Vikengam: Roger, I'll Make You the Iron Hat King

The Roger Pirates were not large in number and did not need much in the way of supplies. One day was enough to restock.

By the dilapidated docks, the Roger Pirates were saying goodbye to Shiki's group.

"Though we got along fairly well yesterday, the next time we meet, we'll be enemies again. When that time comes, I won't hold back, Shiki," Roger said, looking at Shiki.

"Jihahahaha!" Shiki let out an arrogant laugh. "You're right. Though we got along well this time, next time, I'll chop off your damn head, Roger!"

Roger could not be bothered to trade insults with him. He waved his hand and boarded the ship.

Before long, the Oro Jackson raised its sails and departed from the island.

After withdrawing his gaze, Shiki looked at Silver Axe. "Let's head to Water 7 on the Grand Line first, build a powerful warship, recruit some new blood, and then return to the New World to raise hell. Sound good?"

Shiki did not mention joining forces, and Silver Axe did not mention who would be in charge.

It seemed that, at that moment, both sides had already made their decision.

Silver Axe nodded. "I can't wait to get back to the New World and raise hell. Traveling on your ship is indeed faster."

Seeing this, Babel did not bring up splitting the loot and going their separate ways again.

And so, the three of them formed a team. Once they were ready, they would return to the New World and cause a scene.

Several days later.

Somewhere in the West Blue.

Aboard the Roger Pirates' ship.

Vikengam coated his fists in Armament Haki and relentlessly pounded a square block of iron on the deck.

The block's once-smooth surface had already become riddled with dents, covered in countless fist marks.

With every punch Vikengam threw, his Armament Haki improved by the slightest degree, making the Haki condensed around his fists even heavier.

Since he was training, he was not wearing much: gray-black trousers paired with a pure black tank top. Yet this simple outfit only made Vikengam's physique all the more apparent.

He perfectly fit the description of looking lean in clothes and muscular without them. The lines of his muscles were hard and defined without appearing bulky. Every punch set his muscles moving in a steady rhythm, creating a pleasing sight.

Sweat soaked through his tank top, radiating an intense masculine allure.

Unfortunately, there was only one woman aboard the Roger Pirates' ship now, and Shakky only had eyes for Rayleigh.

As Vikengam sweated away on deck, Roger pushed open the cabin door and emerged from the giant egg.

Yawning as he listened to the pounding sounds from nearby, as though he had long since gotten used to them, he said, "You're up first again, Viking. Hammering iron this early in the morning is driving me crazy!"

Vikengam slowed his movements slightly and replied with a smile, "Once I hammer this refined iron into an iron pancake with my fists, I'll give it to you. You can make yourself an iron hat and wear it on your head, then come back to Mary Geoise with me. This Saint will make you the Iron Hat King..."

Though Roger did not wear his straw hat often at this time, he would occasionally take it out to show off.

"I don't want to wear an iron hat. That'd be weird, okay?" Roger grumbled.

"Then Straw Hat King works too," Vikengam replied casually.

Just then, Jaba came up from behind, shoved Roger away from the cabin entrance, and said, "Move. Don't block the way. I need to calculate our route."

Originally, the Roger Pirates had only come to the West Blue to rescue Shakky.

But Vikengam's arrival had gradually clarified their previously aimless adventure.

Before Vikengam arrived, they had not known how to find the Final Island. Now they knew they needed to search for Poneglyphs, which had accelerated the Roger Pirates' progress in that regard.

Vikengam did not know whether there were any Poneglyphs in the West Blue or where they might be hidden. There might have been one on Ohara Island, but he had already obtained a rubbing of that Poneglyph when he captured Professor Clover for the second time. It was now stored in the Roger Pirates' library.

Thus, they were currently headed for the ancient ruins of Wisfra Island in the West Blue, hoping to see whether they could find any traces related to Poneglyphs there.

As Jaba checked whether their route had deviated, a news bird flew over from the distant sky.

