With a calm but commanding voice, Ezra D. Vale gave his order.
"Begin constructing the execution platform."
The Marines moved swiftly. Within minutes, beams of wood were hoisted upright, ropes tightened, and nails driven in. Soon, a towering execution platform three meters high and one meter wide stood in the center of Loguetown's square.
As the final plank was set, a young Marine came sprinting toward Ezra.
"Vice Admiral Vale! Fleet Admiral Sengoku has arrived!"
Ezra nodded lightly. "Hina, leave a portion of the troops here to stand guard. The rest will come with me to greet the Fleet Admiral at the port."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Vale!"
Hina quickly organized the squad, leaving behind a team to maintain order while she followed Ezra toward the bustling harbor.
By the time they reached the docks, Loguetown was already boiling with noise and excitement.
"They're here! The Marines are here!"
"That's Sengoku the Fleet Admiral!"
"And look Garp the Hero!"
"Wait, isn't that Black Arm Zephyr too?! Damn, the Marines are going all out today!"
"What about Roger? Where's the Pirate King?! When's he coming out?!"
"Hold up, brother, stop pushing me!"
The crowd surged along both sides of the harbor, eyes locked on the enormous battleship anchored at the port. Everyone was desperate to catch a glimpse of the man who had conquered the Grand Line the Pirate King himself.
A metallic clank echoed from the ship. Chains rattled.
Clang... Clang...
And then, under the watchful eyes of the world, Gol D. Roger emerged.
Wearing his iconic crimson captain's coat, his wrists and ankles bound in pure seastone cuffs, Roger slowly descended the ramp. His eyes were closed, his expression calm.
He inhaled deeply the scent of salt, the breeze of the sea, the warmth of the sun. For a fleeting moment, he was free again.
"Whoa!"
"There he is! It's him it's Roger!"
"He's even more impressive in person!"
Cheers and shouts exploded from the crowd. Pirates, citizens, and onlookers alike couldn't help but scream his name.
At Roger's side, Garp's tone softened slightly. "Let's go."
Roger opened his eyes and smiled faintly. Surrounded by Marines, he stepped down onto the land of his birth his final stage.
"Good work, Ezra." Sengoku's steady voice broke the moment.
Even though it had been only a few days since their last meeting, he couldn't help but feel the difference. Ezra had grown again sharper, calmer, stronger. His presence now carried the weight of command.
Ezra smiled slightly. "You've worked hard too, Uncle Sengoku."
His gaze shifted toward Roger. "It's been a while, Roger."
Roger turned his head. For a brief instant, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. There was something familiar in the young man standing before him something that shouldn't have been possible.
That resemblance... impossible, he thought. How could someone look that much like…
But Roger said nothing. He merely gave a faint, knowing smile.
Ezra raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension. Lately, he'd noticed the same thing again and again people staring at him with silent astonishment, as if they were seeing a ghost. Imu had once given him the same look half disbelief, half dread.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
"Let's return to the base first, Uncle."
Ezra took the lead, Sengoku and the others following close behind. Roger, still chained, was escorted through the dense crowd toward the Marine branch building.
"Long live the Pirate King!"
"Roger! Roger!"
The chants of countless pirates rang through the streets. Their disguises were gone; they no longer bothered to hide their admiration. To them, Roger was more than a man he was legend incarnate, the one who had achieved the impossible and carved freedom into the sea itself.
"Pirate King! Where's your treasure?! Where did you hide the One Piece?!"
A burly man in the crowd shouted the question, but his voice was swallowed by the roar of thousands. Frustrated, he spat on the ground. "Damn it!"
For many of them, Roger's death didn't matter. What they cared about the only thing that truly burned in their hearts was the treasure he left behind.
After pushing through the endless sea of people, the Marines finally reached the base.
Inside the command office, Sengoku exhaled deeply. "Garp, one more time. Take Roger down to the dungeon."
Garp nodded. With the three admirals accompanying him, he led Roger away in silence.
That left Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and Instructor Zephyr resting on the sofas. Ezra stood nearby, chatting quietly with Gion, who had been waiting for him since his last mission.
Their whispers were barely audible soft, teasing words that made Hina, who entered moments later carrying a tray of tea, almost blush.
"Everyone, please enjoy some tea," Hina said politely.
"Thank you, Hina," Gion replied first, her tone so natural that Hina froze mid-step, suddenly feeling like she'd just been caught in something she wasn't even guilty of.
The air was awkward for a brief second before Sengoku finally spoke up.
"Ezra, there's something I need to discuss with you."
Ezra turned toward him, noticing the calm smiles on Tsuru's and Zephyr's faces.
"What is it, Uncle Sengoku?"
Sengoku reached into Tsuru's case and pulled out a sealed document. He handed it to Ezra.
Ezra took it with mild curiosity, his brows furrowing as he read the title printed boldly across the top:
[Confirmed Appointment List for Marine Admirals]
His eyes widened. "Wait… no way."
Sengoku just smiled. "Go on. Open it."
Ezra flipped through the pages. The first was a formal report addressed to the Five Elders, which he skimmed past.
Then his gaze settled on the second page
Final Admiral Candidates:
Borsalino (Kizaru)
Sakazuki (Akainu)
Ezra D. Vale (Code Name: Undecided)
For a long moment, Ezra said nothing. The weight of the words sank in.
At last, a slow, calm smile crept across his face.
From the shadow of the Pirate King's execution to the dawn of a new Marine era his name was now written among the strongest in the world.
And soon, that world would burn brighter or darker because of him.
_______________________
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