One Piece: The Strongest Trait System novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70 - [70] : The Iconic Scene Arrives Early! The Starting Point for Taking Down Crocodile!

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"The Pirate King's doctor?! This strange old man?!" Everyone present, except Rowen, stared in disbelief.

"I never expected to encounter a young man like you on these seas," Crocus said, looking at Rowen with a complex expression. He had witnessed everything that just transpired.

This level of 'Disposition'—he had seen it once before, in another man. The same freedom, the same disregard for convention, the same overwhelming presence.

Looking at Rowen, who seemed to radiate light just by standing there, and at Nami and the others who trusted him unconditionally, Crocus felt a wave of emotion.

Roger—how many years has it been? Seeing such a powerfully charismatic young man, such a tight-knit group of comrades—it still brings you to mind.

A hint of tears welled in Crocus's eyes as he reminisced about his days with Roger and the crew.

"Old man! Were you really the Pirate King's doctor?!" Luffy exclaimed.

"Aye. Served as doctor for that fellow Roger for a few years. That man—insisted on conquering the Grand Line despite having an incurable disease—Just like you lot, always doing things recklessly," Crocus chuckled, reminiscing, speaking more freely than usual.

"Eh? The Pirate King conquered the Grand Line while having an incurable disease?! SUGEEE!" Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Old man! Tell me more stories about the Pirate King!" Luffy pleaded with a wide grin.

"Oh? You're that interested in the Pirate King?" Crocus smiled, looking at Luffy.

"Because I'm the man who's gonna be King of the Pirates!" Luffy declared passionately.

"Gonna be Pirate King, eh? Hahaha!" Crocus looked at Luffy and burst into hearty laughter.

If seeing Rowen reminded him of Roger through his Charisma and Presence...

Then seeing Luffy reminded him of Roger through his actions and personality.

This kid—his personality really was just like Roger's.

And...

Crocus glanced at Luffy's straw hat, his eyes flickering thoughtfully.

That hat... belonged to Roger.

Roger later gave it to Shanks, who was just an apprentice on their ship back then—now an Emperor himself.

And Shanks, passed this hat onto this boy?

Also—this young man's title was 'Sky Sovereign', wasn't it? Crocus recalled the epithet of their own vice-captain, Rayleigh.

'Dark King'—Silvers Rayleigh!

Though Crocus joined later, he had sailed with Roger and the others all the way to the final island, Laugh Tale. He knew about the three Ancient Weapons. This young man's title was clearly chosen to parallel Rayleigh's!

Plus, Crocus, living here at Twin Capes, spent most of his days reading newspapers. He had followed the news about Rowen and Monkey D. Luffy closely.

Possessing impressive Conqueror's Haki before even entering the Grand Line, clashing his Haki against Hawk-Eyes... this young man seemed to possess an even greater 'Disposition' for becoming a King.

Crocus looked at Rowen, his gaze filled with complex emotions.

Not to say this young man's Haki surpassed Rayleigh's—back in the day, the only one who could definitively overpower Rayleigh's Haki was Roger himself.

It was more—a feeling. The feeling of someone destined to be King. Or perhaps, ambition.

Having sailed with the Roger Pirates to Laugh Tale, even in old age, Crocus's judgment remained sharp.

This young man... powerful yet not ostentatious, ambitious yet not revealing.

"Old man! I have one question! Just one!" Usopp suddenly spoke up.

"Since you were on the Pirate King's crew... you must have seen it! That great treasure at the end! Is One Piece really—"

"USOPP!!!" Before Usopp could finish, Luffy roared furiously, cutting him off.

"!!!" Usopp fell flat on his backside, cold sweat breaking out as he stared fearfully at Luffy. He had never seen Luffy this angry before.

"I don't want to know where the treasure is! I don't even want to know if there is treasure! We don't know anything, but that's why everyone risks their lives to set sail! If we learn anything from this old man here, then I'll quit being a pirate! I refuse to go on a boring adventure!" Luffy yelled, his expression filled with righteous anger.

