On the dock, many crew members were laughing at the ridiculous scene, including Roger, Rayleigh, Gaban, and the others.
"What the hell!?"
Even though Buggy had no idea where this brat suddenly popped out from or how he knew his name, it didn't stop him from showing his annoyance at the overly familiar attitude.
"Do I know you? You just walk up and go?"
Turning red with anger, Buggy mimicked Orin's smiling expression as he spoke, performing so vividly that Gaban couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The other crewmates around them also broke into loud laughter, throwing their arms around each other in amusement.
"Don't be like that, Buggy!"
Orin was shameless too. Standing before a ship full of top-tier New World elites, his expression showed not the slightest bit of fear—he simply kept smiling.
"My Observation Haki doesn't lie. I know we're going to be great friends."
Orin had long, flowing black hair that nearly reached his waist. Though his face still held a touch of youthful immaturity, his handsome features were unmistakable. His smile was infectious.
His upper body was bare, revealing faint scars and well-toned muscles. He wore only simple military pants and boots, with no extra accessories—just a bag slung over his shoulder.
Rayleigh, the vice-captain known as the Dark King, narrowed his long eyes slightly at those words.
"He's awakened Observation Haki at this age? And it even seems like a special variant..."
"Like... Redfield?" Roger chimed in, intrigued. He stepped forward, leaning on the ship's railing and looking toward the long-haired brat on the dock. Smiling, he called out:
"Hey! Kid, why are you here?"
"To join your crew, of course!"
Knowing these top-tier powerhouses well, Orin answered with a cheerful grin.
"Kid, why do you have to get on our ship?" asked Gol D. Roger, the man who had hidden the legendary treasure at the end of the Grand Line. He smiled as he faced Orin.
And for this question, Orin just so happened to know the perfect answer:
"Hahahahaha… Obviously, to turn the world upside down!"
"Hahahahahaha!!!!!!"
Hearing such bold words from a fresh-faced youth, Roger and Rayleigh were stunned for a moment. Then they looked at each other—and burst out laughing together.
They were both reminded of the moment they had first met… the very moment the Roger Pirates were born.
In this young man, they saw a reflection of their younger selves.
"Hahahahaha, if you're not afraid of dying, then get on board!" Roger was a spontaneous man—he agreed to Orin's request purely based on instinct and gut feeling, waving his hand in approval.
Rayleigh, uncharacteristically, didn't raise any objections. He simply allowed the captain to do as he pleased.
But nearby, Gaban and the others couldn't quite understand what was going on.
"Hey, Captain, are we turning the ship into a daycare or what?"
"With a captain this capricious, guess we've got no choice~" One of the crew shrugged, expressing helpless acceptance.
Among the Roger Pirates, every crew member shared a common understanding:
They could joke around, drink, and mess about as much as they liked, but the moment the captain made a decision, they would follow it without question.
That, too, was a part of Roger's charisma.
Watching this scene unfold, Orin thought to himself,
No wonder this guy could charm even someone like Golden Lion Shiki out of his mind. His presence is undeniable.
And just like that,
Orin successfully joined the Pirate King's crew as an intern.
...
Once a mere lackey under Rocks, the now-town-mayor Keek had just returned home after the Rocks Pirates were defeated by Roger and the others.
Still fantasizing about raising a monster like Whitebeard or Golden Lion to soar to glory again someday, he walked into a house that looked like it had been ransacked.
He spotted a note on the table and fell silent.
Then, silence turned into an explosive outburst:
"Roger, you mother*****!!!"
...
Orin looked out at the coastline growing distant. Near the beach, he could faintly make out a small figure bouncing around.
Though his Observation Haki wasn't yet strong enough to sense that far, his eyesight was sharp enough to recognize that figure—it looked like the old mayor.
"Oi! Goodbye! I'll take care of myself!"
Orin waved his arms hard, shouting toward the bouncing figure, thinking the old man was reluctant to let him go. His eyes shimmered with faint tears.
After all, they'd lived together for nine years. You'd grow attached even to a dog after that long.
"He was always so strict... but now that I'm leaving, he's finally showing some kindness… Damn old man..."
Orin's waving caught Gaban and Buggy's attention. Seeing his emotional state, the two fellow interns walked over and patted his shoulder.
"Don't be sad. From now on, we're your family!" Gaban said, his smile warm and sincere.
"A real man of the sea doesn't cry so easily, you bastard…" Buggy, with his usual sharp tongue but soft heart, gave him a roundabout kind of comfort.
Only Rayleigh, sipping quietly from his drink nearby, twitched his mouth a little.
He glanced strangely at this and considered commenting—but in the end, he didn't.
With his Observation Haki strong enough to cross the Calm Belt without getting lost, it was easy for him to hear what the old man on shore was shouting.
Something like:
"You cursed Roger! You break my heart and don't even finish the job? I'll—##…"
And possibly something involving someone's mother.
But since it was the family of a new crewmate, Rayleigh didn't want to intervene—he pretended he hadn't heard a thing.
"Roger, you #@**#, damn it... Hey! Orin, remember to wear a shirt next time, don't catch a cold!!!"
Old Keek shouted through gritted teeth, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and watched as the Oro Jackson disappeared into the sunset.
...
Time passed as the sun and moon traded places and the sea breeze gently brushed by.
In the blink of an eye, several days had gone by.
To be honest, even though he had mentally prepared himself, life at sea was still far more boring than Orin had originally expected.
The endless blue ocean, the occasional Sea King that surfaced only to be knocked out by Conqueror's Haki coming from the ship, the never-ending banquets, and the never-ending cleaning...
If it weren't for the two companions he could joke and chat with, Orin felt he really might not have been able to take it.
"Hey, Orin, slacking off again! And lying on my bed no less!"
The cabin door was suddenly kicked open.
Having just finished cleaning the deck, Buggy stormed in, grabbed Orin by the collar, and yelled furiously with his sharp teeth bared.
"Don't be so uptight, Buggy. I'll pay you a little hardship fee, how about that?"
Orin, who was being shaken by the collar, didn't mind Buggy's attitude at all. Instead, he pulled out a few Belly from his pocket and smiled as he stuffed them into Buggy's.
Seeing the greedy light in Buggy's eyes, Orin straightened his collar with a chuckle. On this ship, Buggy might be the only one who truly felt like a real pirate—greedy, cunning, loyal.
Every time, Orin just had to give him a bit of money, and Buggy would calm down.
That way, Orin could occasionally enjoy sleeping in.
Just then, a young voice called from outside the room:
"Orin, Buggy! Hurry up, it's time for training!"