It was true that Logia users held a natural advantage in the West Blue, where people who had mastered Haki were extremely rare.
The only ways to counter them were Seastone, which contained a special substance, and seawater.
However, Haki, a power born from the will, controlled by the body, and expressed through technique, could grasp the true body of a Logia user.
At the same time, a Logia user who had mastered Observation Haki could disperse the part of their body that was about to be hit just before an attack landed, creating the effect of an attack passing through empty space.
Clearly, this man, who did not even understand Haki and believed Logia users were immune to all attacks, knew nothing about Observation Haki.
In such a situation, Rowan, who had only just begun to use Armament Haki, could already touch him.
"Ah! You damn Marine dog!"
The pirate, turning his body into a swamp, charged toward Rowan, only to be struck directly in the face.
His physical body was hit. Four teeth mixed with blood flew out as he fell flat on his back.
As he lost consciousness, he struggled to raise his head toward his fleeing companions. "Save… save me. You trash…"
Rowan walked past him and kicked his head clean off. His neck snapped, and his soul was absorbed.
Meanwhile, his companions, who had already run far away, glanced at each other but showed no intention of stopping.
People who gathered for plunder were never true companions. They were nothing more than loose sand.
Rowan continued his hunt.
Until he neared the port, where a man standing at the bow of a ship, with eyes like a hawk, drew his blade.
"Who the hell are you? How did you get onto our ship?"
Behind him, several men pulling the sails shouted angrily.
Mihawk did not even turn his head. "Just borrowing your ship. Your escape will be smoother this way."
As his words fell, the massive cross-shaped blade in his hand swung.
In an instant, a gigantic slash surged toward the port, lifting the sea itself as if it would split the island apart.
The Marines who had been aiming their guns froze in place.
Was this really a power a human could possess?
"Boom."
A golden light shot from the distance, colliding with the slash and forcing the waves back.
Blue light exploded as Mihawk's attack was shattered.
Sengoku's figure appeared at the port, and the morale of the Marines surged again.
At the execution platform earlier, the crowd had included many civilians from Loguetown, so he could not act freely.
But now, the weak pirates had either been killed or captured. Those who escaped could not all be stopped.
However, Sengoku did not care much about those who fled.
What he cared about was how pirates across the entire world would change after today.
The great treasure, One Piece, would become the ultimate goal of all ambitious people. This sea was about to be thrown into chaos.
All because of one sentence spoken by that man before his death.
His entire plan had been destroyed by those words.
"Rowan, was it?"
"Yes, Admiral."
"Do you think the great treasure One Piece that Roger spoke of really exists?"
Exists?
Exists my foot.
A pirate crew focused on adventure and barely scraping by, what kind of treasure could they have left at Laugh Tale?
Even if they did have endless treasure, why leave it on the final island? Would it multiply there?
The final island, Laugh Tale, might contain many secrets of this world. The hidden history, the giant straw hat in Pangaea Castle, the true meaning of D…
And the story of those who once tried to overturn this world and failed.
But treasure? Definitely not.
"Whether it exists or not, Admiral, once the entire world believes it exists, the number of pirates will grow exponentially year after year."
Rowan let out a breath. "The true Great Pirate Era has begun because of that man's final words."
Sengoku frowned deeply and said nothing.
He already knew this outcome.
Asking Rowan was only to hear the conclusion he least wanted to accept.
…
Three days later, Loguetown gradually returned to calm after the chaos caused by Roger's execution.
The pirates who might have targeted Rowan as the executioner had already lost interest after hearing Roger's final words.
Now, nothing was more attractive than One Piece.
Thus…
Loguetown Port.
Kuzan's expression was somewhat complicated.
"So he refused?"
The Headquarters major beside him was also surprised. "An opportunity to train at Headquarters. Normally, no Marine would refuse. But that guy rejected it without hesitation."
Kuzan rested a hand on his eye mask. "Then what does he plan to do? Stay in Loguetown as an executioner?"
Stainless seemed to recall something, and his eyelid twitched slightly. "He plans to return to Rasgap Town in the West Blue, continue guarding the entrance to Reverse Mountain, and…"
The scene replayed in his mind.
Clearly lacking ambition, yet able to speak in a way that even Admiral Sengoku approved.
"An era of rampant piracy is coming. The Grand Line needs Marines who uphold justice, but the four seas also need protection."
"Even the Pirate King Roger was once just a boy in Loguetown who had not yet set sail. Upholding justice in Rasgap is just as important as becoming an elite at Headquarters."
Such understanding of justice did not seem like something a mere seaman from a West Blue branch should possess.
And Sengoku had personally witnessed Rowan's combat ability during the execution.
Combined with those words, Sengoku personally approved Rowan's request to return to the West Blue and continue guarding Rasgap Town.
After hearing this, Kuzan rubbed his forehead.
So Sengoku wanted to observe this young man's intentions.
Was it clever opportunism, or true adherence to justice?
He was only fifteen. There was still plenty of time for him to grow.
The Great Pirate Era had begun. Ten or twenty years later would be the real test for the Marines.
And Rowan was just one of the many futures being observed.
"In that case, let's go. Back to Headquarters."
Kuzan turned and boarded the warship that had long been prepared.
In his mind, Lomi's figure flashed briefly.
So this kid… had not simply inherited Lomi's sense of justice.