Chapter 16: Roger Pirates

I find the sea calming. I like it. The fact that I can feel this way must mean I’ve grown accustomed to being a pirate—and that makes me like it even more.

That said… I never expected that just boarding a different ship could make me feel… this… unsettled.

"…………Hmph."

"Wahahahaha!! Nue! What’s with the poutin’? C’mon, drink with us!! And tell us more about that power of yours!!"

"……Why would I tell my enemies anything?"

"Wahahahaha!! Fair enough!! Got me there!! Then just drink!!"

The drunken old man shoves a bottle against my cheek, and the rowdy men around him cheer along. I puff out my cheeks in protest.

After all, this ship belongs to a crew that was supposed to be my enemy—and the men making all this noise are none other than the Roger Pirates.

And that old man causing a ruckus right next to me? That’s Gol D. Roger himself. Captain of the Roger Pirates. A man who looks ridiculously strong, infamous… and utterly impossible to reason with.

To put it simply… I ended up losing to Roger’s sheer persistence and got dragged onto this ship. I mean, failing a mission from Captain Rocks… sure, I’m a little scared of what he’ll say, but more than that, I just hate the idea. This was my job. I wanted to prove myself as a pirate and earn his praise. I’ll have to contact him tonight… Ugh, what a pain, but it can’t be helped. Early reports are crucial. And so is making sure the job gets done.

That’s why I trusted Roger when he said, "Just stick around for a bit," and got on board. Though, to be honest, there’s another big reason—

"——Still, I’m surprised you actually came. You could’ve refused, y’know?"

"……Well, you did save my life. Figured I’d repay the debt someday! Besides, your captain’s way too pushy!!"

"Well… Roger’s just like that. Sorry, but you’re better off just accepting it."

"Hahaha! Like any of us could stop Roger! Just give in and drink up!"

Rayleigh’s calm response and Gabban’s laughter accompany another forced drink. I take a sip… fine, I’ll drink… but… ugh… I can’t shake this feeling of being railroaded. If not for that, maybe I’d be enjoying myself a little more.

"Wahaha, lighten up! I ain’t askin’ ya to join the crew or nothin’! Just hang around on the ship for a bit!!"

"……Define ‘a bit.’"

"——Dunno."

"What do you mean you don’t know?! That’s your call, not mine!!"

"Wahaha, won’t be too long! Anyway, show me what you got! Heard you’ve got a 74,000,000 bounty! Impressive—but are ya actually strong? Huh? What’s the deal?"

"Tch… You mocking me…?!"

Roger keeps laughing, drinking right in front of me, treating me like a kid. It pisses me off. …Fine. Maybe I’ll show him just a little of what I can do. Make him acknowledge me. Not like I can win, and he probably won’t take me seriously anyway—but he’s strong enough that he won’t kill me even if I go all out. Plus, I am curious about how strong Roger really is. Sounds fun. Once that thought takes hold, it’s hard to resist. Before I know it, my trident is in my hand.

"……Then I’ll show you!!"

"——Oh, for real?!"

Roger’s eyes light up with excitement. Naturally, I smirk and nod.

"Yes… Experience it firsthand!! ——"Blue UFO"!!"

"!! WHOOOA?! NO WAY!! SHE SUMMONED A UFO?!"

"Whoa?! Seriously?!"

"Wait, she’s actually fightin’…?"

I direct my fighting spirit at Roger as the Blue UFO materializes. With a familiar, otherworldly buzz, the Blue UFO appears—one of the abilities I gained over the past two years. Proof of my growth. Heh. Even the Roger Pirates are stunned. Tremble in fear! This Blue UFO is no joke.

When Whitebeard first saw it, he asked how it differed from the Red UFO. The answer? Its attack method.

The Red UFO fired ordinary red energy bullets—but the Blue UFO… fires blue… la·sers.

"Hmm… Roger, incoming."

"Whoa?! That was close?!"

"Was that… a laser?!"

