One Piece: Starting with the execution of Pirate King Roger

The air underground was cold and viscous.

Leaving the suffocating crystal warehouse, Raine's figure, like a ghost, silently passed through the heavy isolation door and arrived at the deepest part of the underground space.

There is an office here that stands out from the outside environment.

There were no damp rock walls or exposed pipes.

The floor was covered with thick, expensive carpets, the walls were adorned with famous paintings from around the world, and behind the enormous mahogany desk was even a set of exquisite porcelain from Mary Geoise.

This is clearly the core management office here.

Raine did not ransack the place like a typical thief would.

He stood in the center of the room, his fingers gently flicking out a faint arc of electricity.

"Zi la..."

The electric current traveled through the air and entered the keyhole of the desk, instantly destroying the internal mechanical structure.

"Click".

With a soft click, a hidden compartment on the side of the table popped open automatically.

There was no gold or silver treasure inside, only a letter sealed with sealing wax and gold lettering, and a thick black register.

Ryan picked up the roster and casually flipped through it a few times.

The document is densely filled with names, ages, places of origin, and the final "processing results."

[Item No. 4021, Male, 24 years old, robust physique. Source: Sailor on a merchant ship from the Western Sea. Processing: Labor-grade crystal, already shipped.]

【Item No. 4022, Female, 16 years old, of superior appearance. Origin: Refugees from Frun Island. Condition: Ornamental-grade crystal, awaiting shipment.】

Every line of text represents a real human life.

Ryan closed the register, his eyes growing even colder. He picked up the gold-embossed letter, its sealing wax bearing a unique emblem—a skull encased in diamonds.

Upon opening the envelope, a faint scent of woody top notes of perfume wafted out.

Renn quickly scanned the elegant, somewhat flamboyant calligraphy on the letter.

To my dear ally, Major General Nelson:

"Regarding the shipment that Mary Geoise urgently needs, I will personally arrive at Branch G-17 aboard the Diamond Queen on the 24th of this month to 'carve' it."

Upon seeing this, Renn silently calculated the time in his mind.

"Today is the 22nd... which means it's the day after tomorrow."

He continued reading.

"Our client this time is no ordinary person; he is the esteemed Saint Charles. He has a unique taste in the art of 'despair,' so please be sure to select the most perfect material from this batch of 'rough stones.'"

Upon seeing this, a cold smile curled at the corner of Ryan's mouth.

“Saint Charmaco…no matter which pig it is, the end of this business is indeed Mary Geoise.”

As Ryan continued reading, the latter half of the letter made him raise an eyebrow slightly.

"In addition, I am accompanied by the CP0 envoy of the World Government. As long as the tribute this time satisfies the adults, the proposal to nominate me as the first batch of Shichibukai should be successfully passed."

"This is our shared glory, and the cornerstone of our monopoly on this golden route."

Signed: The Crystal Duke – Victor Hugo

"The Crystal Duke..."

As Raine looked at the signature, images of the lifelike crystal statues in the underground warehouse instantly flashed through his mind.

"really."

Renn understood.

"We were speculating before about who had the Devil Fruit ability to instantly crystallize a living person, but now it seems that it was Viktor's doing."

"To be called the 'Duke of Crystals,' he must possess some kind of crystal-related ability among Paramecia-type Devil Fruit users... No wonder he can create 'works of art' that even the Celestial Dragons are satisfied with."

Having identified the culprit, Rein's gaze then fell on the words "Seven Warlords of the Sea," a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"The Seven Warlords of the Sea... has it already begun?"

As a time traveler, he was certainly familiar with this system.

After Roger ushered in the Great Pirate Era, the number of pirates exploded, and the Navy gradually found itself unable to cope alone. In order to counterbalance the ever-expanding pirate power, the World Government's top brass proposed this crazy "fight fire with fire" plan.

“Victor Hugo…”

Renn searched his memory and was certain that there was no such character in the original work.

“A name I’ve never heard of. Looks like it got washed up later. But it doesn’t really matter…” Renn’s fingers lightly flicked the letter, a flash of electricity crossing his fingertips. “Now that you’ve met me, you’re destined not to live to see the main story begin.”

"However, since he's been nominated as one of the first Seven Warlords of the Sea, his strength is definitely not to be underestimated."

Rein was well aware of the prestige of the title "Shichibukai".

In the original setting, apart from Hawkeye Mihawk, whose strength is far superior to the others, the other members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, whether it is Doflamingo, Boa Hancock, or Jinbe, basically all possess powerful strength comparable to the "first mate of an emperor".

They are the true apex predators of this ocean.

"To be on the same shortlist as those monsters..." Instead of fear, a hunter's excitement flashed in Renn's eyes. "This Crystal Duke might be a good whetstone."

Ryan tucked the letter and the roster into his pocket.

"Arriving the day after tomorrow... Great, there's still time to prepare."

He took one last look at the office, which reeked of sin, before his figure faded, transforming into a bolt of electricity that silently disappeared into the darkness through the ventilation ducts.

……

Velvet suite.

Gion did not sleep.

She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, wearing a coat of justice and with her arms crossed.

