Loguetown.
The plaza was packed wall to wall with people.
Jin had arrived, but with this scrawny body of his, he couldn't squeeze in at all.
Helpless, he could only find a higher spot to watch from.
He didn't dare go too high.
He could vaguely see Marines in white uniforms guarding the upper areas.
Jin ended up sitting on a cargo rack, looking left and right, hoping to spot a few future big names in the crowd.
After searching for a long time, he didn't see a single one.
While he was busy craning his neck, on a nearby building, a group of Marine big shots were seated.
At the head sat the bun-headed Marine Admiral Sengoku.
To his left and right were:
Marine HQ Staff Officer Tsuru.
Marine HQ Vice Admiral Sakazuki (Akainu).
Marine HQ Vice Admiral Kuzan (Aokiji).
Marine HQ Vice Admiral Borsalino (Kizaru).
Behind them, a whole group of officers were holding a meeting.
Kizaru drawled lazily,
"How scary~ Admiral Sengoku. Looks like quite a few big names showed up today~"
Akainu snorted.
"No matter who comes, we'll wipe them all out after the execution. None of them leave alive."
Aokiji frowned.
"We should separate the civilians from the pirates first. Otherwise we'll hurt innocent people."
Akainu spoke with the air of a hardened mob boss.
"If necessary, we can ignore the consequences. If those damned pirates escape, they'll harm even more civilians."
"You muscle-brained brute. Do you know how many civilians you'd hurt that way?"
Aokiji raised his voice.
"So we should be indecisive like you and let most of the pirates get away?"
Akainu shot back just as loudly.
As their argument escalated, Sengoku slammed his hand on the table.
"Enough! What kind of spectacle is this? You are Marine HQ Vice Admirals, not market stall aunties!"
Aokiji and Akainu glared at each other, then both sat down, keeping quiet.
Sengoku rubbed his forehead.
As the two rose in rank, their disagreements grew too, and the Marines were already starting to split into two factions.
Tsuru spoke calmly from the side.
"All right. Let's talk about how we'll handle the pirates gathered here after Roger's execution."
Akainu said,
"I propose we block off the harbor and send troops to surround them. Then we wipe them out in one sweep. No survivors."
Aokiji replied,
"I propose we separate civilians and pirates first. Once they're out at sea, we can strike."
Kizaru added in his usual tone,
"So scary~"
From the side came the loud crunch, crunch of someone eating.
Sengoku's brows furrowed into the shape of the character for "river," and he snapped:
"Garp! Can't you stop eating in the middle of a serious meeting?!"
"Ah-reh, don't be so serious, Sengoku. I only know how to use my fists, not my brain. Hahahaha."
Marine HQ Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp said this as he grabbed another handful of senbei and happily munched away.
"You bastard, Garp…"
Sengoku could only sigh.
There was nothing he could do about this old fool.
It wasn't like this was the first time.
The rest of Marine HQ's big shots continued discussing tactics, treating Garp like part of the background.
Down on the street, the crowd grew denser and denser.
Jin figured it was about time.
He focused on the plaza entrance.
Slowly, the sky dimmed.
The wind stopped.
It felt like even the heavens were waiting for someone to arrive.
All of a sudden, the entire plaza went silent.
You could hear a pin drop.
At the entrance, as the escort squad led Gol D. Roger forward, the crowd parted silently, leaving a path.
Jin's gaze locked onto the man walking in the center.
He examined him carefully.
A head of black hair.
A tall, powerful frame.
Even with his power sealed, the faint aura he exuded made Jin's heart tremble in fear.
So this is the Pirate King… one of the men standing at the very summit of this world.
Jin swallowed hard, watching as Roger walked past him.
From his side came a soft whisper.
"Captain…"
Jin turned to see which suicidal maniac dared to say that word here of all places.
Of course, it was the Face-saving King and Luck Emperor duo.
Shanks and Buggy.
They noticed Jin looking at them and flashed him wide grins.
Seeing those "my dad just died" smiles, Jin quietly turned his head back and watched Roger walk step by step up the scaffold.
He watched Roger sit down on the execution platform, a mysterious smile on his face.
Jin knew the climax was coming.
The Great Age of Pirates was about to begin.
All kinds of forces focused on the man on the scaffold.
Some swallowed nervously.
Some laughed like madmen.
Some were silent.
Some cried.
Jin scanned the crowd, looking for Roger's "plant," the guy who would ask the question that started it all.
No matter how he searched, he couldn't find him.
He even started to suspect that maybe the guy was actually Garp in disguise.
They looked so alike.
At least that would solve the mystery for all the fans back in his original world.
In the command room, Sengoku picked up a Den Den Mushi and ordered:
"Prepare for execution."
The two executioners crossed their blades and held them in front of Roger.
At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.
