"My stamina is incredible! I'm fast, I don't get tired, and… why do I feel like I'm developing split personalities…"
Reid muttered to himself.
He finally understood why in the world of One Piece, from the government and Navy top brass and the Four Emperors down to ordinary people, low-level pirates, bandits, and soldiers, everyone often acted like lunatics, grinning wildly with exaggerated expressions.
"This must be the culture and rules of the pirate world. Even my body is starting to adapt."
What he didn't notice was that even as he muttered to himself, he was grinning too.
"Brother Reid, where are you from?"
"Me? Let me think…"
"This guy's weird. He has to think about where he's from?"
Roger gave him a puzzled look.
"I'm from the Empire in the East… wait, no, a small village in the East Blue. I don't even remember where exactly, it might've been destroyed by pirates… no, mountain bandits, haha. Ouch…"
As Reid scratched his head awkwardly, he accidentally walked into a wall.
"Hahaha! Brother Reid, you're from the East Blue too? What a funny guy. I'm heading off!"
Roger's feet spun like firewheels as he zoomed forward.
"Brother Roger, don't leave me behind!"
"Hehe." Roger grinned wide, his eyes shining as he looked up at the sky.
"Freedom! The feeling of freedom! World Nobles and your government, this time, I will overthrow you!"
Roger was filled with passion, laughing with his eyes closed, yet somehow still dodging every obstacle along the way.
"I've got to fully integrate into this world fast… Otherwise, even people on my side might mess me up. Damn, this world is too unreliable."
Reid complained inwardly.
"Stop right there! Don't even think about running!"
At that moment, a new wave of pursuers came after them.
Reid glanced back and noticed the group had doubled in number—and judging from their uniforms, their ranks were clearly higher:
Navy Officer: Weapon - Sword. Rank: Warrant Officer
Navy Officer: Weapon - Sword. Rank: Second Lieutenant
Navy Officer: Weapon - Longsword. Rank: First Lieutenant
Navy Officer: Weapon - Sword. Rank: Captain
Reid raised an eyebrow.
"Where did all these guys come from? I've been running forever already… Alright, just go down."
He curled his lip and released his Haki again, immediately knocking out the pursuing marines.
With the pursuers taken care of, Reid suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
"That was close. Good thing the system didn't mess with me, or I'd be dead for sure."
From behind, he shouted: "Brother Roger, where's your ship?!"
"Ship? Hahaha! I wasn't even planning to survive, so what ship?!"
"Then where are we going now?"
Whoosh!
Roger didn't answer. He simply leapt into the air.
"He's headed for that ship on the shore already? What's he jumping over so early for? Good thing I have the system. Without it, I'd die in this pirate world in minutes."
Reid sighed to himself and quickly followed Roger's lead.
"What's going on… Where am I?"
Shanks rubbed his eyes, then looked horrified.
"Why am I in the air?! I'm gonna fall to my death… Wait—"
He turned and saw Roger's huge grinning face staring at him.
"C-Captain Roger?!"
"Hey~ Shanks, you better toughen up. You can't even handle Haki. How are you gonna sail in the future?"
"Oh, I get it… Wait—Captain! You're not dead?!"
Shanks snapped back to his senses and realized Roger was carrying him, and Buggy too.
"Hahahaha! Today's my lucky day! I've gotta go rub this in Crocus' face!"
As he spoke, Roger landed on a ship.
"Shanks, take the helm. We're heading back to the usual spot."
"Captain Roger, you still haven't told me what's going on!"
"You'll know soon enough. Just steer. A Navy admiral is on the way."
"Oh, got it!"
Roger pulled out his Vivre Card, and his eyes gleamed.
"Hehe, hiding it here really did the trick, no one found it."
At that moment, Reid landed on the ship.
"Red-Hair, you're awake," Reid said, observing Shanks, who still looked like a little kid. He was even a bit cute.
"Even when grown-up Red-Hair gets mad, he still has a baby face." Reid thought to himself.
Just as Shanks was about to steer, he noticed Reid.
"Who are you? Did you just call me Red-Hair? Hmm… that's a pretty cool name. From now on, I'll be known as Red-Hair, the Great Pirate Red-Hair Shanks!"
"Hahahaha! Brother Reid, that's actually a great nickname for Shanks!"
"From the way he talks, it sounds like Reid knows Shanks too… Weird."
Roger had a moment of doubt but brushed it off. He patted Reid on the shoulder, also thinking "Red-Hair" suited Shanks well.
"You're Reid?" Shanks looked at Roger. "Captain Roger, you two know each other?"
"Yep~ Just met. He's a good brother."
Roger pulled Shanks aside and whispered a few words in his ear.
"Ah!"
Shanks shivered, turning back to look at Reid in disbelief.
Reid looked at Roger, King of the Pirates, being all sneaky, still holding Buggy in one hand, and couldn't help but sigh.
"So shady… totally unreliable."
He muttered under his breath.
"Hahahaha!" Roger laughed heartily, maybe having heard him.
Then he casually tossed Buggy to the side, thud! Buggy hit the deck, still unconscious.
"Tch, Buggy's such deadweight."
Shanks curled his lip with disdain, then headed to the helm. As he passed Reid, his eyes were full of hope.
"With Reid on board, we'll be invincible."
Shanks was now filled with determination and confidence.
Roger came over, slung an arm around Reid's shoulder, and grinned.
"Come on, let's head to the cabin. There should be booze in there."
"Huh? Drinking? Wait, is Red-Hair even old enough to sail?"
Reid glanced at Shanks, who still looked like a teenager, and felt unsure.
"Red-Hair's still underage, isn't he?"
"Hahaha! Don't worry, Brother Reid. Shanks has some skills. He's almost old enough to set sail on his own. Come on!"
Roger laughed and pulled Reid into the cabin.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
As soon as he entered, Roger began rummaging for alcohol.
"Hehe, found it!"
He smacked a wooden crate, sending the nails flying and the lid popping off. Inside were rows of wine bottles.
Roger grabbed several and placed them on the table.
"Here, Reid. Tonight, we drink till we drop!"
"Uh… drink? I don't know how…"
"Hahaha! What kind of man doesn't drink? Come on!"
Roger popped the cork off a bottle and shoved it in front of Reid.
"Roger's definitely going to ask me something soon… I need to think carefully about what to say."
Reid thought.
"Well… I'll give it a try."
He took a small sip. A chill rushed through his body, and he felt instantly relaxed.
"Amazing… I never liked alcohol before. Does booze in the One Piece world actually have magical effects?"
Without thinking further, Reid put the bottle to his mouth. Gulp gulp gulp!
He downed the whole bottle in one go.
Roger watched in astonishment.
"Reid, you drink like a fish and you say you can't drink? You little liar!"
Roger sat next to him, poking his arm with a disapproving glare.
"Hehe… I really didn't drink before. But now I suddenly think it's great."
"Hahaha! You're a funny guy."
Roger took a few big gulps himself.
"Ah~"
His face quickly turned red.
"By the way, Brother Reid… it's not weird that you know me. But how come you seem to know Shanks too?"
"Oh, that… hehe, maybe I'm the Child of Destiny. Heaven itself wants us to become crewmates."
"Hahaha! Well said. That's the only explanation that makes sense."
Roger suddenly grew serious, staring at Reid.
"Reid, I really need your help. Your medical skills are simply miraculous. My Roger Pirates need you. I officially invite you to join my crew."