Chapter 1

Zero breathed deeply and looked at the empty ship. He let out a sigh, "Hoo~"

"Pirates just love to rob and search for treasure," he thought to himself.

Zero was a young man who held a sword and was sitting on the ship in a state of contemplation. He was one of the lower-ranking officers on the ship.

This ship was a nightmare for both the navy and other pirate groups in the sea. The famous Rocks Pirate Group was on the verge of becoming the dominant force in the entire sea region, and many of the people on board were destined to become legendary figures.

Zero was a former criminal. He had been part of the pirate world for close to three years.

Despite only having learned fencing for two years, he had shown exceptional talent and quickly improved his strength. He ended up joining the Rocks Pirate Group after being captured by them while trying to capture pirates for a living.

However, this was not the life he had chosen for himself. All he wanted was a simple and peaceful life, like a pet dog or a piece of salted fish.

He only had one life, and he didn't know if he would be given another chance to live it differently.

When one finds themselves in a dangerous world like the pirate world, their first priority must be to survive.

However, Zero didn't dare to resist Rocks' orders out of fear of being killed by the legendary pirate.

He realized that when faced with a powerful authority, one must submit and comply. This was not a matter of advice, but one of survival. He hoped that one day he would be able to endure life under Rocks' command until he could finally live the stable life he yearned for.

To achieve this goal, it was best for him to be an unremarkable member of the Rocks pirate crew.

"Zero, why are you still guarding the ship? Don't you want to go down and search for treasure?"

Zero turned his head at the sound of the voice and saw a tall, muscular man with curly blonde hair and a long knife by his side. He was drinking rum and had a broad smile on his face.

This was Edward Newgate, the greatest pirate of the future and one of the strongest leaders in the Rocks Pirate Group.

"I'm not interested in those things," Zero replied as he shook his head and gazed out at the sea.

"Oh~" Whitebeard approached. "What are you interested in?"

Whitebeard felt a certain connection to the young man on the ship. He sensed that they shared similar ideals.

As a pirate, Whitebeard wasn't interested in money, power, or treasure. All he cared about was his family.

This made Whitebeard an oddity within the Rocks Pirate Group, as he had no followers or subordinates. He was considered one of the strongest members of the group solely because of his strength.

Zero, on the other hand, was second only to Whitebeard in the group. He had a strong love for money and was known for being extremely stingy and careful with it. He was greedy to an extreme when it came to wealth.

Other pirates considered Zero to be tight-fisted, but he was always reluctant to join the larger army in pillaging and burning.

This was something that Rocks couldn't ignore. He allowed Zero to keep all the loot he obtained in battles with other pirate groups, except for any Devil Fruits, and would even divide the spoils with him.

Even the Devil Fruits would be converted into money for Zero, which was a privilege given to top members of the group.

This showed just how much importance Rocks placed on Whitebeard's potential.

"What I'm interested in... does it really matter? I'm not a pirate anyway!"

"If you dislike being a pirate, then why did you join this crew?"

Whitebeard's expression darkened.

"Blast it!"

"If I hadn't failed to defeat Rocks, I would have had that big knife in my hand by now. Do you think I could have killed him?"

"People in the Earth are powerless!"

After uttering a phrase from his previous life, Zero fell silent and stopped talking to Whitebeard.

The two professional watchmen rarely interacted.

This time, if Whitebeard hadn't initiated the conversation, Zero would not have wanted to talk. He was instead thinking about when they would arrive at their destination.

However, his goal is not to be a big pirate, but to retire and live a peaceful life.

He wants to leave the pirate world and start a new life with the money he has saved.

But he knows that it's not easy to leave the pirate world, especially when he is on the ship of the famous Rocks Pirate Group.

As a small cadre of the Rocks Pirate Group, he has to be prepared for any danger and always be on guard.

He knows that his journey to retire will be full of challenges and difficulties, but he is determined to overcome them and achieve his goal.

Yes, it's important to cherish your life and live it to the fullest, but it's also important to stand up for what you believe in and fight for what's right. In a world like this, it's not always easy to find the balance between self-preservation and doing what's right, but it's up to each individual to make that choice for themselves. Ultimately, it's up to Zero to decide what kind of life he wants to lead, and what he's willing to do to get there.

....

It was a peaceful silence. They both knew what each other was thinking. The thrill of the adventure and the excitement of the treasure hunt were still fresh in their minds, but at the same time, they both yearned for a quiet life away from all the danger and chaos.

Zero clutched the money in his chest, and Whitebeard held the knife tightly. The two of them had different ideas and values, but they both knew that as long as they were together, they could protect each other and continue their journey on the sea.

The sun was setting, casting a golden glow on the sea. The crew members were busy repairing the ship, but the two of them continued to sit there in silence, enjoying the peace and solitude of the moment.

Whitebeard and Zero both ignored Shiki's words and continued to look at the sea.

As the ship sailed, the sea breeze blew their hair, and the sun gradually set. The sea became more and more beautiful, and the two men felt a sense of peace.

In the pirate world, it is not easy to find peace, but Whitebeard and Zero seem to have found it on this ship.

As the night fell, the pirates gathered in the cabin and started to drink and celebrate their victory. Whitebeard and Zero were also there, but they were still silent and just drinking.

People around them were talking about their adventures and experiences, but Whitebeard and Zero didn't say anything. They just enjoyed the peace in their hearts and the warmth of their friends.

The night passed quickly, and the next day, the ship sailed towards the next target. The adventure continued, but the memories of this night would last forever in the hearts of Whitebeard and Zero.

But Zero is not interested in the things around him and is only thinking about when he can retire and when the captain will be able to have a boxed lunch.

This could be the reason why the Rocks Pirate Group is powerful but also has a short lifespan.

Suddenly, Zero heard a mechanical sound "Ding Dong ~" which made him very alert. He quickly grabbed his sword, ready to draw it at any moment. Whitebeard next to him was also surprised by Zero's powerful sword skills.

Zero's strength was so great that he could become one of the top ten members on the ship. But in an instant, he regained his calm and nonchalant demeanor, and let out a lazy breath. Whitebeard looked at Zero with a complicated expression, then he turned to look in the direction of the Rocks Pirate Group without making a sound.

There is a faint light in Zero's eyes. This is likely his special ability, which was delayed for three years.

Do you know how he has survived for these three years? He lived every day in fear of losing his life.

This special ability has not appeared until now.

The Rocks pirate group is close to falling apart and disbanding. Zero is preparing to escape.