"Adam Treasure Tree!"
Roger's eyes gleamed brighter than gold, as if he could already envision the ship of his dreams slicing through the waves, unstoppable. Rayleigh and Jabba shared his excitement, their expressions equally filled with anticipation.
"Kuhahaha! What are we waiting for? Let's go get it! How much does it cost?" Roger clapped his chest theatrically, his laughter echoing across the shipyard.
Master Tom took a swig from his cup and held up three thick fingers.
Roger froze mid-motion. His smile faltered, and he turned to Rayleigh, the unflappable First Mate, with an inquiring gaze.
Rayleigh silently averted his eyes, his attention now focused on the intricate patterns on his sword hilt. This sword is truly a sword, Kyle thought, amused.
Roger then shot Jabba a pleading look. The giant simply stared at the sky, seemingly pondering why it was so blue that day. This sky is truly a sky… Kyle shook his head, smiling wryly. The traditional Roger Pirates' skill—being broke at the exact wrong moment—was in full display.
"Cough," Roger cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to salvage some of his dignity. "Um… Master Tom, we're a bit tight on Berries lately. Could we… perhaps get it on credit?"
"Wahahaha!" Tom's booming laughter shook the sawdust in the shipyard. "Boy, you are even more interesting than I imagined! DON!"
After enough laughter to rattle the rafters, Tom's expression turned serious. "Adam Treasure Tree isn't something you can buy with money. It only appears at top auctions in the black market, or… it's held by certain important figures. I don't have any stock here either."
Roger's excitement—and the crew's—plummeted instantly.
"However," Tom continued, slapping Roger on the shoulder so forcefully that the captain stumbled, "I, Tom, admire men who dare to chase their dreams most of all! Money doesn't matter. If you can get your hands on Adam Treasure Tree wood, I'll build your ship for free! My entire life's skill will go into crafting a King's ship that can conquer the seas! DON!"
Free shipbuilding!
Roger froze for a split second, then lunged forward and grabbed Tom's hand. "Really? Tom! You're incredible!"
"Don't celebrate too soon," Tom pulled back his hand. "Without Adam Treasure Tree, all talk is meaningless."
The four returned to their ship, their heads buzzing with plans. As the news spread, the entire crew erupted into excited chatter. Where could they even find this legendary wood?
"Forget the black market auctions—we can't even afford the entrance fee," Jabba said bluntly.
"That leaves… the 'important figures' lead," Rayleigh mused thoughtfully.
"Speaking of the richest and most overbearing important figures in the world…" Spencer elegantly wiped his wine glass, leaving the sentence unfinished, yet the meaning was clear.
The World Nobles. The Celestial Dragons.
"I've heard rumors," Colonel Mu Gulian said, exhaling a perfect smoke ring, "that a World Government fleet will be passing through these waters soon. They're escorting a 'celestial tribute' from an affiliated nation. It's said that among gold and jewels, there's a special building material for a Celestial Dragon's palace."
Every pair of eyes instantly fixed on him.
The air seemed to freeze. Robbing a Celestial Dragon's ship? That was far riskier than raiding any Marine branch. It meant declaring war on the World Government itself—a direct provocation to the highest authority in the world.
New crew members, especially Nozdon, swallowed nervously.
"Kuhahaha!" Roger's laughter tore through the tension like a cannonball. He stomped on the ship's rail, facing the sea breeze with eyes ablaze. "What are we waiting for? Adam Treasure Tree, celestial tribute… we'll take it all! Lads, time to get to work!"
"Oh oh oh oh!" The crew erupted in a thunderous cheer, their previous hesitation replaced with excitement fueled by their Captain's audacity.
Kyle rubbed his forehead, helpless, yet a smile tugged at his lips. He walked over to the sea chart, joining Rayleigh and Spencer in planning the route and battle strategy.
---
Three days later, a calm sea stretched endlessly before them. On the horizon, a fleet bearing the World Government flag emerged: three heavily armed Marine warships guarding a massive, luxurious merchant vessel.
