"Man, I'm stuffed! Nothing beats chowing down on meat!"
Luffy's first words as they left the restaurant echoed with satisfaction.
Beside him, Kiri shot him an exasperated look, sighing as she spoke. "You just ate a crepe, and you're still packing it away. You ate more than anyone else!"
"Sweet stuff goes to a different stomach, doesn't it? That crepe made me crave meat!" Luffy grinned.
"Is that how it works?" Kiri muttered. "Whatever."
Their first stop in Loguetown had been a diner, as Luffy, true to form, demanded meat, and Kiri, reluctantly, agreed. Though she wasn't hungry herself, she indulged him—a sign of her soft spot for him.
After the meal, they headed toward their original destination: the execution platform where the Pirate King had died. No trace of Gold Roger remained, but Luffy was eager, certain he'd feel something profound. Kiri, who'd seen it before when leaving the East Blue, seemed more focused on Luffy than the platform itself.
"Took longer than I thought," Kiri said. "Let's head straight there now."
"No need to rush, is there?" Luffy replied.
"Maybe not, but we might get sidetracked later. Better plan ahead."
"Got it! You're pretty smart, Kiri."
"It's not that I'm smart. You just don't think enough, Captain. Step it up."
"Shishishi! It's fine. I've got you!" Luffy laughed.
Years had passed since Kiri last visited, but the town's layout was clear in her mind. She led Luffy confidently through the streets toward the platform, a public symbol of pirate executions, placed prominently in the town's most visible spot. Soon, a wide plaza came into view.
"That's gotta be it!" Luffy exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over. He'd been fascinated since hearing about it, Kiri's stories fueling his curiosity.
His grin widened with childlike wonder. Kiri, walking beside him, gave a wry smile. As the platform loomed closer, memories of her own past—sealed away after parting with her crew—began to surface. That day, standing before the platform, came vividly back to her.
"There it is," Luffy said.
"Yep. We made it," Kiri replied.
They stopped some distance away, the platform towering before them. It stood high, visible to all in the plaza, its weathered frame carrying a quiet melancholy. How many had met their end there?
Gold Roger, the Pirate King, was one of them.
Luffy stared intently, his usual grin replaced by a serious expression. He turned to Kiri. "This is where it all began, huh?"
"Exactly. They call Loguetown the town of beginnings and endings. Roger was born here, died here, and his death sparked a new era. He didn't just shape an era as the Pirate King—he birthed another by dying. In his final moment, he created a beginning."
"A new era…" Luffy murmured.
"When Roger sailed the seas, and when he died, the world shifted—twice—because of one man. Everyone who knew him calls him the greatest pirate ever."
"You knew him?" Luffy asked.
Kiri shrugged. "Nah, he died before I was born. But his legends? They're everywhere. You hear them just being a pirate."
"What kind of guy was he?"
"Who knows? Maybe a bit like you. Loved freedom, hated control."
"Huh," Luffy said, his voice oddly subdued.
He stared at the platform, lost in thought. "The Pirate King was executed here. The greatest pirate in the world died right there."
Kiri gazed up too, remembering her own moment staring at the platform, dreaming of the Grand Line—the vast, unknown sea Roger alone had conquered, reaching the final island, Laugh Tale, earning his title, and ending his life here.
It wasn't awe or passion they felt, but something else—something undeniable. Luffy must have felt it too.
His fist clenched, his eyes fixed on the platform, as if seeing the shadow of the king himself.
"The start of the pirate era," he whispered, his voice soft but heavy.
Kiri nodded quietly. Bringing him here was worth it. Something in him was shifting.
She'd felt it too, once. The platform marked an era's end and its beginning, the dawn of the Great Pirate Era. Back then, she'd vowed to become the greatest pirate herself. But countless others had made that same vow, and only a handful survived. Most, like her old crew, fell short, lost to the sea.
Now, after years, she'd returned to the sea, reigniting her resolve.
"The era's bound to change again," Kiri said, eyes lowered. "Don't know what'll spark it, but it's coming. That's partly why I'm back in the East Blue—huh?"
She looked up to find Luffy gone. Scanning the plaza, she spotted him—atop the execution platform.
"What a view!" Luffy shouted, grinning. "This is what the Pirate King saw! And where he died!"
"You're not listening! And you're up there?!" Kiri groaned, exasperated.
In seconds, he'd climbed the forbidden platform, a tourist attraction now, drawing the crowd's attention. Voices rose, some shocked, others amused. Luffy, a wanted man, stood exposed.
Kiri's stomach sank. She couldn't blame him—she should've stopped him. Shrugging, she approached the platform, her expression hardening.
"Always so reckless," she muttered. "He's gonna get noticed like this. No use scolding him now. I messed up not stopping him."
"Oi, Kiri!" Luffy waved enthusiastically.
"Yeah, yeah. Why're you having so much fun, Captain?" she called back, waving halfheartedly.
This was a navy town. Lingering was risky. Kiri moved toward the platform, matching Luffy's carefree pace, when she noticed suspicious figures—cloaked men, more than a dozen, scattered across the plaza.
Her instincts screamed danger. Not Usopp-level paranoia, but with their fame, caution was warranted.
She quickened her pace. Luffy, atop the platform, was a sitting duck.
"Luffy, let's go! And get down from there—it's off-limits!" she shouted.
