As Roger was escorted by the Marines toward the execution platform, everyone in the crowd couldn't help but gasp.
"T-this… this is… the majesty of the Pirate King?" Tiffany whispered, unable to contain herself as she looked at Roger, whose very presence radiated overwhelming force.
"Captain…" Shanks and Buggy both muttered softly, their voices trembling as they laid eyes on him.
"Don't do anything reckless. Just watch. We're here to send the captain on his final journey, not to cause chaos!" Fang Yi quickly reminded his companions. Even Barrett's eyes flickered with strange light at the sight, which made Fang Yi all the more nervous.
If anyone acted rashly here, there would be no second path awaiting them—only death, alongside Roger.
From his spot, Fang Yi also noticed many figures who would one day shake the world: Donquixote Doflamingo, the underworld broker and future Warlord of the Sea; Dracule Mihawk, destined to become the world's greatest swordsman; Gecko Moria of the Thriller Bark; Crocodile, the "Sand Crocodile" who would later clash with Barrett in Alabasta; and hidden among the crowd, the son of Vice Admiral Garp, the future leader of the Revolutionary Army—Monkey D. Dragon.
"Oi… Pirate King!"
Just as everyone held their breath, waiting for the execution, a voice suddenly rang out from the square.
Roger lifted his head slowly, turning toward the source of the voice.
"Did you find it? …The One Piece—the one, true treasure… does it exist?" the man shouted again.
The square instantly fell silent, the only sound left being the steady fall of rain.
Roger grinned, his mouth curling into a wide smile, and then—he laughed.
"Not good!" Sengoku, presiding over the execution, felt a sudden chill of foreboding. He shouted urgently at the executioners: "Don't delay—execute him now!"
But it was already too late.
"Wahahahaha! You want it? My treasure? If you want it, you can have it all! Go and find it! I left everything the world has to offer… all in one place!"
Roger's booming laughter and final words shattered the silence, echoing across the square and beyond, reverberating into history itself.
The executioners, jolted back into motion, thrust their blades into Roger's body. Blood poured out, staining the platform red.
But by then, nobody was paying attention. The Pirate King's words had already ignited a flame in the hearts of all present. One Piece was real. He had left behind everything he owned—treasure, fame, power—on the final island. Whoever found it would inherit it all.
"UOOOOHHHH!!!"
The square erupted into a frenzy, the air crackling with excitement. Countless people were lost in the fever dream of One Piece.
But Tiffany noticed something different among her companions.
Shanks had pulled his hat low, tears hidden among the raindrops streaming down his face. Beside him, Buggy sobbed openly, not even trying to hide his grief.
Barrett stood silent, head bowed, his shoulders trembling—though he said nothing, his turmoil was plain to see.
Fang Yi, meanwhile, clenched his Sun-Shooting Bow so tightly that Tiffany worried he might lose control and fire at the Marines right then and there.
"Let's go. The captain has accomplished what he set out to do. From here on… It's our era." Fang Yi finally turned away, leaving without looking back. He knew if he stayed any longer, he might truly lose control.
Bang!
As Fang Yi turned to leave, a white-haired boy suddenly collided with him head-on.
"Hm?" Fang Yi's eyes, still filled with killing intent, fell upon the child, who was so terrified he fell back onto the ground.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to!" the boy stammered helplessly, staring up at Fang Yi's expressionless face.
Fang Yi recognized him immediately—or rather, even if he hadn't, the system's prompt confirmed it: this boy was none other than the future "White Hunter," Smoker.
Normally, Fang Yi might have tried to recruit him, but his heart was too unsettled now. All he wanted was to get away from this place.
Back aboard the Dragon Wolf, Fang Yi finally began to calm down. But soon Tiffany came with troubling news: Shanks and Buggy seemed to be arguing.
"Buggy, why are you leaving? Haven't we always been happy together?" Shanks asked in confusion, standing with Buggy at the dock.
When Fang Yi had returned to the ship, Buggy had stayed behind on the shore, telling Shanks he planned to leave.
"I've thought it through," Buggy replied quietly. "You're all monsters. Staying with you is too dangerous for me. And Fang Yi… don't be fooled by how he acts. His ambitions are anything but small. Someone like me would never be invited aboard if not for our history together. That's why I've decided—it's time to part ways."
