Chapter 183 – Hey Pirate King! Where Did You Hide All the Treasure You Found?
Roger was led step by step up onto the execution platform.
From this platform, he beheld the faces of the masses, and among them he caught sight of several familiar figures.
The corners of his mouth involuntarily curled upward.
This execution had been arranged by the World Government in Loguetown, broadcast live worldwide so that everyone could see Roger's death, thereby suppressing the growing number of pirates.
Originally, their plan was that on the road to becoming Pirate King, pirates would continually fight and kill one another, exhausting their numbers and relieving the government's pressure.
At first, events did proceed as the World Government had planned.
From the struggle between Golden Lion and Roger, to the sudden appearance of Bai Ye, the government had once believed Bai Ye would also compete with Roger for the title of Pirate King.
But they were disappointed when Bai Ye disappeared upon the sea after only a single appearance.
After Golden Lion's defeat, he too no longer pursued the title, and Whitebeard's only dream was to adopt children, so he never fought Roger for it either.
Thus, after Roger's crew found Oden, they met almost no obstacles and advanced straight to the position of Pirate King.
This upset the World Government's calculations.
Their plan to weaken the pirates had failed, so they directly began capturing Roger's crew. Since events were already beyond their control, the only thing left was to seize Roger himself.
Unexpectedly, Roger chose to surrender. He announced the disbandment of his crew in exchange for the World Government ceasing its pursuit of his members.
An agreement was reached: as long as they caused no trouble, the government would turn a blind eye.
After all, Roger's crew still contained many powerful figures. Forcing their capture would be troublesome, whereas leaving them to live quietly amounted to much the same as imprisonment.
Thus, their bargain was struck. Roger surrendered, and the World Government announced to the world that they had captured the Pirate King.
Below the platform.
Many were astonished at the sight of the kneeling man whose entire body still radiated a kingly aura.
Hidden in the crowd, Bucky and Shanks felt an indescribable heaviness.
Having come with Dorag, Oden's mood was even harder to contain.
Although Roger had already told them about his terminal illness and intention to surrender, seeing it again in person still left one's heart unsettled.
But this was Roger's choice. After leaving Wano, Oden had at first declined Dorag's invitation.
Yet when he learned Dorag was heading to Loguetown to witness Roger's execution, he agreed to travel with him temporarily.
During their journey, Oden also came to understand Dorag's purpose—to overthrow the Celestial Dragons and create a better world.
This made Oden realize that perhaps his own life was not meaningless.
He wished to follow Dorag and transform the world into something like Wano.
When he had returned to Wano, he saw everyone working, smiling without the oppression of nobles, with food for all. This was the reason he willingly left again.
Elsewhere, the young Mihawk, Dorag, Doflamingo, Gecko Moria, and even the child Smoker were present.
All eyes were fixed upon Roger.
Roger knelt on the platform, quietly looking at the circle of people before him.
"Hey Pirate King!!! Where did you hide all the treasure you found?!!"
Below.
A fat man wearing a blue-green sleeveless denim vest cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted toward Roger.
He was the one who would ignite the Great Age of Pirates!
With his shout, the pirates below swallowed hard, sweat glinting on their faces, eyes blazing as they stared at Roger!
Yes!
They had come not only to witness the Pirate King's bearing.
They had also come for the Great Treasure!
It was said that Laugh Tale held riches enough to last dozens of lifetimes!
"Ha…hahaha!!!"
A low, rumbling laugh came from Roger's throat as his wide mustache trembled with his grin.
His laughter grew louder and louder, and when he stopped, the kingly aura from his body directly overawed everyone present!
He was going to speak, wasn't he?!
This thought filled every heart.
Even Sengoku, overseeing the execution, felt goosebumps rise and a deep unease surge within him.
No!
He could not let Roger speak!!
That was Sengoku's first thought. He suppressed it for the moment, but as soon as Roger uttered those words, he could already imagine the terrible consequences to follow!!
"Execute him!!"
Though the time had not yet come, Sengoku could wait no longer.
At his furious shout, the executioners reacted, raising their long blades to stab straight at Roger's heart!
Everyone's hearts clenched.
Don't kill him!
Let him finish first!!!
As the blades drew ever closer to Roger, tension mounted to a peak!
"If you want my treasure, you can have it all! Go find it! I left everything there!!!"
Clang!
No sooner had Roger spoken than an ear-splitting roar erupted from the pirates below.
The treasure was real!!
ONE PIECE truly existed!!!
Just as all were immersed in joy, those who reacted looked up at the platform—Roger seemed unharmed, for behind him a figure in a black cloak had blocked the executioners' blades.
"I thought you wouldn't show up!"
Roger grinned, as if he had known all along that Bai Ye was there.
"I just felt dying at the Navy's hands would be a little disgraceful. How about dying by mine instead?"
"This life of mine—you can take it anytime. Consider it revenge for your captain!"
Roger laughed heartily. He had already prepared himself for death, so it did not matter who killed him.
His mission was complete, and none of this mattered anymore. In fact, dying at Bai Ye's hands seemed far more satisfying than at those of two nameless marines.
Roger also understood the meaning behind the World Government's choice. Having two ordinary marines kill him was nothing less than an insult.
But for the sake of what he needed to do, Roger said nothing. Only marines with little strength could allow him to carry out his plan.
If it had been someone like Sengoku in charge of the execution, he might not have been able to speak those crucial words at all.
When it came to avenging Rocks, a trace of mockery flashed across Roger's face. "Tch, to speak of it, you never were that loyal to that guy, were you?"
"That man didn't need me to avenge him. He died standing, and perhaps he was even rather happy at the end, wasn't he?"
"Haha, he wasn't happy at all. At that time, he died feeling utterly humiliated!"
Roger laughed loudly.