"Bingo! And nice dodge!!"

Just as Gabban said, this is a laser—one of my most reliable attacks at the moment.

It’s faster than the Red UFO’s bullets and packs a decent punch. Lasers pierce through things, so even if they don’t take you down in one hit, they’ll still deal solid damage. …Well, Rayleigh either used Observation Haki or just sensed it normally, and Roger dodged it effortlessly, but I’m not discouraged. Anyone past a certain level of strength can dodge these. The New World only has the toughest shooters, after all.

But this isn’t the full extent of my power. Hovering in the air, I unleash my next move on Roger.

"——"Peaceful Dark Cloud"!!"

"WHOA?! Black clouds now?!"

"Wahaha! Sick!! Can’t see a thing!!"

"This ain’t the time to laugh… These clouds are trouble."

"If you can’t see, anyone without Observation Haki’s at a huge disadvantage… Seriously, what is this power? Can’t figure it out."

"Exactly! Unfathomable!! The unknown terrifies people!!"

The black mist swirling around us stirs the Roger Pirates—though Roger’s still laughing, Rayleigh’s calm, and Gabban’s unfazed. Still, their slight surprise is satisfying. My blood stirs—not that I have any yōkai blood, but still. They haven’t figured out my ability, and that excitement fuels the fight.

"And the unknown holds the advantage in battle! Know the fear of facing something beyond comprehension!!"

"Oh? What’re you——WHOA! Another laser?!"

"This one’s got weird bullets too."

"I see. The clouds fire both bullets and lasers…"

"Heh! But that’s not all!!"

Smugly, I dart straight through the dark mist. "Peaceful Dark Cloud," a technique I mastered about two years ago, lets me attack with bullets and lasers from within the obscuring darkness—but I don’t have to stay put.

Of course, if a technique exists, so do ways to expand on it. This isn’t some scripted illusion. It’s the real world. There’s no such thing as a fixed pattern.

That’s why I weave through the mist, trident at the ready, to strike my enemy down.

With UFO support and Kaidou usually wreaking havoc on the frontlines, I can close in mid-battle to disorient and wound my foes.

It’s the golden strategy for victory—a battle style I favor, effective in both group fights and one-on-ones. Combine it with Observation Haki to predict movements and Armament Haki to reinforce attacks, and I can take down decently strong opponents. Not Roger, obviously!! This is more like a scouting mission to gauge his strength—but if I don’t go all out, I won’t even glimpse his true power!! So—let’s fight!!

"O free-spirited fool! Dance in the storm of unknown flying objects and di——"

"WAHAHAHAHA!! This is great!! My turn now!!"

"Gh——……!!"

——Oh crap.

Roger effortlessly dodges my trident strike hidden within the dark mist and bullets. Huh, he’s got some slick evasion—WAIT, NOT THE TIME!

My Observation Haki screams danger. This is bad. Even if I see it coming, I can’t dodge. The gap’s too wide. All I can do is brace my trident and pour Armament Haki into defense… H-he’s not serious, right? He’s holding back…? I can handle pain, but sudden attacks like this are kinda——

"——'Divine Departure'!!!"

"!!?"

——In that instant, Roger swung his sword in a single, horizontal flash. The slash struck my trident with enough force to send a shockwave ripping through the air—and with it, my consciousness was severed. H-he wasn’t… serious… right…?! That must’ve been nothing more than a light tap for Roger. Yet here I was, knocked out cold. A bitter laugh rose in my throat at my own weakness—and Roger’s overwhelming strength—before darkness swallowed me whole.

---

"——Tch… You really went all out, Roger."

"Not something you do to a kid…"

"Wahaha! Maybe I overdid it a little!!"

"A little?! You could’ve easily held back!"

"But damn, that was fun! She’s got potential!!"

"Yeah… Never thought a rookie her age could already use Haki. If she’s really just an apprentice, we might need to take this seriously, Roger."

"Hell yeah! Now I’m even more pumped to fight this ‘Rocks’ guy!!"

