"???"
Three question marks appeared above Smoker's head.
"A big pirate? A thirty million bounty pirate?"
His thoughts still hadn't fully adjusted. After all, in the East Blue, a 30 million bounty was unheard of. Even Krieg, the so-called Overlord of East Blue, only had a bounty of 17 million berries.
"So, who is this Monkey D. Luffy?" Smoker asked, rubbing his forehead in mild annoyance.
"Reporting, Colonel! He's a newly emerged pirate who took down the Arlong Pirates in Cocoyashi Village!" The Marine soldier quickly replied.
"Arlong?" Smoker raised an eyebrow. "That Fish-Man who terrorized East Blue? Hmph… fine, let's go check it out."
He turned toward Carl. "Hey, you coming?"
Carl thought for a moment before nodding. "Sure, let's go." Then he looked at Roy. "Head back to the ship. Tell the crew to stand down and rest."
"Yes, sir!" Roy saluted and left.
Carl followed Smoker toward Loguetown.
Even though he found the so-called Future Pirate King annoying, he wasn't going to miss witnessing history unfold.
Loguetown – Execution Platform
The square was in chaos.
At the very place where Gol D. Roger was executed twenty-two years ago, a dramatic spectacle was unfolding.
On the execution platform stood Monkey D. Luffy, Buggy the Clown, and Alvida.
"That's the big pirate Monkey D. Luffy?" Smoker muttered, biting down on his two cigars as he gazed toward the execution stand.
"Yes! And that's Buggy the Clown next to him!" The Marine beside him answered respectfully.
"Buggy… Captain of the Buggy Pirates, 15 million berries bounty. I remember him," Smoker acknowledged with a nod.
Carl remained silent, watching the execution platform expectantly.
This was a legendary moment.
"It makes sense why he has a 30 million bounty if he took down Arlong," Smoker said as he reached for his Jitte, the distinctive weapon with Seastone at its tip—the bane of all Devil Fruit users.
Just as he was about to make his move, Carl casually pressed down on his shoulder.
"…What?" Smoker frowned.
"Smoker," Carl said with a meaningful smirk, pointing at the execution platform. "The new era is about to begin."
"What are you talking about?" Smoker turned to look.
At that moment, on the execution platform, Luffy had been shackled.
Then—
"I'M THE MAN WHO WILL BECOME THE PIRATE KING!!!"
His voice roared across the square.
It echoed.
The massive crowd seemed eerily silent, as if the entire world had momentarily stopped.
Smoker's pupils shrank. His face darkened. "Is this… what you meant by the beginning of a new era?"
"It's not over yet," Carl muttered as he pulled out a cigar, lit it, and exhaled a smoke ring.
At the same time, Buggy raised his sword, preparing to execute Luffy.
Yet, instead of fear—
Luffy smiled.
A fearless, genuine smile.
Carl narrowed his eyes slightly.
Tashigi, watching from the crowd, murmured in disbelief, "He… he smiled?"
Smoker's reaction was even more intense. His teeth clenched as he muttered, "He's smiling…?"
This scene was identical to what happened twenty-two years ago.
The execution of Gol D. Roger.
"Why?" Smoker's voice was low and tense.
"Why is he smiling?!"
"Who does he think he is?!"
BOOM!!!
As if by divine intervention, a massive bolt of lightning struck the execution platform.
The platform collapsed in flames.
"Whoa! I'M ALIVE! HAHAHAHA!" Luffy cheered, grinning ear to ear.
Smoker's expression was unreadable as he muttered, "This brat… is dangerous."
"Gather the forces! Don't let them escape Loguetown!"
"Yes, sir!" Marines quickly mobilized.
As Smoker rushed forward, Carl remained standing in place, observing Luffy with indifferent eyes.
Pirates… and the Will of the King
Carl didn't like pirates.
Not even this seemingly innocent Straw Hat kid.
It wasn't about what Luffy hadn't done. It was about what he represented.
The symbol of piracy.
As long as a man like him exists, more people will follow in his footsteps.
Just like Bellamy, who idolized Doflamingo.
Just like Blackbeard, who once sailed under Whitebeard.
Piracy is a chain reaction.
It always spreads.
Carl's eyes darkened as his presence shifted.
A bloody aura seeped into the air.
The atmosphere became thick.
All the pirates in the square suddenly froze in place.
The civilians and Marines instinctively backed away, unaffected.
"W-What is this…?!"
"Why can't I move?! Damn it!!"
"I see blood… so much blood…!!"
A massive, blood-red beast materialized in the air, baring its fangs.
Carl's fingers rested on Sakura Ten's hilt.
Terror crept into the hearts of every pirate.
It felt like a sword was already pressing against their necks.
"N-No, please!!"
"I-I surrender!! Please spare me!!"
In the midst of their desperate cries—
Sakura Ten was drawn.
[Break the Void—Draw the Sword.]
The air rippled like a stone hitting water.
Carl calmly sheathed his blade and turned away.
Blood splattered across the square.
A severed head soared into the sky.
The civilians and Marines stood in stunned silence.
Elsewhere—Luffy vs. Smoker
Luffy was struggling.
His attacks were useless against Smoker.
Because Smoker was Logia.
His body turned into smoke, rendering all of Luffy's punches completely ineffective.
"Got it?" Smoker grabbed Luffy's head and slammed him into the ground. "You can't even set foot in the Grand Line at this level."
Luffy gritted his teeth. He was helpless.
Smoker reached for his Jitte, ready to end it—
But suddenly, a hand stopped him.
A cloaked figure materialized behind Smoker.
"Really? That's hard to say," the man said with a smirk.
Smoker's pupils shrank. "You're…!"
The stranger chuckled. "The government's been after my head for a long time."
Dragon.
The leader of the Revolutionary Army.
"The world is waiting for our answer," Dragon said as the wind around them began to howl.
But before he could unleash the storm—
An indifferent voice interrupted.
"I can't let you do that."
Dragon's eyes flickered.
Smoker turned toward the source of the voice.
Carl was walking toward them. His hand resting on Sakura Ten's hilt.
Dragon exhaled. "Ah… I felt that aura from the square earlier. It seems you're the cause."
Smoker narrowed his eyes.
Carl sighed. "Honestly, you pirates, revolutionaries, and marines all give me a headache."
He took another step forward.
"I wasn't going to interfere… but your little storm is too troublesome."
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