Usopp and Kaya's POV
Meanwhile, Usopp and Kaya were peacefully enjoying their stopover in Loguetown. Unlike some of their companions, they hadn't encountered any trouble since their arrival. Nobody seemed to have recognized them, allowing them to explore the shopping streets without attracting attention.
Usopp had quickly found several shops specializing in tools and precision mechanisms. He emerged with a few springs, metal parts, components for his future inventions, and various materials intended to improve his projectiles. Kaya, meanwhile, had visited two pharmacies to purchase medicines and a few medical instruments that their potions couldn't replace.
"Did you find everything you wanted?" Kaya asked, looking at the bags her boyfriend was carrying.
"Almost everything! I'm still missing a few components, but I can probably make them myself. And I've already got three new ideas to try out!"
"As long as you don't blow up your workshop, I'm fine with that," she replied with an amused smile.
"Hey! Not all my inventions explode!"
Kaya burst out laughing before affectionately taking his arm.
With their shopping finished, they spent their remaining time strolling through the streets of Loguetown, stopping to look at a few shop windows and sharing a small pastry they had bought at a bakery. The outing did them both good, especially after the numerous training sessions and battles of the past few weeks.
About two hours after their departure, they finally returned to the Merry, where Zoro and Kuina were still keeping watch. The former was dozing peacefully against the mast, while his girlfriend enjoyed the sunshine as she watched the ships moving through the harbor.
"We're back!" Usopp announced as he stepped onto the deck. "You two can go explore the town now. We'll take over!"
Zoro opened one eye before sitting up and stretching.
"Two hours already? Well, perfect."
Kuina stood up as well and gave them a smile.
"Thanks, you two. We'll take the opportunity to check out the weapon shops."
"Have fun!" Kaya replied.
After saying goodbye to Merry, the two swordsmen left the ship, allowing Usopp and Kaya to enjoy some peace and quiet.
The couple began by carefully putting away their purchases. Usopp placed his new components in his workshop, while Kaya headed to the area reserved for medical supplies to organize her medicines and check their expiration dates.
Once their tasks were finished, they returned to the upper deck, where several lounge chairs had been set up so the crew could enjoy the sunshine during stopovers.
Usopp stretched out comfortably on one of them, his hands behind his head, while Kaya naturally settled down on top of him. She rested her cheek against his chest and wrapped an arm around his waist, enjoying the warmth of his body.
Jordan's intensive training sessions had considerably transformed Usopp's physique. He now possessed lean, well-defined muscles, with broad shoulders, powerful arms, and developed abdominal muscles.
Kaya seemed particularly fond of this change, although what she enjoyed most was being able to share these tender moments with him.
"You know, you've become an excellent pillow," she murmured, closing her eyes.
Usopp gave a satisfied smile and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Of course! The great Captain Usopp also has the most comfortable chest in all of East Blue!"
"And apparently the most modest one, too."
"That's just one of my many qualities."
Kaya stifled a laugh against his chest before snuggling a little closer to him.
"I still prefer the one who lets me sleep peacefully in his arms."
"That one's available whenever you want."
He placed a tender kiss on her forehead, then relaxed as well, gazing up at the clear sky.
Merry, who had watched them settle down with amusement, decided not to disturb them. She simply checked the mooring lines discreetly before returning to her own activities, leaving the two lovers to enjoy their privacy.
Luffy and Koby's POV
Meanwhile, Luffy and Koby had quickly left the docks behind and ventured into the bustling streets of Loguetown. Despite his eagerness to see the execution platform where Gol D. Roger had been executed, Luffy took his time observing the buildings and numerous shops lining their path. After all, he was in the town where the previous Pirate King had been born and where his adventure had come to an end.
"Hey, Koby! Can you believe it? Roger walked these very streets before us!" Luffy exclaimed with a huge grin.
"That's true. Loguetown is known as the Town of the Beginning and the End for that very reason," Koby replied, looking around. "A lot of pirates come here before trying their luck on the Grand Line."
"Shishishi! Then we're in the right place!"
The two friends continued their stroll for several minutes until a sign suddenly caught Luffy's attention. Above the entrance of a rather old establishment, a wooden sign displayed a name that was particularly familiar to him.
Gold Roger.
