---

Anos stood there, watching Suzu and his subordinates walk farther and farther away, his face calm and composed.

"You have followed me all this way. Shouldn't you show yourself?" Anos said, still looking in the direction where Suzu and his group had gone. A voice suddenly broke the silence.

He likely had no idea who he was speaking to, but he still said it.

From the shadows of a nearby building, not long after Anos had spoken, a man emerged.

He was cloaked, with a tattoo resembling the sole of a shoe etched on his face.

The man had a resolute expression that radiated confidence and authority. His powerful presence was something even Anos could sense.

"You're quite the young King. How about we find a place to talk?" the stranger suggested.

Anos smiled but remained silent. He neither agreed nor objected.

They walked side by side, neither saying a word. Anos knew very well the significance of the man walking beside him, his identity, and his status.

Soon, they reached the beach. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks echoed around them as they stood by the shore.

"King of the Tru Kingdom, why have you come to the East Blue?" the man asked, his voice calm and expressionless.

Anos smiled and responded with a question of his own. "Hasn't the leader of the Revolutionary Army also come here? I'm not sure if our purposes align, but I'm just here to enjoy. What about you? What are your plans?"

The man's expression froze for a moment, then turned neutral. He seemed curious and cautious as he asked, "You know who I am?"

"Of course, I know. I know far more than you think. I didn't expect to see you here, of all places," Anos replied, maintaining his composure.

The man standing before him was none other than Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army.

Anos had recognized him the moment he saw the tribal tattoo on his face.

After all, Dragon was the only man in the world with such a distinctive mark.

Anos hadn't expected to meet Dragon, the leader of the revolutionary army, in a small place like Loguetown. It was surprising, to say the least.

However, Anos could also tell that Dragon was not yet as formidable as he would be in the future.

Even so, Dragon's current strength was nothing to be underestimated.

Dragon stared out at the sea, appearing unfazed by the young man standing beside him.

For most of the world, the Revolutionary Army was barely known, let alone its leader.

Yet, the young man before him had not only recognized him but also knew his identity.

"What do you think of the Revolutionary Army, King of Tru?" Dragon asked his tone even.

"Most organizations with lofty ideals only exist because they exploit the suffering of others," Anos replied, offering a critique based on his knowledge of the future.

His words were blunt but true. The Revolutionary Army operated in secrecy, unknown to many, but to someone like Anos, who possessed foresight, these things were nothing new.

In many cases, the Revolutionary Army would use any resource available, with little regard for the consequences.

"Do you think it's wise to speak like this in front of me?" Dragon asked calmly. "The Revolutionary Army has a mission. The world is overrun by pirates, and the Marine's are powerless to stop them. I aim to create a world where everyone can live without conflict."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Dragon spoke passionately, trying to sway Anos with his vision.

"How long has it been since you visited my kingdom? Tru is not what you think it is. I do not quarrel with the Revolutionary Army, but I have no interest in joining it either. You've followed me from Reverse Mountain. Was it just to have this conversation?" Anos asked with a hint of amusement.

"If possible, I hope your kingdom could become a stronghold for the Revolutionary Army," Dragon said.

Anos chuckled, though he found the suggestion ridiculous. Dragon's ideas seemed naive to him.

"Mr. Dragon, I suggest you focus on building your power in the East Blue and the North Blue. The South Blue is a barren land, it's not worth your time," Anos said flatly, rejecting the proposal without hesitation.

Dragon wasn't offended. Instead, he stared at the young man before him with intrigue.

At fifteen or sixteen, Anos already showed extraordinary potential. If they could recruit him in the future, he would be a valuable ally.

Anos, however, had no desire to continue the conversation. With one last look at Dragon, he turned and walked away.

After Anos disappeared around the corner, Dragon remained standing there, now joined by several others.

"Why did you let him go?" one of them asked. The speaker had an enormous head disproportionate to his body, making it hard to call him human at all.

