Having a banquet was the most joyful thing. Everyone was cheering, but Roy had one rule: no alcohol for minors.
In this world, adulthood begins at 17. Most of the crew were still kids, so most of the alcohol naturally ended up with Whitebeard.
"Newgate, you don't seem happy?"
Roy noticed Whitebeard sitting alone on his custom-made throne, drinking from a barrel.
"No, I'm very happy."
"Heh, you think I can't tell if you're happy or not?" Roy sat beside him, holding a glass of wine. He claimed he was older than Whitebeard, and no one questioned it, so he was allowed to drink.
"You regret bringing them out here, don't you?"
"...How'd you know?"
"Just a guess. I feel the same way as you. They're all just a bunch of kids. Today's battle was the hardest we've faced so far. Before, you were always the one taking the brunt of the fight, and we hardly had to act. But when you were held back, we had to face the enemy ourselves."
You saw me get hurt, didn't you? That's why you got scared. If that's the case, Newgate, just drop me off at Sabaody. I don't want to be a burden to you."
Roy raised his glass and took a sip after speaking.
"BULLSHIT! I'd rather die than abandon you!" Whitebeard roared in fury.
The cheering crew—Marco and the others—suddenly stopped and turned toward Whitebeard.
"Roy, I forbid you from saying things like that ever again. Don't even bring it up. And if you dare sneak off, I'll break your legs myself!" Whitebeard said through gritted teeth.
Roy didn't respond. He had indeed been thinking about leaving. Among the pirate crew, he was the weakest. The gap in power would only grow with time. An ordinary person on a pirate ship would only become a burden.
To the Whitebeard Pirates, Roy's greatest contribution wasn't in combat, but in logistics and medicine. Marco and the others studied under Roy. He was the one who taught them to read, write, and learn things beyond fighting.
Roy didn't realize it, but the entire crew knew it deep down; they couldn't do without him. They willingly called him "big brother." Without the money Roy had saved, they wouldn't have been able to afford a new ship.
"Pops, what's Big Bro saying?" Marco asked.
"Tch. He thinks he's a burden and was planning to sneak off," Whitebeard growled.
"WHAT?!"
"NO WAY!"
"Big Bro, are you crazy?! We'd never leave you!"
"Was it Blamenco?! Did he piss you off? I'll beat him up right now!"
"ME?! Why would I make Big Bro mad? You're lying, Jozu!"
The place turned into chaos until Whitebeard yelled, "Everyone listen up! Take turns watching him. Don't let him escape!"
"YES, POPS!" Marco and the others all stared at Roy, who was speechless. As if he could really bear to leave.
........
The new ship made all the difference, and they passed through the Florian Triangle smoothly.
"Jozu! I'm taking a bath, what are you doing?!"
"I'm bathing too."
Ever since Whitebeard gave the order, they had been watching Roy constantly, eating together, going to the bathroom together, even bathing together. At night, they locked him up. They were guarding him like a prisoner.
Roy was both touched and irritated. These guys…
The Log Pose pointed downward below the Red Line and stayed fixed in that direction.
"Next stop, Sabaody," Roy said.
"I heard Sabaody is a special kind of island," Vista said.
"I read about it! Sabaody isn't really an island—it's a giant mangrove forest! The roots form 'islands,' and there's even an amusement park!" Marco said excitedly. He loved reading. Roy often bought him piles of books, especially medical ones.
Even though Marco had healing powers, he still needed medical knowledge.
Roy wondered if Marco hadn't been restrained, could his Phoenix flames have saved Ace?
It was certainly possible, his regenerative powers were that strong.
Roy couldn't remember every detail clearly. Sabaody had both lawful and unlawful areas. He had been in this world for five years, and even with knowledge of the original story, he couldn't recall everything precisely. He only had a rough idea of what was coming.
"We need to get the ship coated," Roy said.
"Coated?" The others looked at him, confused.
"It means covering the ship in a giant bubble. That way, we can dive underwater and head to Fishman Island," Roy explained.
"A bubble can do that? That's amazing!" Whitey Bay said in awe.
"The Yarukiman Mangrove secretes a resin that forms bubble-like substances. Using special techniques, these can be used to coat the ship in a protective membrane, strong enough to withstand the ocean's pressure," Roy explained further.
Everyone listened in awe, gradually getting excited.
"So that's how it works? That's incredible. Big bro, how do you know so much?" Vista asked, full of admiration.
"Read more books. I told you before to read more, but you didn't listen." Roy knocked on Vista's head. Despite being much taller than Roy, Vista laughed happily.
"I hate reading. That's Marco's thing."
"Reading will do you good. You've got nothing else to do anyway."
"Sabaody is right ahead. Newgate, have you been here before? Do you know any reliable coating craftsmen?" Roy asked.
Going underwater wasn't a joke. They needed a trustworthy craftsman. This wasn't something to gamble on. A faulty coating meant death in the depths.
"I know one," Whitebeard nodded after thinking for a moment.
"Good. We must find someone reliable," Roy said.
"Don't worry. That guy specializes in this, and he'll travel with us to Fishman Island," Whitebeard said.
"Oh? He'll go with us?" Roy's eyes lit up.
"Of course. You think we'd just easily trust someone and let them leave? Pirates never trust that easily. We always bring the craftsman along, and he finds his own way back from Fishman Island," Whitebeard said.
"Makes sense." Roy nodded. In that case, pirates didn't need to fear sabotage, unless the craftsman wanted to die with them.
"We're here," Whitebeard smiled.
"Hm?"
The crew rushed to the deck. Ahead lay a breathtaking forest of towering mangroves, their roots forming islands. Countless bubbles floated upward, refracting sunlight into rainbows.
"So beautiful…" Whitey Bay clutched Roy's hand tightly.
"Whitey Bay, what are you doing…"
"Big bro, don't even think about running. I won't let you go," she growled.
As the ship neared land, Whitebeard reminded them that Zones 1 through 29 were lawless areas. They were docking at Grove 27.
Before they even landed, they heard voices.
"Let go of me! Let me go!"
"Hahaha, caught two little fish-men. Should fetch a good price."
"Waaah! Somebody help us! I don't want to be sold as a slave! Please help us! Waaah!!!"