On the dock, many crew members were laughing as they watched the commotion, including Roger, Rayleigh, Gaban, and others.
"What the hell!?", Although he didn't know where this brat in front of him suddenly popped out from, or how he knew his name, Buggy didn't care, he still expressed his dissatisfaction at this overly familiar approach, "Do I know you? And you just come up like this with a 'Hisashiburi dana~'"
While fuming, he mimicked Riven's cheerful greeting. Buggy's performance was vivid and expressive, making Shanks beside him laugh so hard he held his stomach.
Their companions nearby couldn't help but laugh heartily while wrapping their arms around each other's shoulders.
"Don't be like that, Buggy," Riven was thick-skinned too. Facing a ship full of top-tier experts from the New World, there wasn't the slightest trace of stage fright on his face. He even maintained a smile, "My Observation Haki doesn't lie. We'll definitely become good friends in the future."
Riven had long black hair nearly reaching his waist. Although his face still showed a bit of youth, he was already quite handsome. His smile was infectious.
Bare-chested, with faint scars and muscle lines, wearing only simple military pants and boots without any extra accessories. At most, a bag slung over his shoulder.
First Mate Dark King Rayleigh heard this and narrowed his slender eyes slightly, "So young and already awakened Observation Haki? Seems like a rather special kind."
"Like Redfield?", Roger found it interesting and chimed in. He walked over, leaned on the ship's railing, looked at the long-haired brat on the dock, and laughed, "Hey! Brat, what are you here for?"
"Of course it's to join you guys!", Riven, well aware of the personalities of these top-tier powerhouses, replied with a smile.
Call him: The Incubus of the Sea · Riven.
"Brat, why must you board our ship?", The man who hid the One Piece at the end of the Grand Line, Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, asked Riven in front of him with a smile.
To this question, Riven happened to know the perfect answer:
"HAHAHAHAHA... Of course it's to turn this WORLD upside down!"
"HAHAHAHAHA!", Hearing Riven say this with a childish face, Roger and Rayleigh were stunned at first, then exchanged a glance and laughed out loud together.
Both of them recalled the scene when they first met, and the very reason the Roger Pirates were founded in the first place.
From this young man, they saw themselves back then.
"Hahahahaha! If you're not afraid of dying, then boldly get on board," Roger was a carefree person. Just based on a good feeling, he waved his hand grandly and agreed to Riven's request.
Rayleigh, unusually, didn't raise any objection, letting the captain act as he pleased.
But Gaban and others nearby didn't quite understand. They still felt it was sudden, "Hey, Captain, isn't our ship almost turning into a nursery for brats?"
"Stuck with such a willful captain, what can we do~", Some crew members spread their hands, expressing helplessness and acceptance.
In the Roger Pirates, all crew members shared the same understanding: Joking and drinking were fine most of the time, but once the captain made a decision or issued an order, the crew must follow it unconditionally.
And this was precisely part of Roger's personal charm.
Seeing this scene, Riven secretly thought, 'No wonder this is the man who charmed even Golden Lion out of his mind. His charisma was unquestionable.'
Just like that, Riven successfully snuck onto the Pirate King's ship as an intern.
———
Once a lowly follower under Rocks, now back in his hometown serving as town mayor after the Roger crew had shattered the Rocks Pirates, Old Geek had just returned home.
Still fantasizing about raising a monster like Whitebeard or Golden Lion in the future who could carry him forward.
But seeing his ransacked-looking house and the note on the table, he fell into silence, and then exploded after that silence:
"ROGER, YOU MOTHER*****!"
———
Riven watched the coastline gradually fade away. On the shore, there seemed to be a shadow hopping up and down.
Even though the range of his Heaven-given Observation Haki wasn't enough, with his excellent eyesight, Riven could still roughly tell, that looked like the old mayor's silhouette.
"Oi! Goodbye! I'll take care of myself!", Riven looked at the old man jumping and waving goodbye, thinking he couldn't bear to see him leave. He also waved his arms vigorously, tears faintly welling up in his eyes.
After all, they'd lived together for nine years. Even if it were just a dog, there should be some feelings by now.
"You were so strict normally, but when I'm about to leave, you're finally being gentle for once... you old bastard...", Riven's actions caught the attention of Shanks and Buggy. The two noticed Riven's sadness. As fellow interns, they came over and patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't be sad. From now on, we're your family and brothers," Shanks smiled sincerely.
"A man of the sea shouldn't cry so easily, you punk...", Buggy, all bark and soft-hearted, offered awkward comfort.
Only Rayleigh, drinking on the side, had a corner of his mouth twitch. He glanced strangely at this "Old Era Edition · Three Brats."
Thinking about it, he ultimately didn't speak up.
With his Observation Haki capable of traversing the Calm Belt without getting lost, it wasn't hard for him to sense what the old man on the shore was yelling. The general content was, "Damn Roger, if you want to destroy someone emotionally, at least don't chase him down while doing it! I ##..."
There even seemed to be a few mentions of someone's mother.
But since this was a family member of a crew member, Rayleigh didn't make a move. He simply pretended he didn't hear anything.
"ROGER, YOU #%@**#, damn it… Oi! Riven! Remember to wear a shirt next time so you don't catch a cold!", Old Geek shouted with gritted teeth, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and watched as the Oro Jackson disappeared into the sunset.
———
The sun and moon cycled, the sea breeze gently brushed—
In a blink, several days passed.
To be honest, even though he'd prepared himself mentally, life at sea was even more boring than Riven had expected.
The endless blue ocean, sea kings that popped up occasionally and were knocked out by Conqueror's Haki from the ship, nonstop banquets, and endless cleaning duties.
If it weren't for having two companions to chat and joke with, Riven thought he might've really gone crazy.
"Hey, Riven, you're slacking again! Still lying on my bed?"
The cabin door was suddenly kicked open.
Buggy, having just finished cleaning the deck, rushed in and grabbed Riven by the collar, angrily shouting with his sharp teeth and mouth.
"Don't be so serious, Buggy. I'll give you a little tip, alright?"
Riven, being shaken by the collar, didn't mind Buggy's attitude at all. Instead, he took out a few Berries from his pocket and smiled while stuffing them into Buggy's.
Seeing Buggy's eyes light up at the money, Riven straightened his own collar. On this ship, probably only Buggy acted like a proper pirate, greedy, cunning, loyal.
All Riven had to do was pay a little cash, and Buggy would be soothed.
That way, he could sneak in a nap once in a while.
At that moment, a youthful voice called from outside the room:
"Riven, Buggy! Come out and train!"
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