——Faintly, those voices reached me through the haze.

I felt my consciousness stir—but before I could fully wake, my body jolted upright, trident already in hand.

"……!!"

"Whoa! She’s up?!"

"The hell?! Grabbing her weapon right away?!"

"You planning to fight again the second you wake up?"

"Damn, tough kid… She was out for less than ten minutes."

"Hey, hey, relax! Even if you fight, you won’t win! And we ain’t looking to brawl anyway!!"

The pirates’ voices snapped me back to reality. I’d reflexively gripped my weapon, but the faces around me… weren’t my crew’s.

"……Oh. Right. I’m not… on our ship right now."

"? What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Ah… never mind. Just a habit. Don’t worry about it. I’m not looking to fight anymore."

I lowered my stance and exhaled. Roger, the man who’d knocked me out, grinned and leaned in.

"Wahaha! Jumping straight up and grabbing your weapon after gettin’ KO’d? Badass! But we don’t attack people while they’re sleepin’! Fightin’ someone who ain’t ready’s just boring!!"

"……Well, that’s normal, at least."

"Huh? ‘Normal’…?"

Gabban and the others tilted their heads, confused. After a brief hesitation, I smirked and decided to explain. It wasn’t like it was a secret.

"On our ship, you can’t let your guard down—even when sleeping. Not like attacks from crewmates are common, but they’re not zero either. Most try to kill you when you’re awake, though."

"……The hell? You got wild animals on board or somethin’?"

"Wild animals? Not a bad idea. Hey, Rayleigh! Let’s get one! Bear or lion—which’s better?"

"We ain’t gettin’ shit, dumbass. Where’d those options even—"

The exchange between Roger and Rayleigh—no, any conversation involving Roger—was so absurdly carefree that I couldn’t help but stare. These guys had zero tension… Nothing like my crew. Ignoring their antics, I answered Gabban’s question plainly.

"The ones attacking us are our ‘crewmates.’ Not wild animals."

"——Huh?"

The moment those words left my mouth, the air froze. Ah, the exact reaction I expected. Shock. Amusing. I grinned, ready to enjoy their responses.

"Wait, wait, wait—why the hell would crewmates attack each other? You’re supposed to be allies!"

"Drunk brawls, maybe? I mean, if it’s just that—"

"——Nope. Straight-up murder attempts. On our ship… killing each other’s just part of daily life."

"……!!?"

Their stunned silence was priceless. Yeah, I figured. Not many crews operate like ours. Even among pirates, this level of infighting’s rare.

As the crew struggled to process my words, Rayleigh—ever the calm one—spoke up, his expression deadly serious.

"……You’re saying your crew kills each other?"

"Yep. It’s normal for us. We’re all monsters, and most of us hate each other anyway. The weak or dumb ones die fast… Well, lately, the roster’s stabilized. The ones left are strong enough to survive, so it’s gotten less frequent. Way more livable now. Back when we first set sail, dozens died daily."

"What kinda… goddamn crew is this…?"

Gabban’s disbelief was justified. Even I could admit it sounded insane. Not that I minded, but if I were building a crew from scratch, I probably wouldn’t go this far. …Wait, now that I think about it, this makes our crew sound terrible. No wonder recruitment’s tough. Only the power-hungry or the truly confident would join. Then again, most pirates are like that. Some even see the chaos as a perk.

——But of course, a man like Roger would hate that philosophy.

"The hell’s wrong with you?! You’re crewmates! Kill each other?! That’s sick!!"

Roger’s roar was expected, but his fury was palpable. …Sure, his stance was reasonable, but—

"Mmm… We’re the type who don’t give a damn about anyone except the few we actually like. Captain Rocks doesn’t stop it, and I don’t mind—daily battles make me stronger."

"That ain’t how crewmates should be!!! I’ll crush this ‘Rocks’ bastard myself!! Hey, Nue!! Join our crew instead!!"

"I told you, I’m fine where I am! And… I mean, don’t get me wrong—Captain Rocks is weirdly lenient with his crew. Just not his enemies."

I shrugged off Roger’s anger. Honestly, I don’t care. Sure, I’d hate it if the few I do like died, but the rest? Whatever. We’re pirates. If you wanna kill someone, that’s your right. If you lose? That’s on you for being weak. Strength lets you survive.

That’s why Kaidou and I keep getting stronger. Freedom as a pirate demands power… And honestly? Captain Rocks is good to us. He treats me and Kaidou well. No reason to dislike him—I even respect him. ——Not that decent people would ever understand. So Roger’s outrage, their baffled faces—it’s all predictable.

"Shut up!! I’m takin’ Rocks down!!!"

"……Mmm~… I mean… I won’t say it’s impossible, but…"

"——And you! Join us!!!"

"I said no!!! Besides!! Kaidou and I are gonna go independent someday!!"

"……Hm? ‘Kaidou’?"

At that, Rayleigh perked up. Oh, curious? I hadn’t planned to elaborate, but if it’d get Roger off my back… Fine! I pulled out a bounty poster—not mine—and flashed it.

"Yep! My sibling-in-arms, Kaidou!! Another apprentice on the Rocks Pirates—bounty: 111,100,000 Berries!!"

"Huh… Lemme see… Wait, this kid’s an apprentice?! He looks way too hardened for—"

"An apprentice with a 100-million bounty. Impressive, but…"

"! Right?! Heh, Kaidou’s strong! One day, he’ll be captain, I’ll be vice-captain, and we’ll build the strongest pirate crew ever!!"

I puffed out my chest, proud. They recognized Kaidou’s talent too—as they should. But then Rayleigh stroked his chin, thoughtful.

"……I see. So the two of you are biding your time on Rocks’ ship, training until you’re ready to strike out on your own."

"Exactly! Captain Rocks is the strongest in the world, and the crew’s full of beasts! Battles every day, endless thrills—it’s the perfect place to grow stronger!!"

"Hmm… Dangerous, but forcing yourself into desperation does breed strength… I can see the logic, but…"

"Hell yeah!! Then I’ll beat Rocks, and you two can go independent now!! After that, come at me with everything you’ve got!!"

"!"

Rayleigh nodded, but Roger’s declaration stunned me. A question spilled out before I could stop it.

"……Putting aside whether you can beat Captain Rocks… Are you sure about that? I might be one thing, but if Kaidou hears this, he’ll actually try to kill you. You’re reckless, but Kaidou’s worse."

"Bring it on! I ain’t dyin’ that easy!! So come at me, full power!! Wahahaha!!"

"……I might become a real monster too, you know? Hurt your crew. And you’re cheering for that?"

"Wahaha… We’re pirates livin’ free. If our freedoms clash, we fight. I got no right—no, nobody’s got the right to crush someone else’s dreams!!!"

"……!"

Roger’s words left me speechless. Because—for a moment—the way he spoke of his dreams… overlapped with the way Captain Rocks spoke of his ambitions.

They weren’t alike in appearance. But their way of life… their ideals…

The sheer, overwhelming willpower that left me at a loss for words—it was the same as when I faced Captain Rocks. And that’s exactly why… I knew they’d never see eye to eye.

"……Well, if you say so… So, we heading to Captain Rocks now?"

"Hell yeah!! Let’s go!!"

"CAPTAIN, STOP RIGHT THERE!!!"

…Ah. No dice. I figured if I pushed, he’d actually turn the ship toward Rocks—and I was right—but his crew immediately dogpiled him.

"We’re almost at the next island, damn it!! We need supplies!!"

"Quit changin’ course on a whim!! You tryin’ to piss off the navigator?!"

"We burned through most of our food during the feast… No clue where Rocks is, but if we don’t restock, we’ll starve, Roger."

"Ugh… That is bad. Alright, men—set sail for the next island!"