Jin's eyes lit up. He quickly followed the sound with his gaze.
Damn, I've been looking for you this whole time. Are you some kind of mole-man, uncle?
"Hey, Pirate King! Where did you hide all your treasure?
It's on the Grand Line, right? You found it, didn't you? The legendary great treasure?"
"ONE PIECE!"
Everyone was stunned by the sudden shout.
They stared at the man in shock.
On the scaffold, Roger laughed.
"Heh-heh-heh… hahahahahaha! My treasure, huh?"
The executioners hurriedly pointed their blades at him.
"You're not allowed to speak!"
Sengoku's face changed drastically.
"Execute!!"
"If you want it, you can have it all."
The executioners no longer hesitated.
Their blades thrust toward Roger.
"Go and find it. I left all my treasure… in that place."
Pshk.
Two blades pierced Roger's body.
The plaza fell silent.
Then, like a lit fuse, it exploded.
"Ou-ho! The great treasure—it's mine! Hahahahahaha!"
"Pirate King! I'm coming!"
Jin just sat on the cargo rack, watching quietly.
He didn't say a word.
He watched some people in the crowd laugh wildly as they left.
He watched others stand in stunned silence.
Some cried.
Some shouted in excitement.
Jin felt like a passerby in the middle of it all, expressionless.
It began to rain.
The sky seemed to be crying.
And laughing.
Jin couldn't tell what he was feeling.
He looked at Roger's corpse.
The man had died with a smile.
What a Pirate King. What a massive setup.
Using your life as the price to start an entire era…
Should I call you a hero, or the greatest villain?
Lightning slashed across the sky, illuminating the entire plaza.
Jin finally saw the future big names he hadn't spotted before.
"Gecko Moria!"
"Donquixote Doflamingo!"
"Swordsman Dracule 'Hawkeye' Mihawk!"
"The future Emperor, Red-Haired Shanks!"
"Buggy!"
"And the man who will become the leader of the Revolutionary Army—Monkey D. Dragon!"
Jin just watched as the crowd slowly thinned out.
He didn't leave.
If he walked off now, he might get mistaken for a pirate and dealt with.
Only when things had calmed down did he get up and head toward the harbor.
There would probably still be a major battle there.
He wanted to see the big shots in action.
As he walked, Dragon suddenly appeared beside him.
"Have you decided?" Dragon asked. "Will you come with me?"
Jin shook his head.
"No. I've got my own road to walk."
Dragon nodded.
"All right. Then I wish you luck."
Jin smiled. "And I wish you smooth sailing… Mr. Dragon."
Dragon gave him one last look, then left with a faint smile.
Soon, Jin was almost at the harbor.
He could hear the shouts and pleas of pirates ahead.
The commands and roars of Marines.
He saw the sea frozen solid.
Magma flying through the air.
Yellow light flashing wildly.
Jin asked himself in his heart—
Should I become a pirate and just drift with the current?
Or become a Marine?
He stopped.
He sensed someone beside him.
He turned and saw an old man picking his nose, looking at him casually.
Garp stared at him.
"Brat, are you planning to become a pirate too?"
"…Why is the first thing you Marines ask always, 'Are you going to become a pirate?'"
Garp burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! You're a funny brat. If you're not going to be a pirate, then become a Marine. I guarantee I'll train you into the strongest Marine!"
Jin could guess why Garp had picked him out.
He'd probably seen him talking with Dragon.
Which was pretty much what Jin had thought too.
Garp had sensed that the man in the green cloak's aura felt very much like his son's. The more he looked, the more alike they were.
After Dragon left, Garp had simply followed Jin here, watching him walk in silence.
Only now had he spoken.
Jin stared at Garp, speechless.
Follow you, Garp?
Your son rebelled against the Marines and wants to topple the world.
Your first disciple defected and joined the pirates.
Your second disciple became the King of Runaways.
Your grandson is going to become the Pirate King.
If I follow you, what kind of "King" am I supposed to be in the end?
Jin gave Garp a very strange look.
Garp exploded.
"You little brat! What's with that disgusted look? Are you looking down on this old man?"
"…No, uncle, you've got it wrong. This is my thinking face. Definitely not what you're imagining."
"You think I'm an idiot, brat?"
Jin muttered, "Doesn't look like it."
The words had barely left his mouth when a fist hammered down on his head.
Sss…
There was no way to describe that feeling.
To sum it up in one word—pain. Extreme pain.
Jin finally understood Luffy's suffering.
Clutching his head, he squatted on the ground, baring his teeth in agony.
Garp glanced at his fist, then at him.
"I barely used any strength. How are you this fragile?"
Sure, sure. Like you don't know how hard you punch.
Jin only dared say it in his heart.
If he said it out loud, the next punch might actually send him back to his original world.