Roger held a coin in his hand and flicked it into the air with his thumb. The sunlight reflected off it and flashed across the news bird's eyes, causing it to swiftly fly closer.

Roger then tossed the coin into the air. As the news bird caught it in its beak, several newspapers were dropped down as well.

After catching the papers, Roger casually opened one and glanced at it. Surprised, he said, "Huh? That brat Kaido from Rocks' ship got captured by Zephyr in the New World..."

"Oh?" Vikengam asked curiously. "Is the news reliable?"

"The photos are out. Look." Roger tossed the newspaper in his hand to Vikengam while preparing to read the second one.

Vikengam took the paper and opened it. Sure enough, the background showed an island in the New World. Two warships were slowly sinking offshore, while large numbers of Marines seemed to be rushing around the shore carrying out emergency rescues.

At the same time, a massive, heavily built man draped in a Marine justice coat sat atop a shattered reef. Not far in front of him, Kaido lay spread-eagled on the beach, looking half dead.

"Have you fought this Vice Admiral Zephyr before?" Vikengam asked casually.

But the moment he finished speaking, Roger exploded in fury. "What the hell is this World Economy News Paper doing?! When did I ever join forces with Shiki?!"

Apparently, while the other newspapers were reporting Kaido's capture, Morgans' World News had taken the opposite approach and reported that Roger and Shiki had joined forces!

It even included photos of the tavern and the street, making the report instantly seem highly credible!

"Huh?" Vikengam took the newspaper from Roger's hand in surprise, then grinned. "Oh? They made me look pretty handsome. Hahahaha!"

Meanwhile, at Holy Land Mary Geoise.

Inside Saint Saturn's private office in Pangaea Castle.

At that moment, Admiral Kong stood before Saint Saturn's tea table, looking both helpless and embarrassed.

"After the battle at God Valley, the Marines were preparing to set new bounties for the Roger Pirates and the remnants of the Rocks Pirates. But before those could be finalized, this newspaper listed Saint Vikengam as well and explicitly stated that he had become a new member of the Roger Pirates. So... the Marines cannot make a judgment on our own and need to ask Saint Saturn how you wish to handle this," Admiral Kong said softly.

Looking at the photo in the newspaper, Saint Saturn could not shake the feeling that something was off.

Though he had long known that Vikengam had joined the Roger Pirates, he had not expected to see photographs of him mingling with Roger and the others so soon.

Photo King's angle had been particularly good. He had somehow made Vikengam, that little nobody, look like a major figure who could laugh and drink at the same table as Shiki and the others.

It left Saint Saturn with very mixed feelings.

"Can it be confirmed that Roger and Shiki have truly joined forces?" Saint Saturn asked quietly as he looked at the newspaper in his hand.

"No. Our headquarters launched an investigation immediately. We can confirm that Shiki's group and the Roger Pirates went their separate ways on Stania Island several days ago and did not further deepen their relationship. The intelligence department believes the report is completely false. Based on the past conduct of the Roger Pirates, Shiki, and the others, we judge that the chances of them joining forces are low," Admiral Kong replied at once.

Hearing that answer, Saint Saturn inwardly sighed in relief. "Good. If they had truly joined forces, it would be no different from the emergence of a new Rocks Pirates."

As he spoke, Saint Saturn tossed the newspaper onto the table and continued, "As for Viking, name him 'Jaygo Vikengam.' I do not care whether the Marines later assign him a bounty, but if he continues down the path of piracy, being wanted is only a matter of time. I have only one demand: make it clear on the wanted poster that he must be taken alive."

Admiral Kong silently repeated the name "Jaygo" to himself. After a moment, he said, "Yes. I will obey your order, Saint Saturn."

He understood that Saint Saturn did not intend to interfere excessively with Saint Vikengam's actions, nor did he intend to give him too much special protection. But he had indeed drawn a very clear line for the Marines: do not actually beat him to death.