Admiral Sengoku served as the overall commander, with Staff Officer Tsuru managing operations from the rear.
Vice Admirals Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan acted as the main combat force, accompanied by dozens of Marine Rear Admirals and Commodore-rank officers.
The World Government employed every means of propaganda to maximize the impact of this execution.
A worldwide Den Den Mushi broadcast.
Newspaper front-page coverage, with three days of advance promotion.
They even had specialized writers prepare articles to extensively publicize the Marines' "great victory" after the execution.
They wanted everyone to see clearly—
How the Pirate King died at the hands of the Marines and the World Government.
They wanted everyone to understand—
Being a pirate leads to no good end.
Even the Pirate King was no exception.
...
In a large tavern by the street in Loguetown.
The place was bustling with noise.
The tavern was packed, mostly with pirates.
By the window, several young pirates were bragging.
"I can't believe Pirate King Roger is going to be executed just like that," a blond youth shook his head, looking regretful.
A burly man next to him sneered, "Yeah, not being able to defeat Roger myself is the regret of my life."
"You've got some nerve saying that, you bastard!" A skinny man laughed, slapping the table:
"With your skills, Roger could crush you with one finger!"
"Can't a man brag?" The burly man wasn't offended, scratching his head and chuckling.
"Hey, tell me," the blond youth lowered his voice, asking mysteriously:
"Where do you think the Pirate King hid the One Piece he found on the Final Island?"
The burly man rolled his eyes, "Why ask me? Go ask the Pirate King. I'm not him."
"If I could ask him, why would I ask you?"
The group burst into laughter and teasing.
Just then—
The tavern door was kicked open with a bang!
The door slammed hard against the wall, making a loud noise.
A man in a pink coat, wearing sunglasses and pointed shoes, strode in.
He scanned the crowd in the tavern, his lips curling into a strange laugh:
"Fufufufu! This place is really lively!"
The tavern fell silent for a second.
Everyone looked up at the arrogant man in the doorway, then lowered their heads and went back to their own business.
No one paid him any attention.
Doflamingo didn't mind, swaggering over to the bar.
"Give me the most expensive drink you have!"
In a corner, a man sat at a table.
He wore a black hat adorned with white fluff, a burgundy patterned shirt, a black vest, and white trousers.
His sharp eyes, like those of a hawk, were fixed on the glass of red wine in his hand.
Dracule Mihawk—the future "Hawk-Eyes."
Across from him sat another man.
With a slicked-back hairstyle, a long horizontal scar across his face, a cigar in his mouth, and a golden hook for his right hand.
Sir Crocodile—the future "Desert King."
Crocodile glanced at Doflamingo by the door, then looked away disdainfully.
"Yihihihihi!"
In another corner, Gecko Moria sat surrounded by a group of his underlings.
No one could have imagined that within this small tavern, four future members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea had gathered.
At this moment, they were still just young men who had only recently begun to make a name for themselves.
...
Loguetown Central Square, the execution platform.
Below the platform, a sea of people filled the area.
On the rooftop of a building behind the execution platform.
Sengoku stood at the edge, overlooking the entire square.
"Is everything ready?" Sengoku asked in a deep voice.
A Marine officer quickly stepped forward and saluted:
"Report, Admiral! All preparations are complete!
All forces are deployed, the live broadcast Den Den Mushi are in position, and the execution squad is standing by!"
Sengoku nodded and glanced at his pocket watch.
The time was almost here.
He turned his head to look at the man shackled with Seastone Shackles.
Roger sat quietly on the ground, his hands and feet bound by chains.
Sengoku waved his hand:
"Take him up. Prepare for the execution."
"Yes, sir!"
A squad of executioners stepped forward, escorting Roger down the stairs toward the execution platform.
"Make way! Make way!"
The executioners cleared a path ahead, and the crowd automatically parted to both sides, creating a passage.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Roger walked forward step by step, the shackles on his feet dragging along the ground, emitting a dull sound.
"Is that... Pirate King Roger?"
In the crowd, countless pairs of eyes stared at the man walking slowly forward.
Their gazes were complex.
There was admiration, regret, excitement, fear, fanaticism, and indifference.
Clang.
Roger was escorted onto the execution platform and made to sit on the cold wooden plank.
An executioner stepped forward and asked with a serious expression:
"Pirate King Roger, do you have any last words before you die? For example... warning future generations that being a pirate leads to no good end."
This line was instructed by Sengoku.
The purpose was to remind everyone—being a pirate leads to no good end.
Even the Pirate King was no exception.
Roger raised his head, about to speak—
"Hey! Pirate King!"
A pirate in the crowd suddenly shouted loudly:
"Where did you hide all the treasure you found? And the legendary One Piece on the Final Island—you got that too, right?"
The square instantly fell silent.
Everyone pricked up their ears, waiting for the man's answer.
Hearing this, Roger burst into laughter.
The smile grew wider and wilder, eventually transforming into a roar of laughter that echoed through the skies:
"Hahahahaha—!!!"
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the densely packed crowd in the square, over those eyes filled with fanaticism, indifference, admiration, or fear.
"You want my treasure?"
"Then go find it! I left everything in that place—!!!"
"Shut up!!!"
The two executioners' faces changed drastically as they roared in unison!
The long blades in their hands were raised high, and then—
They thrust down fiercely!
Thud!
The sound of blades piercing flesh was especially clear in the silent square.
Blood gushed out, staining the execution platform red.
Roger's body twitched once, then slowly lowered his head.
The corner of his mouth still bore that same smile.
The square fell into dead silence.
Everyone stared blankly at the execution platform, at the man who had died with his head bowed, their minds completely empty.
And then—
"Roar—!!!"
A deafening roar erupted!
"One Piece! He left One Piece there!"
"The Pirate King left his treasure on the Final Island!"
"Go find it! Whoever finds One Piece will become the new Pirate King!"
Frenzy spread like wildfire, instantly igniting everyone!
A sharp gleam flashed in Mihawk's eyes.
Doflamingo grinned, letting out a strange "Fufufu" laugh.
Crocodile puffed on his cigar, his eyes growing even more profound amidst the swirling smoke.
Gecko Moria chuckled with an "Oishishi."
Suddenly—
The sky changed.
What was once clear and sunny suddenly became overcast with dark clouds.
A fierce wind rose, and torrential rain poured down.
Bean-sized raindrops pounded the ground and struck people's faces, yet they could not extinguish the fire burning in their hearts.
Amid the crowd, a man shrouded entirely in a green robe lifted his head, gazing at the sudden downpour.
His expression was somber, his gaze resolute.
Monkey D. Dragon.
This bizarre change in weather was precisely his doing.
Years ago, at God Valley, he had stumbled upon a Devil Fruit—the Zoan-type Mythical Beast Zoan Model: Zhulong.
That fruit granted him the power to control wind and rain.
Now, he was using his own way to bid farewell to Pirate King Roger.
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "LegendaryTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!