marines the largest and most violent organization upon the seas, with the authority and force to suppress the Four Seas and Paradise alike.
"No need to worry. We're not going there to stir up trouble."
Rosen explained.
In the original timeline, Roger's execution hadn't been carried out with the massive battle formations like Ace's.
But when executing such an important figure, guarded only by two executioners
if you thought about it, that didn't sound reasonable at all.
The Marines knew full well that Roger's death would draw pirates and heroes from across the seas, and none of these people were weak.
If anyone lost their mind and tried to storm the execution platform,
there had to be sufficient combat power to keep the situation under control.
Otherwise, the Marines's great "victory" would turn into the greatest scandal in history.
So yes without question, the Marines would have significant forces stationed at Loguetown.
Rosen only wanted to arrive before Roger's death, just to "sign in."
What's wrong with lying low and growing stronger?
"Besides, Roger's fall will be a historical turning point. Don't you want to see, with your own eyes, the kind of man who was recognized by every true man of the sea?"
Rosen continued.
"And one more thing don't underestimate your captain! Even against an admiral, I can put up a fight!"
"But still… best not to show off too much. If the Marines's top brass all came out at once, even I wouldn't be able to handle it for now."
Rosen first sat up, boasting with grandeur, then promptly flopped back down and started slacking again.
"Understood, Captain."
…
…
Seven days later.
Two figures stepped onto Loguetown's shores.
By now, the place was already brimming with heroes and rogues.
Throw a stone at random, and the person you hit might just become a pirate captain in the future.
Looking at the bustling streets, where people still worked as usual despite the looming execution,
Rosen could only sigh.
This peaceful age was about to end.
After the execution, the Great Pirate Era would begin, pirates would spring forth like wildfire.
"Captain, what do we do in the next three days? Can I cut someone down?"
Shiryu asked, bloodlust brimming.
Floating around in the skies for days had pent him up badly.
"Relax. Soon enough, you'll have someone to cut. Just don't embarrass yourself when the time comes."
Rosen said with a grin.
"Oh? What kind of enemy?"
"No, no… not enemies. Future crewmates."
…
…
East Blue – Loguetown
Three days before the Pirate King Roger's execution.
Shiryu followed Rosen through the streets.
The two walked as though without aim and indeed, they had no aim.
Rosen's real intent was to recruit someone.
That's right—at the time of Roger's execution,he wanted to lay eyes on Moria!
The young Moria was still filled with drive,valued his companions,and had the courage to challenge those stronger than himself.
It was only after challenging Kaido, when all his crew were slaughtered,that his spirit and ideals were shattered.
If you compared him to Luffy, the collapse Luffy suffered after Ace's death was almost the same.
The difference was whenever Luffy hit rock bottom,there was always someone to pull him back up, to rekindle his fighting spirit.
Moria, however, never had that.
He drowned alone in the trauma of watching his comrades slaughtered.
He became evasive, cowardly, and lost faith in his own abilities.
But what never changed was his heart; he always valued his comrades.
Even after losing to Kaido, losing to Luffy, being ambushed by Doflamingo
When Absalom was captured by Blackbeard,Moria charged headlong into Beehive Island
into the very den of a Yonko.
A man who had already been crushed by Kaido's might surely knew better than anyone the power of a Yonko.
And yet, for the sake of a comrade, he still went.
How could Rosen possibly let such a man slip away?
In Rosen's eyes, Moria had immense potential both in Devil Fruit development and raw physique.
He had only walked down the wrong path.
That's why recruiting Moria was Rosen's other purpose in coming to Loguetown,
beyond just plundering word entries.
"Damn it! With a body nearly seven meters tall, he should stick out like a sore thumb! Why haven't I seen him yet?"
Rosen muttered inwardly.
He didn't want to use Observation Haki that might draw the Marines' attention in Loguetown.
On the day of the execution, he was bound to spot Moria anyway,so for now Rosen didn't plan to use it.
Shiryu, however, didn't know this.
He assumed that Rosen must already know where Moria was,and was simply leading them to him.
…
Just as Rosen was about to call it quits for the day,
he turned a corner and a massive figure came into view.
Moria himself was walking straight toward them.
"Found you! Moria!"
Rosen halted, fixing his eyes on Moria with a smile.
"Hm?"
"Hm?"
At those words, both Shiryu and Moria turned their attention to each other.
Shiryu, with a frame taller than even most admirals, was now staring at Moria, nearly seven meters in height.
Wild, leek-shaped hair, a devilish face with two horns sprouting from his forehead,
pointed ears, and a mouth full of shark-like fangs.
His head bore crisscrossed stitches like a sewn wound.
Around his neck was a leather collar.
He wore a bat-wing–collared shirt beneath a leather jacket with an open chest.
And beneath it all dense, powerful muscle.
To Shiryu, this was clearly no weakling.
"So this is him, huh? Quite interesting."
Shiryu remarked.
"Hyah-hyah-hyah-hyah-hyah!"
"How do you two nobodies know my name? Have you come to throw yourselves under me?
Call me Captain, and I'll accept you!"
At this time, Moria was still full of fire, bold enough to try and recruit others straightaway.
He could sense both men before him were no pushovers.
"Captain! He's looking down on us!"
Shiryu's voice was a mix of joy and fury.
To him, the provocation of a weakling was nothing but a joke.
"Oi, Moria! I'm here to recruit you!
Since you've got the same idea—why don't we settle this with a fight?
Whoever wins gets to be captain!"
"Hyah-hyah-hyah-hyah! Both of you at once, then?"
Moria asked arrogantly.
"Hahahahaha! You're not even qualified to make me fight, Moria!
Beat Shiryu, and I'll acknowledge you!"
Rosen burst into laughter.
Though Moria was older than Shiryu, strength wasn't measured in years.
Look at Luffy barely a few years at sea, already smashing Yonkos and standing up to the Gorosei.
Talent comes first. Strength comes first.
A man like Moria, who rose from nothing in the Four Seas, might not even know what Haki was.
Naturally, he couldn't be Shiryu's match.
"Hyah-hyah-hyah-hyah! Too much disrespect!
Your subordinate I'm taking him!"
Moria declared with arrogant confidence.
"This isn't the best place for a fight.
I don't want to stir up unnecessary trouble."
--------------
T/N:
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