The execution was complete.
A legendary era had come to its end.
And in death, mourning is the truest form of respect.
Ozz didn't dwell on sorrow. Neither did Shanks or Buggy for in truth, they had long steeled themselves for this moment.
Captain Roger wouldn't have wanted the new generation to cling to his passing.
The crowd slowly began to disperse.
Yet, in the square before the execution platform, a few figures remained. Among them, one unmistakable silhouette drew all eyes.
It was Ozz, the "Black Gun" who had stormed Marineford just days before.
Some among the onlookers were wary. Others curious. A few looked eager to provoke. More than a few gripped their blades, their battle spirit seething.
Which only proved how deeply Ozz's sky-splitting strike had shaken them.
Especially one young man with a black blade on his back his sharp gaze burned like he'd just glimpsed a priceless treasure. A storm of fighting spirit brewed behind his eyes.
On any other day, Ozz would've gladly toyed with these soon-to-be "great names" maybe tease the Little Hawk, or ruffle the Baby Croc a bit.
But not today.
His attention remained fixed on the bloodstained body of Captain Roger.
From his coat, he slowly drew a transponder snail.
"Buru buru buru…"
Click.
Ozz's expression stayed calm as the snail came to life.
No one knew who he was calling. No one heard what was said.
All they knew was that, when the call ended, Marine Headquarters received a directive from the highest authority in the World Government:
Roger's body was to be handed over to Ozz, the Black Gun.
"What madness is this?! He's the number one enemy of the Navy, a criminal who razed our very base to the ground! To hand the body over to someone like him!"
In the Fleet Admiral's office, Kong's face was like stone as he barked into his transponder snail.
"Watch your tone, Kong."
The voice on the other end was cold and firm. "The Navy is nothing more than the outer shell of the government. Don't overstep your place."
Faced with the iron will of the Five Elders, Kong found himself tongue-tied. He opened his mouth several times to protest but each time, the chill of their gaze through the snail's lens silenced him.
In the end, he had no choice but to swallow the order.
The command was passed down the chain.
And though confusion rippled through the ranks, not a soul dared disobey.
"Ozz the Black Gun… what is he planning?"
"That man... Government agents and Navy officers are still here. Is he trying to start another war?"
"Heeheehee... the nerve on that guy."
"What a fearsome man…"
But to everyone's surprise.
Neither Navy nor World Government soldiers moved to stop him. They simply stood and watched as that tall, lean figure ascended the platform, step by steady step.
Even the officers could do nothing but glare, their rage burning silent.
No one could believe their eyes.
Ozz ignored them all.
Step by step, he walked to Roger's side, gently lifted the fallen captain's bloodied corpse onto his back,
Glanced once at the crowd below, turned away,
And vanished into thin air.
He couldn't yet teleport living beings not with the current development of his Devil Fruit.
But Roger was no longer living.
So there were no restrictions.
With Ozz's departure, the square gradually emptied. The last echoes of the legend faded.
Shanks and Buggy searched for Ozz, but came up empty-handed. In the end, they headed toward the outskirts of Loguetown together.
Yet, on the way, something broke between them.
The two who had always been like brothers suddenly quarreled.
Buggy turned on Shanks, eyes blazing with anger.
"Shanks! You promised! You said we'd sail to Laugh Tale on your ship!"
Shanks looked down, his expression calm. The brim of his straw hat shadowed his eyes. When he finally spoke, his answer blindsided Buggy:
"I did say that. But I've changed my mind."
"I'm not planning to go there at least not right now. But I'll still be a pirate."
He extended an invitation:
"Come with me, Buggy."
The words lit a firestorm in Buggy's chest anger, hurt, betrayal.
He slapped Shanks's hand aside, his face twisted in fury.
"You coward! Idiot! Compared to someone like you, only Ozz deserves to be called the king of the next era!"
"Captain Roger was wrong to believe in you!!!"
Wasn't it Roger's wish for you to carry on his will?
Buggy could never understand why Roger hadn't chosen Ozz instead.
And now, seeing the Shanks before him, he couldn't be more disappointed.
"You lost my treasure map! From now on, we're enemies!"
With that, Buggy stormed off, leaving the place where so many memories had been made.
Shanks stood there, unmoving, watching Buggy's figure grow smaller in the distance.
Truly, the two of them were born to be stubborn.
If Shanks had only explained said it wasn't the right time, but he'd go later maybe Buggy wouldn't have stormed off like that.
But he didn't.
And because of that, these childhood friends wouldn't see each other again for over a decade.
"Buggy's always been like that… hot-headed to the core."
Ozz's voice came from beside him.
He'd appeared silently, watching Buggy disappear over the horizon.
He made no move to stop him.
Out at sea, every man chooses his own path.
As a friend, Ozz would never try to force his choice.
But when the time came when Buggy found his footing again, Ozz would be there.
After all, he was pretty interested in becoming the Pirate King's right-hand man someday.
"I get it, Shanks. Now isn't the right time. But..."
Ozz paused, eyes locking onto Shanks's with that ever-familiar grin.
"How can you be so sure you're the right one? Maybe the next Pirate King will be Buggy, you know~?"
He didn't mean to play peacemaker.
Because if Buggy really did become Shanks's first mate…
Would the future Yonko Buggy still exist?
Buggy, after all.
Was never lacking the potential to be king.
Everyone has a life they choose for themselves a journey that belongs only to them.
Truth is, the moment the Roger Pirates disbanded, the "Three Brats of the Old Era" had parted ways too.
They'd grown distant.
Once, they laughed together. But now, no ship in the world could hold them all. It was time they went their separate ways.
That's life.
(As "Pai-Zong" would say.)
And one day.
They'd meet again, out on the great sea.
And when they did, it was sure to be something special.
On that day,
Ozz, Shanks, and Buggy officially parted ways
And each took their first step toward their own future upon the sea.
-End of the Old Era Arc.
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(Next Chapter: "The Seven Warlords, Angel Investors (or Jokers)")
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