"Huh? Really?" he replied, oblivious.
A hulking figure in a hooded cloak stepped in her path. His right arm, barely concealed, bore a massive axe-hand. Kiri's eyes widened as she met his gaze, recognizing him instantly.
"Luffy, get out of there!" she yelled.
Too late. A sudden force struck Luffy from above, pinning him face-down on the platform. His neck and wrists were locked into the execution device.
"What the—?!" Luffy gasped, struggling.
"Fufufu! Gotcha, Straw Hat Luffy. Welcome to Loguetown!" a voice sneered. A man in a cloak stepped forward, his red nose unmistakable even to Luffy.
The man threw off his cloak, revealing Buggy the Clown, grinning triumphantly. "Gyahaha! Been waiting for this, Straw Hat! Today's the day I take your head! Surrender!"
"Buggy?!" Luffy blinked.
"Don't play dumb, you moron!" Buggy snapped. "You know the mess you're in?!"
Kiri, blocked by the axe-handed man, heard Buggy's voice. Luffy didn't seem fazed, but the situation was dire. The crowd watched, as if at a play, while Buggy's taunts echoed.
"You came to Loguetown, the closest town to the Grand Line. Every pirate heading there stops here. I knew you would too, and I was right!" Buggy crowed. "My plan worked perfectly!"
"Why're you here? I already beat you," Luffy said.
"For revenge, you idiot!" Buggy roared.
"Oh, right. You surprised me there," Luffy said, unfazed.
"You won't be so cocky soon. Your execution's coming!" Buggy declared. "But first, let's show you the power of my alliance! Get ready, boys! Make it loud!"
At Buggy's signal, the cloaked men threw off their coats, brandishing weapons and firing pistols into the air, shouting wildly. The plaza was surrounded. Townsfolk screamed, trapped with no escape, as chaos erupted.
Kiri gritted her teeth. She'd been too focused on the navy, not expecting vengeful pirates. Worse, the man before her shed his cloak—Morgan, the former marine, now free and vengeful.
"Morgan… how are you here?" Kiri asked.
"I lost my purpose because of you," he growled. "Now I've found a new one."
"Revenge? You became a pirate for that?"
"Doesn't matter. I'll kill you any way I can."
His presence was more intimidating than before, his resolve sharper. Kiri sensed danger.
She stepped back, glancing at the platform. Luffy, still carefree, grinned as Buggy riled up his crew. Their voices drowned out any chance to warn him.
"I'm gonna see an execution for the first time!" Luffy said.
"You're the one getting executed!" Buggy snapped.
"What?! No way!" Luffy yelled.
"Stop messing around!" Buggy roared.
Luffy finally realized his predicament, his shouts rivaling the pirates' as he struggled against the restraints. Buggy, reveling in the moment, raised his arms. "Let the grand execution begin!"
"No way!" Luffy wailed.
Kiri knew she had to act. She drew sheets of paper from her pocket, shaping them into a small spear. As she raised her arm to throw, Morgan lunged, his axe-hand swinging down. She parried with her spear, deflecting the blow, but the impact rattled her arm. His axe crashed into the cobblestones, shattering them.
"That's not a hit you ignore," Kiri thought, shaken.
"What're you planning?" Morgan growled. "Just watch."
"Can't. He's someone I won't let die."
As Morgan swung again, Kiri dodged by a hair, forming a paper sword. She had no time for a prolonged fight—she needed to save Luffy. Striking Morgan's axe-hand, she pushed him back, then darted past, aiming for the platform.
She thought she'd cleared him, but a deafening roar paralyzed her senses. A beam of light hit her abdomen, sending her light body crashing across the plaza.
"Kiri!" Luffy shouted from the platform, eyes wide with panic.
Kiri rolled, clutching her stomach, groaning. The blow hadn't pierced her, but it hurt. Townsfolk screamed, trapped by the encircling pirates. Kiri spotted the attacker—a red-haired man in silver armor. Eldrago, a name Luffy had mentioned, a sound-based ability user.
Buggy, Morgan, Eldrago—a dangerous trio, allied for revenge, backed by a horde of pirates.
"Buggy's crew, Eldrago's gang, and Morgan," Kiri muttered. "This is bad."
"That's not all, paper-user," a voice called. A stunning woman stepped forward, wielding a mace. "I'm here too."
Kiri frowned, not recognizing her. The woman smiled at Luffy. "You should remember me, Luffy. The first man to punch my face."
She caressed her cheek, her voice dreamy. "I felt that fist."
Luffy squinted. "Who're you?"
"Don't remember? I've changed a bit. Ate the Smooth-Smooth Fruit after we parted. Name's Alvida."
"Alvida?" Luffy tilted his head, recalling a very different face. "No way. Alvida's not a beauty like you."
"I was, before the fruit. My freckles are gone, as you noticed."
"That's not what I meant!" Luffy protested.
Alvida, now slim and unrecognizable, basked in her transformation, oblivious to Luffy's confusion.
Kiri, watching, pulled out a mini Den Den Mushi. Morgan and Eldrago noticed but didn't stop her.
"Calling your crew? Pointless. We outnumber you," Morgan said.
"Give me back my gold, thieves!" Eldrago bellowed.
"First, I save Luffy," Kiri muttered. "Then deal with these clowns."
The Den Den Mushi connected. Kiri relayed the situation, calling her crew to the plaza.