Inherited wills, changes of the times, and human dreams... none of these things can ever be stopped.
As long as people continue to pursue freedom, nothing will ever end.
Freedom is the dream that everyone seeks.
When does a person truly die?
When they are forgotten.
Boom... Boom... Boom!
Above Loguetown, thunder roared and lightning flashed as a violent storm poured down.
The torrential rain arrived in an instant, causing the crowds gathered on the ground to scatter in all directions.
Naturally, the Pirate King Roger's final words excited them the most, driving them into a frenzy.
"Everything is on that island!"
"ONE PIECE!"
"I can no longer suppress the ambition in my heart. As long as I reach that island, I'll have the whole world!"
At that moment, people planted indelible seeds deep within their hearts, waiting for the right time for them to sprout and bear fruit.
Countless ships set sail from the coast. Figures moved briskly through the streets of the town.
The island, which had drawn a massive crowd because of Roger's execution, was now emptying rapidly.
Boom... Boom... Boom!
Lightning split the sky as heavy rain poured down.
Kojin strode forward, followed by Kuzan, Borsalino, Sakazuki, Bullet, and the others.
They departed from the execution platform at an urgent pace.
One could vaguely see that, at the platform's highest point, a mist of blood mixed with rain fell, dripping onto the rain-soaked ground before quickly dispersing.
The man known as the Pirate King... a great figure who lived freely, optimistically, and openly, reaching the pinnacle of the world... now hung his head as if he were asleep in the storm. He was completely motionless.
Boom!
Lightning flared, illuminating everything behind him.
A strong wind swept past, billowing the man's red coat, but he didn't move. Only the faint curve of his lips could be seen.
Suddenly, Kojin came to an abrupt halt.
Ahead of him, lightning flashed, and a figure appeared on top of the building directly opposite them.
The green, hooded cloak was whipped violently by the wind, and the shadowed face could not be seen clearly.
"The era has not ended!"
"It has only just begun!"
"You and I are nothing more than grains of sand in the new age. What kind of waves could we possibly stir?"
A low voice sounded, echoing in everyone's ears.
Kojin pursed his lips. When he looked forward again, the figure had already vanished with the wind, as though it had never existed.
"This island really has quite a lot of terrifying characters and strange people," Borsalino remarked with a sigh.
"Couldn't agree more," Kojin grinned in agreement.
The rain obscured their vision, but he could make out a large number of figures running through the downpour toward the harbor.
They continued onward, passing through five or six alleyways, when Rosinante suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Kojin first glanced down at the pooled rainwater at his feet, which had gathered into streams flowing toward the shore. Then, he followed Rosinante's line of sight.
"Rosinante," He called softly.
"Yes!" Rosinante immediately snapped out of it.
"Focus on your own path. Watch your step," Kojin instructed. "Don't concern yourself with others."
Rosinante blinked in surprise, then understood. "Yes, Sir!"
He took a deep breath and glanced back in the direction he had been looking. The familiar figure had already vanished into another alleyway.
Clearly, that person was not heading in the same direction as them.
Kojin lifted his foot and continued walking forward, fully aware of why Rosinante had been momentarily stunned.
It was because of the group that had passed them earlier... was Doflamingo.
Rosinante's own older brother.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the predetermined rendezvous point.
Unlike the countless pirates and various factions, the Marines maintained discipline even when they withdrew, retreating in orderly batches.
At the same time, amid the raging storm, Kojin and the others quickly received their first order:
"Deploy immediately! Capture all pirates currently in Loguetown!"
The order was issued swiftly, leaving most Marines with almost no time to react. After a brief rest, they donned raincoats again, took up their weapons, and began to move.
However, the torrential rain clearly obstructed visibility, which was bad news for the operation.
"Slayer of the Sea Dragon, Burus!"
"The Rampaging Babbi Pirates!"
"Great Pirate Sicily!"
"Mafia Boss Rooney Anley!"
"My God! There are so many pirates in Loguetown right now!"
Soon, voices began coming through the Den Den Mushi that Kojin was holding.
Every pirate name reported was well known in this era. While none matched Roger's fame, they were still extremely intimidating figures to ordinary people.
"Kuzan, Borsalino, Sakazuki. Split up and act independently," Kojin said.
The three nodded simultaneously and quickly dispersed.
Thus began the great manhunt in the pouring rain.
Kojin's field spread outward. He knew the coordinates, movements, and positions of every pirate reported through the Den Den Mushi.
However, at that moment, he was more inclined to slack off and didn't take much direct action.
Loguetown was drenched in rain, and it appeared even more chaotic than before.
Fighting broke out everywhere in an instant, and blood flowed in every corner.
Time passed quickly, and before long, evening approached. The heavy rain had long since stopped.
Loguetown grew quiet. The streets were spotless; the sudden storm had washed away the bloody stench that lingered over the rain-soaked town.
Sunlight spilled down, and a rainbow hung across the sky when one looked into the distance.
"Buggy, what are your plans for the future?"
Two figures stood side by side on the beach, gazing at the sunset and the rainbow on the horizon.
"I... I don't know yet," Buggy, the red-nosed youth, replied, his voice tinged with confusion.
"Then how about joining my pirate crew? I plan to keep being a pirate," Shanks said with a smile, looking at his longtime companion.
"Are you going to inherit Captain Roger's will, go to Laugh Tale, find the great treasure, and become the Pirate King?" Buggy asked.
Hearing this, Shanks shook his head.
"Didn't you say that one day you'd go to Laugh Tale yourself?"
Buggy froze.
"I've changed my mind. At this stage, I don't plan to go there, but I'll still be a pirate. Let's be pirates together, Buggy," Shanks explained.
"I really misjudged you. Aren't you supposed to be the king of the next era?"
"Captain Roger was expecting you to take over after him!"
Buggy suddenly became emotional and shouted.
"You bastard... you actually gave up on the dream of becoming the Pirate King!"
"I'm not joining your pirate crew! And I'll never forgive you for losing my treasure map!"
Buggy yelled, tears streaming down his face.
He turned around abruptly, about to leave.
"The next time we meet, we'll be enemies!"
Shanks was momentarily stunned when he heard those words.
Then, in the next second, his pupils constricted.
A bolt of lightning abruptly struck down in front of Buggy, instantly scorching the ground black.
"You really should be enemies."
As that voice rang out, a hand suddenly stretched out from the lightning, slamming to a stop just in front of Buggy's forehead, five fingers spread wide.
Buggy's eyes widened, his face filled with terror.
"Shanks!!!"
"Thirty Million Volts."
"Discharge!"
(End of Chapter)
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