Chapter 34

Title: Everything the World Had To Offer?

….

I look at my crew members as I announce that, and they are all excited at this. I am not what someone would consider a traditional pirate.

Well, I don't plan to start being one now either, even if I wanted to (which I don't). First, it would be illogical and needless… and second, I would be on Garp's kill list as soon as I started acting like a cruel pirate. He raised me up, and he will put me in the ground. He sees it as his duty, if he creates a monster, then it will be his duty to kill a monster.

Of course, none of that matters as I don't plan to act like that. It created needless animosity, someone who acts like a mad dog will get put down like one too. If there comes a time to be cruel, I would keep it under wraps and no one would need to even know about it.

Still, I have to stop my mind from wondering and look at the people in front of me. They are my confidants, people that I have deemed worthy to sail these seas with. Of course, some don't quite make the cut for it. Like Nojiko, Desire… and Deuce I guess, but the latter is surprisingly strong for someone that didn't train. That will change from now on as I will personally take over his training, he must be able of fighting against a vice admiral to be in this crew.

Though I will never say it out loud, I don't like to have weaklings and losers in my crew. Nojiko classifies for both, but she has a nice rack and a pretty face. So she alleviates the boredom at least. But she will have to get into shape as a long ranger too because if I wanted a hooker who doesn't even give me a titty fu*k, I would have paid for one who would. So she will have to get better… much better.

Bartolomeo needs some physical improvement, but not something that is too urgent. Desire also needs to be put through the worker, she is like a stronger Nojiko… so she needs to get stronger too.

Still, that is all easily workable. Females are an essential part of the crew, some female presence is needed in a ship like this, I don't wanna looks at guy's ugly mugs all day long.

I look at Loguetown and my determination peaks. I don't want to end up like my father, even though he was strong, he wasn't anything special in my eyes. He died a loser's death, left a wife to die, and an orphaned son. They say that he had everything this world had to offer… in my eyes he didn't.

I loved him from the manga as a character, but this has now given me a new look into this. He found an island… so what? He didn't really do anything with it, he didn't attack anyone. He didn't change the world and had to rely on his enemy to protect his son. Those all scream weakness to me… especially since in the end, his bloodline was ended the next generation after his. All I see are those huge failures that cover the deeds that he made, a win doesn't cover up the losses.

It's simple, his death was a result of recklessness and not calculating his moves. His luck carried him through the journey, people say bravery too… but bravery ain't sh*t. Look at where bravery got cannon Ace at… an early death.

Damn, I am getting all sentimental now. I guess I might be a little angry at Gol D. Roger, after all, he could have left me with Rayleigh. I could have asked that guy to actually teach me Haki, and unlike Garp, he would be okay with teaching me whichever way I go, either Marine or Pirate.

But it doesn't matter now, I have come this far by my own strengths. I don't need them anymore.

*sigh* How sad… I wonder… will my story have a sad ending also? Will I leave behind an orphaned child?

No! I refuse to do something like that, I must be a winner at both legacy and life too.

"Oy! You all, listen to me!" I call out to all of them. The past doesn't matter now what is done is already done.

Once they see the serious look on my face, none of them does anything rash. They know that while I joke around a lot with them and am silly sometimes (which is an act). They respect me and my power.

"Now we are going to the Grand Line, and once we enter it will be madness." I explain to them all, as I sit on the wooden floor of the ship casually. "We will make countless enemies along the way, but we will do so as a team. We achieve greatness as a team, and we die as a team, am I understood?"

"Yep."

"Yeah."

"Gotcha Captain."

"Okay…"

Everyone gives me their confirmation. Good, now that I said that, I can go back to acting silly in a bit. That is way more fun than being serious. I have a second chance in life, I don't plan to spend it not having fun and enjoying myself. Still, I must act serious for a little bit more.

"Okay, Sabo blow into the tube. Bartolomeo, create a pyramid barrier in front of the ship in case we have any obstacles in front of us. Gin, Deuce, you two pull up the sails. Desire, look around with binoculars in case of an attack. Nojiko, can you bring us some refreshments here." With one sentence I assign everyone their jobs that play to their strengths and to people that they work together with. "Cat, look for any fish that you see and tell us. Having more fish in the water tank wouldn't be bad."

I can see everyone has shocked looks on their faces as I order them so casually. But their bodies have already started moving according to my orders.

Wow, okay, they still have shocked looks on their faces.

"Oy! Sabo, you know I managed my own town with hundreds of subordinates, why are YOU acting surprised?" I ask him with an annoyed tone in my voice.

"I was just going with the flow." Says Sabo as he scratches the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Also don't punch the fire before Deuce and Gin pull up the sails or that would fu*k us." I warn him as I see he was about to do something dumb.

In less than 30 seconds and we all ready for the next part.

BOOM!!!

We are all thrown backward and smash into the hardwood of my captain's cabin front. But that doesn't matter as I see that with Bartolomeo splitting the waves before they hit us. Our ship won't even get a scratch from this.

Each of the crew's abilities worked perfectly together. It doesn't even take ten minutes as we can already see the lighthouse that leads us to the Grand Line entrance… Reverse Mountain...

…

A/N: From Ace's perspective, Roger didn't win in life. If he was in his father's shoes he would have been so sure of his achievements. After all, Roger did say that his son would reach the One Piece next… and Ace died during cannon. That useless self confidence is not something that the MC has, he is only confident in things he plans and is sure about.

P.S: Lover Roger as a character. Just making sure you know that. As this chapter might have sent some different vibes.

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