Luffy immediately stopped in front of the building. Unlike the restaurants and modern shops occupying the neighboring streets, this small bar seemed to have survived the decades without really changing. Its windows were slightly dulled by time, and its dark wooden facade gave it an almost nostalgic appearance.
"Hey, Koby! Look at this!"
Koby looked up at the sign.
"A bar named after Roger? That's pretty unusual, especially in a town with such a strong Marine presence."
"Let's check it out!"
Without waiting any longer, Luffy pushed open the door, causing a small bell hanging above the entrance to ring. Koby followed him curiously, discovering an almost deserted establishment whose atmosphere contrasted sharply with the bustle of the streets outside.
The furniture was old but carefully maintained. Several wooden tables occupied the room, while the walls were decorated with old photographs, yellowed nautical charts, and souvenirs that clearly dated back to another era. Behind the counter, dusty bottles rested on shelves that seemed to have witnessed several generations of sailors.
An elderly man with graying hair stood behind the bar, calmly cleaning a glass. He looked up when he heard the bell and observed his two new customers with a mixture of curiosity and surprise.
"Welcome, boys. Looking for something to drink?"
Luffy immediately approached the counter.
"Hey, old man! Why is your bar named after Roger? Did you know him?"
The old man remained silent for a few moments before letting out a small chuckle.
"Well, that's certainly a direct way to start a conversation. Did you come here to hear stories about the Pirate King?"
"YEAH!" Luffy replied without hesitation. "I want to become the Pirate King, so I want to know everything about him!"
Koby sat down on a stool beside his captain.
"Please excuse his enthusiasm. We arrived today, and he was determined to visit the execution platform where Roger was executed."
The old man set his glass down on the counter.
"I see... In that case, you've come to the right place. My name is Raoul, and I did indeed know that man."
Luffy's eyes immediately lit up.
"REALLY?!"
"Yes, kid. And not just by reputation. Roger regularly came here for a drink whenever he passed through Loguetown."
Raoul turned around and pointed to an old photograph hanging behind him. It showed a man with an imposing mustache and an exceptionally confident smile.
"He often sat right there, in that very spot in front of me. He'd order a drink, tell stories about his adventures, and laugh so loudly that sometimes you could hear him all the way from the street."
Luffy gazed at the photograph in fascination.
"Shishishi! He sounds like he was a lot of fun!"
"Fun?" Raoul repeated with a nostalgic smile. "He was quite a character. Loud, unpredictable, and sometimes downright unbearable. But he possessed something I've never seen in any other pirate."
Koby tilted his head slightly.
"What was it?"
The old man thought for a few seconds before answering.
"Freedom. Roger had this way of looking at the world as though no obstacle could ever truly stop him from going wherever he wanted. Even when he found himself in a hopeless situation, he kept that smile that made others want to follow him."
Luffy listened attentively, his smile softening slightly.
"It must have been awesome to travel with him."
"I suppose so. But I can assure you that his companions must have needed an incredible amount of patience as well!"
Koby burst out laughing.
"That reminds me of someone."
Luffy turned his head toward him.
"Huh? Who?"
"Nobody, Captain. Nobody at all."
Raoul watched their exchange with amusement before offering them something to drink. Luffy immediately asked if he had any fruit juice, while Koby chose a cold drink.
The old man served them their drinks, then began sharing a few memories from the days when Roger still sailed the seas.
He told them about the pirate crews that used to gather in his establishment, the sailors who exchanged unbelievable stories, and the rumors that circulated about the distant islands of the Grand Line. He also spoke of the excitement that had swept across the world when Roger accomplished the incredible feat of sailing across that entire sea and reaching its final island.
"Back then, nobody really believed a man could accomplish such a thing," Raoul explained. "The Grand Line was already considered a living hell for sailors. And yet, Roger and his companions returned after accomplishing what everyone thought was impossible."
"And that's how he became the Pirate King?" Koby asked.
"Exactly. He didn't simply give himself that title. The entire world eventually came to recognize him as such."
Luffy set his glass down on the counter.
"Then I'll do the same!"
Raoul looked at him curiously.
"Do you really intend to sail all the way to the end of the Grand Line?"
"Of course! I'm going to find the One Piece and become the Pirate King!"
