Lock had never intended to spare Rosward Saint.
When it came to Celestial Dragons, the problem was not excess punishment.
It was insufficiency.
If ten were condemned, nine would still be too few.
Yes, killing one would invite retaliation. The World Government would howl. The Marines would mobilize. The seas would tremble.
But he was not standing alone.
The Revolutionary Army was on this ship.
Sabo.
The commanders.
And Belo Betty—whose Pump-Pump Fruit could ignite courage in the weak and sharpen resolve into steel.
Most of the Buggy Pirates already worshiped their captain with irrational fervor. With even the slightest push, they would become a tide of madness.
Against a single Admiral and CP0, the combined forces aboard this vessel would not collapse easily.
Still—
How had this turned into a tribute to Roger?
He had chosen the date knowingly.
But ritual?
Revenge?
Before he could piece it together, Lucci provided the narrative.
"Clown Buggy," Lucci declared coldly, "you colluded with the Revolutionary Army. You kidnapped a Celestial Dragon. You chose this date for your broadcast."
His voice sharpened.
"On this day, over twenty years ago, the World Government executed Gol D. Roger."
A murmur spread across the sea.
"You have hidden behind foolishness all these years," Lucci continued. "A clown to deceive the world."
His eyes locked onto Buggy.
"You never intended to release Rosward Saint. This is revenge."
Rosward's face drained of blood.
"Kill him!" Lucci ordered suddenly. "For the honor of the Celestial Dragons—ignore the hostage and eliminate Clown Buggy!"
The CP0 agents moved in unison.
But flames exploded across the deck.
"Dragon Claw Fist: Flame Dragon King!"
Sabo stepped forward, fire twisting around his arm in a roaring arc.
"Captain Buggy," Sabo said calmly, eyes fierce, "leave these rats to us."
The Revolutionary commanders followed, intercepting CP0 with precision.
"No one will disturb you," Sabo added. "Not while we stand."
Behind Buggy, Mr. 3's eyes shimmered.
"So that's it…" he whispered. "Captain, I understand."
Understand what?
Mr. 3 slapped the deck.
"Candle Execution Platform!"
Wax surged upward in a smooth cascade, forming a scaffold unmistakably modeled after the one in Loguetown.
The resemblance was exact.
The pirates froze.
Then realization struck.
"That's—!"
"The platform from Loguetown!"
"Captain Buggy is going to—"
Their voices rose into delirious excitement.
"He's going to execute a Celestial Dragon!"
"Captain Buggy is too great!"
The deck shook with cheers.
Belo Betty blinked in astonishment.
She had not activated her fruit.
And yet these men burned with fervor.
So this is the charisma of an Emperor… she thought.
Rosward Saint trembled violently.
"You're joking," he stammered. "I can pay you! Gold! Slaves! Secrets!"
He leaned forward desperately.
"I know Celestial Dragon secrets! I—"
Lucci snarled from across the flames.
"Think of Saint Charloss! Saint Shalria! Do you wish to doom them as well?"
Rosward's face twisted.
"But I don't want to die!"
Lock felt nothing but irritation.
The wailing lacked dignity. Even villains deserved composure at the end.
"Fujitora!" Lucci barked. "Why do you not act?"
Fujitora stood unmoving.
"This old man has received no order from the Fleet Admiral," he said calmly. "And I have no desire to aid gutter rats."
Lucci's expression twisted.
"You call yourself justice?"
Fujitora's voice remained steady.
"I will not defend what I cannot justify."
Far away, at Marine Headquarters, Sakazuki crushed the Den Den Mushi in his palm into molten ash.
Contact severed.
Let the Elders fume.
He would not dance to their strings.
As for Celestial Dragons—
Perhaps this lesson was overdue.
Back on deck, Rosward crawled toward Buggy.
"Whatever you want—please!"
"Celestial Dragon secrets?" Buggy mused.
For a fleeting moment, Lock's curiosity flickered.
Rosward swallowed.
"I… cannot speak."
Fear of his own kind outweighed fear of death.
Pathetic.
Buggy seized him by the collar and dragged him toward the wax platform.
A sour stench rose into the air.
"Don't look so miserable," Buggy muttered. "I intended to kill you regardless. The ceremony is a bonus."
Rosward collapsed onto the platform.
Mr. 3 reacted instantly, wax coiling around the Celestial Dragon's limbs, forcing him upright on his knees.
Only his head remained free.
The News Coo swooped closer for a tight shot.
For the first time in centuries, a Celestial Dragon appeared before the world, stripped of privilege—bleeding, bound, terrified.
Across kingdoms, crowds gathered around screens.
The boiling began.
In the headquarters of the World Economic Journal, a reporter burst into Morgan's office.
"President! Viewership has surpassed Marineford!"
There was no answer.
They found Morgan packing frantically.
"Relocating," he muttered. "From now on, contact me through secure channels."
He glanced at the screen, eyes shining.
"This is worth everything."
Ordinary people barely cared about the rise and fall of Emperors.
But Celestial Dragons?
Every kingdom paid tribute.
This touched everyone.
On the deck, Mr. 3 leaned toward Buggy.
"Captain… perhaps a few words?"
Buggy frowned.
"A speech?"
"Roger's final words ignited an era," Mr. 3 whispered.
Buggy paused.
He stepped forward.
Across the seas—
Blackbeard leaned closer to his screen.
"Don't ruin it with a joke," he muttered.
On the Red Force, Shanks stared silently at the platform.
"Buggy…" he murmured.
In Wano, Luffy blinked.
"Oh! That platform looks familiar! Buggy almost executed me once!"
The world fell quiet.
Every eye turned to the man in crimson and black.
Buggy stepped to the edge of the platform.
The wind lifted his cloak.
And for the first time—
He began to speak.
---
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