"Fuck-"

A soft sound came from the vent, and then a ball of blue and white lightning gathered in the center of the room, transforming into the slender figure of Renn.

"How is it?" Gion immediately turned around and strode forward. "What's the situation down there?"

Raine didn't say anything.

He walked to the coffee table, poured himself a glass of ice water and drank it all in one gulp. Then he took out the letter and the roster from his pocket and gently placed them in front of Gion.

"See for yourself."

Gion looked at him suspiciously and picked up the black register.

After flipping through just a few pages, her face turned ashen. Her fingers, gripping the roster tightly, turned white from the force, and her knuckles cracked.

"That's why there are no ordinary people here..."

Gion's voice trembled, a sign of extreme anger, "Treating people like commodities, turning them into those damned works of art?!"

"That bastard Nelson... How dare he?! He's a Rear Admiral in the Navy, and he's actually colluding with pirates!!"

“It’s not just Nelson.”

Ryan sat on the sofa and pointed to the gold-embossed letter. "Look at this. His accomplice."

Gion suppressed her anger and picked up the letter.

However, when she saw the contents of the letter, her anger was instantly replaced by a huge shock.

Chapter 88 I'll Take Care of Everything

【Saint Charmaco】

The Seven Warlords of the Sea

"The Seven Warlords of the Sea..." Gion murmured to herself, her eyes filled with disbelief, "This plan... it's actually being implemented?"

"You know about this plan?" Ryan asked.

"...Lieutenant General Tinghe mentioned it."

Gion took a deep breath, her expression complicated. "In order to deal with the Great Pirate Era, the World Government planned to recruit some powerful pirates. But I never expected... that the people they contacted would be this kind of scum!"

"Victor Hugo, for the sake of the title of Shichibukai, is actually going to turn a living person into a statue and offer it to the Celestial Dragons?"

"That explains it."

"No wonder this place is called a model branch. There are no pirate attacks within hundreds of nautical miles around," Raine calmly analyzed.

"The navy and pirates have long been in cahoots. Pirates don't rob merchant ships; they come here to trade. The navy doesn't arrest pirates; instead, they arrest ordinary civilians."

"This is what they call peace. Using the blood and flesh of innocent people to maintain their superficial prosperity."

"You bastard!!"

Gion slammed the letter on the table, making the teacup jump.

"Absolutely not! The Navy cannot tolerate this happening!"

She turned abruptly and strode into the inner room, preparing to contact Navy Headquarters using a Den Den Mushi.

"I'll contact headquarters right now! I'll contact Vice Admiral Tsuru! Even if they're Celestial Dragons, even if they're part of the Seven Warlords plan, it can't be built on such brutal crimes! I refuse to believe headquarters will stand idly by!"

Her eyes burned with the flame of justice, which was her bottom line and principle as a commodore.

however.

"Snapped."

A hand firmly pressed down on her hand, preventing her from picking up the Den Den Mushi.

Gion was stunned, then looked up angrily: "Raine! What are you doing?! You're trying to stop me at a time like this?!"

Raine stood beside her, his hand gripping Gion's hand and the Den Den Mushi like an iron clamp.

“Commander Gion,” Raine’s voice was eerily calm, “if this call is made… then the problem will truly be unsolvable.”

"What did you say?" Gion looked at him in disbelief. "Does headquarters really condone such a thing...?"

"Headquarters will most likely compromise."

Raine interrupted her, his dark eyes staring directly into Gion's eyes, as if trying to see through her soul and the dirtiest rules of this sea.

"Do you really think that after Nelson has been operating here for so many years, making such a big fuss, and even building the base into a palace, the higher-ups at the Navy Headquarters wouldn't have known a thing?"

Gion's body stiffened abruptly.

Ryan's voice ruthlessly tore away that veil of pretense:

"This is the Golden Route, one of the World Government's most important sources of tax revenue. As long as the G-17 branch pays its exorbitant taxes on time every year, and as long as this place maintains a facade of exemplary security..."

Even if some people sense something is wrong, they will choose to turn a blind eye.

Renn sneered and continued:

"Moreover, this deal involves the Celestial Dragons. Once you get through on the phone, it will become a political event."

"To protect the Celestial Dragons' reputation, and to prevent the Shichibukai plan from being affected by scandal..."

"The best outcome would be to transfer us to another person who is sensible and take over, so that all traces can be erased."

“And the worst outcome…” Renn released his grip, pointed to Gion, then to himself, “As the ones who have exposed this veil of secrecy, we will be seen as traitors who attempted to sabotage the Shichibukai plan, and even accused of colluding with pirates.”

"In the end, it won't be Nelson who suffers, but us."

Gion's hand froze in mid-air.

She wanted to argue, but after so many years at headquarters, reason told her that what Ryan said... was the most likely reality.

She let her hands fall limply, as if all her strength had been drained, and slumped into the chair.

"Then what do you suggest...?" Gion's voice was tinged with confusion and pain. "Are we just going to watch Viktor swagger in and continue their deal?"

Of course not.

Ryan smiled.

It was a smile that was filled with the scent of blood, yet also brought a sense of immense peace.

“Since ‘procedural justice’ is not working and may even kill us, let’s try a different approach.”