"All hands, ready!" Roger drew his cutlass, grinning wildly. "Let the World Government see who the true protagonist of these seas is!"
The battle erupted instantly.
"Tidal Roar Ripple!" Kyle slammed his hands against the railing. An invisible force spread across the sea, causing two massive waves, over ten meters high, to crash into the escort ships, sending them reeling and breaking their formation.
"Fire!" the Marine commander roared.
"Dream on!" Kyle sneered. "Light Illusion Mirage!"
Light twisted around the Roger Pirates' ship, refracting to create a perfect illusion of another pirate vessel. Over half of the dense cannon fire struck nothing but empty air, splashing harmlessly into the waves.
"Now! Charge!" Roger bellowed.
The ship shot forward like an arrow from a bow, slamming into the center of the fleet.
"Leave it to me!" Isaac's eyes gleamed. With a single leap, he landed on the nearest warship, slicing through its main mast with precision.
Seizing the chaos, the Roger Pirates climbed onto the enemy vessel, turning its deck into a battlefield. Meanwhile, Roger, Rayleigh, and Jabba leapt onto the merchant ship. Confronting the CP agents who arrived at the scene, the trio unleashed unmatched power.
Roger's Conqueror's Haki radiated outwards, causing the weak to collapse in terror, while Rayleigh's sword and Jabba's massive axe swept aside any who dared resist. The battle ended far faster than expected.
---
Roger kicked open the merchant ship's cabin door—but what greeted them was not gold or treasures.
Hundreds of ragged, expressionless people were confined in cages, crammed together like cargo. Slaves.
The smile on Roger's face vanished, replaced by cold, calculated fury. Rayleigh's hand tightened around his sword, veins bulging, while Jabba's axe dripped blood from the fight—now a bitter symbol of irony.
"These scumbags…" Jabba muttered through clenched teeth.
Kyle's anger surged as he took in the sight: terrified children, desperate women, and men who should have been free, all imprisoned like beasts.
A little girl began crying, startled by the intrusion. Her mother pressed a trembling hand over her mouth, afraid their fear might invite a beating.
Roger knelt in front of a cage, his killing intent replaced by gentle reassurance. "It's alright now." He slashed lightly with his knife, cutting the lock. "You… are free."
In the prisoners' dull eyes, a spark of hope finally appeared.
At the far end of the cabin, the crew discovered their prize: massive pieces of glowing, indestructible wood—Adam Treasure Tree. Beside it were boxes of treasures, the so-called "celestial tribute."
"Captain, what about these treasures?" Miller Pine asked.
Roger didn't even glance at them. "We'll take half. The rest we'll exchange for Berries, so they can start new lives elsewhere."
"And these people?"
"Take them to the nearest island and leave them at a Marine base," Rayleigh decided.
"Marine?" Nozdon questioned.
Kyle nodded. "For now, only the Marines can protect them. We're pirates; keeping them would put them in even greater danger."
"Kuhahaha! That's how we'll do it!" Roger laughed, the previous gloom swept away. "Do good deeds anonymously… and give Garp a little trouble in the process!"
Under cover of night, the Roger Pirates approached a Marine island base. Kyle used Light Illusion Mirage and sound waves to create diversions, drawing most of the Marines' attention elsewhere. Rayleigh and Jabba safely escorted the freed slaves and treasures ashore, leaving a note.
By the time the Marines realized what had happened, the Roger Pirates' ship had vanished into the vast night.
On deck, the crew watched the island fade into the distance.
"One day, I will drag down those who call themselves gods… all of them!" Roger's voice rang across the night wind, firm and resolute.
Kyle stood behind him, staring at the Adam Treasure Tree on deck. This was more than mere wood; it was a testament to their journey, a witness to both the ultimate freedom and the deepest sin of the seas.
The ship that Master Tom would soon craft from this wood was destined to carry dreams that could overturn the world.
"Back to Water 7!" Roger commanded, full of vigor. "Let Tom see the treasure we've brought back!"
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