The execution date of Gol D. Roger had finally arrived.
Smoker arrived early at the central plaza of Loguetown.
A tall execution platform had been erected in the once-empty square, its solemn frame gleaming with a sharp light under the blazing sun.
The execution was scheduled for noon.
Though it was still early, the square was already packed with people.
Smoker moved unhurriedly toward a dilapidated building on the edge of the plaza, pried off the planks sealing the door, and made his way up to a rooftop terrace through a winding path.
This was a perfect vantage point he'd found during an earlier visit.
The view was wide and unobstructed.
The terrace was overgrown with vegetation, making it hard to spot from outside.
More importantly, it was quiet. Peaceful.
Smoker stood at the edge of the terrace and looked down at the teeming crowd below.
Red-Haired Shanks, Dracule Mihawk, Doflamingo, Crocodile, Moria, and even Buggy…
The very people who would one day stir the seas now stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the crowd, waiting to witness the fall of a king.
When a whale dies, the sea teems with life.
The fall of a sovereign heralds the rise of newcomers.
This cycle had repeated on the seas for hundreds of years.
Smoker frowned slightly as he noticed many obviously pirate-looking figures among the crowd.
[There's no way the Marines don't know how tempting this execution is for pirates, yet they're letting them gather freely.]
[They must be hoping this public execution will shatter the pirates' will.]
[Too bad the Navy underestimated both Roger's resolve and the pirates' madness.]
Something suddenly felt off.
The current Fleet Admiral was Kong. The Admirals were led by Sengoku.
Forget Kong, how could Sengoku make such a stupid mistake?
A move this self-destructive smelled more like something the Five Elders would pull.
Smoker respected the Marines and trusted their resolve to eliminate pirates.
But when he remembered how they served the World Government—and how they followed the Celestial Dragons without question, it made his skin crawl.
He couldn't help but shake his head and mutter to himself.
"A public execution… what a foolish move."
"The Marines really botched this one."
Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.
"Ara ara, white-haired kid… calling the Marines foolish like that is kinda rude, y'know?"
Smoker's back tensed up as he whirled around. "Who's there?!"
Even though he hadn't awakened Observation Haki, his senses were sharp.
Yet he hadn't noticed someone approach him from behind at all!
If this had been an enemy, he'd be dead by now…
He turned and saw a tall, lanky Marine who must have appeared at some point without a sound.
He was nearly three meters tall, clearly future admiral material.
Dressed in a rare blue-violet Marine uniform and wearing round sunglasses, he looked casually indifferent.
That distinctive look practically had his name engraved on his forehead.
"Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, oh wait, not yet, Kuzan."
"Ara ara, you know me already? What an honor…"
"But who are you, kid? You look young, but your presence is downright terrifying."
Smoker's face darkened.
Terrifying presence? Coming from this monster?
Who's mocking who here?!
Kuzan smiled lazily, but inside, he was on full alert.
The boy looked strong, too strong for someone clearly under Marine enlistment age.
After all, the Navy had strict age rules.
At fourteen, you could be a trainee. At sixteen, a seaman.
Any younger, even orphans of Marines, weren't allowed in.
This wasn't CP with its shady practices, after all.
So while the Marines had plenty of talent, they didn't raise monsters like this.
Pirates, on the other hand, were different.
They didn't care about age. Even kids could join.
Those raised in bloodshed, if they lived long enough—grew frighteningly powerful.
So naturally, Kuzan found the boy suspicious.
Seeing the look on Kuzan's face, Smoker figured out what he was thinking.
"No need to be so tense. I'm not a pirate…"
"If anything, I'd really like to join the Marines."
"Oh? Really?"
Kuzan's eyes lit up.
A kid this strong wanting to join the Marines? That was great news.
"Well, that's fantastic. So what's your name? What village are you from?"
"Smoker. From Mizukane Island. Though, I doubt you've heard of it."
"Ara ara…" Kuzan scratched his head awkwardly. "Sorry, that's on me. Guess I need to read more."
And just like that, the two of them began chatting.
Kuzan reminded Smoker of Garp in many ways.
Seemingly carefree, but razor-sharp beneath the surface.
With a few indirect questions, Kuzan confirmed that Smoker wasn't a pirate, and his heart settled a bit.
Smoker also found it strange.
