Chapter 264: Roger the Wanderer
After eating the Contract Fruit, black text appeared in Roger's vision.
[Contract Quest (1/5)]
Quest Objective: Defeat the Shadow Pirates
Quest Reward: Firearms Mastery Lv.1
"So it even points out where the target is? What a miraculous fruit!"
Roger's thoughts ran deeper than most.
To randomly locate a target in the vast ocean—even someone like him who could hear the Voice of All Things couldn't do that.
The game merchant Rayleigh mentioned was truly mysterious and unfathomable.
"Shadow Pirates, huh? I've heard of them before. They're a group dealing in the slave trade near the Sabaody Archipelago."
Hearing the quest, Rayleigh asked, "Need a hand?"
Roger had just been resurrected. He worried Roger hadn't yet adjusted to the current era.
"No need!"
Seeing the red mark in his vision, Roger dove straight into the sea and swam off.
Moments later, a blast split open the clouds in the distance.
Roger returned to the ship soaking wet, holding a flintlock pistol.
"Rayleigh, watch out! I think I've become terrifyingly strong!"
He raised his arm, pointed the dark muzzle at Rayleigh, and pulled the trigger.
Bang.
The smell of gunpowder hit their noses.
Rayleigh caught the bullet with ease and frowned as he examined it.
"A passive skill for gun mastery?"
As a top-tier player who had spent over 100,000 reward points, Rayleigh immediately understood the new player bonus.
It was either a starting skill or some basic equipment.
"Exactly. It's incredible—it actually increases a firearm's power!"
Roger caressed the pistol, thrilled.
For someone like him, a Lv.1 skill barely made a difference in strength. But he was excited because this was something completely new to the One Piece world.
In just half a day,
Roger completed all five contract quests and officially became a new player.
"Club Mastery, huh? I've never used clubs, but there was a kid in the Rocks Pirates—Kaido—who liked wielding a spiked club. I feel like I could take him on now!"
Roger casually grabbed a broken wooden stick from the ship's hold and started swinging it around on the deck.
"Longsword Mastery, like Whitebeard's Murakumogiri? Sounds fun. I should borrow it sometime!"
"Weapon Master's Emblem?"
Roger held a badge-like accessory in his hand. Text floated into view.
Once nine weapon masteries were acquired, it would activate a special effect:
[Crude Weapon Master]: Increases proficiency by 20 points when wielding any weapon.
"This comes from some other world too—a piece of equipment forged by a master craftsman specifically for 'Wanderers,' it says."
Roger narrowed his eyes, examining the badge closely, completely satisfied.
What excited him the most was the mention of a "Wanderer" class.
Almost no core skills.
All abilities were passives like "Mastery" types, and it could steal skills from other classes—offering complete freedom in combat.
"This job fits me perfectly!"
He laughed, flailing his limbs excitedly and downing two more bottles of cheap ale, not even caring about the metallic taste.
Rayleigh just stood by, watching with a quiet smile.
"So, Rayleigh, have you retired already?"
"The captain was executed. What else was I supposed to do but retire?"
"Well, now the captain's back—so, you coming with me for more adventure?"
Roger looked at Rayleigh with a big grin.
This was the man who'd once been his right-hand, the soul of the Roger Pirates—the vice-captain who'd kept the whole crew together.
So much had changed.
Over a decade had passed. The old crewmates had scattered.
Shanks, the little apprentice, had started his own force.
But some crew—like Rayleigh—had been waiting alone all this time.
"Until death!"
Rayleigh finally smiled, too.
This chaotic sea held no interest for him to face alone. That's why he had brought Roger back.
Rayleigh turned to the Lunarian boy, his eyes full of admiration.
"And you, kid? Want to come adventure with us?"
"I want to be an adventurer—but not a pirate!"
The Lunarian boy was clearly tempted but still shook his head.
Rayleigh looked disappointed,
but before he could respond—
"HAHAHA! Then we're adventurers now!"
Roger burst into laughter.
"We're out hunting unknown monsters, heading into countless other worlds, looking for exciting loot and skills—what are we, if not adventurers like Shanks said?"
The Lunarian boy stared in amazement.
This man… this was the Pirate King—the most legendary pirate of them all.
And now he was abandoning the title so casually?
"Kid, we're adventurers now. Still want to say no?"
Rayleigh laughed too.
And he wasn't surprised by Roger's words at all.
Even though the Pirate King title was hard-earned, through years of blood and hardship—
none of them actually cared.
Like Roger, what mattered most to them was the thrill of the adventure.
The Pirate King title?
That was just a souvenir they picked up along the way—like cheap ale. Drink it or toss it—it didn't matter.
"The Pirate King… isn't that just the freest person on this sea?"
"Alright, I hereby declare the Roger Adventurer Crew officially formed—salute to Guildmaster Shanks!"
There was no sarcasm in Roger's words.
As he spoke, he imagined Shanks' face when he was still a young apprentice—piecing together what he might look like now.
Maybe he'd grown into a scruffy uncle like himself?
Whatever the case,
he was proud of the new era Shanks had ushered in—truly happy for him.
He hoped they'd meet again on their travels.
The sea was vast. But sometimes, it could feel small.
Given enough time, surely they'd cross paths again.
And when that day came,
he'd throw the biggest, wildest feast for that red-haired kid.
Sabaody Archipelago – Marine Base
Because it was the gateway to the New World, it was full of pirates, merchants, and bounty hunters.
Including slave traders and slaves of various races brought in for sale—
it wasn't rare to see Celestial Dragons visit.
So the marine base here was led by a seasoned vice admiral.
"New intel: Near the Sabaody Archipelago, a pirate rumored to possess Conqueror's Haki Infusion has appeared!"
A marine rushed into the office.
The vice admiral raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "What source? Conqueror's Infusion isn't some common skill—sounds like a rumor."
Everyone knew—
Even just Conqueror's Haki was rare.
To master its infusion was something only the most elite did.
Dead Kaido.
Red Giant Whitebeard.
Secluded Totland Queen Big Mom.
They were all known Conqueror's Haki infusion users.
Not some nobody suddenly popping up out of nowhere.
"It's real! We've apprehended several destroyed pirate crews.
Each captain had over 100 million bounty. They said it was someone dressed like Gol D. Roger—who beat them easily."
The vice admiral was stunned… then scoffed.
"Roger? Someone dressing like the dead Pirate King? Pathetic. How childish.
As if someone like that would really have Conqueror's Haki…"
Just as he spoke—
The marine base trembled.
A slash infused with Conqueror's Haki sliced off the entire roof of the base.
A booming voice echoed:
"I heard the slave traders said they've bribed you a lot.
I'm Adventurer Roger—
here to collect your dirty gold!"
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