East Blue, Loguetown.
"Execution! The execution is about to begin!"
Zoro, who had just obtained Sandai Kitetsu, paused slightly.
Execution?
Whose execution?
"Buggy the Clown is going to execute Straw Hat Luffy!"
Usopp's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Luffy's getting executed?!"
"What the hell did that idiot do now?!"
Beside him, Nami held her forehead and sighed.
"That moron…"
"Zoro, let's go take a look!"
"You guys head back to the ship first!"
Sanji and Zoro immediately rushed toward the execution platform.
At that moment—
the weather suddenly changed.
Dark clouds rapidly gathered over Loguetown.
A violent storm was brewing.
Clock Tower.
"Smoker Commodore."
"We've already stationed men at the harbor."
"If the Straw Hat crew attempts to escape, we can destroy their ship immediately."
"However…"
"the current situation seems a little strange."
Smoker frowned and quickly raised his binoculars toward the execution platform in the distance.
Buggy the Clown was standing on top of Luffy while wildly gesturing and shouting something.
"What the hell are they doing?"
"That's Buggy the Clown, isn't it?"
"That coward who's always hiding actually dares come to my territory?"
Even Smoker couldn't understand what was happening anymore.
Although he had never personally seen Luffy fight—
he was still Garp's grandson.
His talent shouldn't be weak.
And he was also a Devil Fruit user.
So how had he been captured by someone like Buggy?
Could Straw Hat Luffy simply be all bark and no bite?
"Commodore."
"We've completed the investigation."
"It's the Alvida Pirates and the Buggy Pirates."
"They've apparently formed some kind of alliance."
"In other words, there are currently three pirate crews in Loguetown."
"Should we move in?"
Smoker waved his hand calmly.
"No rush."
"As long as I'm here…"
"none of them are escaping."
"Remain on standby."
"The moment Straw Hat Luffy's head falls…"
"immediately surround Buggy, Alvida, and all their men."
"And don't forget the Straw Hat crew at the harbor."
"Today…"
"I'm wiping them all out in one sweep."
"Yes, Commodore!"
Execution Platform.
Buggy burst into arrogant laughter.
"Yahahahaha!"
"Criminal!"
"Pirate Monkey D. Luffy!"
"For the crime of boldly offending me…"
"you shall now be magnificently executed!"
The pirates below immediately erupted into cheers.
None of them had forgotten how badly Straw Hat Luffy had beaten them before.
Meanwhile—
Luffy still didn't seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
Looking around excitedly at the crowd below, he spoke with great interest:
"So this is what an execution looks like!"
"It's actually my first time seeing one!"
Buggy almost lost it.
"You idiot!"
"You're the one getting executed!"
"Eh?!"
"What?!"
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"I'm not joking!"
"I don't have time to joke with you!"
"Your public execution is about to begin magnificently!"
"Stop it! Don't!"
Buggy's roaring laughter mixed with Luffy's screams, creating an absurdly lively scene.
The spectators below watched with great enthusiasm.
However—
the clouds above grew darker and darker.
The atmosphere became increasingly oppressive.
A torrential downpour was imminent.
At the same time—
Nami and Usopp were desperately rushing back toward the Going Merry.
But Mohji the Beast Tamer and Richie the Lion from the Buggy Pirates had also arrived.
They were preparing to destroy the Merry.
What they didn't know—
was that the Marines had already been waiting there.
"It's Mohji from the Buggy Pirates."
"He seems intent on destroying the Straw Hat Pirates' ship."
"Should we intervene?"
"No need."
"Commodore Smoker said our mission is simply to prevent the Straw Hats from escaping."
"If the Buggy Pirates are willing to do the work for us…"
"why stop them?"
Execution Platform.
"Straw Hat brat."
"Any last words?"
"Quite a crowd came to witness your magnificent execution!"
Luffy hung his head with a gloomy expression and ignored Buggy entirely.
Buggy didn't care.
After all—
dead men didn't matter.
"Whatever."
"Whether you have something to say or not…"
"you're dying today."
The moment those words fell—
Luffy suddenly took a deep breath and shouted loudly:
"I'M THE MAN WHO'LL BECOME THE PIRATE KING!!!"
The Loguetown citizens below were instantly stunned.
The previous man known as the Pirate King had died right on this very platform.
And this kid dared say those words here?!
"How insane…"
"H-He said Pirate King?!"
"And in this town of all places?!"
"Has this brat gone crazy?!"
"He's unbelievably bold!"
Within the crowd—
a green-haired punk stared at Luffy in shock.
For some reason—
this man suddenly seemed dazzling.
"So arrogant."
"Well then…"
"it's time for you to die, Straw Hat Luffy."
"Hold that execution right there!"
A voice rang out from outside the crowd.
Wearing his green bandana, Zoro stood proudly on one side.
Smoking a cigarette, Sanji stood proudly on the other.
"Zoro! Sanji!"
Luffy shouted excitedly.
Zoro grinned wickedly.
"What kind of pathetic look is that, Luffy?"
"That's not how the future Pirate King should look."
Sanji smirked casually.
"If this is some entertainment show…"
"mind if I join in too?"
And he wasn't joking.
When Sanji said he'd "join in"—
he literally meant with his legs.
On the execution platform—
Buggy sneered while raising his blade.
"So you came, Pirate Hunter Zoro."
"Too bad…"
"You're already too late."
Then—
Buggy raised his giant sword high into the air.
Zoro and Sanji's expressions changed drastically.
They immediately charged toward the platform.
"Destroy that execution stand!"
After undergoing "demonic beauty treatment," Alvida waved her hand elegantly.
"Men!"
"Kill them!"
"Yahahaha!"
"It's already too late!"
"Your captain's about to die!"
Clock Tower.
Holding his binoculars tightly, Smoker shouted:
"All units!"
"Prepare to move at any moment!"
"Yes, Commodore!"
Luffy turned to glance at Buggy's descending blade.
Then he looked toward Zoro and Sanji desperately rushing toward him.
"Zoro."
"Sanji."
"Nami."
"Usopp."
"Sorry."
Then—
Luffy grinned brightly.
"I'm gonna die!"
SLASH—
Buggy brought his blade down.
Zoro: "Don't—"
Sanji: "say stupid—"
Smoker: "He's smiling?!"
RUMBLE—
CRACK!!!
The dense storm clouds above Loguetown finally unleashed a terrifying bolt of lightning.
It struck directly toward Buggy—
or rather—
toward the sword in his hand.
Blinding lightning tore through the dark sky and slammed into the execution platform.
The entire town of Loguetown seemed to tremble violently.
As lightning continued pouring into the structure—
the execution platform could no longer withstand it.
A steel beam broke loose and crashed downward with a heavy clang.
Then—
the rain began to fall.
And the execution platform started collapsing.
With a horrifying metallic screech—
the platform finally gave way completely.
BOOM!!!
Taking advantage of the chaos—
Luffy grabbed his straw hat from the ground and placed it back on his head.
Then he burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"My luck's amazing!"
"I'm still alive!"
Meanwhile—
Buggy lay on the ground completely charred black.
"The world where only I get hurt…"
"…has been completed…"
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