Chapter 337: The Crown of the Pirate King
by xennovel“What? Is there really news like this?”
“This is the biggest thing to happen in centuries.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure this news spreads across the whole sea as fast as possible.”
Clack!
“Hahaha, now this is breaking news!”
Morgans had just hung up the Transponder Snail, his excitement so intense his face flushed red.
He was simply too shocked by the news.
Roger had actually found the legendary Laugh Tale, sailing a full circle around the sea.
He pulled off an unprecedented feat, recognized by every pirate as the king—the Pirate King!
“Come on, get in here, all of you!”
Morgans threw open his office door and shouted out.
A quick announcement was all it took—within minutes, word that Roger had sailed the entire Grand Line was already spreading.
New World, aboard the Moby Dick!
“Pops, look at today’s paper! They did it!”
Marco had just grabbed the latest newspaper and, spotting the headline, flew over on blue wings to Newgate’s side.
“Gurararara!”
“Marco, what’s the big news?”
Whitebeard Newgate took the newspaper. Big bold red letters announced Roger’s crew had sailed the Grand Line and did what every pirate dreamed of—he was being called the Pirate King!
“Gurararara!”
“Old friend, I can’t believe you really found it.”
“Gurararara!”
Whitebeard, fired up, clenched his fists and punched the air around him.
It was like the air itself shattered, sending waves across the sea.
“Not bad at all, Roger!”
In that instant, Newgate remembered the words he’d once shared with Roger on that distant island.
“If we can reach that place, we’d truly be the number one pirate crew.”
“The greatest in the world?”
“Hahaha, surprised, Newgate?”
“Yeah, and that would make me… the Pirate King!”
“All right, boys, it’s party time!”
“Awooo!”
…
Wano – Onigashima!
This territory now belonged to Kaido, since Wano constantly faced rebel uprisings.
The education given on Cake Island didn’t allow for mass slaughter time and again.
So the strict management was handed to Kaido, along with twenty percent cut in return.
Of course, this counted as an alliance between the Beasts Pirates and Karl’s Pirate Crew.
This Kaido wasn’t quite the same as in the original story; now that he knew the true power of Karl’s Pirate Crew…
He wouldn’t dare break their deal without good reason.
“Master Kaido, today’s news is bound to shock you.”
The one approaching was King, towering over seven meters tall.
Members of the Lunarian Tribe had also grown up, with even newborns among them.
Karl wouldn’t waste all that talent—those who came of age were sent out everywhere.
Some went to Skypiea, some joined Kaido’s Beasts Pirates, a few even joined the Revolutionary Army, spreading out all over.
They could relay firsthand news and also give each force a powerful helper.
“Urorororo!”
“Don don don!”
Grabbing a massive gourd, Kaido gulped down a few swigs of rum before finally taking the newspaper from King’s hand.
“Pirate King?”
“Nani?”
Kaido blurted out in surprise.
He even thought he misread it, snatching the paper again to look closely.
“Roger sails the New World, officially crowned Pirate King.”
“Roger, huh? Pirate King? He hasn’t even fought me yet!”
Fueled by the rum, Kaido transformed into a giant black turtle, soaring into the sky and spitting icy mist everywhere.
All of Onigashima trembled lightly. Even three-year-old Yamato woke up from her sleep.
Leaving aside Kaido’s rampage, the World Government saw the news very differently.
“So Roger’s already found the Final Island?”
“Did he learn about the Void Century, I wonder?”
“Either way, the Roger Pirates can’t be allowed to exist any longer.”
“Deploy every last CP0 member. Find me Roger’s whereabouts.”
Marcus dialed CP0’s highest head—Kahwa—on the Transponder Snail.
Orders from above meant action below; from CP0 to CP9, agents spread like peanuts cast onto the sea, all searching for Roger.
Across the seas, word of Roger’s coronation sparked a pirate fever.
Young men everywhere wanted to try their luck sailing out, making things even harder for the Navy.
Meanwhile, the Roger Pirates vanished from sight.
Then, in 1498, news broke that stunned the whole world.
Navy hero Garp announced he’d captured Roger, and the execution would be held in Loguetown.
The news drew crowds from all around.
Hawkeye Mihawk, Moria, Aramaki and others all brought their crews to Loguetown to witness the unprecedented Pirate King’s execution.
Karl followed a strategy of scattering his talented officers, letting them form their own pirate crews.
As a result, more and more pirates flocked to Loguetown, forcing the Navy to pull elite forces and shore up security there.
The Navy didn’t attack these pirates right away—they wanted everyone to see something.
Even the so-called Pirate King could be captured and executed. Maybe that would kill a few dreams of piracy.
One morning, as sunlight spilled over Loguetown’s square, the place was already packed.
With the clanking of shackles, Roger, hands cuffed and feet in irons, made his way through the crowd toward the platform.
“That’s the Pirate King Roger?”
“Yeah, he looks so imposing.”
“Who’d have guessed this is the path Roger picked in the end.”
A figure on a rooftop, hidden beneath a green cloak, gave a quiet sigh.
“They say this is the start of a new era. Who knows if it’s true.”
In the crowd, Moria whispered to Mihawk.
This whole thing was orchestrated by Karl behind the scenes—to let these up-and-coming pirates feel Roger’s presence firsthand.
And to draw them into this grand opening act.
As Roger stepped up onto the platform, the crowd below fell silent.
That day was the liveliest day the East Blue had ever seen.
Time ticked by as the crowd murmured. Roger now knelt on the platform, head low.
As the sun rose, two executioners crossed their spears behind Roger.
In a small building nearby, Garp and Sengoku both fixed their gazes on Roger atop the platform.
Elite marines hid everywhere, ready for any attempt to rescue Roger.
The sun continued rising until it shone down on Roger’s head.
“All right, let’s get this over with,” Roger said with a smile, then waited quietly.
Suddenly, a shout pierced the silence.
“Hey, Pirate King!”