The old man burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha! You're certainly ambitious, kid! But do you have any idea how many pirates have said those exact same words since Roger's death?"
"No idea!"
"Thousands, probably. And many of them never returned from the Grand Line."
Luffy simply shrugged.
"That doesn't change anything. I want to be the freest man in the world, so I'm going to become the Pirate King!"
Raoul's amused smile gradually faded at those words.
For a brief moment, the old man remained perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the young pirate wearing the straw hat.
The sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated Luffy's face, highlighting his carefree smile and the determination shining in his eyes.
And suddenly, Raoul felt as though time had turned back several decades.
The young man's figure seemed to blur before his eyes, revealing the image of another pirate, older, with an imposing mustache and exactly the same smile.
Roger...?
The memory lasted only an instant.
Raoul blinked and found Luffy sitting in front of him again, calmly finishing his glass of fruit juice.
"Hey, Mr. Raoul? Are you okay?" Koby asked, noticing his expression.
The old man gently shook his head.
"Yes, yes... Don't worry. You just reminded me of some old memories."
He looked at Luffy once more, who now seemed to be searching for something inside his hat.
That smile... That way of talking about freedom as though it already belonged to him...
Raoul felt a strange emotion tighten his chest.
It had been more than twenty years since he had last seen Roger, and yet, for a few seconds, he could have sworn his former customer was standing in front of his counter once again.
Koby, who had noticed his uneasiness, decided not to press the matter.
The conversation resumed naturally, and the two young pirates spent nearly two hours listening to Raoul's anecdotes. Luffy asked an impressive number of questions, some perfectly reasonable, others so absurd that the old man had to stop several times to burst out laughing.
He told them, among other things, how Roger could go from a serious discussion about the dangers of the Grand Line to a ridiculous argument over the quality of a meal, only to end the evening by buying a round of drinks for everyone in the bar.
"Was he really like that?" Koby asked, amused.
"Oh, believe me, kid, I could fill several books with his nonsense. But despite everything, nobody would have wanted him to be any different."
Luffy burst out laughing.
"Shishishi! I think I would've liked him!"
Raoul gave him a fond smile.
"I think so too."
Finally, after finishing their drinks, Luffy suddenly straightened up.
"AH! THE EXECUTION PLATFORM!"
Koby jumped in surprise.
"What?!"
"We came here to see the execution platform! We completely forgot!"
Koby glanced at the clock hanging on the wall and widened his eyes.
"We've been here for almost two hours!"
Raoul burst out laughing at their reaction.
"Ahahaha! You've still got the whole day ahead of you, boys. The execution platform isn't going anywhere."
He then gave them directions to the large square where Roger had been executed.
"Take the main street, keep going until you reach the large fountain, then turn right. You can't miss it."
Luffy adjusted his straw hat on his head.
"Thanks, old man! Your stories were awesome!"
"Thank you very much for your hospitality," Koby added, politely bowing his head.
Raoul gave them one last smile.
"Come visit me again if you ever pass through Loguetown. I'd love to hear some stories about your own adventures."
"YOU CAN COUNT ON US!" Luffy replied cheerfully.
The two friends finally left the bar, leaving Raoul alone behind his counter.
The old man spent a few moments staring at the door that had just closed.
"Monkey D. Luffy, huh..."
He had recognized the young pirate as soon as he arrived but had preferred not to mention his bounty. After all, it wasn't the first time someone wanted by the Marines had stopped by his establishment for a drink.
However, there was something special about this one.
Something that reminded him terribly of a former customer.
Outside, Luffy and Koby quickly made their way through the streets of Loguetown, following Raoul's directions. The closer they got to the town center, the busier the streets became. Merchants called out to passersby, children ran between the stalls, and several groups of tourists were heading toward the same destination as them.
Finally, they emerged into an enormous cobblestone square surrounded by imposing buildings and numerous shops.
At its center stood a tall wooden structure.
Gol D. Roger's execution platform.
Luffy immediately stopped.
His usual smile faded slightly, replaced by an expression of fascination.
"So... this is the place."
Koby stopped beside him and looked up at the platform.
"Yes. This is where the Pirate King was executed twenty-two years ago."
