One Piece: Starting with the execution of Pirate King Roger

It was still 6:30 pm.

Ryan carried his third dinner back to the corner by the window.

Old Hank, the head cook, who was eating at a table not far away, saw him get another meal and mumbled through his cigarette, "Hey kid... are you trying to stuff three people's meals into one person's stomach?"

Raine simply nodded without saying a word, quietly putting the stewed vegetables and meat from the spoon into his mouth.

Three months have passed since he transmigrated to this world.

Thanks to the [physical inheritance] provided by the system, Renn's body is now undergoing a savage second development.

In just three months, his height has increased dramatically from less than 1.6 meters to 1.85 meters. His shoulders have become broader, and his navy uniform, which he has worn for years, now feels tight on him.

Initially, his astonishing appetite and physical changes also caused some trouble.

About a month ago.

That day, the same group of veterans who liked to pick fights stopped him in the canteen, mocking him as a "starving ghost reincarnated," and tried to snatch his plate.

Before that, Ryan had always adhered to the principle of "it's better to do less trouble" and chose to ignore all kinds of exclusion and difficulties.

But that day, the hunger that was magnified countless times overwhelmed the endurance of his adult soul.

Renn didn't waste any words.

He moved the instant the other person's hand touched the plate.

By the time everyone realized what was happening, the three veterans were already lying on the ground, clutching their stomachs, curled up like boiled shrimp.

Ryan, on the other hand, simply picked up his plate silently and, amidst the awe-inspiring gazes of everyone, walked to the corner by the window and continued eating.

From that day on, no one dared to cause him any trouble.

Even his popularity at the Loguetown naval base suddenly improved.

No one dared to call him "bad luck" to his face anymore, and the looks of disdain that once scorned him had turned into awe. Although he was still lonely, at least he had gained peace and quiet.

"Indeed, no matter what world you're in, fists are the most effective way to communicate."

Ryan muttered a curse to himself as he swallowed the last bite of black bread.

I saw my blurry reflection in the clear windowpane beside me.

The boy in the reflection still had delicate features, but his face was gradually developing sharper, more defined contours. His eyes no longer held the fear and confusion he had when he first arrived; only a deep, unfathomable calm remained.

He has already gotten used to life here.

Leaning back in my chair, I enjoyed the long-lost feeling of fullness, while also experiencing a power within my body that was completely different from what I felt three months ago.

"The feeling of this power constantly growing stronger is truly fascinating."

Renn clenched his fist, feeling the solid power within it, and his thoughts drifted further away.

"But... we're still far from it."

"To have the ability to protect oneself, or even live comfortably, in this chaotic world, one would at least... need the strength of a general, right?"

The chance to rise to the top in one step lies on this island.

"Gol D. Roger... when are you going to turn yourself in?" The lack of any news over the past three months has made Renn increasingly anxious.

Not knowing how long he would have to wait, Renn suppressed his unrealistic fantasies and focused his attention on the present.

I thought of the execution that had just taken place yesterday morning.

[Prisoner: "Hook" Jack]

Overall Rating: N7

...

[Optional Benefits]:

Physical inheritance (in small quantities)

Skill inheritance, basic navigation

Raine still chose [Physical Inheritance] without hesitation.

He was prepared for the scorching energy flow and the subsequent feeling of weakness.

however--

The expected violent energy did not appear. A warm current, which could only be described as "warm," flowed into his body, swirled around once without causing any pain or discomfort, and then... disappeared.

Renn could feel that his strength had indeed increased somewhat, but it was far from what he had expected, and even compared to every previous enhancement he had received!

The hunger that followed was not as intense as before; it just made him feel like he had "forgotten to eat breakfast this morning."

Since his [Physical Realm] broke through from [Beginner] to [Intermediate] a month ago, this feeling has become increasingly obvious—the "nourishment" that these N-rank pirates who are bullying him near Loguetown can provide has become increasingly scarce.

The feeling of surging power that used to be has now been replaced by a mere warm current that is "better than nothing".

"Couldn't we try harder to capture some powerful pirates?" Rein sighed inwardly, then opened his personal panel with a thought.

Name: Corvo Rein

Age: 15

Rank: Private First Class

[Physical Realm]: Intermediate

[Talent]: None

[Skills]: Swordsmanship (Beginner), Shooting (Beginner)

Sin Points: 2150

His breakthrough to the Intermediate level in Physical Fitness was his biggest achievement in the past three months. Of the various miscellaneous skills he had drawn during those three months, he kept only the most practical ones: Swordsmanship and Archery, which finally gave him some decent means of combat.

As for the two thousand points, looking at the still grayed-out store icon, Renn felt a toothache.

"Having money but nowhere to spend it feels worse than being in debt."

