In Finn's memory, the day of Roger's execution should have been rainy, dark clouds weeping over the Pirate King's death.
Instead, the weather was perfect. Clear blue skies stretched overhead without a single cloud, brilliant sunshine illuminating Loguetown's square.
Perhaps his intervention had slightly altered the timeline when he captured Roger? Small changes rippling outward in unexpected ways?
Before the execution platform, none of the Marine leadership showed their faces. Only a Marine Captain directed operations while numerous soldiers maintained crowd control. So far, no incidents had occurred.
Everyone seemed content to wait for Roger's death calmly.
Chief of Staff Tsuru and the other senior officers remained at the base deliberately. Their absence served as invisible deterrent to any troublemakers in Loguetown. The criminals and pirates gathered here didn't know what countermeasures the Marines had prepared, which made them cautious about acting rashly.
To the right of the execution platform stood a tall bell tower. Finn stood alone at its peak, an isolated sentinel overlooking the gathering below.
The sea breeze blew gently, making his Justice coat billow and snap with soft rustling sounds. From this vantage point, he could observe the entire square and all its occupants.
Perhaps many people waited with excited anticipation for Roger's death. Finn felt no such emotion. He knew exactly how this would end, after all.
As for preventing the Great Pirate Era's arrival? He'd never entertained such foolish notions.
Not everyone could halt an era's momentum. Finn certainly didn't believe himself qualified for that kind of historical intervention.
Maybe I could silence Roger before he speaks those famous words, Finn mused. But the era would come anyway. Just a matter of timing.
If Roger didn't start it, perhaps Rayleigh or Gaban would. Someone would light that spark eventually.
No point trying to stop the inevitable. Besides, in Finn's assessment, the Great Pirate Era represented opportunity as much as crisis. Chaos meant advancement possibilities for those clever enough to exploit them.
He glanced at the massive clock behind him and clicked his tongue. Almost noon, the Marines' scheduled execution time.
Newspapers including the News of the World had dispatched reporters throughout Loguetown. A live broadcast Den Den Mushi had been set up on the tall building opposite the execution platform, its eyes currently closed but ready to transmit Roger's death across the entire world at the World Government's explicit request.
"Haah..." Finn yawned, feeling somewhat bored despite the historical significance.
Standing here, he could survey the entire square with ease. He'd already spotted Doflamingo, Mihawk, Crocodile, Buggy, Shanks, and Moria scattered throughout the crowd.
But Tsuru had no intention of moving against any of them, and Finn saw no reason to meddle independently.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea, Finn thought strategically. Once the Great Pirate Era begins, the World Government will launch that program within a few years. Marine opposition will prove futile. We'll be forced to accept it... However, if managed cleverly, perhaps I can throw some sand in that organization's gears.
Bartholomew Kuma was off the table as a Revolutionary Army plant. Finn couldn't arrange him, though he could potentially use him.
Mihawk lacked worldly ambitions beyond becoming the greatest swordsman. Once he achieved that goal, he'd essentially retire to his castle and only wander the seas when bored. Not controllable.
Gecko Moria held no interest for Finn. He saw no talent worth nurturing, no value in recruitment. The man would shine briefly then fade into irrelevance.
Jinbei, the Sea Knight, was a righteous man protecting Fish-Man Island's interests. When the Warlord system launched, he might be worth approaching for subtle influence.
Doflamingo and Crocodile were both capable and intelligent, but difficult to control. Doflamingo could potentially be manipulated by understanding his network obsession. Crocodile was stubborn but arrogant, which created exploitable weaknesses. Both worth considering.
Boa Hancock actually held significant value. Her personality and position as Amazon Lily's Empress created multiple leverage points for effective control. Worth pursuing when the opportunity arose.
Though she should still be young now, not yet captured and enslaved by Celestial Dragons. That trauma hadn't shaped her yet.
Should I visit Amazon Lily preemptively? Finn wondered. G-7's proximity makes that feasible. Maybe establish cooperation with them? Converting a nation of generational pirates to legitimate society would be quite the achievement...
A sudden breeze interrupted his thoughts. Finn's eyes sharpened with surprise as he turned his head.
Sure enough, a figure materialized from the wind itself, wearing a green hooded cloak that concealed everything except basic outline.
"What are you thinking about?" the newcomer asked casually.
"You've got tremendous nerve showing yourself to me," Finn said flatly. "You realize I could signal for thousands of troops within seconds? Chief of Staff Tsuru and the others would love to have words with you, Dragon."
Yes, this was Monkey D. Dragon, the Revolutionary. Finn had known Dragon would appear in Loguetown today, but he'd never expected the man to be brazen enough to approach him directly.
Does he really think I'm some kind of potential supporter?