The execution platform towered over the square, standing in full view of the residents and travelers who regularly came to admire this historic monument. Despite the passing years, the structure was still maintained, as though the town refused to forget the event that had changed the fate of the world.
Luffy silently observed the steps leading up to the platform.
"I want to go up there."
Koby turned his head toward him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I want to see what Roger saw before he died."
Koby gazed at the execution platform for a few moments before nodding.
"Then let's go together."
The two friends approached the structure. After checking that there were no specific restrictions preventing them from accessing it, they climbed the wooden steps, attracting a few curious glances from passersby.
Once they reached the top, Luffy walked to the edge of the platform.
The entire main square of Loguetown stretched out before him.
Streets opened up between the buildings, residents went about their business peacefully, and the town's rooftops stood out against the blue sky. Farther away, beyond the buildings, they could make out part of the harbor and the vast expanse of the ocean.
Koby joined his captain and admired the view.
"So this was it... The last thing Roger saw before his execution."
Luffy remained silent for a few seconds.
He imagined the square packed with an enormous crowd, Marine soldiers lined up around the execution platform, and the Pirate King kneeling in the very spot where they now stood.
And yet, despite the death awaiting him, Roger had smiled.
"Hey, Koby..."
"Yes, Captain?"
"Do you think he was scared?"
Koby thought for a few moments.
"I don't know. But according to the stories, he showed no regrets. He probably knew he'd lived the life he wanted."
Luffy smiled softly.
"Then that's perfect."
He adjusted his straw hat before looking toward the horizon one last time.
"I want to live like that too. Without regretting my choices and without letting anyone else decide how I should live my life."
Koby gave him a sincere smile.
"And we'll be there to help you achieve your dream."
Luffy turned his head toward him.
"Shishishi! Of course! We'll all make it to the end of the Grand Line together!"
Then, without warning, he took a deep breath and straightened up to his full height.
Koby immediately recognized that expression.
"Luffy... What are you..."
Too late.
"I'M THE MAN WHO WILL BECOME THE PIRATE KING!"
His voice rang out with incredible force across the great square.
Several passersby jumped in surprise, birds took flight from the nearby rooftops, and numerous people looked up toward the execution platform.
A stunned silence settled over the square for a few seconds.
Then the reactions began pouring in.
"What did he just say?!"
"He wants to become the Pirate King?!"
"From Roger's execution platform? He's completely insane!"
Koby brought a hand to his face, torn between amusement and embarrassment.
"Captain... Maybe you could have avoided shouting quite so loudly."
Luffy burst out laughing.
"Why? It's the truth!"
Koby sighed before smiling as well.
"Yeah... I suppose you're right."
He gazed at his captain, standing on the very platform where the previous Pirate King had met his end.
Luffy showed no fear whatsoever in the face of the enormous dream he had just proclaimed. On the contrary, his smile was brighter than ever.
And Koby knew those weren't just empty words.
Several streets away, inside his old bar, Raoul was busy putting away a few bottles when a particularly powerful shout reached his ears.
"I'M THE MAN WHO WILL BECOME THE PIRATE KING!"
The old man froze.
He immediately recognized that voice.
For a few seconds, he remained silent, then a nostalgic smile gradually spread across his face.
"Ahaha... What a kid."
He slowly walked over to a drawer behind his counter and pulled out a wanted poster he had been keeping for some time.
It displayed the smiling face of Monkey D. Luffy, along with the amount of his bounty.
Raoul gazed at the portrait for a long moment.
"You really do look a lot like him, you know..."
His gaze then shifted toward the old photograph of Gol D. Roger hanging on the wall.
For an instant, he could almost imagine seeing his old friend laughing at the counter again, just as he had done so many times in the past.
The old man finally picked up a small hammer and carefully nailed Luffy's wanted poster to the wall, right beside the mementos dedicated to the previous Pirate King.
He stepped back a few paces to admire the result.
Two almost identical smiles now seemed to echo each other across the years.
Raoul crossed his arms, then let out a small chuckle.
"I believe you, kid. Let's see how far you'll go."
He remained in front of the two portraits for a few more moments before calmly returning behind his counter.
For the first time in a very long while, the old bartender had the feeling that something extraordinary was about to begin.
(Author's Note: I'll write the final part of Loguetown next week. ^^)