NOVEL NEXT Chapter 288: Chapter 288: Roger's Surrender
"Vice-Captain Rayleigh!" Buggy exclaimed in disbelief as he watched Rayleigh leave the ship. Rayleigh had been by Captain Roger's side the longest, and Buggy couldn't fathom his departure.
"Buggy, don't look at me like that. It's Roger who's dying, not me!" Rayleigh said, not turning back. "I might retire to the Sabaody Archipelago. If you miss me, you can find me there," he added before resolutely walking away.
"Roger, and everyone, I've enjoyed traveling with you all. Now that the journey is over, it's time for me to disembark," Gaban said, hefting his axe as he became the second to leave the ship.
One by one, the crew members followed suit, until only Buggy and Shanks remained onboard.
"Shanks, I'm entrusting my straw hat to you!"
"Buggy, I'm giving you the treasure map I worked hard to obtain. If you find the treasure, let me know," Roger said, laughing as he tossed the two overboard. The Oro Jackson set sail on its own, carrying Roger across the sea.
News of the Roger Pirates' dissolution spread, though the reasons remained unclear. Coupled with the inability to locate any crew members, rumors of a treasure-induced split following their success at the Final Island gained traction.
The world was abuzz with speculation about the Roger Pirates' whereabouts, yet they seemed to have vanished without a trace.
After the crew disbanded, Roger went to the South Blue, mirroring his actions in the original story, where he fell in love with Portgas D. Rouge and enjoyed a brief, idyllic married life.
By 1498 of the Sea Calendar, sensing his life nearing its end, Roger left without a word. He sought out Garp and surrendered, leading to his capture and imprisonment in Impel Down.
The Navy and World Government, aware of Roger's immense reputation, planned a public execution in Loguetown, East Blue. They aimed to use Roger's death to deter the rising threat of piracy, showcasing the government's power to intimidate would-be pirates.
"Pirate King Roger has been captured by Marine Garp and is set for public execution in Loguetown!"
"My God, Roger's been caught! What about his treasure and the secrets of the Final Island—won't the Navy uncover it all?"
"Damn it, Roger is our Pirate King. Why aren't the New World's great pirates rescuing him?"
"Are you kidding? The New World's lawless pirates don't acknowledge a Pirate King. Roger's crew was defeated by the Flying Pirates, and Roger himself was bested by the world's greatest swordsman, Li Yuan. They never acknowledged Roger as the Pirate King!"
News of Roger's capture spread like wildfire, even more sensational than his coronation. Roger's fame was at its peak, yet the shocking twist of his capture by the Navy stunned the world.
With Roger's capture, the turbulent seas seemed to calm. Countless eyes were fixed on Roger's fate and the Navy's next move, anticipating the public execution in Loguetown.
Consequently, Loguetown, a modest-sized town, saw an influx of visitors, mainly pirates and spies from various global factions.
Among those most affected by Roger's capture, aside from his former crew, was Shiki, the Golden Lion, who had long coveted the secrets of the ancient weapons.
"How could Roger have been captured by Garp?" Upon reading the news, Shiki erupted in fury, his Conqueror's Haki shattering everything in the room.
"Captain, could this be Roger's scheme? Knowing he doesn't have much time, he might be planning something," Reinhardt suggested, entering the room. As the Flying Pirates' strategist, he knew how to handle Shiki's wrath.
"Regardless of his plans, I haven't obtained the secrets of the ancient weapons from Roger. If he dies, who do I turn to?" Shiki lamented. He had pursued the ancient weapons for years, and with his strength finally able to challenge Roger, the prospect of Roger's death was infuriating.
"Roger isn't the only one who knows about the ancient weapons. The rest of his crew should know as well; they reached the Final Island together," Reinhardt pointed out.
"Gyahahaha! You're right. But should we rescue Roger?" Shiki considered Reinhardt's point. The possibility of the secret being known only to Roger, though slim, couldn't be ignored.
To prevent this, Shiki entertained the idea of rescuing Roger.
"Given the Roger Pirates' strength, it's unlikely the Navy captured Roger without his consent. Even the Flying Pirates couldn't manage that!"
"If we rescue Roger, we might disrupt his plans. Do you think Roger would share the secrets of the ancient weapons with us afterward?" Reinhardt reasoned.
"Then our focus should be on the other members of the Roger Pirates!" Shiki concluded reluctantly. Roger's refusal to divulge the ancient secrets was maddening.
As time passed and the Navy constructed the execution platform in Loguetown, alongside the release of photos showing Roger in Impel Down, the reality of his capture cemented.
More people flocked to Loguetown, eager to witness whether Roger, the Pirate King, would truly be executed and what his final act might be.
On the open sea, a small ten-meter boat sped across the waves without a visible driver.
"Pirate King Roger, huh? You don't deserve that title. Let me see if you're worthy of being called the Pirate King!" declared a lone figure standing at the bow—a young swordsman named Gai Nie, Li Yuan's eldest son.
Raised in the Infinite Sea, Gai Nie received the finest education and resources, honing his skills in the Battle Pyramid for two years.
At sixteen, Li Yuan permitted him to venture into the world for further experience.
Li Yuan had kept his children a secret, so the world was unaware of their existence, let alone that the renowned lone swordsman Gai Nie, who had made a name for himself in the North Blue, was Li Yuan's son.
"A powerful swordsman!" Just arriving in Loguetown, Dracule Mihawk, with his keen eyes, spotted the swiftly approaching small boat, sensing a strong sword intent emanating from it.
"A Grandmaster Swordsman?" Gai Nie, before Mihawk noticed him, had already sensed the presence of a swordsman with the unique aura of a Grandmaster on the shore.
"So young?" Mihawk observed as Gai Nie reached the shore, surprised by his youth. It was his first time encountering such a young Grandmaster Swordsman.
"I am Gai Nie. Would you care for a duel?" Gai Nie asked, his fighting spirit ignited upon encountering a peer of similar age and strength.
"I am Mihawk. I accept your challenge with great interest," Mihawk replied eagerly. Even if Gai Nie hadn't initiated, Mihawk would have sought a duel himself.
In swordsmanship, only by crossing blades with formidable opponents can one grow stronger.
"Let's find a secluded spot for our duel!" Gai Nie suggested, disembarking and consulting a map of Loguetown before heading north.
Mihawk followed closely, unwilling to let Gai Nie out of his sight.
Gai Nie soon found a deserted area on the outskirts of Loguetown—an undeveloped, beast-ridden locale rarely visited by people.
"My sword is the Supreme Grade Blade, Ripping Wind and Flowing Water. Please, test your mettle against it!" Gai Nie declared, drawing his sword with determination.
Li Yuan had gifted him this Supreme Grade Blade upon reaching the rank of Grandmaster Swordsman, marking it as Gai Nie's own weapon.
"My sword is the Supreme Grade Blade, Yoru. En garde!" Mihawk announced, his eyes shining with the desire for a true test of skill.
Though Yoru had yet to become a Black Blade, Mihawk was committed to forging it into the world's most powerful Black Blade.
"Vertical Sword Technique: Rending Blade Skyward!" Gai Nie unleashed a silvery, crescent-shaped slash hundreds of meters long, charging toward Mihawk with unparalleled sharpness, causing Mihawk's skin to prickle even from afar.