Chapter 77: Truly Deserving of Death!

Beneath a gloomy curtain of rain.

A luxurious cruise ship, escorted front and rear by three warships, was slowly making its way toward the Loguetown docks.

"Oh! Loguetown!!"

Altai stood at the bow, gently swirling the red wine in his hand. "Though it pales compared to my capital, it's still quite nice!"

"Hey, Onigumo!" he glanced sideways toward the rear. "That so-called Pirate King Roger died here, didn't he?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, the esteemed Altai."

Beside him, Onigumo, a cigarette dangling from his lips, nodded in response. "The execution platform in that square is where he met his end. If you wish to visit, I will immediately order the Marines on the island to lay a red carpet all the way from the docks to the base of the platform."

"Then go ahead and lay it."

Altai waved his hand lazily. "Still, just standing at the docks and looking around should be enough. Go to the base of the execution platform? I can't be bothered to run that far. Mostly, I just enjoy watching your Marine soldiers doing the kind of rough labor meant for lowly servants. Hahaha!"

"..."

Onigumo's brows furrowed, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes, but the next moment, he immediately switched to a beaming expression, bowing slightly:

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Smoker stood at the rear of the deck, expressionlessly gazing at Altai's obese figure ahead.

Compared to a few days ago, his face and chest now bore additional whip marks.

—Those were inflicted personally by Altai, lash by lash, after the man flew into a rage over Smoker saving a fishing boat and two elderly people.

Had he been an ordinary king, he naturally would not have had such authority, but this man happened to possess one-quarter Celestial Dragon bloodline.

To be precise, more than thirty years ago, a certain princess from the Pease Kingdom attended the Levely, caught the eye of a Celestial Dragon who took her as a concubine, and upon her return, she was found to be with child.

The royal family of the Pease Kingdom took this as a great honor, celebrated lavishly, and immediately promoted the princess to the first heir to the throne.

After one generation passed, Altai, as the princess's eldest grandson, naturally ascended the throne upon reaching adulthood, as a matter of course.

He was undoubtedly a contradictory and unique existence.

On one hand.

None of the Celestial Dragon families in the Holy Land would acknowledge such an offspring of mixed blood, implanting them with a chip, nor would they tolerate Altai acting in the capacity of a Celestial Dragon.

But on the other hand.

Those below, whether officials of Marine Headquarters or the World Government, dared not neglect him, treating him merely as an ordinary king.

After all, his Celestial Dragon grandfather was still alive and held a high status within the family; there were even rumors that he had inquired about his biological grandson's condition several times. Should anything truly happen to Altai, the Holy Land would surely vent its wrath.

"..." Smoker touched the whip marks on his face, shaking his head in self-mockery.

To be a Logia user yet beaten until covered in wounds by a gluttonous, fat-bellied commoner—how humiliating.

Nevertheless, no matter what.

That elderly couple had ultimately been saved.

And the price he paid was merely a whipping; it was well worth it, wasn't it?

—If only the one who had personally twisted his arms and delivered him before Altai hadn't been Vice Admiral Onigumo.

Smoker lit two cigars, raising his eyes to gaze quietly at Onigumo.

He did not hate the man; he simply had never felt that the two large characters for 'Justice' on the white cloak draped over the other's back looked so glaring.

Since when had this begun?

Smoker exhaled a ring of smoke, his gaze bewildered.

He clearly remembered that over ten years ago, when he first met Onigumo, the other had been a hot-blooded youth daring to slam the table and fall out with nobles in order to uphold the justice in his heart.

Within the entire Marine organization.

Was it really only Vice Admiral Onigumo who had changed?

Or perhaps nothing had ever changed, and it was merely his past self who had chosen to ignore many things...

Second floor of a café in the central square of Loguetown.

"Everyone's dishes have all been served; if you need anything, I'll be downstairs—just give a shout, okay?"

The female manager smiled warmly as she placed five sparkling drinks on the table, then, under Ah Yin's expectant gaze, set a large bowl of strawberry cake before it.

"Hehe, thank you, Manager Auntie~"

Nami happily sipped her orange soda, glancing across the table at the figure shrouded beneath a white robe and hood. "Uncle Zeff, now that everyone has finally gathered, you're still wearing this outfit? You won't even take it off to eat; surely that's unnecessary?"

"In a dangerous place, it never hurts to be cautious."

Zeff grinned.

His current identity was rather special; he was the only one on the entire ship who currently had a bounty on his head.

Although the last update to his wanted poster had been a very, very long time ago, and his appearance in the photo differed considerably from his current look so that ordinary people truly wouldn't recognize him.

But Loguetown was, after all, rather special; a mix of dragons and fish, hosting both the strongest Marine branch in the East Blue and bounty hunters operating in the shadows, so it was better to keep a low profile.

Of course.

Zeff also knew that Siano did not care about how the outside world judged his identity or whether he would be put on a wanted list; indeed, even before setting sail, he had prepared himself to be wanted by the World Government.

But when to embark on that path was a decision that ought to rest in the captain's hands, and should not be triggered by him causing an accident that would implicate others.

As a crew member, one must possess this resolve.

"So, that Marine girl who looks exactly like Sister Sister Guyina was dragged off to work just five minutes before I arrived here? And she left this, begging you to sign it and deliver it into my hands?"

Siano held up the old photograph pinched between his fingers.

"Yes."

Sister Guyina nodded. "She said some important figure had arrived, and almost all the Marines went to the docks to line up for the welcome ceremony; Tashigi had to go as well."

"She was heartbroken that she couldn't see you; before leaving, she said that if she were fortunate enough to obtain your autograph, leaving the photo with the café owner would suffice, and she would come to retrieve it once she was done."

Tsk, a big shot.

Loguetown is, after all, just a small town; could there really be some big shot condescending to come all the way here?

Siano didn't take it to heart; anyway, after tonight, once he stole... no, picked up the execution platform, he planned to leave and head for Reverse Mountain.

No matter how difficult to entertain the nobles and aristocrats were, that was the Marines' trouble; what did it have to do with him?

It was a pity, though, that he hadn't witnessed the scene of Tashigi and Sister Sister Guyina appearing together in the same frame.

Glancing at the photo in his hand, Siano thought for a moment that he might not have a chance to see Tashigi again in the short term, so he casually offered it up as a Sacrifice.

【Sacrifice: Tashigi's Treasured Old Photo】

【Quality: Exquisite】

【Value: 200 Points】

【Appraisal Comment: A photo carefully cut from a newspaper and meticulously preserved by Tashigi, carrying the longing and convictions of her youth, supporting her step by step as she walked from the countryside to the Marine branch, treading alone on the path of swordsmanship and justice. The figure of the black-haired youth standing with a sword is the bright lamp hidden deep in her heart, and the unspoken, fervent aspiration that sustained her through countless days and nights of swinging her blade.】

"..."

Blue veins bulged on Siano's temple.

—This System truly deserves to die!

(End of Chapter)