At the very last second, a bolt of lightning suddenly crashed down from the sky and struck the execution platform with terrifying force!
The instant the lightning hit him, Buggy the Clown felt strangely calm inside.
‘Captain… looks like that bastard Shanks really did find an incredible successor…’
Then his whole body collapsed to the ground.
After all, if this hadn’t happened, he would have had to strike the kid himself.
But now, there was no point anymore.
As the execution platform crumbled apart with a deafening roar, everyone watching wore expressions of pure shock.
“He smiled?!” Smoker stared in disbelief.
“That man actually smiled in the face of death?!”
Just like the Pirate King back then!
In that instant, the danger level of Monkey D.
Luffy skyrocketed in Smoker’s mind.
He had a feeling that if he failed to capture this boy today, Luffy would become an absolutely terrifying existence in the future.
Nearby, Sanji’s cigarette slipped from his mouth as he watched Luffy crouch down to pick up his straw hat.
Still stunned, he turned to the others.
“Hey… do you guys believe in God?”
“Quit talking nonsense and let’s get out of here already,” Zoro replied.
He clearly didn’t believe in that sort of thing.
But Kai was different.
He had observed the entire process carefully just now and realized that the lightning hadn’t been caused by Dragon at all.
Which meant…
This was fate itself!
Looking up at the stormy sky, Kai muttered inwardly,
“So this is the will of the world protecting its protagonist…”
What’s more, the lightning had destroyed his two miniature robots, yet somehow they hadn’t exploded…
“Move out!
Surround them!” Smoker barked coldly.
“Do not let them escape!”
No matter what, Straw Hat Luffy had to be captured!
As the Marines closed in, Zoro grabbed Luffy before he could charge forward and start fighting again.
“Hurry up and move!
If we stay any longer, we’re finished!”
“Yeah,” Sanji added.
“At this rate, we’ll never make it to the Grand Line.”
The moment he heard that, Luffy stopped resisting and immediately turned to run with Sanji.
“Kai, let’s go!”
“Yeah, I’m coming.”
Kai answered casually, giving the unconscious Buggy one meaningful glance before turning away.
Seems like there are quite a few good actors in the pirate world.
“I said I’m coming already!”
Sanji looked speechless after Kai finally caught up.
“Seriously, what were you doing back there?
Didn’t you see the Marines surrounding us?”
“Just noticed something interesting.”
After knocking aside the Marines blocking their path, the four of them sprinted toward the harbor.
A flash of lightning cut across the sky, revealing Dragon standing silently atop a rooftop.
He watched their retreating figures thoughtfully.
Especially when his gaze landed on his son, his expression became unusually complicated.
“So even fate itself has chosen him…”
Another Pirate King…
If their family produced one more Pirate King, could the old man even handle it?
Dragon chuckled helplessly, then dissolved into the wind and vanished.
“Damn it!” Smoker snarled after hearing his subordinates report that the Straw Hat crew had escaped toward the shore.
“Why is heaven itself helping them?!”
That lightning had saved Straw Hat from certain death.
The storm had soaked the gunpowder, preventing the demolition squad from destroying their ship.
And now even the wind direction favored them.
Sailing toward the Grand Line would be smooth going with the wind at their backs!
“Don’t think you can escape from me so easily!”
“Bring me my Billower Bike!
I’m going after Straw Hat myself!”
For the honor of a Marine Captain, he swore he would capture the Straw Hat Pirates today!
“Luffy, can you stop doing such suicidal things next time?” Sanji said irritably.
“You almost died, you idiot!”
“Sorry…”
Sanji’s eye twitched.
Was that really the point?!
“Hm?”
Zoro suddenly stopped walking after noticing a woman standing ahead of them.
Why is she here?
“So you really are Roronoa Zoro… and a pirate at that.” Tashigi glared at him angrily.
“You deceived me!”
“What?!” Sanji instantly exploded.
“What the hell did you do to her?!”
You tricked a lady?!
You damned moss-head!
“You never asked for my name.
I didn’t lie to you.”
“I won’t allow someone like you to carry that famous sword!”
Tashigi pointed at him stubbornly.
“I’m taking Wado Ichimonji back!”
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Zoro grinned.
“If you think you can, then try.”
“You bastard!
You’re actually going to fight a lady?!” Sanji’s knightly spirit instantly ignited.
Before he could interfere, Tashigi stopped him.
“Please stay out of this!”
“This is a battle between me and Roronoa.
Outsiders are not to interfere!”
“You heard her,” Zoro said without turning around.
“You three go back to the ship first.
I’ll catch up soon.”
Dealing with this girl wouldn’t take long anyway.
“Alright!” Luffy grinned.
“If Zoro says so, let’s go!”
“Oi, Zoro!
If you hurt a lady, I’ll never forgive you!” Sanji shouted viciously before chasing after the others.
As for Kai, when he passed by Zoro, he gave him a particularly meaningful look.
“Good luck, Zoro~”
Zoro instinctively felt there was another meaning hidden behind those words, but before he could ask, Kai had already run off into the distance.
Whatever.
It probably wasn’t important.
“We’re almost there,” Luffy said excitedly.
“I can already see the harbor!”
“Who’s that?” Sanji frowned at the figure blocking the road ahead.
“Another Marine?”
“Smoker…”
Kai narrowed his eyes slowly and slipped a hand into his pocket.
Looks like it’s finally time to use the thing I prepared in advance.
“So you’ve arrived,” Smoker said coldly as he faced the three of them.
“Straw Hat Luffy.
Scientist Kai.”
“I told you before.
Unless you defeat me, you are not reaching the Grand Line!”
He stood there like an iron wall guarding the entrance to the Grand Line itself.
No one was getting past him.