Joining the Roger Pirates

Somewhere in the West Blue.

The Roger Pirates' ship drifted aimlessly here.

Two days had passed since the battle at God Valley.

Vikengam sat on the railing by the ship's edge, reading a newspaper. On the deck not far from him lay heaps of gold, silver, jewels, and several treasure chests.

The Roger Pirates were waiting for their captain to wake up before opening the chests. That was the rule on their ship, so no one went near them.

However, Vikengam had already sensed it with Observation Haki. There really was a baby in one of the chests amid the piles of gold and jewels. It had been two days, yet the baby still looked half-asleep. It was downright absurd. Shouldn't it have been wailing from hunger by now? Did it really hit its head and get brain damage?

Still, he did not meddle and simply turned his attention back to the newspaper.

"Oh? After going through so much trouble to defeat Rocks, the ruler of the era, Roger ended up with no fame at all. The newspaper doesn't mention his name even once. According to this report, it was Marine Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp who brought an end to Rocks' era," Vikengam said with no small amount of schadenfreude.

Not far away, Jaba drank atop the mast and said unconcernedly, "Fame is nothing but floating clouds to us. Why care so much? We've already got the treasure. I just hope that bastard Roger gets up soon so we can count how much Beli we stole, then find somewhere lively and properly enjoy the charm of money."

"Hahahaha! That's right. That damned Roger still isn't up, and I'm already dying to throw a feast," Rayleigh said with a laugh, his arm around Shakky.

His words immediately drew jealousy and dissatisfaction from the other crew members, who began teasing him one after another.

"Damned Rayleigh, you're just eager to celebrate finding perfect love, aren't you? Shakky, what exactly do you see in him?"

"Exactly! I object to this marriage!"

"Get off the ship! Throw him off the ship! We're all golden bachelors here. There have never been any couples aboard!"

"All your thoughts are on Shakky now, aren't they? How are you supposed to go on great adventures with us? Get lost, bastard!"

"Take my blessing and go be happy at the bottom of the sea, damn you!"

It had to be said that the Roger Pirates had quite an excellent atmosphere. Compared to that hellhole Mary Geoise, Vikengam found it immensely pleasant. Listening to their bickering, he folded up his newspaper and smiled brightly. "They're a perfect match, made for each other. What right do monsters like you have to object? Don't worry, Rayleigh. As a comrade who escaped God Valley with you, I support your marriage!"

"Hahaha! Thanks, but I don't remember ever fighting side by side with you, bastard!" Rayleigh laughed.

Then he smugly retorted to the others, "See that? Even a Celestial Dragon supports our marriage. What are you monsters objecting to? This marriage has the World Government's approval!"

"Wow, you bastard, have you become the Government's lapdog now?"

"Look how far he's fallen. I propose we kick him off the ship!"

"Letting Vikengam join wouldn't be bad. I rather like him. A 'noble' Celestial Dragon actually willing to mingle with pirates like us? Hahahaha!"

"Then kick Rayleigh out and let him be vice-captain?"

Just as everyone was laughing and chatting, the cabin door was suddenly shoved open. Roger, covered from head to toe in bandages, strode out looking full of vigor and said in a booming voice, "Sorry for making you worry. I've already..."

Before he could finish, everyone perfunctorily said, "Alright, alright, nobody cares about that. Let's hurry up and look at the treasure, Captain Roger!"

Roger cursed irritably, "Bastards, did you guys ever worry about me at all?"

"Shakky is safe and sound," Rayleigh said with a smile, his arm still around Shakky.

"And we got all the treasure!" Jaba and the others said, pointing at the mountain of gold and silver.

"Oh, what a huge haul..." Roger said excitedly when he saw the treasure piled up like a small mountain.

But the next second, he spotted an unfamiliar figure and asked in surprise, "Huh? Who's this guy? Did we have someone like him on our ship?"

"Me?" Vikengam stood up from the railing at the edge of the deck and pointed his thumb at himself. "I haven't formally introduced myself yet, Captain Roger. My name is Jaygarcia Vikengam, currently the scholar of the Roger Pirates."

"Huh?" Roger was completely dumbfounded. What happened while I was unconscious?

Come to think of it, I'm the captain, aren't I? Even if a new companion joins, shouldn't I be the one to approve it first?

Seeing Roger's bewildered expression, Rayleigh explained, "Don't listen to that kid's nonsense. Hearing his surname should have tipped you off, right? Jaygarcia, the name of one of the Five Elders. He's a Celestial Dragon from Mary Geoise."

"A Celestial Dragon?" Roger was even more astonished. "You kidnapped a Celestial Dragon from the island? Not bad. A member of a Five Elders' Lineage should fetch quite a ransom, right?"

"He wasn't kidnapped by us," Jaba said at the right moment. "He clung to Rayleigh and came aboard our ship from God Valley himself, insisting on joining us. You were unconscious the whole time, so you didn't know about it. We're waiting for you to make the decision now."

"A Celestial Dragon came aboard our ship to become a pirate? I feel like I haven't woken up yet. This has to be a dream..." Roger fiercely pinched his arm. The pain from his wound made him bare his teeth. "This isn't a dream?"

"What do you say, Roger? Let me join you, and let's get along well together," Vikengam said, looking at Roger.

Roger fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "No. We still have something important to do, and if we take you along, the World Government will definitely pay special attention to us. That wouldn't be good for our current goal, so..."

"I can decipher ancient writing. I can read Poneglyphs," Vikengam cut him off before Roger could finish.

Roger's expression changed in the next second. He raised a hand and shouted, "What are you waiting for, you bastards? Hurry up and cheer for our new companion!"

Though there seemed to be no difference in status when they got along with one another,

Roger was the captain, and with those words, Vikengam's position was settled.

From then on, he was the scholar of the Roger Pirates.

After spending the past two days together aboard the ship, everyone had gotten along quite well with Vikengam. The moment Roger finished speaking, they all cheered.

After the commotion died down, everyone gathered around the treasure piled on the deck.

As if it had finally slept enough, a certain baby woke up at that moment and gently knocked against the treasure chest.

"Hm? What's that sound coming from the chest?"

"Sounds like something's inside."

Roger crouched down curiously, intending to open the chest, when the crewman Dolinger beside him warned, "Be careful..."

Under everyone's puzzled gaze, Roger slowly opened the treasure chest. Inside lay a tiny baby amid the jewels, wearing a brilliant smile and stretching out both arms toward them as though asking to be held.

"Huh? A baby!?" Everyone except Vikengam cried out in surprise.

Before the little one could make even two sounds, Roger abruptly slammed the chest shut and turned to the others. "Who brought this aboard?"

"No idea. Everyone just grabbed treasure as they went."

"Does anyone know where this little guy came from?"

Gradually, everyone's gazes turned toward Vikengam. After all, they had gone to God Valley to cause trouble, while Vikengam had been up there the whole time. Perhaps he knew some inside information?

Vikengam did not hide anything and said directly, "As far as I know, Figarland Garling, the commander of God's Knights, has a child at God Valley. The child supposedly has red hair, and judging from the age, this really is a baby who was born not long ago... His name is Shanks."

"Shanks?" Roger opened the chest again upon hearing that and searched around the baby's collar. Sure enough, the name "Shanks" was embroidered there.

"It really is? Does that mean we really kidnapped a Celestial Dragon!?" Roger said blankly.