"No," Dragon said with remarkable calm, a slight smile visible beneath his hood. "Even if you sent that signal today, the Chief of Staff wouldn't act. As long as I don't do anything extreme, Roger's the protagonist today, not me."
He paused meaningfully. "Even with me standing right in front of you, would you take action at this moment?"
Finn shook his head with grudging amusement. "You really know how to exploit circumstances. You're right. I won't."
Just as Dragon said, as long as he didn't cause disruption, even standing before Finn or Tsuru herself, the Marines would leave him alone. Roger's execution took absolute priority over everything else.
"Thank you for the situation with Kuma," Dragon said quietly.
"Don't thank me. The World Government never intended to kill him," Finn replied dismissively.
"Well, you—" Dragon began.
Finn cut him off immediately. "Please don't start with issues about justice or injustice, joining your organization, or cooperation proposals. Can't you just let me enjoy the midday sun in peace? Don't disturb my spectating, okay?"
Dragon seemed momentarily overwhelmed by Finn's verbal barrage. After a pause, he shook his head with faint amusement. "You're as blunt as ever."
"Speaking of which, is Bartholomew Kuma joining your anti-government group?" Finn asked abruptly.
Dragon glanced at him, considering, then nodded. "Essentially, yes."
"You're telling me this openly?" Finn raised an eyebrow.
"It was impossible to hide from you anyway, right?" Dragon said with a knowing smile.
Seeing that Finn genuinely didn't want to discuss ideological matters, Dragon abandoned any recruitment attempts. Instead, he settled into casual conversation, the kind they'd shared years ago when they'd both served at Marineford.
For a few minutes, they chatted naturally, the old camaraderie returning despite their current opposing positions.
"So," Dragon said suddenly, his tone turning mischievous. "You're already an adult. Haven't things developed with Gion at all?"
Finn's expression froze. "What are you talking about?? Gion and I have steadfast comradeship, nothing more."
"Tsk, no need to be embarrassed," Dragon teased. "Gion's the flower of the Marines, and you're the new generation's benchmark. You two have excellent rapport. If you got together, Admiral Sengoku would be delighted."
"I heard Admiral Sengoku and Chief of Staff Tsuru were exactly that type of handsome man and beautiful woman pairing in their youth," Finn countered. "Look at them now. Both still single. These things depend on fate, not planning."
The story of Sengoku and Tsuru was legendary among older Marines, though nobody dared tease them about it directly.
Dragon laughed genuinely, seemingly quite pleased with himself.
"Don't worry about me constantly," Finn said, glancing sideways at his old friend. "What about you? After leaving the Marines, did you find a wife or something?"
"Oh, right. I didn't mention this last time," Dragon said with surprising calmness. "It's your fault, actually. You started fighting immediately and interrupted my train of thought. I already have a wife."
Even though I know you'll eventually father the protagonist, Finn thought with internal surprise, I didn't expect you'd already have a partner. You really can balance career and love, can't you?
"How have we heard nothing about this? Does Vice Admiral Garp know?" Finn demanded.
"You think he could know? I haven't contacted him in years..." Dragon shook his head, absently rubbing his cheek.
No blood-red marks marred his face yet. Finn suspected that later, during revolutionary activities, Dragon might accidentally encounter Garp and get hit with a boot sole, leaving marks he'd cover with tattoos.
"I honestly can't imagine what kind of woman could capture you," Finn said with genuine curiosity.
Dragon's eyes grew distant and soft. "She's just... ordinary, you know? Not particularly powerful or extraordinarily intelligent. When I met her, she lived on a small East Blue island, happily working as a farm girl. She had two cows. Spent her days grazing them, milking them. Simple life, but she seemed so optimistic. Smiled brilliantly every day."
His voice dropped to something almost reverent. "Her smile... it's not the kind that's conventionally pretty. How do I explain it? The kind that attracts you immediately, pure and flawless, like it can cleanse your heart. That smile... I couldn't resist it."
Finn had known Dragon for years, interacted with him countless times. This was the first time he'd ever seen such tender vulnerability in the Revolutionary's expression.
Then he felt profoundly annoyed. Damn it, why did I ask such a stupid question? I was just enjoying the sunshine when this bastard force-fed me dog food!
"I hope you have a son soon," Finn said sourly.
Dragon finally returned from his gentle reverie, smiling. "Thank you. I do plan to have a child with her..."
Finn felt distinctly unhappy about being subjected to this romantic display. He muttered under his breath, "Well, as your future son's uncle, I'll definitely help you educate him properly..."
Before he could dwell on it further, movement at the square's far end caught his attention. His eyes lit up as he straightened.
"Here they come!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing takes time, coffee, and a lot of love.If you'd like to support my work, join me at [email protected]/GoldenGaruda
You'll get early access to over 50 chapters, selection on new series, and the satisfaction of knowing your support directly fuels more stories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~