[Congratulations, sir. You have completed the Execution Platform sign-in task.]
[Reward obtained: Spatial Ring.]
The system's cold voice pulled Logan back from the dreamlike illusion.
The silent sea of people vanished, replaced by the lively and peaceful crowd scattered across the plaza.
Logan lowered his gaze.
Resting quietly in his palm was a pitch-black ring.
A spatial ring…
The system really did understand him.
He slipped the ring onto his finger and gently brushed its surface.
Jet-black, completely smooth, without a single engraved pattern—yet it carried a faint resistance to the touch, like finely polished matte stone.
When he closed his eyes, his consciousness slipped inward.
The internal space was enormous—about the size of a basketball court.
And at the very center…
A mountain of banknotes.
Logan froze for a moment.
At least… one hundred million beli.
A pleasant surprise.
"Hey, child, come down from there."
An elderly woman looked up at him with concern.
"That blade is dangerous. Be careful not to hurt yourself."
Logan smiled brightly. "Got it."
He leapt down effortlessly and landed smoothly on the ground.
With a thought, the massive Sea-Stone Greatsword vanished into the spatial ring, leaving only the blue Nichirin Blade at his waist.
After wandering the plaza briefly, Logan found a quiet, inconspicuous corner and sat down, eyes closed—detached from the world.
Not long after—
Luffy arrived beneath the execution platform, his face glowing with excitement.
"So this is it…"
"The place where the Pirate King died?"
Twenty-two years had passed.
I want to see the same view he saw.
"Gomu Gomu—!"
His arms shot upward, stretched around the platform, and in a single motion he flung himself onto the execution stand.
The crowd stared in confusion.
"What's going on today?"
"Nobody ever climbs up there anymore."
"Two people in one day… is there really something special up there?"
As their murmurs spread, black-cloaked figures began quietly entering the plaza from every direction.
Some sharp-eyed civilians sensed danger and slipped away.
Soon, over a hundred men surrounded the execution platform.
The leader tore off his cloak and shouted furiously:
"Monkey D. Luffy! Today is your death!"
Luffy looked down.
A man in a clown outfit, orange cape billowing, red nose shining.
He felt familiar… but the name wouldn't come.
After thinking hard, Luffy suddenly brightened.
"Oh! It's you—Trash Captain!"
"What did you just call me?!"
"I'm Captain Buggy, leader of the Buggy Pirates!"
The moment his name was spoken, panic erupted.
"It's Buggy the Clown—run!"
The plaza descended into chaos—screams, children crying, parents grabbing them and fleeing.
"Nobody moves!"
Buggy roared.
The black-cloaked men drew pistols, aiming them at the crowd.
Instant silence.
Satisfied, Buggy spread his arms theatrically.
"My dear citizens! Today, you'll witness a glorious execution!"
Before Luffy could react—
His body was slammed down.
A wooden restraint locked his neck in place.
Behind him stood a tall man with a blue-and-white checkered scarf, eyes cold as steel.
He sat on the board, pressing Luffy down effortlessly.
"Long time no see, Rubber Boy," the man said calmly.
"How's Roronoa Zoro?"
Luffy rolled his eyes.
He had absolutely no idea who this guy was.
He struggled, twisted, strained—but the board didn't budge an inch.
Buggy laughed wildly.
"How does it feel, Straw Hat?"
"Dying in the same place as Gol D. Roger—honored, aren't you?"
Suddenly—
Thunder roared.
The sky darkened.
A violent wind surged in from the sea, sending chills through the plaza.
Elsewhere—
Nami glanced at the sky while shopping with Zoro and Usopp.
"This weather's wrong," she said seriously.
"We need to leave—now. A storm is coming."
In the shadows, Logan slowly opened his eyes.
He felt the pressure shift in the air.
The corner of his mouth lifted.
Finally… you're here.
He looked toward the horizon.
Massive storm clouds rolled in, swallowing the sunlight.
Within moments, Loguetown sank into darkness.
But the crowd—trapped by Buggy's fear—noticed nothing.
Buggy leapt onto the platform, blade pressed against Luffy's neck.
"Any last words, Straw Hat?"
After struggling in vain, Luffy pouted.
"Sorry… please save me. I won't do it again."
Buggy stared at him like an idiot.
"I'm here to kill you, you moron!"
People looked up at the straw-hat boy with pity.
Wrong enemy. Wrong place.
Buggy raised his blade and sighed.
"Well, whatever you say—you're dying today anyway."
As Luffy stared out at the sea of faces, silence filled his heart.
Am I really going to die here…?
Was this what Roger saw twenty-two years ago?
Images flooded his mind—
Zoro.
Nami.
Usopp.
Sanji.
His crew.
Their adventures.
Then—
Three brothers.
Logan. Sabo. Ace.
Their childhood dreams.
And finally—
The man who gave him this hat.
Luffy touched the brim of his straw hat.
Then clenched his fists.
And shouted the vow he once made.
"I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!"
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