đź’– If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon. I'm offering advanced chapters there as a thank-you to readers.
--------------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/DragonOP
--------------------
The salty tang of the East Blue air was a sharp contrast to the dandelion-scented breezes of Mondstadt, but for Ye Ruo, it was a refreshing change of pace. He stood on the balcony of [The Voyager's Rest], watching the sunrise over Loguetown. Beside him, Noelle was meticulously polishing the storefront windows, her movements efficient and graceful despite the heat.
"Senior, the young man from yesterday—the one with the straw hat—he seemed very enthusiastic about the book you gave him," Noelle noted, pausing her work. "But do you think these people will truly understand the spirit of freedom we carry from the City of Wind?"
Ye Ruo leaned against the railing, a faint smile on his lips. "Freedom is a universal language, Noelle. In Teyvat, it's a song; here, it's a voyage. They might not worship Barbatos, but they certainly chase the same horizon."
As the day progressed, the bookstore began to draw a more... eclectic crowd. Word had spread through the docks that a "strange gentleman from a far-off land" was selling stories unlike anything seen in the World Economic Journal.
A group of rough-looking sailors, their arms covered in tattoos of anchors and sea serpents, stomped into the shop. At their lead was a man with a scarred face and a heavy cutlass at his hip. He slammed a handful of Berries onto the counter.
"I heard you've got a story about a 'Darknight Hero' who takes on a shadowy organization," the pirate growled, his eyes scanning the shelves. "My crew is tired of the same old tales of the Navy. Give us something with some grit."
Ye Ruo didn't blink. He reached under the counter and pulled out a fresh copy of Detective of the Windy City: The Shadow of the Museum. "This should suit your tastes. It's about justice that doesn't wear a uniform, and the cost of wielding power that isn't yours."
The pirate flipped through the pages, his eyes widening as he saw the illustrations of Shotaro and the mysterious gadgets. "What is this? Some kind of hidden technology? Does the World Government know you're selling this?"
"It's just a story," Ye Ruo replied smoothly. "Though, in my experience, the best stories are the ones that feel a little too real."
In the corner of the shop, a man wearing a long, high-collared black coat and a wide-brimmed hat sat silently, a single glass of red wine on the small table before him. He hadn't spoken since he entered, but his presence was like a sharpened blade—cold, precise, and impossible to ignore. This was Dracule Mihawk, the "Greatest Swordsman in the World," who happened to be passing through Loguetown on a whim.
Mihawk held a copy of Old Mond: Pupils of the Gu King. He wasn't interested in the idols or the gadgets; his focus was entirely on the descriptions of the "Lion of Light" and the dual-wielding swordsmanship Ye Ruo had detailed in the appendices.
"You," Mihawk spoke, his voice cutting through the chatter of the pirates. "The man who wrote this. The 'Arundolyn' style... the logic of the weight distribution between the longsword and the greatsword is flawless. Is this a fabrication, or a memory?"
Ye Ruo turned to look at the swordsman. He felt the immense pressure radiating from Mihawk—a level of strength that would rival a top-tier Haribinger or an Adeptus. "In the world I come from, it was a lost art. I merely found the pieces and put them back together."
Mihawk's golden eyes narrowed. "I have traveled every sea. I have faced every style. Yet, I have never seen a man move with the weightlessness you project. You aren't just a writer."
"I'm a traveler, Mr. Mihawk," Ye Ruo said, his voice dropping to a whisper that only the swordsman could hear. "And sometimes, the best way to preserve a style is to write it down so the world can never forget it."
Mihawk stood up, leaving a few gold coins on the table. He tucked the book into his coat. "I will read the rest. If the ending is as sharp as the technique, I may come back for the sequel."
As Mihawk left, the Multiversal Scripting Engine erupted with notifications.
[Legendary Prestige +15,000 (Significant Destiny Interaction: Dracule Mihawk)]
[Milestone Reached: The Blade and the Pen]
[Unlocking New Reward: Haki-Infused Ink (Increases the 'Realism' and impact of published works)]
Ye Ruo felt the energy flowing into the Seed of the World Tree back in the villa's subspace. The connection between the two worlds was strengthening. The "influence" was no longer just a metric; it was becoming a bridge.
"Noelle," Ye Ruo called out, his eyes shining with excitement. "Prepare the next manuscript. We're moving up the schedule. I want the volume about the 'King of the North Wind' and the 'Wolf of the Boreas' ready by tomorrow."
Noelle paused, her eyes widening. "The story of Andrius? But Senior, the locals here already think the 'Grand Line' is dangerous. If you tell them about a spirit wolf that can freeze an entire continent..."
"Then they'll finally understand that the sea isn't the only thing they should fear—and respect," Ye Ruo replied.
Outside, the wind began to howl, swirling around the execution platform where the Pirate King once stood. The people of Loguetown looked up, sensing a change in the air. The "Sky-Scribing Bard" was no longer just a curiosity; he was becoming a legend in his own right, and the Grand Line was starting to feel the first gusts of a storm that had started in the City of Freedom.