Two more years passed.
Oden and Toki welcomed their son, Momonosuke, and the entire Whitebeard Pirates erupted in celebration.
Everyone was celebrating the arrival of new life, while Whitebeard drank his sake and glanced over at Roy, who was reading in a corner.
"…Forget it. Do as you like," Whitebeard muttered.
Roy adjusted his glasses, he'd become slightly nearsighted from all the reading.
Even though this world was full of oceans, each nation had its own culture and countless amazing adventures.
Roy was currently reading the story of the great liar, Montblanc Noland.
"The City of Gold… it really does exist. Should I go check it out? Birka has the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Would eating the Rumble-Rumble Fruit be useful to me now?" Roy muttered to himself.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered eating a Devil Fruit, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to grow stronger. Eventually, he realized, it was the system's doing.
Maybe the one coin it gave him every day was just enough to help him survive in this world.
A grand banquet was held on the ship. Roy blended into the crowd and drank. His presence was fading—new crew members didn't know who he was. Marco and the others had been told by Roy not to bother him unless necessary, to treat him like he didn't exist.
Marco and the others didn't understand at first, but after Whitebeard spoke to them, they accepted it. Still, they quietly kept an eye on Roy, afraid he might leave secretly.
"Ten years," Roy muttered as he took a sip of wine.
Looking up at the moon, he realized it had already been ten years without even noticing.
[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations on surviving another day! Reward: Mastery of Observation Haki!]
Roy's hand froze for a second. Then he burst into laughter.
"Ten years… TEN DAMN YEARS!" Roy cursed excitedly, and he chugged the rest of his drink, slamming the bottle down.
"HAHAHA! FINALLY, I'M NOT USELESS!"
Roy collapsed on the deck and snored loudly in his sleep.
"Big bro never gets drunk… this might be the first time."
"Yeah… looked like he even cried a little just now."
"Get him inside. His body can't handle sleeping out here." Whitebeard approached and gave the order.
"Yes, Pops," Marco responded.
"I'll do it," said Whitey Bay.
"Back off. I got it." Marco picked up Roy and carried him into the ship, placing him on the bed.
"Big bro, it's been ten years. You gave me this life, and I'll protect you with mine. Even if I die, you're not allowed to."
The next day, everything felt unusually clear to Roy. He could hear the voices outside, their heartbeats, even their inner thoughts and upcoming actions.
"Observation Haki… mastered," Roy sensed.
It was unbelievable, his Observation Haki was maxed out instantly.
His vision returned to normal, capable of seeing for miles. He could sense heartbeats and hear conversations clearly.
"Observation Haki amplifies the six senses… truly amazing. But my physical condition is still unchanged. It's just one more life-saving ability."
Roy noticed someone knocking on the door, and thanks to his foresight, he already knew who it was and what was about to happen.
"It's Marco!"
"Big bro, you awake?"
"Yeah. What's up?" Roy opened the door and stepped out.
Marco smiled. "Pops wants to talk to you about something."
"Alright, let's go."
At the bow of the ship, all the Whitebeard commanders were gathered.
"Roy, good timing. I wanted to discuss something with you." Whitebeard had been waiting for Roy. The others all knew how important Roy was, though Izo couldn't quite figure it out.
He'd been aboard for two years now. He'd heard of Roy, but to him, Roy seemed completely ordinary—weak, average, always reading or managing money. Nothing special.
The only notable thing was that Roy was Whitebeard's first crewmate, so everyone respected him.
"You want to split into divisions, right?" Roy said.
Whitebeard nodded, knowing Roy could see the future.
"Yeah. How do you think we should divide them?" Whitebeard asked.
"First Division: Marco, in charge of medical and logistics.
"Second Division: Oden, the main combat force. He'll be the sharpest sword in our crew."
"Third Division: Jozu. If there's a sword, there should be a shield. You lead the third."
"Fourth Division: Thatch, in charge of the kitchen team and food supply."
"Fifth Division: Vista. You take the rest of the combat team and handle training," Roy laid it all out.
"You all heard that. From now on, the Whitebeard Pirates will be divided into five divisions," Whitebeard announced. "Oden, you'll be the Second Division Commander."
Oden looked troubled, but Whitebeard didn't care about his feelings—he handed the second division to him regardless.
"Big bro, why can't I be a commander?" Whitey Bay protested.
"You'll understand someday. Alright, start forming your teams and pick your members by headcount," Roy said.
"Understood!"
Things seemed to be heading in a good direction. Roy found Curiel, the future Tenth Division Commander.
"Big bro, you want me to make you a sniper rifle?" Curiel asked in surprise.
"Yeah. You know firearms. Make me a sniper rifle, at least I'll be somewhat useful," Roy nodded.
"Alright, I'll do it," Curiel agreed.
"Here's the money."
"We're brothers, no need for money."
"Take it. You'll need materials."
"I'll get it done in a few days."
"Thanks."
Life seemed ordinary, but Oden's reckless nature kept things unpredictable.
One day, Whitebeard brought a young man aboard the ship.
When Roy saw him, his pupils shrank.
'Teach!'
Marshall D. Teach. The future Blackbeard.
If he killed him now, so much suffering could be avoided.
But Teach was already a Whitebeard Pirate. If Roy killed him now, it would shake the entire crew.
Whitebeard Pirates had one rule: never harm a crewmate.
Killing him now would change everything.
Where would the Whitebeard Pirates go from here?
"You've been getting into guns lately?" Whitebeard asked as he sat beside Roy.
"With five divisions, I'm much freer now. I trust all the commanders except the second division," Roy replied.
"Newgate, can I kill someone?"
"Who?"
"Teach."
"Why do you want to kill him?"
"He'll destroy the Whitebeard Pirates in the future."
"He's family now."
"What if I insist?"
"I won't allow it."
"You don't believe in the future?"
"I don't."
"…"
"When does Oden leave?" Whitebeard asked after a pause.
"In two years."
"Two years…"
"He's destined to return to Wano."
"No. He's not going back to Wano."
"Forget it. I can't tell you too much. Knowing the future doesn't help, like knowing your own death day. It's dull. Roy, don't change things. I know my end won't be happy, but I don't want to kill any of my family to avoid it."