Back then Rocks had even cursed the entire world.
Damn it, such bullying!
So many of them against just one man! Thinking of Rocks' expression now still felt somewhat amusing.
"Is that so."
The wind blew lightly across Renji's face. Standing upon the execution platform indeed offered a view different from below.
The wind swept off his hood, revealing Renji's face before everyone.
"Renji, you bastard, you dare show yourself?!"
Sengoku was the first to react, instantly transforming into his Great Buddha form and swinging a massive fist straight toward Renji!
This man actually dared to come! To intervene at Roger's execution—what was his purpose?
Though Renji had said he would kill Roger himself, who knew his true intentions?
If Renji carried Roger away in front of so many people, with the whole world watching, then where would that leave the World Government's dignity?
"Sengoku, you truly are hot-tempered!"
Susanoo instantly enveloped the platform, and within it a wooden construct caught Sengoku's fist.
"Calm yourself, Sengoku. Roger will die by my hand."
With that, Renji raised his long blade and thrust it into Roger's heart.
Blood spurted forth, yet Roger laughed even more heartily.
"Sengoku, it seems your schemes have failed. Renji… tell me, do you want to know the secret of the Great Treasure?"
Still mocking me even now?
A flicker of exasperation crossed Renji's eyes, and he pressed harder on his blade.
"Cough… hah, you truly… in truth, you are more worthy to be Pirate King than I. Dying at your hand makes this life of mine worthwhile."
Blood flowed from Roger's lips as his eyes dimmed.
In his fading vision he saw many figures—Rayleigh, Jabba, Crocus, Shanks, and Bucky.
He remembered his friend and foe Garp, and all the rivals from his voyages before his capture—Rocks, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Renji.
This life of his had not been bad at all.
But he felt guilt toward Rouge and Ace.
Roger suddenly thought—if he had entrusted Ace to Renji, perhaps that might not have been so bad.
Yet he dismissed the thought. Renji's aims were too obscure even for him to grasp. Entrusting Ace would mean the boy could never live by his own will.
Forgive him for being a selfish father. Even in death, he wanted to arrange Ace's path.
[Ding! Roger's fate has been altered. Reward: one lottery chance.]
Tch.
I wasn't doing this for a lottery chance!
Draw!
[Ding! Lottery chance used. Congratulations, you obtained: Observation Haki – Future Sight.]
Katakuri's Observation Haki?
Renji was surprised. He had not expected to draw this.
Roger had been destined to die, originally at the hands of two nameless soldiers. Dying instead by Renji's blade had written a new stroke upon his fate.
Truly worthy of being Pirate King. Even in death, he granted Renji a lottery reward.
He was dead.
Renji looked down at Roger, pulled his blade free, and blood spilled across the platform.
"Oi, Sengoku, I've already dealt with Roger for you. Why strike at me? Forget it—I'm done playing with you!"
He snatched up Roger's body and fled.
His purpose was fulfilled. He had come to reclaim Roger's corpse and witness this grand event.
Both were accomplished, with an extra reward besides. Why stay any longer?
"It's over."
Sengoku stared at the empty platform, finally realizing all was lost.
Roger had not been executed by the Navy, but by Renji. His corpse too had been taken away.
Looking at the pirates below, Sengoku had only one thought left—to seize as many as possible!
These pirates would one day be enemies of the Navy. Because of Roger's words, piracy would not weaken with his death—it would only surge greater than ever.
"Seize them! Arrest every pirate here!!"
Sengoku roared, throwing himself into the roundup.
Chaos erupted below, while the pirates, hearts pounding with excitement, prepared to leave Loguetown and set sail.
For all believed Roger had left the Great Treasure on Laugh Tale.
Their own crew's treasure, plus Laugh Tale's treasure, was enough to stir every pirate in the world.
"Bucky, leave with me! Join my crew and be my first mate!"
Shanks raised his left hand toward Bucky, eyes earnest.
The two had once been carried aboard by Roger together, growing up side by side. To Shanks, if he was to inherit the captain's will, Bucky was the best partner.
"Oi! Stop joking. I'll never join anyone's crew!!" Bucky barked, glaring fiercely. "Shanks, don't you dare forget what you did, you bastard!!!"
If not for Shanks, he would never have eaten a Devil Fruit by mistake.
That humiliation had plagued Bucky for a long time.
And now Shanks still wanted to invite him to join? What a joke!
He would rather die, leap off the platform, than ever join Shanks' crew!
"Really? You won't reconsider?"
Shanks sounded regretful. Without Bucky, the voyage truly would feel emptier.
"Hmph! I'll form my own crew!"
Bucky turned and strode off.
He would not belong to anyone's crew.
Watching his back, Shanks felt pained. It seemed he would sail alone.
"Fufufufufu… Roger, do you intend to throw the world into chaos?"
Doflamingo cackled, his whole body trembling with excitement. This boring world—he too wanted to see it destroyed.
"Young Master, let us leave quickly, the Navy is moving!"
"Mm."
As the Navy advanced, pirates in Loguetown began their retreat.
Beyond the pursuit of pirates, Sengoku's attention fixed on Renji. That bastard must be caught—this was not the first time he had mocked the Navy and World Government.
"Tch. The New World, is it?"
Crocodile's eyes gleamed, and he too prepared to set sail for the New World.
Not far away, Mihawk quietly turned and departed.
"I must go to Wano."
Moria's eyes shone. To realize his dream, he needed to take his people to Wano.
"Oden, are you coming?"
"Yes. Let us change the world together."
Seeing Roger's death left Oden deeply shaken, and he resolved to act.
With the Pirate King's end, the world's turbulence only worsened.
Heroes of the seas began to emerge in droves.
And a boy named Smoker swore in his heart that he would bring every pirate to justice.
(End of this chapter)
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