Had Anos still been there, he would have immediately recognized the person as Emporio Ivankov, "Queen" of the Kamabakka Kingdom and a Devil Fruit user whose strength was formidable.

The others surrounding Dragon were all prominent figures within the Revolutionary Army, destined to become legends in their own right.

They had also noticed Anos and, after a bit of investigation, learned he was the King of the Kingdom of Tru in the South Blue.

However, they were all astonished by the young king's strength.

Dragon didn't answer Ivankov's question immediately. He stood in silence, staring at the rough sea. After a while, he calmly said, "We couldn't stop him."

His words left the others shocked. Dragon's strength was already renowned across the pirate world. How could a boy barely in his teens escape him?

At fifteen or sixteen, Anos was still a young man, but to them, he seemed no more than a child. Even with some strength, how powerful could he be?

As Anos walked through the streets of Loguetown, his mind wandered back to Dragon's tattoo. Despite their brief conversation, he could feel the immense aura Dragon radiated.

Loguetown was unusually quiet. With most of the town's inhabitants drawn to the commotion at the harbour, the streets were nearly deserted.

Anos found himself at the execution platform, where Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, had been executed. The high platform stood only five or six meters tall, with a spiral staircase leading to the top.

As he stood in the square, looking at the platform, it was as though he could see the moments before Roger's death.

The sky was bright, but for Anos, it felt as though a cold wind blew through the square.

Loguetown called the "Town of the Beginning and the End," was where Roger's life had begun and ended. His legendary life had left an indelible mark on the world.

As Anos stood there, two Marines on a rooftop nearby were watching him closely.

"Captain Kakuku, King of Tru has caused quite a stir here. Should we intervene?" one of the Marines asked.

"Yulu, how many times have I told you? We mind our own business. Pirates have been flooding Loguetown for years. We don't have the manpower to deal with them, so if someone else steps up to help, let them," Kakuku replied, leaning against the railing.

Despite his nonchalant attitude, he was curious about Anos. A king from the South Blue, here to visit the execution platform of the Pirate King? It was an unusual sight.

"Captain, do you think the King of Tru has ulterior motives? Should we investigate?" Yulu asked, eager to probe deeper.

"If you want to, go ahead. But I'm taking the chance to rest. We rarely get help dealing with these pirates," Kakuku said, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand.

Meanwhile, at the harbour, chaos reigned as guards rounded up pirates with bounties, tying them up and attaching wanted posters to their bodies. Pirates lay strewn across the ground, their defeat clear for all to see.

Staying here proved convenient. By the end, the guards had split into several teams, with many of the remaining crew members also joining in.

Some headed directly to the pirate ships to search. They truly resembled pirates, eagerly snatching up anything valuable they found.

With a dozen pirate ships, the amount of gold, silver, and jewels collected was significant.

Moreover, the combined bounty of those captured on the ground totalled tens of millions.

By following Anos, this group not only gained strength but, more importantly, valuable combat experience.

There wasn't much to see in Loguetown. It seemed rather ordinary now.

Though many things were for sale, most of the goods were basic supplies for life at sea.

This town had largely developed thanks to pirates. The luxurious architecture surrounding the square made that clear.

After lingering in the square for about half an hour, Anos began to move.

He had seen enough and Anos felt like he had spoken to the Pirate King, Roger

In the past, this square would have been crowded, but now it stood empty. Most of the people were gathered at the port.

They quietly watched the Tempest and observed everything the guards were doing aboard. Some cheered, while others appeared sorrowful.

After the Thousand-Handed Pirates were finally captured, with their bounties hanging over their heads, no one else dared to speak, much less challenge them again.

At least fifty or sixty captives were bound together and escorted by five or six guards as they marched forward.

The curious locals from Loguetown, eager to witness the spectacle, followed closely behind.

Since the execution of Pirate King Roger, Loguetown had attracted many pirates, but there had never been a large-scale battle like this.

---