Was that… Bartolomeo just now?
Lucas Moore hadn't expected to run into that shameless guy so soon.
Bartolomeo was destined to become one of Luffy's biggest fanboys after he set out to sea. Before turning pirate for the sake of chasing his idol, the guy had been a notorious underworld boss, ruling over a hundred and fifty streets.
In short, once you got involved with him, he was nothing but trouble.
Lucas had no idea what Bartolomeo was doing out and about so early in the morning. And frankly, he didn't care.
Right now, he had other plans he was heading to the execution platform where Gol D. Roger had been put to death.
Guided by a few helpful townsfolk, he quickly made his way to the central square.
Gazing up at the towering structure, dozens of meters high, Lucas didn't hesitate. He climbed straight to the top.
The moment his feet found steady ground on the square-shaped platform, a familiar system chime rang in his mind.
Ding! Successfully reached the top of Roger's Execution Platform. Check-in progress +10%. Current total progress: 20%. Reward: Mastery-level skill "Divine Evasion."
In an instant, advanced knowledge of Divine Evasion flooded Lucas's mind.
Before he could fully process it though
"Hey, you up there! Kid! Get down immediately! That execution platform is under the direct jurisdiction of the World Government! Unless you want to be arrested, get down right now!"
The voice came from a Marine shouting through a loudspeaker from the base of the platform.
Lucas glanced down from his vantage point, eyeing the growing crowd that had gathered around the square.
"Look! There's a kid up on the execution platform!"
"Who is that?"
"No idea. Never seen him before. How'd he even get up there?"
The townspeople were murmuring among themselves.
Lucas didn't want to attract too much attention.
Sure, jumping down from this height wouldn't be a problem for him.
But to the ordinary observer, he was still just a ten-year-old kid. No one would believe a child could drop from that height and walk away unscathed.
So, in the name of staying low-key, he chose to climb down the iron scaffolding at the side.
Coincidentally, Smoker had just returned from the main street with a group of Marines, escorting a pack of freshly captured pirates.
When he caught sight of Lucas scaling down the side of the execution platform, he paused. "Isn't that the kid from the tavern?"
That moment of distraction was all it took.
One of the captured pirates suddenly slipped a small pistol from his sleeve, grinning maliciously as he fired a shot at Smoker.
Smoker reacted with lightning speed.
He dodged the bullet and immediately disarmed the pirate.
Then chaos erupted.
"Ah! That kid's in trouble!"
"Somebody help him!"
"Quick! Someone do something!"
Smoker's head snapped toward the cries.
The bullet the pirate had just fired was now screaming through the air, aimed directly at Lucas, who was still partway down the scaffolding.
Even if he used his Smoke-Smoke Fruit powers, Smoker knew he couldn't stop it in time.
Lucas stared at the oncoming bullet, more annoyed than alarmed.
Dodging it would be easy.
But if he avoided it, the bullet would strike the platform's framework behind him, possibly destabilizing the entire structure.
And he was still ten meters above the ground.
A fall from this height would be fatal or crippling for any normal child.
If he landed unharmed, that alone would cause a scene.
If he stopped the bullet directly, it wouldn't make much difference either way, he'd be the center of attention.
All he wanted was to stay under the radar. So why wouldn't the world give him that chance?
Sighing, Lucas braced himself.
One hand still clinging to the iron scaffolding, he covered the other in Armament Haki.
Right in front of everyone.
He reached out and snatched the bullet out of the air, stopping it cold in his palm.
Silence blanketed the entire square.
A few seconds later, the outburst came.
"No way! That's gotta be fake!"
"Did I just see that? That kid caught a bullet with his bare hand?!"
"The bullet must be a fake. No one can do that and be fine!"
"No chance! I heard the shot! That was real!"
The pirate who'd fired the shot was drenched in cold sweat, disbelief written all over his face. "Impossible! That bullet was modified to have several times the force of a regular one. What the hell is that kid?"
Smoker stood frozen, staring at Lucas's hand, which had now returned to normal.
Was that Armament Haki just now…?
Still clinging to the iron bars, Lucas had become the undisputed star of the square.
Well, so much for laying low.
He let go of the scaffold and dropped the ten meters to the ground, landing effortlessly.
As he landed, his eye happened to catch someone in the distant crowd.
A boy with a spiky mohawk was staring at him, eyes sparkling with fanatical admiration.
Wait a minute...
Bartolomeo?
That guy's still here?
Lucas froze for a second.
Something felt off.
He didn't dwell on it. Turning away, he quickly made for a quieter direction.
Smoker saw him bolt.
Still shaken, he ordered his men to bring the pirates back to headquarters, then immediately gave chase.
That kid definitely isn't normal. He had to find out who he really was.
Lucas, of course, noticed the pursuit.
So he ducked into the maze of narrow back alleys, weaving through the twisting paths with practiced ease.
As expected, it didn't take long to lose Smoker.
After that stunt, he needed to keep his head down for a while.
The last thing he wanted was to have a hundred pairs of eyes watching his every move.
Just as he was pondering where to go next, a familiar storefront caught his eye a weapons shop that specialized in swords.
Wait a minute… isn't this the shop Zoro visits ten years from now?
The one where he bought his swords?
Looks like I wandered into the right place.
If memory served, the cursed sword Sandai Kitetsu and the Grade-quality Yubashiri were both in this very store.
Since he was already here, he might as well take a look.
With that, Lucas stepped inside.
"Tch. Just a kid."
The shop owner, Ipponmatsu, had been all smiles, ready to welcome a customer, but his face fell as soon as he saw Lucas walk in. With a scowl, he muttered under his breath.
Lucas ignored him, casually scanning the swords on the walls until his eyes fell on three large barrels in the corner, each filled with bargain-bin blades.
Ipponmatsu noticed where he was looking and, seeing Lucas take interest in the cheap swords, said impatiently, "Those are the cheapest ones. Fifty thousand Berries apiece. If you've got the money, pick one. If not, scram."
Lucas didn't bother replying. He walked straight to the barrels, ready to search for Sandai Kitetsu.
Just as he reached the swords, a tall, lean figure passing by the shop window caught his eye.
As if sensing someone's gaze, the man paused and looked inside.
Their eyes met.
Long silver hair tied back, matching silver beard on his chin, a pair of glasses perched on his nose, and a distinct vertical scar running down his right eye.
There was no mistaking it.
It was the Dark King Silvers Rayleigh.