At that moment, Garp looked up toward the battlefield.
"It's almost over."
Jin quickly covered his head and stood up, his gaze fixed ahead.
He saw massive chunks of magma flying into the sky.
Holy crap, that's Akainu'sMeteor Volcano. Watching it in anime was one thing, but seeing it live…
It was overwhelming.
My god… so this is the power of a Logia-type Devil Fruit. It's busted as hell.
Chunks of molten rock rained down, smashing into the pirates.
Screams and wails filled the air.
So this is victor and vanquished…
The lucky ones escaped as the ice on the sea melted and opened a path.
The unlucky ones… were probably cooked.
Once again, Jin felt the brutal truth of this world—
Here, having the bigger fist really was justice.
For now, all he felt was pure, burning envy.
And it wasn't just that.
He also saw enormous sword slashes soaring into the sky, cleaving magma apart.
He saw a massive sandstorm blowing away several magma chunks at once.
Power. I need power. As long as I have power, I can live in this man-eating world.
Jin stared ahead with eyes full of longing.
Garp noticed but stayed silent.
Footsteps sounded behind them.
"Ah-la-la, Vice Admiral Garp. So this is where you were."
Garp laughed and turned.
"Hahahaha! Nice work, Kuzan. You've gotten stronger again."
"Come on now, Vice Admiral Garp, if you say things like that I'll get cocky. Hahaha."
The newcomer was, of course, Marine HQ Vice Admiral Kuzan (Aokiji), future Admiral.
Kuzan glanced down at Jin.
"Hmm… Vice Admiral Garp, who's this little guy?"
Garp dug at his nose.
"Dunno. Just met him. Uh… what was your name again?"
Jin stared at the old man.
What do you mean, "don't know him, just met him, now asking his name"?
To avoid getting hit again, he could only answer honestly.
"My name is Arakaki Jin. I'm a resident of Loguetown."
The two men looked at his ragged clothes and frail body without speaking, clearly waiting for him to say more.
Jin stared back.
The three of them just stood there in silence.
"And then?" Garp finally asked.
"There is no 'then,'" Jin said.
Neither of them replied.
In this world, a kid all alone, dressed in rags and skinny to the bone—you didn't have to ask to know his story.
"Hey, brat. Want to join the Marines?" Garp grinned, showing off his big white teeth.
"I guarantee I'll train you into the strongest Marine."
This time, Jin didn't look at him.
He raised his head and watched Marines cleaning up the battlefield and the few pirates still trying to escape.
Join the Marines? Fight pirates? Become the watchdog of the Celestial Dragons?
Spout "justice" while being forced to wipe the asses of those pompous bastards?
Do I even have "justice" in my heart?
As a 28-year-old wageslave who'd transmigrated here… did he really have that kind of justice?
Did Marine "justice" even exist?
But today, Jin had seen something else.
Power.
A power so entrancing it could make people lose themselves.
In this world, a bigger fist was the truth.
With power, you could do whatever you wanted.
With power, you could have everything.
Maybe Jin was thinking too deeply.
He didn't notice that someone else had walked up to them.
Now there were three men and one boy, all silent, all watching him.
As they watched, Jin's aura slowly rose, and their eyes widened in surprise.
Jin felt it too.
Something in his body was surging, on the verge of bursting out.
He twisted his head sharply, a feral look on his still-childish face.
"Vice Admiral Garp—can someone who doesn't have justice in his heart still become a Marine?"
Garp froze for a second, then burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! A Marine with no justice in his heart—that sounds pretty interesting! Hahahaha!"
"Then I'll join," Jin said, almost roaring.
"I want power. I don't want to be a nobody."
"I don't want to be slaughtered at someone else's whim. I don't want to be trampled underfoot. I want to be free."
"I don't want chains. I want to stand on mountaintops and see the view from above. I want to travel this world like you all do!"
Jin thrust out his right hand and shouted:
"I want power! I want my fists to be able to make others feel pain!"
All at once, a tremendous pressure exploded outward from him.
A wave of black Conqueror's Haki swept across half of Loguetown.
Ordinary people's eyes rolled back as they collapsed.
Even many rank-and-file Marines couldn't withstand it and dropped where they stood.
"Hey, hey, hey, seriously? This kid has that kind of power!?" Kuzan said in shock.
"What a terrifying youngster~ He's so scary I don't even dare move~"
This came from Kizaru, who had just arrived.
Garp's eyes shone as he stared at Jin, then he burst into wild laughter.
Out on the battlefield, the other big names all turned toward the source of the surge.
Sengoku frowned.
"That power…? Who's over there? What is Garp doing?"
Tsuru said calmly,
"No idea. We can ask him later."
Akainu turned his head slightly, his gaze cold.
"Hmph."
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.