章 228: The Morning Of The Execution

My transponder snail rang annoyingly as I slowly began to stir from my sleep.

"What is it?" I drowsily asked as I picked up the phone.

"Hm? You're still sleeping? Shouldn't you be mingling around trying to see who else went to see the execution?" Whitebeard asked.

"It's still too early for the execution. They'll probably announce when they're going to start the execution," I replied.

"Do as you please, brat," Whitebeard responded, "I've heard from somewhere that the Fleet Admiral will be making an appearance."

"What're you trying to say? That I pick a fight with him?" I asked teasingly.

"I'm not telling you to do anything; I just wanted to let you know if the Marines want to catch you. Their lineup in Lougetown might give them a chance," Whitebeard pointed out.

"If they want to catch me, they're going to have to be ready for this island and its inhabitants to sink," I remarked, "I'm going back to sleep."

With a hangup of the call, I slowly found myself drifting into the warm embrace of the bed I lay in. Only to be rudely interrupted by a sudden knock on my door.

I grumbled in annoyance as I slowly pried myself out of bed and dragged my feet towards the door. Only to be met with the frightened body of the innkeeper.

"What is it?" I asked impatiently.

"T-there's someone who wants to meet you downstairs," the innkeeper stuttered.

"Are they worth the attention?" I asked.

"I-It's the Marines!" The innkeeper answered.

I slammed the door in front of the innkeeper's face before going to bed. Looking at the atmosphere in the town square, it looked like the execution would happen later in the afternoon.

"I have a bit more time to sleep...." I muttered as I covered my head with some more sheets.

I couldn't sleep for long because some bastard immediately pounded on the door to my room again.

Outside, I could feel the clouds begin to darken. Almost as a reaction to how I was feeling deep within the covers. I used Observation Haki to check who was outside the door.

The presence felt familiar; it was someone that I had met before but not someone I had met recently.

"If it's some random marine trying to get my attention, I'll kill them," I quietly vowed to myself as I slowly opened the door.

"Dragon.....it's been a while," I remarked as I looked at a man with a hood that covered most of his face.

"I thought I'd watch Roger's execution with you," Dragon remarked stoically.

"That's fine, but....how'd you find out where I'm sleeping?" I asked.

"There was a rumor that had spread over the past two days....The Storm Dragon of the Infamous Whitebeard Pirates slept in a particular inn. Waiting for the execution to happen."

I hummed as I picked up my jacket from the bedside. Equipping my axe right behind my back, I followed Dragon out of the inn as I watched more and more people assemble at the town square.

"Many infamous pirates have assembled just to watch the execution unfold," Dragon muttered as he looked around.

"There aren't many who're from the New World, so I don't recognize many of them," I lied. "care to inform me?"

"See that one over there?" Dragon asked as he pointed at a man who had rather medieval attire with a large black sword resting on his back, "that man is known as 'hawk-eye Mihawk,' a man notorious for hunting Marines, and is currently on the prowl looking for strong swordsmen to fight."

Looking at the young man, there was no doubt that this was just a younger version of Mihawk. He didn't have the hat on that he would have had when making his first appearance in the original plot.

"Look at that one over there," Dragon pointed at a young man with longer blond hair and some goggles that covered his face, "his name is Donquixote Doflamingo. He's been making a name for himself in North Blue for quite some time."

"I know him....I don't like him either," I commented.

Dragon shrugged before pointing at another one.

"The one who looks like a living Puppet is known as Gecko Moria," Dragon pointed at him, "he's been making a name for himself around Paradise along with his crew."

"The others are pretty notorious, but they don't have the potential to be going into the New World," Dragon remarked, relaxing his hand back into his cloak.

"You think the ones you pointed out to me have the potential to rival us in the New World?" I asked curiously.

"I only tell it how I see it, though it has only been on rare occasions. I have seen how they move for the most part. They show the most promise among the pirates of the new generation," Dragon replied.

"I'll keep that in mind....I guess," I assured.

I already knew what kind of impact they would bring on the world in the future. However, it did feel refreshing hearing it in person.

"Oi....I'm not seeing things, am I?" A voice could be heard from the sidelines.

I could hear countless murmurs around me. numerous people whispered to those close to them as they pointed their fingers at me. I was rather surprised that it had taken them so long to recognize me.

I suddenly felt a numerous pair of gazes aimed right at me.

Before I could even turn to detect the sources of those gazes. A troop of Marines immediately made themselves known as gunshots rang into the air. They then slowly marched right up to the gallows that had been recently constructed. Before standing, attention opposing each other in lines of two.

Hands were raised in salute as they patiently waited for the arrival of the main party.

Soon after, a group of Marines were seen walking towards the podium that had been connected to the gallows.

I had also managed to detect the source of the majority of the gazes that I had felt earlier. As they led the procession, Sakazuki, Kuzan, and many other Marines locked their gazes right at me.

They were followed by Garp and Sengoku, who had been escorting Roger to his death. Roger maintained the same smile, making the already tense atmosphere thicker.

I could practically hear what Sakazuki was saying under his breath up there on the podium.

"I can't believe we're not allowed to attack him; this is a perfect opportunity to kill him. With this lineup, we can't lose!!" I could practically see the veins popping from his head.

I ignored him and focused on the last person slowly reaching the podium.

He had a rather large upper body build, his muscles practically bulging out of his shirt. A marine cloak was draped on his shoulders as he walked and climbed up the stairs leading to the podium.

We locked eyes briefly, and I could tell the man was strong. His haki practically rivaled Garp's, and judging from the man's age, it was evident he was kind of old. He had to be a force to be reckoned with when he was in his prime.

The man stood in front of the podium, and took a deep breath before announcing with a loud voice.

"LET THE EXECUTION BEGIN!!!!!"