One Piece: Start by Saving Roger, I Was Invited to Join the Crew

"Hehehe, I was invited before, but I still want a formal one… My friends would be so jealous if they knew,"

Reid thought to himself with a grin.

He cleared his throat dramatically.

"Ahem… Well then, I, Reid, officially accept your invitation, Roger."

Roger burst into laughter. "Great! Cheers to that!"

They clinked bottles and started drinking enthusiastically.

Gulp, gulp…

Bottle after bottle disappeared, and soon the box of wine was empty.

"That was fast. I'll grab another box," Roger said, swaying slightly from the alcohol.

Reid noticed Roger getting tipsy. "Strange… I drank just as much, but I feel fine."

On deck, Bucky slowly opened his eyes. "Where… where am I?"

Looking around, he realized he was on a ship.

"Bucky, you're so slow waking up," came a voice.

"Huh?"

Bucky turned to see Shanks beside him.

"Shanks?! You're here to kidnap me, aren't you? Don't think Bucky will ever join you!"

"Hahahaha," Shanks laughed.

"Damn it, Shanks! Want a fight?!"

"No time. I need to head to our old spot."

Shanks, in high spirits, ignored him—relieved Roger was safe and healthy again.

"Is that guy Reid really that good of a doctor?"

"Hey! Shanks! Don't ignore Captain Bucky! I'm talking to you! I'm the future Pirate King! Hahaha! You should join my crew—I'll even make you first mate!"

Bucky stood proudly, hands on hips, his red nose twitching.

"Thinking of leaving the Roger Pirates?" Shanks teased with a smirk.

"You crazy? Roger's dead now! Waaaah, why did you leave me, Captain? Shanks, are you trying to replace Roger? Haha, only I, Bucky, can lead the Roger Pirates!"

Bucky ranted dramatically, then declared, "I'm not leaving. You can if you want!"

"You two, stop the nonsense."

"Who said that?!"

Bucky looked around in confusion.

Meanwhile, Reid was thinking:

"So Bucky's awake… He'll become one of the Four Emperors one day, even Roger wouldn't see that coming. But wait—if I saved Roger, the timeline's changed. Will the Four Emperors still exist?"

Roger laughed. "Brother Reid, that Bucky kid is hilarious. On our crew, strength doesn't matter as much as being interesting." He raised another bottle.

"Real men don't stop drinking—unless they want women to look down on them!"

"Heh, I think Rogue doesn't mind your drinking," Reid replied.

"Rogue… Hahaha, I'll see her soon. Our child is about to be born. We're becoming a family."

Roger's eyes lit up with joy thinking about his wife, Rogue, who had always supported his dreams.

"Roger."

Reid put down his glass, face serious.

Roger noticed and instantly sobered a bit.

"Brother Reid… what's wrong?"

"Listen carefully, Roger. What I say next is important."

"Go on. I trust you."

Roger set his drink down, his face flushing from the wine.

"People in this world drink like crazy… but rarely get truly drunk," Reid realized.

"If I hadn't saved you today, Rogue would've delayed giving birth to hide your child from the Navy. In the end, she would've died after delivering the baby."

Roger's expression changed instantly. He stood, the ship trembling slightly from the sudden surge of his Conqueror's Haki. If not for his control, the ship might've cracked.

"Whoa! Is there a Sea King under the ship?!"

Shanks stumbled on deck.

"Shanks! Can't you steer properly?! Jealous of the future Pirate King, Bucky? How dare you!"

"You're out of your mind, Bucky!" Shanks snapped.

Back in the cabin, Reid nodded.

"So we need to warn Rogue early. If she dies, Ace will grow up hating you."

Roger's jaw dropped. "You know about Ace?!"

"Oops, slipped up again. Gotta be careful… If the World Government finds out, I'm screwed."

Reid said,

"Roger, I trust you. That's why I'll tell you—I know a lot about the world… and what might happen in the future."

"You can see the future? Is that some kind of Devil Fruit power?"

"Not exactly. Let's just say… I'm the Son of Destiny. I can predict certain things."

Even though Roger was his idol, Reid had no plans to reveal his system or his true identity as a transmigrator.

"Amazing," Roger gave a thumbs-up.

"But Roger, you must promise not to tell anyone about my ability. Not Rogue, not Ace, not even Rayleigh."

"Got it. Although… I may have already told Shanks about your medical skills."

Roger scratched his head, slightly embarrassed.

"Ah, that's bad. Red-Hair just a kid now, still rebellious. Hopefully he doesn't spill more."

Reid sighed. "I need to find Bartolomeo soon. With my split-body skill, I can survive for now, but I need backup."

Suddenly, a loud shriek: "AHHHH?!"

Roger and Reid turned to see Bucky pointing at Roger in shock.

"Be…Benitaro! It's really you! Hahahaha!"

"C-Captain Roger?!"

Bucky's eyes widened in disbelief. In seconds, he leapt onto Roger, hugging him tight and crying his eyes out.

"You're alive… I thought you were gone forever…"

Roger chuckled, letting the emotional Bucky cling to him.