"No! I refuse!"
Roger leaned on the railing of the Oro Jackson, directly rejecting Nero's request to board the ship.
"Hmm mia? What did you say?" Nero jumped onto Roger's shoulder, her fists rapidly spinning at his temples.
"This is my command! You have no room to refute it!"
"Ow ow ow! I don't want to! Besides, I'm not from your country!" Roger tried to shake Nero off, but failed.
"Hmm, state the name of your country, I shall conquer it!"
"Are you an idiot? Just for something like that?"
"Hmm, expanding territory is a monarch's romance!"
"First, I'm from the East Blue, and I'm a pirate! Even if you conquer my country, it's useless!"
"Hmm, you despicable fellow!" Nero was speechless, and the force in her hands increased by two points.
"Hey hey, you're the despicable one for coming up with such an idea on the spot, aren't you?" Roger grabbed Nero's wrists, pulling them apart a bit, finally able to catch his breath.
Breaking free from Roger's hand, Nero flipped down, crossed her arms, and said disdainfully, "Hmm, in that case, let's make it a deal."
"Oh? What could we possibly trade between us?" Roger casually picked his nose and flicked it.
"You're looking for someone who can read poneglyphs, aren't you?" Nero smiled confidently, "My country has been passed down for ten generations, so we know a thing or two about certain things."
"Nani? You mean...?" Roger looked at Nero, not expecting Buggy's words to actually come true.
"Hmm, that's right! It's that 'you mean'." Nero proudly lifted her head.
"I know where there are people who can read poneglyphs!"
"You can decipher poneglyphs?"
They both spoke at the same time, and then the atmosphere grew cold.
Roger scratched his head, "Then why don't you take me to see the person who can decipher the text first?"
"Sigh~" Nero sighed, not commenting on the idiot's thought process, "My country has its own ancient script; there's no one here who knows poneglyphs."
"However, I know where there are people who can decipher them. It's in Wano Country, where the Kozuki clan are also the creators of the poneglyphs." Without holding back, Nero directly gave the answer.
This frank attitude made Roger pause, "Little Emperor, you're just telling me this? Aren't you afraid I'll go back on my word? You know I'm a pirate!"
"Hmm, you can just call me Nero!" Nero stared into Roger's eyes, "The most important thing for an emperor is to judge people, and with my insight, I won't be wrong. You're not that kind of person."
"Hahahahahahaha!" Roger burst out laughing at her words; the Little Emperor's statement was perfectly to his liking.
"We set sail tomorrow, don't be late... Nero!" Roger turned around elegantly and waved his hand, everything left unsaid.
"Hmm, time is a bit tight, isn't it?" Nero looked down, stroking her chin, "Understood, I'll go back and pack my luggage now!"
Roger didn't reply, just waved his hand casually, indicating he understood... The next day.
Roger's eye twitched as he looked at the carriage in front of the port: "What is all this stuff in the carriage?"
"Hmm, luggage, of course!" Nero looked at Roger with confusion, not understanding why he would ask such a simple question.
However, thinking that he was a pirate, and most pirates were uncultured, and this guy in front of her looked none too bright, Nero decided it was better to be more tolerant.
"A carriage full of luggage?" Roger felt Nero's strange gaze and felt even more speechless.
"How can that be? Hmm, how could I be so lacking in common sense?" Nero puffed out her cheeks, feeling underestimated.
"Sigh~" Roger sighed. Although a carriage full of luggage was a bit much, Nero was an emperor after all, so a little luxury was inevitable.
Just as he waved his hand, signaling Buggy and Shanks to come help move the luggage, Nero spoke: "How could I only bring one carriage of luggage? The remaining 27 carriages are still behind and haven't arrived yet."
Everyone felt their breath catch. Had they brought a living ancestor?
"You idiot! You're going out to be a pirate, not to be an emperor! You can only bring one carriage of luggage!" Roger slammed his fist on the railing and roared.
"Eh?" Nero was shocked, "If it's just one carriage, there won't even be enough space for clothes, right?"
"As a pirate, one set of clothes is enough!"
"Hmm, how can that be? At least you'd change into a fresh set of clothes after bathing, right?"
"It's perfectly normal for pirates not to bathe for one or two months!"
Roger's words sent a chill down Nero's spine. Looking at the pirate ship, she suddenly felt it looked rather dirty.
"No, generally everyone showers daily." Rayleigh adjusted his glasses and spoke seriously.
"Ah, even the two messiest apprentice kids shower at least once every three days." Jabba leaned on the railing, glancing at Roger.
"Nani? You guys, when did you...?" Roger was also shocked, looking at his other companions, all of whom had an expression that said, 'Isn't this common knowledge?'
"Bullet! Oh, and Bullet! He's always exercising, looks all dirty!" Roger pointed at Bullet, trying to grasp at the last straw.
A cross mark appeared on Bullet's forehead. He glared at Roger with an unfriendly expression, feeling his fists itch.
"As for Bullet, he showers after every workout. He might be the cleanest person on the ship." Rayleigh's statement shattered Roger's last hope.
"Hmm, what's going on! So you're the only slovenly one?" Nero rolled her eyes, looking at Roger mockingly.
"...Damn it!"
..."Be careful, the cabinet goes over there. That vase is worth thirty million Berries."
"Nani? That needs to be placed properly. With the ship rocking, it's best to secure it somehow."
"The floor has been mopped twice, absolutely spotless."
"Alright, that's about enough."
"..."
"Wait! Why is Nero's maid naturally ordering us around?!" x2
Shanks and Buggy threw their mops and rags on the ground, glaring furiously at Hathaway.
"Aren't you two the ship's chores?" Hathaway looked innocent. She was going to sea with Nero.
"Who's a chore?!"
"Exactly! We're apprentices of the Roger Pirates!"
"Oh... I know. Apprentice means chore to us." Hathaway seriously informed the two.
"You hateful woman! Don't underestimate us!"
"Then what work do you two usually do on the ship?"
"Daily maintenance of the pirate ship, the lookout, and..." Buggy trailed off halfway through.
"It's chores!" Shanks clapped his hand, suddenly enlightened.
"Yes, it's indeed chores!" Hathaway also nodded, confirming again.
Buggy: ".../@p;!"