The Blue Dawn Adventurers stood in front of a statue of Erin G. Rub located on the third town of the island where Vernon and Luca grew up. The statue depicted a man in a regal coat, long winding hair to his shoulders and a grin wider than the sky.
"I know he's great and all, but why does the island have it?" Hana asked, neck tilted to examine the statue.
"He was the one who captured Blanco alongside my grandfather," Luca said, eyes still on the statue. "Blanco had been a menace that the world wasn't ready for. Even Erin, the so called adventurer could have been mistaken for a pirate if you dug deep enough."
"The most destructive people in the world," Aila mumbled. "Both members of the God Clan who sailed the seas at the same time and created the pirate and adventure era."
Luca clenched his fists, staring at Erin's statue with malice. "I'll become the greatest adventurer and show the world that the God Clan aren't as amazing as they think."
Hana put her hand on her captain's shoulder. "We'll help you every step of the way."
The other three nodded and Luca smiled, his blue eyes softening. "Thank you."
.....
Paolo met his crew mates at the execution platform, the four staring at it with intrigued eyes. The platform had stairs leading up to it from the back and a guillotine in the middle.
"You're late," Shinzo said.
Paolo laughed. "It seems I got lost."
Aline rolled her eyes. "Typical you."
Paolo laughed, looking up at the execution stand. "But it was a good thing anyways,"
"What are you talking about?" Octavius asked.
He smiled, brown eyes twinkling as it rested on the execution stand. "It's nothing."
They all looked at the stand with him.
"This is where the man who went around the world was killed, wow," Luna mumbled as Paolo slipped beside her.
"Want to hear the story." The adventurers jumped, turning to face Alek and Aiya who had just arrived. He smiled. "You must be Paolo G. Rigards, I've been seeing you on the news recently."
Paolo smiled back. "Yes I am, nice to meet you."
Alek lit his cigarette, staring back at the platform. "I was lucky enough to experience the execution at the age of sixteen. I took some good pictures too. That day sprung my love for journalism." He smiled at them. "Do you want to hear?"
They nodded eagerly, smoke billowing into the air from his cigarette. "It was twenty-nine years ago by this time tomorrow…"
.....
The streets filled with people to watch the execution of the man who had been marked by the Earthians as a high level threat. The clouds had darkened, a huge storm underway. The looming darkness matched the theme of the day really well.
People moved back as the military led the pirate king to the podium, his black hair brushing the shoulder of his black long jacket, and his brown eyes gleaming as if he was heading to a party and not his execution.
He smiled at the crowed, teeth flashing and waved at them much to their dismay. He laughed loudly when they screamed, the sound echoing in the solemn space. "I'm not a monster."
"Get moving, Blanco," one of the military officers snarled, shoving his shoulder.
"Members of the military are so mean," he complained. "You should treat a world class criminal with care."
In front of the platform stood the admiral of the Earthian military at the time, Aldo Diaz. "Blanco."
Blanco smiled, the gesture not pleasing the admiral. "Diaz."
"I can't believe you still have the guts to smile."
"A man who has accomplished his dream has nothing to fear." He walked past him, winking as he did. "I leave with no regrets. Besides… I'm going to leave with a bang."
He walked up the platform, his back straight and everyone watched with stunted breaths as he got to the platform. Alek's father raised his camera to take pictures of the pirate king, his magnificent form not going unnoticed by anyone.
The admiral followed him up the platform, facing the people of the world that had gathered for the execution. "People of the world, we shall now execute the terror that is Blanco." He turned to him. "Any last words?"
Blanco grinned. "As matter of fact, I do." He cleared his throat then shouted. "Just so you know, I have lots and lots of treasure. So much treasure that King Midas would be jealous. Let's play a game. Let's see who can take both my title and my treasure. You can have one, but never both. Only the one the heavens has chosen will be able to grab both things with their hands. I'll be counting on you to make me have fun in the heavens."
Excited murmurs filled the execution ground, the talk of treasure and the challenge interesting them. The admiral frowned, gritting his teeth at the pirate's bold words. "Kill him now."
Blanco's head was put on the guillotine, the pirate not minding the deathly metal above him as he let out a hearty laugh and left his teeth shining. "Goodbye."
As the blade came crashing down, so did the lightning. The heavens roared as if in pain, the ground shaking in dying agony as they cut the head of one of the most legendary men in the world.
...
Paolo laughed loudly, his laughter booming through the street. "As expected of the pirate king."
Alek stared at Paolo, puffing billows of smoke into the sky. "You look like him," he said. "Must be the smile."
Paolo smiled. "Of course I do, I'm his great grandson."
Alek's cigarette slowly dropped from his mouth, his crew members slowly turning to Paolo as he scratched the back of his head.
"What!"