Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
In the heart of Loguetown's bustling square, Luffy gazed up, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and excitement, at the imposing execution platform that loomed before him. "Is this the very spot where Roger met his end?" he wondered aloud, his mind racing with thoughts of the former Pirate King.
For Luffy, who harbors the grand ambition of claiming the title of Pirate King for himself, this place held a special significance. He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the thought of standing where his predecessor once stood.
Unbeknownst to Luffy, his arrival in the square had not gone unnoticed. Bartolomeo, along with his younger brother, had accidentally stumbled upon him. Whispering in hushed tones, they confirmed Luffy's identity, "Brother, that has to be him. The captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy."
Bartolomeo squinted from a distance, scrutinizing the young pirate captain who had made a name for himself as the formidable overlord of the East Blue. An involuntary thought crossed his mind, "Is this guy for real? He seems... a bit off."
Lost in his thoughts, Bartolomeo was caught off guard when Luffy suddenly turned his attention towards him and called out, "Hey, you there Cocks-comb, are you okay?"
The nickname 'Cocks-comb' took Bartolomeo completely by surprise. As the boss of the underworld, he was not ready for this strange nickname. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind as he wondered, "How on earth did he spot me? I was sure I was out of his line of sight."
If a seasoned pirate from the Grand Line had been present, they would have instantly recognized Luffy's use of Observation Haki. Luffy, having recently awakened this ability, was able to sense Bartolomeo's gaze, despite the short distance between them.
Deciding not to dwell on the unanswerable, Bartolomeo approached Luffy and introduced himself, "My name is Bartolomeo. I've been wanting to meet the new overlord of the East Blue."
"Overlord? Who's that?" Luffy responded, genuinely puzzled, as he tapped his chin in thought.
"It's you, kid!" Bartolomeo blurted out, his defenses crumbling as he realized the extent of Luffy's cluelessness. "Are you serious? This guy really has no idea," he thought to himself, now certain of Luffy's lack of awareness.
"What? Me?" Luffy exclaimed, pointing to himself in utter disbelief.
Bartolomeo could only think one thing, "This guy is a complete and utter fool."
"Yes, you!" Bartolomeo affirmed, his tone a mix of exasperation and disbelief.
Luffy, quick to embrace this new title, energetically introduced himself, "Okay then! I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm going to be the Pirate King!"
Hearing this proclamation, Bartolomeo couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment, thinking to himself, "Great, another one who talks big."
Out of the blue, Luffy shifted the conversation, adopting a more serious tone as he turned to Bartolomeo and asked, "How about it, Cocks-comb? Want to join me for a look up there?"
Caught off guard by the sudden change in Luffy's demeanor, Bartolomeo instinctively started to respond, "Up there? You must be joking! That area is strictly off-limits. You'd be daring to..."
But before he could finish his sentence, Bartolomeo realized something was amiss. His irritation flared up, and he turned to Luffy, exclaiming, "Hey! I've already told you my name! Stop calling me Cocks-comb!"
Luffy, however, seemed unfazed by Bartolomeo's outburst. His attention was focused solely on the execution platform as he said, "So you're not coming, Cocks-comb? No worries, I'll head up on my own then."
And with that, Luffy extended his arms, completely ignoring Bartolomeo's frustrated cries, "Stop calling me Cocks-comb, will you listen to me for once? No one is allowed up there. You really shouldn't..."
Gomu Gomu no Pistol!!!
But Luffy was already in action. His signature move, was unleashed. His arms stretched out, reaching for the top plank of the execution platform. Bartolomeo could only watch, astonished, as Luffy propelled himself upwards, landing gracefully atop the platform.
"A devil fruit user, huh?" Bartolomeo murmured to himself, piecing together the clues about Luffy's abilities. The encounter had given him a glimpse into Luffy's strength and capabilities.
Meanwhile, the crowd in the square had taken notice of the young pirate on the execution platform. Murmurs rippled through the gathering, "What's going on? Does that kid have a death wish?"
"He looks so young. Did he climb up there by accident?"
In the midst of the growing commotion, a sharp-eyed bystander recognized Luffy, "Wait a minute, isn't that the famous pirate with a 60 million Belly bounty? It's Straw Hat Boy!"
As the crowd continued to swell with more onlookers, the navy team made their timely arrival at the bustling scene. They advanced in an orderly fashion towards the execution platform, where the navy soldiers took aim at Luffy with their firearms, ready for any sudden movements.
The leader of the navy unit raised his voice, addressing Luffy firmly, "Straw Hat Boy, take a good look around; you're completely surrounded by us. Now, do yourself a favor and come down from the execution platform immediately. Don't even think about putting up a resistance!"
Yet, contrary to what anyone might have expected, Luffy chose to sit down leisurely on the execution platform. His demeanor and posture eerily mirrored the historic moment when Roger faced his execution.
With a laugh, Luffy responded to the navy leader, "Hey, Mr. Navy, no need to be so harsh." He took a moment to survey his surroundings, drinking in the view of the entire town of Loguetown from his elevated position. Embracing the breeze with open arms, he pondered aloud, "Is this the same view that the Pirate King saw back in his time?"
As Luffy's smile grew even broader, he expressed his genuine appreciation, "You know, this view is really something special."
Down in the square, Bartolomeo watched intently as Luffy remained surrounded, yet surprisingly calm and composed, even taking the time to savor the view. A profound realization struck Bartolomeo, leaving a lasting impression on him, "This guy... he's truly something else, not like the rest at all."
"Straw Hat Boy!" The air was suddenly pierced by a new voice, resonating from above Luffy's head. Smoker had made his grand entrance, leaping from the towering structure behind the execution platform, his fist ready to strike Luffy down.
Yet, Luffy, without even the need to lift his head, calmly uttered four words: "I saw it." With a subtle tilt of his head, he skillfully dodged Smoker's incoming white fist. In an instant, Luffy propelled himself into the air, positioning himself right above Smoker.
"Damn it!" Smoker inwardly cursed, suppressing the surprise that welled up in his heart. He made the split-second decision to transform into smoke, hoping to evade Luffy's attack.
But in the very next moment, BOOM! Despite having turned his body into smoke, Smoker felt the full impact of Luffy's punch, sending him plummeting down onto the execution platform. The force was so tremendous that it caused the platform itself to tremble.
Regaining his senses, Smoker was engulfed in astonishment. He had just confirmed something crucial. Until recently, Luffy had no knowledge of Haki, and yet now, he had managed to awaken both Observation Haki and Armament Haki. Although his mastery over these skills was still in its infancy, there was no denying that he had indeed awakened them.
"Are you kidding me!" Smoker couldn't help but exclaim, his decades of experience seemingly shattered by Luffy's unexpected capabilities. This revelation only strengthened Smoker's resolve to capture them then and there; he couldn't allow them to set foot in the Grand Line.
Determined, he clenched his ten smoke-wreathed hands, one of which held a jitte tipped with seastone. As Luffy descended beside him, Smoker launched a sudden attack, deliberately slowing down his strike.
Luffy, not sensing immediate danger, subconsciously reached out and grabbed the jitte. In that crucial second, his body went limp, leaving him powerless and collapsed on the execution platform.
Had Luffy truly been defeated?