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

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.. I want to build the world's largest underground empire—an organization that controls both the black market and the white, with its own army and a slave network."

The moment Doflamingo said this, the four subordinates around him were momentarily stunned. But soon after, their faces lit up with greed and excitement, their grins full of anticipation.

Diamante stood up confidently.

"Dover, we're with you. But we need to pick the right place. It has to be far from the World Government and the Navy's reach, or we'll run into serious trouble."

"We'll start by testing the waters somewhere small. Once we've got the model working, we'll move it to a larger, more suitable nation. Simple as that."

Doflamingo spoke with calm assurance, lightly tapping his fingers on his thigh while grinning.

"Huh… Did I hear you right, Dover? You said you want to take over a whole country?"

Even Pica, usually quiet and reserved, couldn't help but ask—though his high-pitched, childlike voice clashed comically with his massive, intimidating figure.

Hey. "Uh-huh~"

"If you laugh like that again, I'm going to get angry," Pica said sharply, his shrill tone making it sound like a tantrum-throwing child.

"Hey hey hey! Let's just stay calm, alright?" Trebol stammered nervously, his long runny nose stretching even further as blobs of slime dripped to the floor.

"Let's just wait and see. Things only get fun when you mess with the top dogs of the New World. I'll shake this entire world to its core. No one—whether it's the Celestial Dragons or pirates—will be allowed to enjoy peace."

"Eh~?"

"The New World is the second half of the Grand Line. It's packed with powerful players—Whitebeard, Big Mom, all of them call themselves Emperors now. There are countless pirate crews there too. Wouldn't going up against them be dangerous, Dover?"

Vergo frowned slightly, maintaining his usual deadpan face—but with his pot-shaped haircut, it looked more comical than serious.

"Don't worry. If Dover says it can be done, I believe it. Hahaha! Just imagining it gets me pumped. Dover, go for it! Pick a country, and I say we crown you king. Then move our underground network there!"

Diamante laughed with his teeth showing, his blue eyes fixed on Doflamingo with gleaming ambition.

"Then it's decided. Dover, you handle the rest."

Vergo nodded, as calm as ever.

"Coo coo coo coo coo coo~ Hehehe!"

Somewhere on the ocean…

A muscular man with a chestnut-colored hairstyle and streaks of yellow stood shirtless on a ship's deck, gazing into the distance. A cigarette hung from his lips, and next to him sat a box overflowing with cigarette butts.

His name was Montblanc Couric, a pirate captain whose obsession was diving in search of the legendary Golden City.

"People may laugh at me, say I'm chasing fairy tales… but they'll never understand. This is what romance means to a man like me!"

"Yes! Captain Couric, that's what makes you our hero! You're so cool!"

"Yeah! I admire your passion, your dream! It's unique and beautiful!"

"We'll follow you forever, Captain Couric! We'll chase this romance with you!"

Couric turned and smiled.

"Then let's keep it romantic."

"Romantic!"

"Romantic!"

"Romantic!!"

The pirates raised their swords and cheered loudly. Some were so moved, they had tears in their eyes.

"Captain Couric! The paper says Roger's gone into hiding! His bounty's now up to 5.99 billion! There's also this new guy named Reid—his secrets seem valuable too!"

"Haha! Captain, should we go where Roger is? Maybe we'll find something romantic there!"

Couric calmly flicked his cigarette butt onto the pile.

"That's not our business. Roger's still alive, not dead. If he had died, maybe the Kururi Pirates would've dropped by for the thrill. But now? No."

"He's the most romantic man alive. He doesn't even care about One Piece!"

"Captain Couric… you're amazing. A true romantic!"

"I'll carry the burden of a 400-year-old shame. I will prove that the Golden City is real. It's just sunk beneath the sea, waiting to be found."

Montblanc Couric grinned at the vast horizon—then leapt into the ocean with determination.

"Captain Couric… you're incredible!"

"You're the real deal, Captain! We'll always believe in your dream!"

The crew of the Kururi Pirates cried openly, overwhelmed with emotion.

Elsewhere on the sea, aboard a ship with a duck-shaped prow—

This was Chef George, the flagship of the Chef Pirates.

At its helm stood the captain: Red-Footed Zeff. His braided beard swung in the breeze beneath a tall chef's hat, and his outfit didn't resemble that of a pirate at all.

"Roger surpassed Rocks… and now this Reid character. Something doesn't add up."

Zeff stood with his arms folded, beard swaying in the wind.

"Captain Zeff, should we go check it out? The paper mentioned a treasure greater than One Piece! Even if we don't get that one, maybe we can loot other ships that show up!"

"Yeah, we can watch from a distance. Worst case, we escape. Two One Piece-level treasures? It's worth a shot!"

The crew was buzzing with excitement, as if they had what it took to challenge the Roger Pirates themselves.

"I'm not going. I've decided to open a mobile sea restaurant."

"Huh? Captain Zeff…"

"Listen, we made it out of the second half of the Grand Line—the New World—in one piece. That alone puts us ahead of most pirate crews. I'm already satisfied."

Zeff gave a proud, peaceful grin.

"Yes, Captain Zeff…"

Water 7 – Tom's Shipbuilding Company

A burly fish-man with bull-like horns held up a wanted poster, laughing heartily.

"Hahahaha! Gol D. Roger's bounty is up to 5.99 billion! And my ship had a hand in that. I'm amazing!"

This was Tom, owner of Tom's Shipbuilding Company.

"Quack~ The Oro Jackson was built using wood from the Treasure Tree Adam. That ship was top-tier. Of course, Roger made it to the end!"

The speaker was Cocoro, Tom's secretary. Though she had a curvy figure, her appearance was… hard to describe.

"Hahaha, that's right. Every ship from Tom's Shipbuilding is made with pride. A real man should have confidence! That's where strength begins!"

Tom laughed loudly, clearly proud of his work.

Note: 

I now have a p@treon. It has a 30-advance chapter, [email protected]/Revoltas