"What gives you the right to look down on me?"
Sora eyed the towering pirate, reaching out to lightly tap his shoulder.
Thud—!
The burly pirate, Qilige, dropped to his knees.
"Hey, Qilige, what're you doing?" a background pirate shouted. "Take this guy out!"
Then, every pirate sensed something wrong.
Qilige knelt before Sora, head tilted back, eyes vacant, urine pooling beneath him.
With a scream of primal terror, he passed out.
Whatever he saw broke him.
Sora glanced at Qilige, disgust flickering. "Pathetic."
So bold-looking, yet so spineless—scared witless by a sliver of Conqueror's Haki.
He'd been testing his control, limiting the Haki's range.
He didn't expect this.
"What'd you do to Qilige?" another pirate roared, voice trembling with bravado to mask fear.
No attack—just a tap, and Qilige was out, terrified.
Too frightening.
Pop!
One pirate, nerves frayed, fired at Sora.
Seeing their mate act, the others roared, charging him.
"Time to fall," Sora said, done playing. Had he not wanted to toy with the barkeep, he'd have dealt with these pirates after grabbing his drink.
Ignoring the bullet, he unleashed a controlled wave of Conqueror's Haki across the tavern, sparing only the barkeep.
The bullet hit an invisible wall inches from his skin, stopping dead.
It fell alongside the white-eyed pirates, collapsing to the floor.
Since Sora echoed Roger's words, the barkeep hadn't taken his eyes off him.
Nearing his grave, he feared nothing—except that Roger's era lacked bold pirates to challenge the Great Line.
Today, he saw one.
Staring at Sora, he saw young Roger.
As Sora sat back down, the barkeep yanked off his hat, revealing sparse purple hair. "Big talk, saying that in this tavern."
"Just stating the obvious," Sora said, chuckling.
"Haha! You think I'm joking?"
"I don't waste time on nonsense."
"Oh?" The barkeep burst into laughter. "Heh heh heh! Kid, meeting a guest like you might keep me alive a few more years."
"I thought I'd never see another like Roger, daring to brave that devil's sea."
"Really?" Sora slid his wine gourd to the barkeep. "In that case, can you fill this with your fiercest liquor—and maybe a discount?"
"Discount?" The barkeep eyed the gourd, puzzled, then stern. "Not a chance, kid. Even Roger paid full price. A discount? Come back in a century!"
"Ugh…" Sora slumped onto the bar, deflated. "You seemed so impressed earlier. That's All fake, huh?"
He'd hoped quoting Roger and Luffy would score a deal.
"Alright, kid. Since I'm in a good mood, I'll treat you to a drink," the barkeep said, pulling two glasses from behind the counter and pouring.
He slid one to Sora. "What's wrong? This is my best stuff!"
The barkeep grinned. "If I weren't happy today, you wouldn't get this. Stop moping—let's toast!"
Best liquor? Sora perked up, grabbing the glass, beaming.
He clinked it with the barkeep's.
"To adventure, to the Great Line!" the barkeep boomed. "To Pirate King Roger!"
"Cheers!"
"Hahaha!"
"Heh heh heh!"
Gulp, gulp…
…
On the road to Loguetown's central square and execution platform, Sora staggered, a large liquor jug strapped to his back, face flushed.
"That old man's alright," he mumbled.
He swayed to a stop at the square's entrance.
Hic!
The barkeep called it one drink, but after the first, they started a drinking contest.
The old man, once tipsy, wouldn't shut up, spilling tales of Roger's youth.
Raising his head, Sora gazed at the distant platform, a smile in his eyes.
He never imagined Roger was practically Luffy's twin as a kid—maybe naughtier.
No wonder they shared that hat.
"Hm, why's Shanks different?"
Sora rubbed his chin.
Was the hat the real star?
Shanks, just a hat-passing tool? Poor guy.
He shook off the silly thoughts, staring at the platform, lost in reverie.
The One Piece opening flashed before him, watched hundreds, thousands of times.
Gol D. Roger.
His final moments.
"Want my treasure? It's yours if you want it. Find it! I left it all in that place."
Frozen on his laughing face.
To keep his dream alive, he ignited the Great Pirate Era, plunging the seas into chaos.
He was gone.
Sora didn't judge.
Could someone truly die for a dream?
Unfathomable, yet undeniably yes.
In this vibrant yet brutal world, everyone chased dreams, big or small, good or evil.
Sora unhooked his gourd, taking a swig.
Whatever! He was here now, and this world would bear his legend.
"Hahaha!"
Laughing, he vanished, reappearing atop the platform.
Turning to the bustling square, his eyes blazed with excitement.
"Four Emperors, Navy, Celestial Dragons, Imu—whoever you are, wait for me!"
He'd visit every place he desired, including Raftel and One Piece.
(Volume 1: End)
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