"Hmph." Rowen smiled, seeing this iconic scene play out earlier than expected.

"Usopp, on the path to becoming a brave warrior of the sea, you still have much to learn," Rowen commented, clapping Usopp on the shoulder.

"I-I get it! I won't ask again!" Usopp replied seriously, reflecting on his actions. "Please, definitely don't tell me! I've got the 'I'll-die-if-I-learn-about-One-Piece' disease!" Usopp clutched his chest dramatically, trying to diffuse the tension with humor.

"Hahaha!" Seeing Usopp bravely admit his mistake and try to lighten the mood, Rowen and the others laughed.

"Pirate King, eh? Maybe you really can do it," Crocus chuckled, looking fondly at Luffy. Seeing Luffy, it was like seeing his old friend again. It had been a long time since he felt this happy.

"But, you being the Princess of Alabasta—that is quite surprising," Crocus added after laughing, turning his gaze towards Vivi.

"I apologize for the trouble I've caused," Vivi replied, no longer needing to pretend to be a Baroque Works agent, bowing deeply to Crocus.

"Hahaha! Don't worry about it! Carrying such a heavy burden... it hasn't been easy for you," Crocus waved dismissively, looking kindly at Vivi's youthful face.

"Say, old man! Since you were the Pirate King's doctor... wanna join my crew?" Luffy asked Crocus hopefully, grinning.

"Hahaha! Me, your ship's doctor? Forget it! These old bones can't keep up with you young 'uns anymore!" Crocus laughed heartily. 'Just like Roger... always inviting anyone he found interesting onto his crew.'

"Oh well. Okay then," Luffy accepted easily, grinning back.

Such a straightforward and cheerful personality... also like Roger. Crocus found himself liking Luffy more and more.

"However, if you need a doctor, you might try Drum Island. It's famous as a medical kingdom," Crocus suggested.

"Where's Drum Island?" Luffy looked towards Rowen and Nami.

"Drum Island is before Alabasta. It doesn't conflict with our route," Rowen replied with a smile.

In the original story, the Straw Hats only went to Drum Island because Nami fell critically ill after being bitten by ancient insects on Little Garden. Rowen, naturally, wouldn't allow that to happen this time.

With his System and awakened Observation Haki, preventing such an incident would be easy. Rowen had originally planned to suggest finding a doctor after Little Garden, but since Crocus brought it up now, it saved him the trouble.

Thinking of the adorable reindeer, Rowen couldn't help but smile. Especially considering the Devil Fruit Chopper ate: the Human-Human Fruit.

ll other known Human-Human fruits were Mythical Zoans... Only Chopper's was the base model, jokingly called the 'Commoner Form'.

"Shishishi! Then before we finally land in Alabasta, let's go find a doctor there first!" Luffy decided, remembering the doctor in Cocoyasi Village mentioning the importance of a ship's doctor for the crew's health during long voyages.

Rowen had already checked Crocus's Traits. Just as Crocus implied, he possessed little combat strength now, being old and retired for many years.

"MOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Laboon suddenly let out a tremendous roar.

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"I don't know about the others... but one member of the Rumbar Pirates... was a user of the Revive-Revive Fruit, wasn't he?" Rowen asked, looking knowingly at Crocus.

'Such supportive comrades!' Rowen smiled inwardly.

"Anyway, at the very least, that Revive-Revive Fruit user... is still somewhere in the Grand Line," Rowen stated confidently, gesturing towards the vast ocean, not elaborating further.

But he didn't doubt Rowen's words. Why would a man of Rowen's caliber lie to an old man like him? Plus, Rowen instantly knowing about the Revive-Revive Fruit user, combined with the reactions of Rowen's crew... it couldn't be faked.

"MOOOOOOOO!!!" Laboon cried out towards the sky, giant tears streaming from his enormous eyes.