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

Just then, a large bird appeared, circling above the ship before swooping down and landing on the deck.

Roger looked up and waved. "Ah, it's a News Coo."

[Note: News Coo — a delivery bird that distributes newspapers. Timid by nature and avoids uninhabited or windless areas. Known to leave immediately after delivering the paper.]

Reid curiously approached it. "It really does look like an albatross… and it's carrying a newspaper in its beak. I wonder what news it's brought."

He noticed the bird making a flapping motion with its wings and a blank stare.

Roger raised an eyebrow. "Wait… you want 800 Beli for this?"

"What?! 800?!" Shanks shouted from the helm, nearly leaping out of position. "Since when did newspapers cost that much?! That's a total ripoff!"

Bucky stormed up to the News Coo and pressed his red nose close to its beak. "Did someone bribe you? Even I know a paper only costs 100 Beli at most. The weather's fine here, too—what's with the surcharge?!"

The poor News Coo flinched and hopped away, startled by Bucky's aggression.

Reid, observing all this, was confused. "So the usual price is around 100 or 200 Beli… This must be a sudden price hike. Judging by everyone's reaction, this isn't normal."

"It's fine," Roger said with a wave, extending a hand toward Bucky. "Hand over the money."

"Huh? Me? Why me?" Bucky recoiled.

"Counting to three," Roger said with a smirk. "If I hit 3 and you haven't paid, I'll throw you overboard and boot you from the crew. 1… 2—"

"Okay okay!!" Bucky panicked and rushed to pull out the money. "You can't treat me like this, Captain!"

Reluctantly, Bucky handed over 800 Beli. "This is my life savings…" he mumbled bitterly.

"Geez, Bucky, don't be so stingy," Shanks teased. "You claim you'll be the Pirate King one day, but you're complaining about a few hundred Beli? Might as well quit now and join my crew—I'll even let you be captain."

"WHAT did you say?!" Bucky snapped. "No one's joining your scrappy red-haired crew! Hmph! I'll build my own pirate empire—the Bucky Pirates! We'll sail the grandest ship in the world! I'll call it... ha! The Grand Circus Penghao!"

Bucky puffed out his chest proudly and grinned. "Hey, Shanks, my ship will blow yours out of the water. Maybe you should join me. I'll let you, if you beg nicely."

"Tch, Bucky, you always talk big. You naming your ship after a circus? Hahahaha!" Shanks doubled over in laughter, clutching his stomach.

"You're dead, Shanks!!"

"Enough, you two. Quiet," Roger said wearily, wanting some peace to read the paper.

Roger paid the bird, took the newspaper, and unfolded it. But as his eyes scanned the headlines, his expression turned dark.

The aura he emitted made the News Coo tremble uncontrollably. Though the delivery was complete, the bird was too frightened to fly away.

"What is it, Roger?" Reid asked.

Roger silently handed the paper to Reid.

"I… I can't read this writing," Reid admitted, scratching his head.

Suddenly, the voice of the system rang out in his mind:

[Newspaper content: Pirate King Roger escapes! In response, the Navy has dispatched two admirals and four vice-admirals, invoking a Buster Call to eliminate all islands and people connected to Roger.]

"What?!" Reid's eyes widened. "A Buster Call?! That's the same order that destroyed Ohara… The one Spandine authorized!"

Reid was deeply alarmed. Now living in the world of One Piece, he could feel the suffocating tension firsthand.

"Roger, we need to act quickly. The Navy's likely heading straight for Batelila Island in the South Blue. They'll bombard the whole place—no one will survive."

Roger clenched his fists, fury blazing in his eyes. "Those Celestial Dragon dogs… One day, the World Government they control will be overthrown!"

The News Coo was shaking so hard it collapsed, overcome with fear.

"What's the paper say, Captain?" Bucky asked.

Reid handed it over. After reading just a few lines, Bucky paled and flung the newspaper into the air. The sea breeze carried it off the ship.

"Hey!" Shanks shouted. "That paper cost 800 Beli! Are you insane?! You coward! And you want to be Pirate King?! What a joke."

Bucky ignored the insults, still processing what he'd read. "The Navy… actually launched a Buster Call…"

Shanks frowned. "Something's not right." He glanced at Roger, whose serious face confirmed his fears. "This is bad."

Roger turned to Reid. "Let's head for the South Blue now. Once we find Rogue, we'll make for Wano at full speed."

"I agree. But… we don't have a navigator. Who knows how long it'll take?"

Roger smiled faintly. "We don't need one. The sea will show us the way."

Suddenly, Roger's presence exploded in power. Winds howled, the sea surged, and the ship rocked violently.

"What's happening?!" Reid grabbed the rail for support.

The News Coo collapsed flat on the deck, eyes spinning.

Then, the surface of the sea erupted—and a massive creature emerged.

"W-Wait… that's a Sea King!" Shanks gasped.

Bucky screamed and hid behind Roger. "I'm not scared! I'm the future Pirate King, I just—AHHH!"

Reid stared up at the beast, its glowing red eyes and razor teeth giving it a terrifying appearance.

"This is huge… It must be one of the Sea Kings. Wait a second… We're still near the East Blue. Could this be the same Sea King that bites off Shanks' arm in the future?!"

[Note: East Blue Sea King — known as the Lord of the Coast. Small for a Sea King but notoriously cruel, often bullies weaker creatures.]

Reid was stunned. If I kill it now, could I prevent Shanks from losing his arm? Or would another one just take its place later? No… I'll deal with that when the time comes.

Roger spoke firmly. "I command you—take this ship to Batelila Island in the South Blue. Got it?"

The Sea King gave a terrified grunt, nodding furiously, sweat pouring from its massive face.

"Go."

Without hesitation, the beast dove underwater and began pulling the ship.

Reid felt the sudden burst of speed. "This is… faster than a bullet train!"

Shanks peeked out, saw the Sea King, and returned to the helm. "Haha! Now this is sailing!"

Roger grinned. "Much better."

Reid glanced down and saw the unconscious News Coo. He nudged it gently, and the bird fluttered awake, then took off in a panic.

Roger looked at Reid, his eyes softening. "With someone like you by my side, Reid… I know Rogue will be safe."