As for his rank, he was promoted one level a month ago to private first class. He still does not receive a salary, only free meals and uniform.

After finishing his meal, Ryan sorted out his thoughts on his way back to his dormitory.

To avoid feeling too averse to his job as an "executioner" and to better understand his "performance," he spent those three months going to the base's archives and going through the files of the pirates he had executed.

He discovered that the system's "crime index" was not fabricated out of thin air.

If the "crime index" exceeds 100, the crimes recorded in the case file, placed within the universal values ​​of his previous life, would be enough to easily sentence him to death.

As for the guy with the highest "crime index" of 550 that he has seen so far, Ryan thinks that shooting him for five minutes would be too lenient.

This realization gradually replaced the guilt that Renn felt towards killing—a guilt rooted in the modern mind—with a numb sense of cleaning up trash.

He wasn't killing people; he was cleaning up trash.

Back in his small private room, after changing his clothes, Ryan lay on the bed, feeling utterly bored.

"Dong dong dong."

A hesitant knocking sounded at the door.

Raine frowned, opened the door, and found a somewhat familiar-looking ordinary marine standing there.

At that moment, the marine's face wore a fawning and awe-inspiring smile.

“Ryan…sir,” the marine awkwardly used a respectful title, “I have orders that you have another mission tomorrow afternoon.”

"Understood," Renn replied casually, preparing to close the door.

"Ah, please wait a moment!" The marine quickly took out a file from behind him and handed it over with both hands. "This is... the case file of this prisoner."

This is the first time. In the past, the officers only treated him as a gun that didn't need to think, and never showed him these things.

Ever since they learned that Ryan had a habit of going to the archives, they've actually started bringing his files over on their own initiative.

Chapter 5 Last Wish

The following afternoon, in the central square of Rogge, at the execution platform.

Renn arrived at his "job post" ten minutes early.

He was somewhat surprised to find that there were more civilians who came to watch today than ever before.

But unlike in the past, the crowd today was unusually quiet.

There were no insults or curses directed at the pirates about to be executed; instead, there were suppressed whispers rising and falling.

"...Is it really Lord Buck? I don't believe it..."

"Oh, he saved my daughter's life, how could he..."

"Good people shouldn't end up like this..."

"But the newspapers say he killed Hawke's entire family, six people in total..."

Wearing a cold mask, Raine listened quietly to the cacophony of opinions, his heart unmoved.

But he knew that what these people were saying was true.

When the time came, the familiar scarred-faced officer stepped onto the platform. He surveyed the agitated crowd below, cleared his throat, and, in a voice louder than ever before, read out the prisoner's charges:

"'Lone Ranger' Buck! As a pirate, he disregarded the law and broke into Hawk's mansion last Wednesday night, brutally murdering Hawk and his family of six! His crimes are heinous, and the evidence is irrefutable!"

Scarface's voice echoed across the square.

"Trial by the Rogge Town Naval Branch, the death sentence is to be carried out immediately!"

He suddenly waved his hand.

"Executioner, prepare!"

Upon hearing this, Ryan expressionlessly raised the long-barreled rifle in his hand and rested the butt against his now-solid shoulder.

Through the crosshair, he looked again at the man tied to the wooden stake.

The file he had looked at yesterday involuntarily came to mind.

"Lone Wolf" Buck, a pirate who has been active in the waters around Loguetown for several years.

He was homeless and lived a solitary life, robbing notorious wealthy merchants and wicked pirates, and using most of his spoils to help the poor in the slums of Loguetown.

Among civilians, his reputation was even better than that of the navy.

For this reason, as long as no one was killed, the naval branch in Loguetown had always turned a blind eye to him.

Until last Wednesday.

That night, during a robbery of a local ruthless tycoon named Hawke, whether by mistake or out of desperation, he ended up causing the tragic loss of all six members of Hawke's family.

Six lives lost—this crossed the Navy's red line.

Regardless of public opinion, the higher-ups issued a strict order, which led to today's execution.

Renn's thoughts returned to what was before him.

He looked at the man in the crosshair.

He may have saved more than sixty people. But the law is the law, and his crime of killing six people is also a fact. His merits and demerits cannot offset each other.

At this moment, Buck neither struggled nor cursed.

Raine looked into his eyes through the mask.

Those were unfathomable eyes.

In those eyes, Renn saw the relief that everything had settled, the resentment towards fate, and the liberation that everything was coming to an end.

But one thing I don't regret is that I don't regret it.

Raine realized that he couldn't simply determine whether this person was good or bad, or whether he deserved to die.

He was the executioner.

His job is not to make judgments, but to execute them.

"Execution!"

The scarred officer's roar exploded like thunder.

Ryan's fingers were as steady as a rock.