Chapter 78: Interrupting Someone While They Speak of Their Dreams Is Extremely Rude

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

Siano had been enduring this for a long time!

The most infuriating flaw of this broken system was that one could only see the point value and appraisal comments after the sacrifice was successfully completed.

Since he hadn't been present earlier, he had assumed this item was just an ordinary old photo meant for signing, worth very little.

How could he have expected that, for Tashigi, it would hold such profound significance?

His impression of this sword-obsessed girl from the manga was quite favorable; like Smoker, she was someone within the Marines who steadfastly upheld her own path of justice.

Now, due to a series of coincidences, though she wasn't yet very familiar with Smoker, she had already become his loyal fangirl first.

This suddenly made his conscience, for the first time in ages, ache with a faint pang of guilt.

He absolutely had to make it up to her properly!

After thinking for a moment, a plan formed in his mind.

He quietly got up, went downstairs, took a bamboo sword from his inventory, signed his name on it, and handed it to the female shopkeeper.

"Could you please keep this for me? When that Marine girl returns, give it to her. Tell her I've kept her photo as a memento, and this training sword, which has accompanied me for many years, is my gift in return; I hope she will cherish it."

"No problem at all; that young lady already gave me instructions regarding this, so please rest assured!"

The female shopkeeper accepted it with a beaming smile.

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

As for Tashigi, this should count as having settled the matter, right?

As for where that bamboo sword came from...

It had been several years ago when he happened upon it in a trading market; the price was low, so he simply bought it as a souvenir and had left it gathering dust in his inventory ever since, rarely taking it out.

Now, however, it was finally being put to good use—

【Sakata Gintoki's Toyako】

【Type: Equipment】

【Price: 30 Points】

【Description: An utterly ordinary mass-produced wooden sword from a factory, purchased by Sakata Gintoki for 1,000 yen, including shipping, while watching a television shopping channel.】

【Seller's Note: I squatted in the Yorozuya closet for three days and three nights before finally seizing this opportunity! Eh, why does it seem like someone is in the cabinet next to me too?】

By the time they finished eating, it was already past one o'clock in the afternoon.

This spot on the second floor offered an excellent view, allowing almost the entire square, including the execution platform, to be taken in at a glance.

Thus, no one was in a hurry to leave; they simply sat by the window, quietly admiring the rainy scenery.

"Eh? That's strange."

Nojiko furrowed her brows. "Even though the rain is getting heavier, why aren't the people gathered in the square decreasing? Instead, there seem to be more and more of them?"

The others noticed this as well.

Looking out across the entire square,

the number of people gathering toward the execution platform was increasing.

Many of these fellows carried weapons, possessed burly builds, and had faces covered in bulging flesh; at a glance, it was clear they were no ordinary people.

"It seems the days around when Roger was executed eighteen years ago are about now?" Zeff guessed. "During this period, more and more pirates specifically travel to Loguetown on a pilgrimage; it's not surprising that they've all gathered here today."

"It probably also has to do with the island's defenses being understaffed; hasn't Colonel Smoker yet returned?"

Sister Sister Guyina shrugged and added, "I heard that when he was here, pirates would set foot on the island trembling with fear, terrified of being exposed and caught by him. But now, with most of the Marines reassigned to the dock to welcome some important figure, the pirates on the island naturally have no more scruples and have spontaneously gathered together."

Siano glanced over, scanned the entire area, and upon finding no familiar figures, withdrew his gaze.

His purpose in coming to Loguetown had, from start to finish, been the execution platform itself.

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

Of course.

If these pirates lacked any sense of propriety and, taking advantage of Smoker's absence, began to plunder recklessly and harm the civilians here,

then he could not be blamed for showing no mercy in his actions.

"By the way, Captain..."

"Hmm?"

Siano turned his head to look at the person who had spoken.

It was Sister Sister Guyina.

She seemed to have been holding back a question for a long time; now, stirred by the sound of the rain and after much internal struggle, she finally couldn't hold back:

"It's been so long, yet you've never mentioned it to us. What exactly is the dream you set sail to pursue?"

It was no wonder she was curious.

The wind that blows when youths chase their dreams is more precious than gold.

Siano was eighteen years old, an age when one ought to be brimming with infinite longing and dreams.

Indeed, he had spoken many words about dreams: for instance, that he would challenge every swordsman under heaven with her and become the world's acknowledged greatest swordsman;

he had also said he would definitely help Mr. Zeff fulfill his dream in old age, finding that All Blue, the sea of culinary dreams he had yearned for over several decades;

and he had even said that since that little girl Nami had arrogantly boasted, without knowing the height of heaven or depth of earth, that she would chart maps of the entire world, then he, as her older brother, would take her and make it happen...

Almost every crew member's dream had been shouldered entirely by this man.

But... yet he had never once mentioned what dream he himself, as the captain, wished to pursue!

Nami, Nojiko, Zeff... even Gin turned their gazes over, fixing their eyes on Siano's face.

They, too, had been equally curious for a long time.

Under the gaze of everyone present.

Siano shrugged, lifted his after-dinner black tea, and took a sip.

"This thing called dreams, I've always felt, is phased, isn't it?"

He looked at Nami and Nojiko, smiling as he said, "Back when I was young and ignorant, all I thought about day and night was how to make these two mischievous little troublemakers admit defeat and call me 'Big Brother'; that was my dream back then."

"Later on, my dream slowly changed to protecting my family, to becoming strong, becoming incredibly strong, so strong that in the entire East Blue, every pirate who came looking for trouble couldn't withstand a single punch from me!"

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

Sister Sister Guyina stared intently into his eyes, "Captain, you are clearly strong enough now; haven't all your previous dreams already come true! So now, in the future, what exactly is the dream you want to pursue?"

My current dream, huh...

Siano remained silent for a long time.

He turned his head, his gaze piercing through the curtain of rain to gaze faintly at the execution platform outside the window.

Exposed to wind, rain, and sun for eighteen years, it still faced the sea, towering high.

The crowd was still bustling, filling the square just as it had eighteen years ago, making him feel dazed, as if he saw the figure of that person who had knelt on the platform yet lowered his head, laughing wildly.

"The man who possessed wealth, fame, and power, everything in this world, the 'Pirate King' Gol D. Roger, spoke one sentence before being executed, causing people from all over the world to rush to the sea:"

"'Want my treasure?'"

"'If you want it... then go find it on the sea; I put everything there!'"

Eighteen years ago.

The Pirate King Roger, suffering from a terminal illness, after sharing a hearty drink with Whitebeard under a cherry blossom tree, voluntarily surrendered.

Before his execution, he shouted those words to the entire world.

The Great Pirate Era officially began from that moment on.

And now, eighteen years later, except for the sea becoming more chaotic and turbulent, and more pirates setting sail, it seems nothing has changed.

The Celestial Dragons and the World Government still tower above, looking down on all beings; the common people remain caught between the Heavenly Gold and pirate raids, their suffering unspeakable.

What is everyone waiting for?

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

Could it be that everything, absolutely everything, is just to wait for that Chosen One from eight hundred years ago?

To wait for him to turn white-haired six years later, laughing like a madman no matter the situation, before he can overthrow this shit-like old order?!

Bullshit bloodline determinism!

Siano simply does not believe it!!!

"Since you're all so eager to know, there's no harm in saying it early; my dream is..."

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

Boom!!!

A deafening cannon explosion suddenly tore through the curtain of rain, blasting loudly in everyone's ears!

(End of Chapter)