No wonder they became friends in the original story.
Their personalities were different, but they really hit it off.
After a while, Kuzan suddenly asked,
"Smoker, you never answered, why do you say the public execution was a bad move?"
"Well…"
Smoker rubbed his chin and sighed.
"Kuzan-nii, be honest with me. Was Roger really captured by the Marines?"
Kuzan's relaxed expression stiffened instantly. "What kind of nonsense-"
But one look at Smoker's serious face stopped him cold.
He glanced around, then leaned in and whispered, "How do you know?"
Smoker was ready for that question.
"I was only guessing before. Now I'm sure. Honestly, the Navy really shot itself in the foot with this."
Kuzan frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You could've just said you captured Roger. Fine. But no, you had to say you beat him in a fair fight."
"Publishing a report was already pushing it, but you even added photos."
"And not just Roger's bounty photo. You threw in a picture of Vice Admiral Garp too."
Kuzan remembered how Garp had flat-out refused to pose for that photo and scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Well… isn't it reasonable that Garp caught Roger?"
Smoker shot him a look.
"I don't doubt Garp's strength. If Roger were really captured, he'd be the only one who could do it."
"But the photo of him looked way too clean. Not a scratch on his face!"
"Ugh…" Kuzan winced. Now he understood.
Even if Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr teamed up, it wouldn't be easy to take down Roger without a fight.
There'd be blood, bruises—at the very least, some torn clothes.
He hadn't expected the flaw to be so simple.
Kuzan looked at Smoker in astonishment. This kid's thinking was too sharp!
Of course, Smoker already knew the truth from the plot.
It was reverse engineering, really. Shooting the arrow first, drawing the bullseye after.
But to Kuzan, Smoker seemed like a prophet casually dunking on the entire Navy's intelligence division.
And Smoker wasn't done.
"Even without the photo, pirates wouldn't believe Roger got captured. Just look at the Golden Lion."
"Only the captain was caught? The rest of his elite crew vanished? It reeks of something fishy."
"Sure, the report was mostly for civilians and allied nations. So maybe it's not a big deal..."
Kuzan frowned and protested,
"Still, Roger's death will strike fear into pirates. Isn't that a good thing?"
Smoker glanced at the reporters setting up their video Den Den Mushi.
"Actually, I think it's the opposite."
"What?"
"Roger liked to fight, but he wasn't stupid. No one who stands atop the pirate world is an idiot."
"Would someone like that just accept public execution? Take that humiliation lying down?"
"Even the Golden Lion came to save him. What about Rayleigh and Jabba? You think they lacked courage or power?"
"There's only one explanation. Roger wanted this. He chose a public execution."
Kuzan still didn't get it. "But… why?"
Smoker grinned. "No matter how famous Roger was, he was still just a pirate. This may be the only moment he can speak to the whole world."
"Given his status—and the secrets he knew about the One Piece—what kind of storm do you think he'll unleash?"
Kuzan's face went pale. "I can't let him succeed!" He turned to leave.
"Kuzan-nii, I wouldn't recommend that."
He froze. "Why not?"
"This public execution is the government's decision. Not something a Vice Admiral can overturn."
"It's too late to back out. Even if they realize the risk, they won't cancel it. It's all about saving face."
"And if you speak up? You'll become the thorn in their side. Every time they see you, they'll be reminded they got played. What do you think they'll do?"
Smoker stepped forward and patted his shoulder.
"If they can't fix the problem, they'll get rid of the one who pointed it out."
"So today, you heard nothing. You know nothing."
Kuzan stood frozen.
Smoker felt pretty smug.
Thanks to his transmigrator knowledge, he'd pulled off the perfect oracle act.
He was sure Kuzan would be thoroughly impressed now.
Kuzan's brow was furrowed, emotions flickering in his eyes.
But after a long pause, his gaze steadied.
"Thanks, Smoker. I'll take your advice… but-"
Kuzan walked to the edge of the terrace and stared hard at the execution platform.
"No matter what that guy is planning, no matter what the future holds…"
"My justice will not waver."
A thin layer of ice formed over Kuzan's body.
"I'll use this cold power… to carry out a burning justice."
Smoker gave him a thumbs up.
"As expected of Kuzan-nii. Damn cool."
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter