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

Roger gently ruffled Bucky's hair, like a father comforting his child.

Sniffling, Bucky looked up.

"Captain Roger… What did you say just now? I kind of forgot."

Thwack! Roger smacked Bucky lightly on the head.

"Hey!" Bucky yelped.

"I said I'm not going to die. Or do you no longer see me as your captain?"

"Captain Roger... So you were serious back then? But come on, everyone looked so gloomy. The mood was depressing."

Bucky was confused. He didn't think he was dumb, but the atmosphere back then sure felt heavy.

"Hahaha, well, I feel great now."

"Hi there, Bucky."

Reid stepped forward with a friendly smile.

"Huh?" Bucky turned, surprised to see someone beside him. He had been so focused on Roger, he hadn't noticed anyone else.

"I'm Reid, a new member of the Roger Pirates."

"Reid? Never heard of you."

Smack! Roger gave Bucky another pat on the head, this time sending him tumbling.

"Reid's my brother now," Roger said proudly. "His status is equal to mine."

Those words filled Reid with pride.

"Equal…?" Bucky was stunned. It was the first time Roger had ever said something like that about anyone. He scrutinized Reid with curiosity and skepticism.

"Who the heck is this guy to earn such praise from Captain Roger?"

"You know who I am, right?" Bucky asked, trying to get a read on Reid.

"Who doesn't know the great Bucky?" Reid laughed.

"Hahahaha! That's right! I, Bucky, will be the future Pirate King!"

Bucky paused mid-laugh, suddenly remembering Roger was still alive and listening.

"Ahaha… Captain, I didn't mean anything bad! Please don't misunderstand!"

"Hey, go for it. Be Pirate King if you want. I've got your back."

Roger raised a bottle and took a satisfied sip.

"Hahaha, then it's settled! I, Pirate King Bucky, won't bring shame to your name, Captain Roger! One day I'll crush Navy Headquarters—I've had enough of those so-called justice-wielding marines!"

Roger's words had clearly gotten to Bucky, letting his ambitions run wild.

"Looks like even as a kid, Bucky the Clown had potential," Reid thought. "His Chop-Chop Fruit... I wonder how far he'll take it one day."

"Alright, go on now," Roger said. "Reid and I need to talk in private."

"Captain Roger! I'm the future Pirate King. I should get to stay and listen, right?"

"I'm counting to three. If you're still here, I'll throw you out. One, two—"

Zoom! Bucky vanished in a blur, fleeing the room.

"Hehe." Roger chuckled.

"Reid, if I die… do you think the world will change a lot?"

He grinned at Reid, watching closely for his answer.

"Yes," Reid replied. "It will change drastically."

As a One Piece fan, Reid was certain.

"Oh? Mind telling me what kind of changes?"

Roger took another sip, intrigued.

"I won't spoil all the details. But once you reveal the truth about ONE PIECE, the Grand Line will enter a new era. A wave of pirates will flood the seas, chasing that dream."

Roger burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Just as I imagined! Even though I'm still alive, word must be spreading already."

He grinned confidently.

"Brother Roger, I have a few questions—ones I think a lot of people would ask if they could."

"Oh? About ONE PIECE?"

Roger's eyes twinkled mischievously.

"Not really. That's not my focus."

"Haha, ask away. I'll answer if I can."

"Alright, first question—Roger, where did you place your supreme-grade sword, Ace?"

Roger's expression shifted sharply.

"How do you know the name of my sword? And my son's name is also Ace…"

Reid smiled knowingly. "I'm the chosen one, remember? That sword carries your will—just like the name you gave your son. You want Ace to inherit that will, don't you?"

Roger sighed. Reid's knowledge was astonishing.

"Your insight is incredible. Honestly, you're more intimidating than me. If you master all three forms of Haki and can coat your attacks with Conqueror's Haki, few will match your strength."

Reid's heart raced.

"Roger's right. I probably can do it. But I've only managed it with the help of the system."

He looked up confidently.

"I'll do my best. Teach me, Roger."

"Hahaha! I'm not great at teaching. Rayleigh's your guy. I'll ask him to guide you when you meet."

"Rayleigh... yeah, he's the one who trained Luffy. Of course Roger would bring him up."

Reid's thoughts drifted to the future—training, growth, and his fruit powers.

"Roger, seriously—where's the sword? Is it on the final island?"

"Hahaha! I gave it away."

"To who?"

"Not telling. Hahaha!"

Reid pouted, a bit annoyed.

"Okay then. Next question—can Devil Fruits develop more than one ability? Like a second stage?"

Roger looked at him with admiration.

"You even think about stuff like that?"

Reid nodded. "I've had the idea for a while."

"You're on the right track," Roger said. "It depends on your Haki mastery and physical conditioning. Conqueror's Haki is innate and can't be trained, but Armament and Observation Haki grow through experience. And the stronger your body, the more powerful your Haki."

"I see... so both the spirit and the body matter," Reid concluded. "Roger, you'd actually make a great teacher."

"Hahaha! Nah, I'll leave that to Rayleigh. I'd rather drink!"

Roger leaned back and laughed, raising his bottle again.

"I can't rely only on the system," Reid thought. "I need to train hard. Maybe I'll even create my own moves someday, like the Ape King Gun or the Orochi Cannon…"

He clenched his fists.

"If I can unlock multiple powers from each fruit… I won't just be the Pirate King—I'll become the strongest in the world!"