One Piece: I'm not Roger

The old man was still as foul-mouthed as Aether remembered. No wonder he couldn't find a wife. Still, Aether had no intention of arguing with a senile old man.

"Uncle Bont, if there are any consequences for you after I destroy the Execution Platform, you should be mentally prepared."

The commotion caused by destroying the Execution Platform would be enormous. Perhaps the Marines really would vent their anger on old man Bont, who remained in Loguetown.

Bont snorted disdainfully.

"Prepare for what? This old man is already ninety-six years old. How many years could I have left? If the Marines want my old life, let them take it. Go and destroy this eyesore of an Execution Platform. A man of the Gol family should know his mission."

The mission of D.

It seemed Uncle Bont understood a little about the meaning of D. Unfortunately, he was too weak. He had never even reached the New World.

Under the watchful gazes of Robin and Bont, Aether stepped onto the Execution Platform.

A crowd had already gathered around it, everyone whispering about the familiar-looking Aether.

Many people in town knew the news that Bont was Roger's clan uncle, a fact that had earned him lasting respect throughout Loguetown. Since he claimed the man before them was Roger, there was a real possibility that the Pirate King had returned to his hometown.

The Pirate King's return to the place where he had once been executed immediately attracted countless curious onlookers. Some merchants were even bold enough to ask Aether for an autograph. Weren't they afraid of being implicated later?

On the outskirts, many Marines had already begun contacting their superiors. As the site of the Pirate King's execution, pirates visited this place every year, and guarding it often led to the capture of a few unlucky fools.

With the news reported, word of Aether's appearance in Loguetown would likely reach Marineford soon.

Standing atop the Execution Platform and looking around, the familiar angle caused Aether's soul to tremble.

The same platform.

The same crowd.

A strange sensation welled up within him. Aether felt his soul grow lighter, and even his Conqueror's Haki began improving little by little.

Below the stage, the noise remained deafening. For a moment, Aether felt as though he had returned to the day Roger was executed.

A newspaper reporter holding a video camera suddenly called out:

"Roger, now that you've reappeared, does the great treasure you spoke of really exist? Is the so-called great treasure a scam, or have you already taken it back?"

The crowd instantly fell silent.

The question had voiced everyone's deepest curiosity.

Did the legendary great treasure truly exist?

And now that the Pirate King had returned, would he really leave it untouched?

After all, according to Roger's own words, he had left everything in the world there. Who would willingly hand over such wealth to strangers?

At least, they wouldn't.

Looking up at the scene on the Execution Platform, a scene so similar to the one from over twenty years ago, Bont was filled with emotion.

Back then, he had stood nearby and watched the only younger member of his family be executed.

"It's good to be alive. The Gol family has not gone extinct."

Robin, who had been silently observing, picked up a Video Den Den Mushi and began recording as Aether had instructed. Afterward, the footage would be distributed to numerous news agencies as usual, serving as material to farm experience.

Aether did not answer immediately.

Only after fully awakening from the enhancement of his Haki did he slowly speak. His resonant voice echoed throughout all of Loguetown.

"No, I haven't taken back the great treasure. It still waits quietly for the next Pirate King. If you have the ability, go and find it! Whether it's freedom, wealth, power, or strength, as long as you reach that place, you can have it all."

Aether's words instantly ignited the crowd.

Especially among the new pirates who had just arrived in Loguetown.

Most men setting sail during this era carried ambitions in their hearts. Just like the pirates who had heard Roger's final words over twenty years ago, their spirits were set ablaze.

A pirate without dreams was no different from a salted fish.

They had to have dreams.

The people of Loguetown gradually gathered toward the plaza. Some local youths spoke excitedly among themselves beneath the stage.

"I want to go to sea too! I want to become a great man like Pirate King Roger!"

"Forget it. The next Pirate King can only be me."

"What? You dare compete with me for the position of Pirate King? Take this, Monkey Steals the Peach!"

"Ah! Attacking without martial ethics? Immortal Points the Way!"

Among them stood a green-haired youth who was clearly different from the others.

He silently watched the figure on the stage, his eyes shining brightly.

"This is the living Roger-sama. My decision to go to sea was indeed the right one."

Life came in many forms.

The newspaper reporters below were equally thrilled.

They had never expected that being transferred to the East Blue would lead to such explosive news. It seemed their return to headquarters was only a matter of time.

The flushed reporter quickly continued with another question.

"Are you willing to yield the throne of the Pirate King to a newcomer? Aren't you afraid the student will surpass the master and that the title of Pirate King will no longer belong to you?"

Aether silently gave the reporter a thumbs-up.

If he didn't know better, he would have thought the man had been bribed by him.

Shaking his head, Aether answered righteously:

"The title of Pirate King is merely a symbol of freedom to me. If someone can become the new Pirate King, I would be even happier. I look forward to you challenging me in the future. Furthermore, the 'Pirate King' belongs to the Roger of the past, not the me of today. Now, the Marines seem to prefer calling me the Head of the Emperors."

Aether's speech pushed the atmosphere to another peak.

Such a world-shaking declaration caused the faces of the Marines present to change drastically.

The Great Pirate Era had already left the Marines overwhelmed. If an even fiercer wave followed, the future would become truly troublesome.

Marine Commodore Kujaku, who had just arrived near the Execution Platform, watched everything unfold with a grim expression.

She did not recklessly lead her soldiers into battle.

Doing so would only send her subordinates to their deaths.

Unless reinforcements arrived, she had absolutely no intention of making a move.

At this moment, she hoped more than ever that Aether would refrain from causing a major incident in Loguetown. She genuinely liked the town's pleasant atmosphere.

Although she remained on standby, there were still things she could do.

She could remember the reporters and civilians present and confiscate all Den Den Mushi afterward.

As long as the news was prevented from spreading, perhaps the Pirate King's scheme could still be stopped.

Kujaku, who had inherited the wisdom of Vice Admiral Tsuru, never imagined that Aether, a major figure in the influencer world, would be shameless enough to arrange his own recording.

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