Chapter 52

That’s right, it’s not that he deserves to die, it’s the system that deserves to die!

Siano has been holding back for a long time!

The most annoying thing about this crappy system is that you have to wait until the sacrifice is successful before you can see the point value and the appraisal comments.

He wasn't there before, so he thought this thing was just an old photo used for an autograph and wasn't worth much.

Who would have thought it would have such significant meaning to Tashigi?

He actually has a pretty good impression of this sword-obsessed girl from the manga; like Smoker, she is one of the few in the Marine camp who can strictly uphold her own path of justice.

Now, due to various coincidences, she and Smoker aren't even that familiar with each other yet, but she has become his loyal fan girl a step ahead of time.

It suddenly made his conscience feel a rare, faint twinge of pain.

He absolutely has to make it up to her!

After thinking for a moment, he had a plan in mind.

He quietly got up, went to the first floor, took a bamboo sword out of his backpack, signed his name on it, and handed it to the female shopkeeper.

"Could you please help me keep this? When that Marine girl comes back, give it to her and tell her that I’ve kept her photo as a memento. This is a training sword that has been with me for many years; as a return gift, I hope she will cherish it."

"No problem, that girl already gave me instructions, please rest assured!"

The female shopkeeper took it with a smile.

Only then did Siano feel at ease, returning to his window seat on the second floor to eat to his heart's content.

As for Tashigi, this should count as having made amends, right?

As for where that bamboo sword came from...

It was something he happened to pick up in the trading market several years ago. The price was low, so he just bought it as a souvenir and had kept it in his backpack, rarely taking it out.

Now it’s just the right time to put it to good use—

【Gintoki Sakata’s Lake Toya】

【Type: Equipment】

【Price: 30 points】

【Description: An ordinary mass-produced wooden sword from a factory, purchased by Gintoki Sakata while watching a TV shopping channel for 1000 yen, including shipping.】

【Seller’s Note: Squatting in the Yorozuya closet for three days and three nights, I finally caught my chance! Huh, why does it seem like there’s someone in the closet next to me too?】

…………

After finishing the meal, it was already past one in the afternoon.

This spot on the second floor had a great view, allowing them to take in the entire square, along with the execution platform, in one glance.

So, the group didn't rush to leave, quietly enjoying the rainy scenery by the window.

"Huh, that's strange."

Nojiko frowned, "The rain is clearly getting heavier, so why aren't the people gathered in the square decreasing, but instead increasing?"

The others noticed this as well.

Looking out over the entire square.

More and more people were gathering toward the execution platform.

Many of these guys were carrying weapons, with burly builds and fierce faces; one look and you could tell they weren't ordinary people.

"It seems like the day Roger was executed eighteen years ago is right around these few days, right?" Zeff guessed, "It's not strange that more and more pirates have come specifically to Loguetown on a pilgrimage during this time, and they've all gathered here today."

"It also has to do with the weak defenses on the island, right? That Colonel Smoker hasn't returned yet."

Kuina shrugged and added, "I heard that when he's around, pirates are terrified once they step onto the island, fearing their identities will be exposed and they'll be caught by him. But now that most of the Marines have been pulled away to the docks to welcome some big shot, the pirates on the island naturally have no more scruples and have gathered spontaneously."

Siano glanced over, scanned the entire scene, and after not finding any familiar figures, he withdrew his gaze.

His purpose in coming to Loguetown had always been the execution platform itself.

As for these small fry, as long as they behaved themselves, he couldn't be bothered to deal with them.

Of course.

If these pirates didn't know their place and really took advantage of Smoker's absence to start looting wantonly and harming the people here.

Then they couldn't blame him for being ruthless.

"By the way, Captain..."

"Hmm?"

Siano turned his head to look at the person who spoke.

It was Kuina.

She seemed to have been holding something back for a long time, and now, triggered by the sound of the rain, she struggled for a while before finally unable to help herself:

"It's been so long, but you seem to have never mentioned it to us—what exactly is the dream you're chasing by going out to sea?"

It was no wonder she was curious.

The wind that a young person rides when chasing their dreams is more precious than gold.

Siano is eighteen this year, the age when he should be filled with infinite longing and dreams.

He had indeed said many things about dreams, for instance, that he would take her to challenge all the swordsmen in the world and become the world-recognized greatest swordsman;

He had also said that he would definitely let Mr. Zeff fulfill his lifelong dream in his old age and find the All Blue, the dream sea of chefs he had been obsessed with for decades;

He even said that since that little girl Nami had boastfully claimed she would draw a map of the entire world, then he, as her older brother, would take her to realize it...

Almost all the dreams of his crew members were carried on the shoulders of this man.

But... he had never once mentioned what the dream was that he, as the captain, wanted to pursue himself!

Nami, Nojiko, Zeff... even Gin, all turned their gazes over, staring at Siano's face.

They had also been very curious about this for a long time.

Under everyone's gaze.

Siano shrugged, picked up his after-meal black tea, and took a sip.

"I've always felt that dreams are something that come in stages."

He looked at Nami and Nojiko, smiling, "When I was little and didn't know any better, I spent every day just thinking about how to make these two mischievous little brats call me 'brother' willingly. That was my dream back then."

"Later on, my dream slowly changed to wanting to protect my family, to become strong, to become very strong—strong enough that in the entire East Blue, any pirate who came looking for trouble wouldn't be able to withstand a single punch from me!"

"Then what about now! Don't try to brush it off, Captain!"

Kuina stared tightly into his eyes, "You, as Captain, are clearly strong enough now, right? The previous dreams have all been realized, haven't they! So now, in the future, what exactly is the dream you want to pursue?"

A dream for now, huh...

Siano was silent for a long time.

He turned his head, his gaze passing through the curtain of rain, looking faintly toward the execution platform outside the window.

Exposed to wind and rain for eighteen years, it still stood tall, facing the sea.

The crowd was still bustling, filling the square just like eighteen years ago, making him feel as if, in a trance, he saw the figure of the person who had knelt on the platform back then, head bowed, laughing wantonly.

"The man who possessed wealth, fame, and power—the 'Pirate King' Gol D. Roger—said one sentence before his execution that sent the whole world rushing to the sea."

"'Want my treasure?'"

"'If you want it... then go find it on the sea, I left it all there!'"

……

Eighteen years ago.

The terminally ill Pirate King Roger, after drinking with Whitebeard under the cherry blossom trees, turned himself in.

Before his execution, he shouted this sentence to the whole world.

The Great Pirate Era was thus officially opened.

And now, eighteen years later, besides the sea becoming more chaotic and turbulent, and more and more pirates going to sea, it seemed nothing had changed.

The Celestial Dragons and the World Government were still high above, looking down on all living beings, and the people were still caught between the Heavenly Tribute and pirate raids, suffering unspeakably.

What was everyone waiting for?

What exactly did Roger see at Laugh Tale that made him look up and laugh in relief?!

Could it be that everything was really just to wait for that fated child from eight hundred years ago?

To wait for him to turn white-haired in six years, and no matter the situation, laugh like a lunatic, so that he could overthrow this shitty old order?!

To hell with the theory of bloodline and destiny!

Siano refuses to believe it!!!

"Since everyone wants to know so badly, there's no harm in saying it early. My dream is..."

He looked around the table, grinned, and was just about to speak—

BOOM!!!

A deafening explosion of cannonballs suddenly tore through the curtain of rain, detonating in everyone's ears!

(End of chapter)