"Mmm~… We were so close…"

After a barrage of protests—and the very real threat of starvation—the course change was vetoed. Ugh… When am I gonna get back…?

…Then again, sticking with Roger… might not be so bad.

Observing a pirate as endlessly fascinating as him could be fun. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts. With that in mind, I reached for the nearest bottle of booze and dug into the food.

---

Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World…

In a dimly lit room, a man sat alone, absorbed in a book.

A man who aimed to become… the King of the World.

"…………"

With wild, devilish hair and a face carved from malice itself—this was the captain of the Rocks Pirates: Rocks D. Xebec.

The most feared pirate in the world, leading the strongest crew under his name… and plotting the downfall of the World Government.

As he absorbed knowledge, biding his time… he waited for word from two operatives—and one messenger he’d sent ahead.

The messenger wouldn’t report for a while yet. But the other two… they should’ve checked in by now.

His Observation Haki, honed to perfection, could sense presences from vast distances. And right now, it told him—they were close.

A grin split his face.

Minutes later, as predicted, knuckles rapped against his door.

"—Captain. We’ve returned…!"

"We’ve returned…"

"Heh… Took you long enough. Enter."

Two voices—raspy, aged. The figures who stepped in matched: an old woman and an old man, both dressed in attire rarely seen at sea.

One, a hag-like crone with twin candles coiled atop her head.

The other, a stooped elder clutching a biwa, clad in traditional robes.

Two of Rocks’ most trusted operatives… finally home.

"Gihaha… So? You better have good news for me… Right? Well? Spit it out—Higurashi, Semimaru."

"Yes… Indeed…"

"Kyokokyokyo…!! Of course, Lord Xebec…!! All to further your ambition of becoming King of the World…! We’ve laid the groundwork for a coup in our homeland…!!"

Higurashi and Semimaru. The crone and the elder knelt deeply, pressing their foreheads to the floor in a bow unseen in most of the world—a custom of their isolated homeland.

Rocks, familiar with their ways, paid the gesture no mind. Only their words mattered. His laugh was a predator’s growl.

"Gihahahaha…! A coup? Now that’s entertainin’… You sure it’ll work?"

"Kyokokyo… Yes. We’ve identified a ‘seed of vengeance’—one with a grudge against the nation. We’ve nurtured their strength and methods… It will take time, but once it blooms, we’ll secure weapons for you, my lord…!!"

"Our homeland is a natural fortress, shielded by raging currents and waterfalls… When the time comes to wage war upon the World Government, it shall serve as your stronghold…"

"Gihaha… Fine. Take ten, twenty years if you need. But deliver…!! I’ve got patience, but I hate waiting…! Understood?"

"Yes, of course…"

"Indeed… And when you ascend as King of the World—"

Higurashi began, but Rocks cut her off with a wave.

"Yeah, yeah… You’ll get your damn country. I don’t break promises. Once I’m king, my crew gets whatever they want—hell, I’ll hand out entire nations like candy…!! Gihahahaha…!!"

The two bowed again, their faces pressed to the floor.

"Hah… Your generosity humbles us… However—"

"Kyokokyokyo…! The Kurozumi Clan desires but one thing…! The land of Wano…! Grant us that, and we ask for nothing more…! Captain Rocks…!!"

"……Gihaha. That all? Cheap bastards… Fine. Keep at it. I’ve got my own moves to make…!!"

"Oh? What might those be?"

Higurashi’s voice was polite, but her eyes gleamed with malice. Rocks’ grin widened.

He didn’t need to say a word. His Haki alone screamed ambition.

And yet, he answered. His finger tapped a map littered with red X’s—each marking a target.

"Nothin’ special… Same as always… Just gonna remind those fools who think the flames won’t reach ‘em… that no one’s safe…!! Gihahahaha…!!!"

"…!"

Higurashi’s gaze snagged on one name among the marked locations—a place she’d never heard before.

A land branded with a crimson X.

Its name read:

"GOD VALLEY."