That's right—it's not him who's damned, it's the system!
Shanu had been holding it in for a long time.
The most annoying thing about this blasted system was that he couldn't see the points value or appraisal comments until a sacrifice was successfully completed.
He hadn't been present before and assumed the old photo was just an ordinary keepsake for signing—worth nothing.
Little did he know it held such significance for Tashigi.
He had a fairly good impression of the sword-obsessed girl from the manga—she and Smoker were among the few in the Navy who could uphold their sense of justice.
By a series of coincidences, she wasn't very familiar with Smoker yet—but she had already become his devoted little fan.
For the first time in a long while, his conscience prickled uncomfortably.
He had to make it up to her properly!
After some thought, he devised a plan.
He quietly went downstairs, retrieved a bamboo sword from his backpack, signed his name on it, and handed it to the café manager.
"Could you keep this for me? When that Navy girl returns, please give it to her. Tell her that I've taken her photo as a memento. This sword has accompanied my training for many years. As a return gift, I hope she will treasure it."
"No problem! That girl already mentioned it to me. Don't worry," the manager said with a bright smile as she accepted it.
Shanu finally relaxed, returned to his window seat on the second floor, and began eating.
This should satisfy Tashigi, he thought.
As for where the bamboo sword came from…
Several years ago, he happened upon it at a market for a low price and bought it as a souvenir. It had mostly stayed in his backpack ever since.
Now, it finally had a proper purpose.
[Sakata Gintoki's Wooden Sword of Lake Toya]
[Type: Equipment]
[Price: 30 points]
[Description: A plain factory-made wooden sword. Sakata Gintoki purchased it for 1000 yen via TV shopping, including shipping.]
[Seller's Note: Squatted in the Odd Jobs Closet for three days and nights, finally got the chance! Huh, is someone else in the next cabinet?]
...
After lunch, it was already past 1 PM.
The second-floor seats offered a perfect view of the plaza, including the execution platform.
The group didn't rush to leave and quietly enjoyed the rainy scenery by the window.
"Huh, that's strange," Nojiko frowned. "The rain's getting heavier, but the crowd in the plaza isn't thinning—if anything, it's growing."
Others noticed it too.
Looking across the plaza, more and more people were gathering near the execution platform.
Many carried weapons, their burly frames and hardened faces clearly marking them as no ordinary citizens.
"Maybe it's around the same time Roger was executed, eighteen years ago," Zeff guessed. "Pirates have been coming to Logue Town for pilgrimage during this period, so seeing them all here today isn't surprising."
"Also probably because the island's defenses are thin," Kuina added. "Colonel Smoker isn't back yet. When he's here, pirates fear stepping foot on the island and being caught, but now most Navy personnel are at the pier welcoming some VIP. The pirates feel free to gather openly."
Shanu scanned the crowd. Seeing no familiar faces, he withdrew his gaze.
His purpose for coming to Logue Town had always been the execution platform itself.
As for these small fry, as long as they behaved, he didn't bother with them.
Of course, if these pirates took advantage of Smoker's absence to pillage and harm the townsfolk…
Then they would have no excuse for his merciless response.
"By the way, Captain…"
"Hm?"
Shanu turned toward the voice. It was Kuina.
She had apparently held this in for a long time. The rain had stirred her thoughts, and after struggling with her words, she finally asked:
"You've never mentioned it before, right? What is it that you dream of pursuing when you go out to sea?"
Her curiosity was understandable.
The wind in which a boy chases his dreams is worth more than gold.
Shanu was eighteen—at an age meant for carrying infinite aspirations.
He had spoken often of others' dreams: taking Nami around the world to chart every sea; helping Zeff achieve his lifelong culinary dreams; accompanying the mischievous kids to achieve whatever they promised.
He bore the dreams of almost every crew member on his shoulders.
But… he had never mentioned his own dream as captain.
Nami, Nojiko, Zeff… even Gin—all their eyes turned to Shanu.
They had long been curious.
Under everyone's gaze, Shanu shrugged, lifted his post-meal tea, and took a sip.
"I've always felt that dreams… are something you pursue in stages."
He smiled at Nami and Nojiko. "When I was a kid, my dream was simple: just getting these two troublemakers to respect me as their big brother."
"Later, my dream became protecting my family, becoming strong—strong enough that all the pirates in the East Blue who came looking for trouble couldn't withstand a single punch from me!"
"And now? Don't dodge the question, Captain!"
Kuina's eyes were fixed on him. "You're already strong now, your previous dreams are fulfilled. So now… what dream are you pursuing?"
Now, his dream…
Shanu was silent for a long while.
He turned his gaze through the rain toward the execution platform outside the window.
Beaten by wind, rain, and sun for eighteen years, it still faced the sea, towering above the crowd.
The plaza remained bustling, just as it had eighteen years ago, and for a fleeting moment, he seemed to see the figure of the man kneeling on the platform, yet laughing freely with head lowered.
"The man with wealth, fame, and power—the Pirate King Gol D. Roger—spoke these words before his execution, sending the whole world to the sea."
"'Do you want my treasure?'"
"'If you do… go find it at sea. I left it all there!'"
...
Eighteen years ago, the terminally ill Pirate King Roger drank under the cherry blossoms with Whitebeard, then voluntarily surrendered.
Before his execution, he shouted those words to the world.
Thus began the Great Pirate Era.
Now, eighteen years later, the seas were only more chaotic. More pirates set sail. Yet seemingly nothing had changed.
Celestial Dragons and the World Government still ruled from above. The people were still trapped between gold in the sky and pirate plunder.
What is everyone waiting for? What did Roger see at Laugh Tale that made him laugh in release?
Was everything really just waiting for the destined child from 800 years ago?
Waiting until he turned white-haired six years later, laughing madly no matter what, to overturn this rotten old order?
Nonsense of hereditary destiny!
Shanu refused to believe it!
"Since you're all so eager to know… I suppose it doesn't hurt to say it. My dream…"
He looked around the table, grinning, just about to speak—
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion ripped through the rain, shaking the air around them.