"Are you sure about this, Buggy? You know me—I value potential and strength, yes, but from the beginning I've always seen you as my comrade." Fang Yi, who had come with Tiffany, spoke up. "Besides, strength isn't everything. Tiffany's not as strong as you, but I don't see that as a problem."
Buggy chuckled. "Didn't you say before? A crew needs both functional members and combat members. I'm neither. My existence must be a nuisance to you."
"Buggy!" Fang Yi's expression grew stern. "Don't joke about that! If you're saying you're unhappy with us, I won't stop you from leaving. But if you call yourself useless, then I won't accept it. Even if it's you, I won't allow anyone to insult my crew!"
"Wahahaha! Don't worry, I'm no useless fool!" Buggy suddenly laughed loudly. "My dream is to claim all the treasures of the world! Fang Yi—one day, when we meet again, I'll rob you blind!"
Hearing that, Fang Yi knew Buggy had already made his decision. He took a deep breath and smiled. "Then, when that day comes, don't blame me if I beat you so badly that even Shanks won't recognize you."
"Wahahahaha!" Both men burst out laughing together, sealing an unspoken pact.
"Captain… you're letting him leave?" Shanks asked softly, watching Buggy's retreating figure.
"Shanks, everyone is free. He has the right to chase his dream. But I believe someday, out there on the seas, our paths will cross again," Fang Yi said with a smile. "And when that day comes… you'd better call him Captain Buggy."
Shanks blinked, then broke into a grin. "Heh… that's something to look forward to."
With Buggy gone, the Dragon Wolf was left with only Fang Yi, Shanks, Barrett, and Tiffany. Though it was a loss, Fang Yi didn't dwell on it.
"We need to start looking for new crewmates, don't we? Any recommendations?" Fang Yi asked as they set sail from Loguetown, choosing to linger in the East Blue for a while instead of rushing straight to the Grand Line.
"I heard something in town earlier," Shanks replied after thinking for a moment. "They say there's a skilled sniper living in Syrup Village. I don't know the details, though—it's just a rumor."
"Good enough. Since we've got no fixed goal, let's go check it out," Fang Yi nodded. He already knew who Shanks meant—the father of Usopp, the future sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates.
"You're planning to recruit crew only from East Blue?" Barrett asked from the helm, frowning slightly.
"Of course not. But tell me—what's the first thing a pirate crew should do once it's formed?" Fang Yi asked with a sly smile.
Barrett's eyes lit up. "You mean…"
Normally, the first step for any pirate crew was to build their reputation. And the fastest way to do that? Do something that would shock the world.
"Don't rush. We've already gathered plenty of bounty posters, haven't we? What do you think about picking a pirate worth over 100 million as our first target?" Fang Yi grinned.
"A bounty over 100 million, huh? Sounds perfect! But the enemy captain's mine!" Barrett's grin stretched wide.
"No way! I'm the captain—so the enemy captain belongs to me!" Fang Yi shot back immediately.
"Then we take on two crews at once. You get one captain, I get the other," Barrett argued.
"Where the hell am I supposed to find two 100-million bounty pirates hanging around together?" Fang Yi rolled his eyes. "You're impossible."
"Heh, I actually think Barrett should take it," Shanks chimed in slyly. "After all, you're the captain. Isn't it more impressive if you don't even have to lift a finger, and your crew still crushes enemies? It makes you more mysterious and legendary."
"Bullshit! You're just trying to get a fight for yourself, aren't you? Ganging up with Barrett now? Fine then—whoever gets there first keeps the prize!" Fang Yi retorted, calling him out on the spot.
Barrett and Shanks exchanged a glance and smirked in unison. "Deal!"
Even though Fang Yi's arrows gave him a clear advantage in claiming his prey, neither of the two was a weakling. When the time came, who claimed the glory was far from certain.
Off to the side, Tiffany could only stare in disbelief. Why did it sound like her captain was talking about 100-million bounty pirates as casually as if they were cabbages at a market stall?
Was this… the mindset of someone who once sailed with the Pirate King?