Starting as a Roger Pirates Apprentice

Chapter 470: A strict father’s kick, God Usopp

"I’m not a little kid anymore!!!"

Sadgeo roared.

From the moment his consciousness was born, he had spent his time in the culture fluid inside a glass cylinder. Back then he was still very small, his body unstable, and a little old man with his tongue sticking out often appeared in front of him, observing while scribbling notes. From time to time different people would also come—some with long ears holding sticks, some chubby in the upper body holding books... And there was one, a mysterious man with long black hair.

From the moment he became aware, he had been filled with all kinds of knowledge about the outside world, the most frequent of which was the blurry figure called Joy Boy. He was required to become "him," to become another "him." Everyone expected this, except for that man with the ever-present smile at the corner of his lips and deep eyes, who said:

"Just Joy Boy is far too boring. He’ll definitely bring a lot of surprises to the world."

Very quickly, under some mysterious influence, my consciousness skipped past the ignorant childhood period. Not only my consciousness—my body also became mature and gigantic, terrifying power filling my body. He was a born monster; the elite guards of the laboratory weren’t his match at all. In his mind there was an innate awareness and command—to follow the will of the long black-haired man, like an instinct. And so, under Vegapunk’s care, he spent a short childhood in the laboratory.

Kuma had said,

"You are Joy Boy, a warrior who brings laughter and liberation to the world!!!"

Although Sadgeo didn’t quite agree, in the lonely laboratory he still cherished the time spent with Kuma. He even learned the Nika dance. With a rubber-like body combined with that dance, there was an indescribable sense of fitting. When Kuma saw such a perfect dance, he had been pleasantly surprised; but when he saw Sadgeo dancing excitedly, black smoke constantly rising from his body, his huge figure turning black, he was momentarily stunned, and inexplicably a few drops of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

Nika... was this its real color?

During those days, the personality shaped by Sadgeo’s bloodline gradually emerged, and he formed his own interpretation of the legend of Joy Boy. He felt that pure freedom and liberation—a world where everyone was fine and happy—would only exist during the brief period when Joy Boy was still alive. After some time, exceptional powerhouses would inevitably appear in the world again, and history like that of the Celestial Dragons would repeat.

He did not have Joy Boy’s—or Nika’s—naivety. His goal was to become the king of the world: to overthrow the World Government with the will of a king, and only under his control could the world forever guarantee freedom and liberation. And it was precisely with this goal that he went out to sea.

But unfortunately, he perhaps could not be like the real Joy Boy—strong enough to change the world; at least for now.

"Boom!!!"

Just as Sadgeo finished saying those somewhat rebellious words, Orin bit down on a cigarette, and black flames instantly ignited around his foot.

Black and red thunder swirled around his leg, darkness around them scattering in an instant. Orin moved his foot lightly, and his figure instantly appeared at Noah’s bow, right before Sadgeo.

"Merciful Father Kick..."

With just one kick, Sadgeo’s gigantic figure was sent flying, crashing into the dense forest of Green Bit. With overwhelming force in a single strike, the moment Sadgeo’s head hit, his consciousness almost shattered. Fear rooted deep in his bloodline forcibly suppressed the ambition to inherit destiny.

One kick to scatter a rebellious soul—Dad is one of us.

Sadgeo spat blood, smashing countless trees, his head thrown back as he fell to the ground. But worthy of being an ancient giant stitched with many monster bloodlines, his head was unbelievably hard. After a brief fainting spell, he woke up, sat up from the ground.

"It hurts, it hurts..."

"Did you really have to go that hard..."

Seeing this, Doflamingo’s lips curled into a smile. This was it—perfect. As long as Orin was there, no matter how terrifying the monsters on the sea, they would be forcibly subdued before this overwhelming power.

Doffy’s ego +1.

Sanji’s cigarette dropped from his mouth onto the ground. Two years ago, he still didn’t even know about Haki. But seeing this scene now, he finally understood why his father had been called the man who suppressed an entire era of the sea. Only after he retired did that era finally get to breathe again.

"This Haki—you’ve got to be kidding..."

Green Bull felt about the same, though he’d already expected it—after all, Orin was one of the current pinnacles of Haki.

"I really don’t know how Sakazuki and the others back then managed to deal with such a monster~"

On Noah’s side, several merfolk gathered around Orin, seemingly discussing something.

Meanwhile, at the place Sadgeo had fallen, several figures crawled out from an underground passage.

"What was that shock? Leo and the others still haven’t come back."

Sneaking out, Usopp and Robin appeared in the dense forest, and after only a few steps they encountered a gigantic figure. Sadgeo, kicked dizzy and disoriented, subconsciously grabbed Usopp the moment he saw him. Usopp wasn’t even the size of Sadgeo’s palm.

"A dwarf tribe...? No, this is the long-nose tribe?"

He had seen the long-leg tribe, but this was the first time Sadgeo’s hazy vision saw the long-nose tribe.

"What is this!!!"

Usopp was scared to the point of nearly wetting himself, eyes bulging, snot and tears all over his face.

"Is that the giant?!!"

Robin was also shocked, looking toward the distant massive ship.

Orin sat cross-legged, perched on Shirahoshi’s cupped hands, somewhat surprised.

"You want to go back to Fish-Man Island?"

"Y-yes, Orin-sama..."

Orin rubbed his chin. It made sense—Shirahoshi really might not be suited for traveling, especially under unwilling circumstances. Anyway, what Sadgeo needed was only the power of the Sea Kings...

"Hey!!! Sadgeo!!!"

Orin snapped his fingers, and Sadgeo, who had been clutching Usopp, instantly vanished from his original spot and reappeared atop Noah.

"Let’s discuss something. Let Shirahoshi go back first. You continue commanding these Sea Kings—how about it?"

"..."

Still holding Usopp, Sadgeo was a bit dazed, but what could he say? Leaving him some Sea Kings was already pretty generous.

As for Usopp, he was completely stunned, a blank expression masking his inner screaming.

It’s over!!!

He had actually run into Orin, Sadgeo, Doflamingo, and the Marines here...

And Doflamingo’s gaze had turned dangerous as he looked at this Straw Hat crew member.

Orin just smiled.

Wasn’t this, in a certain sense, the only one who could rival his best friend Buggy—the one and only Usopp?

Under Doflamingo’s incredulous and deeply fearful gaze, Orin smiled.

"Long time no see, isn’t this the Sniper God, God Usopp?"