Chapter 4: Chance Encounter (Fourth Update, Monthly Ticket Bonus)
After rummaging through the place for a while, Su Xiao finally found several stacks of Berries and three gold coins inside the wooden table.
The Berries amounted to a few hundred thousand, which in RMB had a purchasing power of around tens of thousands. These pirates were a bit poor.
However, those three gold coins were quite good. They were made of pure gold, with a surface pattern of five connected spheres—one at each corner and one in the center. Below the five spheres was text, forming the emblem of the World Government.
[World Government Commemorative Coin × 3]
Origin: One Piece, World Government Hyde Manufacturing Plant.
Quality: Green
Type: Valuables
Rating: 12
Description: Can be sold to Reincarnation Paradise or given to plot characters. If given appropriately, it will increase the goodwill of plot characters. The degree of goodwill increase is related to Charm.
Price: 900
...
This item was decent. Su Xiao didn’t rush to sell it; he stored the three coins in his storage space.
After confirming there were no other items in the captain’s quarters, Su Xiao gave up searching and leaned back in his seat to rest.
Before long, noise came from outside. Su Xiao quickly walked out of the captain’s quarters, and a breathtaking island came into view.
The island was quite large, covered entirely with buildings. These structures clustered together, giving Water 7 a shape like an iron tower, with seawater gushing from its tip like a fountain. Several waterways ran through the city, and the gushing seawater flowed back into the sea along these channels.
The grandeur of Water 7 was beyond imagination. It was originally a land-based island, but as the island sank, it was completely submerged in the sea.
The residents of Water 7 chose not to relocate. Instead, they continued building on top of the original structures to rise above the sea level.
After centuries of accumulated construction, the ground of Water 7 was no longer visible. The entire city seemed built on the sea, a true waterfront property where one could fish from their own window.
The pirate ship Su Xiao was on slowly sailed toward Water 7, heading in the direction of the back streets.
Although Water 7 welcomed pirates, they couldn’t enter through the front gate openly—that would be a challenge to the rules. It was a fig leaf of propriety.
Entering the back streets of Water 7, the ship navigated between houses. The waterways between these houses were wide, dozens of meters across. The residents of Water 7 didn’t seem to care about this battered pirate ship, as if they were used to it.
Finally arriving at Water 7, Su Xiao stood on the ship’s railing and leaped onto a residential area.
The houses in Water 7 were built in rows and were very tall, most over a dozen stories high. In front of each row of houses was a walkway for pedestrians, with seawater right beside it. This kind of spectacle could only be seen in Water 7.
Su Xiao’s departure from the pirate ship relieved the pirates, and they quickly sailed away.
The pirates’ morality had nothing to do with Su Xiao. They had brought him here, and he spared their lives—it was that simple.
Stepping onto the walkway, a notification from Reincarnation Paradise appeared.
[Hunter has arrived at Water 7. Main Mission Activated.]
[Main Mission: Faction Choice]
Difficulty Level: Lv.7
Mission Brief: Join one of the following: Galley-La Company, World Government, or Straw Hat Pirates.
Mission Info: The choice of faction will affect subsequent missions.
Mission Time Limit: 3 natural days.
Mission Reward: 2000 Paradise Coins.
Mission Penalty: All attributes -3, and forced teleportation out of the derivative world.
...
The opening main mission wasn’t difficult—it was simply a matter of choosing a faction to join.
Su Xiao immediately ruled out the Straw Hat Pirates. The reason was simple: incompatible temperaments. The Straw Hat Pirates wouldn’t accept his way of doing things, and he didn’t agree with theirs either.
Enemies should be eradicated root and branch. The idea of just “knocking them away” was unappealing. If it weren’t for Luffy’s powerful family, his relatives would have long been retaliated against. Thinking of Dragon, Garp, Ace, Sabo, and the others, Su Xiao shook his head. It was unlikely—Luffy was the weakest in his family.
Excluding the Straw Hat Pirates left the World Government and Galley-La Company. Joining the World Government would also be difficult. With Su Xiao’s “impressive” Charm attribute of 5 and his personal aura, not being kicked out would be the best outcome.
That left only one option: Galley-La Company, whose president was named Iceburg.
Galley-La Company was the most powerful force in Water 7. Ostensibly a shipyard, it actually controlled the city and enjoyed deep popular support, to the point where even the Marines couldn’t interfere in some matters.
Only about a dozen Marines were stationed in Water 7, mainly for emergency communication. This showed Water 7’s status.
