"Shanks?" Smoker was taken aback. "Why is one of the Four Emperors here?"
"Is that really the red-haired Shanks?" Tashigi asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"Who else could it be?" Smoker nodded, still trying to comprehend the situation. "Today just keeps getting more complicated..."
"Let's go." Hancock lost interest and motioned for Sonia and Marigold to follow her. They nodded and left with her.
"Captain Smoker, should we try to stop her?" a Marine asked, glancing at Hancock's retreating figure.
"Given the current situation, let's not provoke the Warlords of the Sea just yet," Smoker replied, his gaze still on Hancock as she disappeared from view.
At the same time, Clover dashed toward the execution platform and happened to pass by Hancock. His eyes widened in shock. Isn't that the Empress? What is she doing here?
Hancock caught Clover's gaze, and for a brief moment, they exchanged looks before continuing on their respective paths. Clover wanted to stop, but he had to hurry to Luffy.
"Hey! Wait!" Hancock called after Clover, but he didn't turn back. "I'm in a hurry! Sorry!"
"Sister, what's wrong? Do you know that person?" Sonia asked, noticing Hancock's unusual reaction.
"The look in his eyes... it reminds me of someone," Hancock murmured, pulling out Clover's wanted poster that featured his 5 billion Berries bounty. She studied the eyes on the poster, intrigued.
"That guy looks a lot different from the one on the poster," Marigold noted. The man they had just seen was well-dressed and handsome, unlike the rough image on the wanted notice.
"This is my first time watching an execution," Luffy remarked, lying on the execution platform and glancing at the lively Buggy Pirates below.
"You're the one who's about to be executed," Buggy sneered at Luffy.
"...." Luffy looked confused for a moment before realization hit him. "Wait, are you serious?!"
"Of course I am!" Buggy shouted back, exasperated that Luffy hadn't grasped the situation yet.
"Let the execution begin!" Buggy proclaimed dramatically, raising his sword high.
"Stop! Are you kidding? No way!" Luffy shouted from the platform, panic creeping into his voice.
"Do you have any last words? It's not every day we have this many spectators," Buggy taunted, noticing Luffy's fatigue. "Not that it matters; you're all going to die anyway."
"I want to be the next Pirate King!" Luffy shouted, his voice ringing out clearly. The crowd fell silent, stunned by his declaration.
"He said he wants to be the Pirate King?"
"In this town? How audacious!" the townspeople murmured, recalling that this was Roger Town, where the legendary Gol D. Roger was executed.
"Time to start!" Buggy shouted, bringing his sword down toward Luffy.
"Hey! Stop!" Clover yelled as he ran closer to the execution platform.
Buggy froze, looking back. "Clover! You're here! Get him, men!"
"Oh no!" Buggy's crew shouted in excitement.
"It's Clover Benson with a bounty of 28 million! Run!" The townspeople fled in panic, clearing a path for Clover and the Buggy Pirates.
Clover faced Buggy's crew, ready for a fight. "Haven't you learned your lesson yet?" he challenged, charging into the fray and taking down several members of the crew with swift punches.
"Here we go..." Shanks observed from the sidelines, intrigued by Clover's abilities, while another cloaked figure approached him.
"I figured you'd be here," the newcomer said.
"Oh, there you are, Yasopp," Shanks replied, greeting his companion.
As Clover charged toward the execution platform, Buggy raised his weapon to strike Luffy.
" Zoro, Clover, Ussop, Sanji, Nami! I'm sorry! I think I'm really going to die!" Luffy said with a resigned smile.
"He laughed!" Smoker exclaimed, astonished.
Just as the sword was about to make contact, Hancock kissed her hand and launched a volley of arrows toward Buggy.
"Luffy!" Shanks shouted, drawing his sword and rushing toward the platform.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck the execution platform, igniting it in flames and causing it to collapse. Hancock's arrows and Shanks were thrown back by the force of the lightning.
As the platform crumbled, rain began to pour from the sky.
"Ah hahahahaha! I survived and I'm even better off!" Luffy exclaimed, still unharmed and grinning brightly, while Buggy lay nearby, charred and defeated.
The crowd was left speechless, their expressions a mix of disbelief and awe.
"Devil Fruit?" Shanks murmured, glancing skyward. He frowned, sheathing his sword.
Clover turned to Hancock, confusion written on his face. Why is she helping me? She's not the type to intervene for someone else.
"Hey, are you the one everyone's talking about?" Hancock asked, pulling out a wanted notice from her cloak and pointing at Clover's face.
Clover took a closer look at the notice, recognizing it as his 5 billion bounty. He quickly grabbed the wanted poster and stuffed it away. "Don't show that around! Too many eyes are on us!" he said, glancing around nervously.
"Confirmed! It's really you! I finally get to meet you!" Hancock exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
As Hancock acknowledged Clover's identity, a sound echoed in Clover's mind.
[Didi didi... It has been detected that Boa Hancock has a 100% favorable impression of the Host!]
Clover raised his eyebrows, finally piecing things together. "I think... I understand what's going on here..."