Too many legendary events had occurred here. The ancient weapon Pluton was built here, so the World Government maintained an ambiguous attitude toward Water 7—neither courting nor alienating it.
Its unique geography and status had created a unique culture. Both Marines and pirates could come here to buy or repair ships, and both sides exercised restraint once inside Water 7.
As the mayor of Water 7, Iceburg, also known as Iceberg, held a transcendent position. He was not only the mayor but also the president of Galley-La Company.
With this in mind, Su Xiao decided to join Galley-La Company. It would benefit his future actions. Galley-La Company was a mixed bag, and no one would care about his background. Pirates working here was common.
Although Galley-La Company was the easiest of the three factions to join, it was also the most dangerous.
Three World Government spies were lurking in Galley-La Company—CP9 members, whose strength was not to be underestimated.
It was foreseeable that very few contractors would join Galley-La Company. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they were as rare as phoenix feathers. With those three spies around, the risk of death was ever-present.
The World Government and Straw Hat Pirates were different, especially the Straw Hat Pirates, where over 90% of contractors might gather.
Walking slowly through the city, Su Xiao circled a few times and noticed something off. Many walkways were dead ends, separated by seawater, requiring a jump to another walkway a few meters away to continue.
The houses divided the waterways, with bridges only appearing far apart. If he searched like this, finding Galley-La Company would take considerable effort.
Su Xiao thought of a mode of transport in Water 7: a creature called a Bull. It was an amphibious creature that could swim quickly in the sea. With a small boat attached to its back, it could carry people freely through Water 7’s waterways.
After searching nearby, Su Xiao found several shops renting Bulls. He spent only 1000 Berries to rent one.
This creature called a Bull was a type of “cow-fish.” It kept its head above water, its body submerged, and carried a small boat with a seat on its back.
The Bull looked amusing, baring its flat teeth as if always smiling—a very gentle creature.
Su Xiao sat in the small boat behind the Bull, holding a map given when he rented it.
“Doesn’t seem too far.”
Su Xiao tried to communicate with the Bull he was riding. The blue Bull made a “ee-ee” sound, as if it truly understood.
“Do you know where Galley-La Company is?”
“Ee~.”
The grinning Bull nodded, flicked its fins, and began swimming quickly, weaving through the houses of Water 7.
Seeing the Bull reminded Su Xiao of Bubu Wang. That fool’s core was still in his storage space. It had been cooped up for so long; it was time to let it out.
He released Bubu Wang, and the small boat sank a bit. The Bull pulling the boat ahead shrank back, seeming a bit afraid of Bubu Wang.
As soon as Bubu Wang came out, it started frolicking. But the boat’s space was limited, and with a splash, Bubu Wang fell into the sea.
A very authentic dog paddle appeared. Bubu Wang wasn’t afraid of water; instead, it swam happily in the sea, splashing water everywhere.
Su Xiao slapped his thigh, suddenly realizing he might have wasted 1000 Berries. If he had known, he could have had Bubu Wang pull the boat.
“Come back.”
Hearing Su Xiao’s shout, Bubu Wang climbed back onto the boat, soaking wet. Bubu Wang instinctively shook itself, splattering seawater everywhere.
Seawater dripped from Su Xiao’s cheek. Bubu Wang let out a whimper and obediently lay down in the boat.
Su Xiao shook the seawater off the map in his hand. Getting splashed was a minor matter. He wouldn’t forget how Bubu Wang had desperately punched him twice in the whale’s belly. If those punches had landed, he would have been stuck in that whale forever.
Galley-La Company owned several shipyards, and Su Xiao was heading to Dock 1.
Half an hour later, Su Xiao arrived at Dock 1. It was a large open area piled with timber, with the occasional cannon visible.
Many shipwrights were working hard in the open space, some building ships, others maintaining cannons.
A shipwright wearing a white undershirt, a top hat, and curly hair caught Su Xiao’s attention. This shipwright had a uniquely shaped beard on his chin, and a pure white pigeon stood on his shoulder.
Rob Lucci! One of CP9’s agents, currently undercover at Galley-La Company.
Rob Lucci was carrying a thick wooden plank, building a ship. On him, Su Xiao faintly detected an elusive smell of blood. Perhaps some contractors had already tried to join Galley-La Company, and the outcome was predictable.
By chance, Rob Lucci looked toward Su Xiao. Their eyes met. Rob Lucci paused his work, possibly sensing Su Xiao’s sharp aura.
PS: (We’ve been overtaken on the monthly ticket chart, crying in despair.)