As they prepared to leave Maple Village, Eli Winters suddenly remembered something important.
"Oh right Brother Tong's daily check-in." He smirked, snapping his fingers. "System, sign in."
A mechanical chime answered immediately in his mind.
Ding!
Congratulations, Host. Successfully signed in at Maple Village! Rewards: 633 Prosperity Points, one Soul-Calming Flute, and two Vitality Beef Burgers (with… special effects).
Eli blinked. "Wait what the hell is a Vitality Beef Burger?"
He materialized one from the system inventory. It looked completely ordinary fluffy bun, sizzling patty, crisp lettuce but on the wrapper was a line of text:
'A burger that restores your stamina and… vigor. Young man, tired already? Try this and never be a three-second hero again!'
Eli froze, face blank. "…Seriously?"
Just as he was about to put it away, Big Pan's eyes sparkled like twin black pearls. "Boss, what's that in your hand? Looks tasty!" He was practically drooling already.
"Nothing important," Eli said quickly, shoving it back into the system space before Big Pan could lunge.
But Big Pan's face fell instantly, his massive frame drooping as his round eyes glistened with betrayed-puppy sadness.
Eli sighed. He couldn't handle those eyes. "Fine." He opened the system shop and materialized a normal hamburger, handing it to him. "Here. Regular edition."
Big Pan's face lit up. "Thanks, Boss!" He devoured it in two bites, beaming like a child.
With that crisis resolved, Eli turned his attention to the other item the Soul-Calming Flute.
It was a beautiful jade-green instrument, smooth as glass and cool to the touch. The system's note described it simply: A flute whose melody soothes the soul.
Eli smiled. "Perfect for Cree." He'd been wondering what kind of weapon or focus to give the boy and once again, Brother Tong's system proved almost too considerate.
He called Cree over and handed him three items: a silver ring, a pendant, and the flute.
Cree stared at them, eyes wide. When Eli explained their uses, the boy shook his head violently. "Captain, I I can't! These are too valuable!"
Eli chuckled. "Every crew member of the Silver Dragon gets their own set. Don't overthink it. Just train hard. You'll need strength if you want to survive our adventures."
Cree clenched his fists, eyes burning with determination. "I won't let you down, Captain."
"That's the spirit. Now go train." Eli patted his shoulder with a smile.
After Cree left, Eli headed to the holding cabin where the one-eyed pirate captain was kept.
The man lay motionless on the floor, pale and barely breathing. One look told Eli he wouldn't last long without help.
Eli sighed. "Can't have my tool dying yet." He gave him a low-grade healing pill no need to waste the full version on this scum.
Minutes later, the man stirred. His single eye fluttered open, only to land on Eli's face.
For a moment, pure horror flooded his gaze. Damn it… even in death I can't escape this demon!
He remembered that night vividly the agony, the merciless way Eli had yanked the spikes from his body one by one, ignoring his screams.
"Thinking of something pleasant?" Eli's palm smacked across his cheek, snapping him out of it.
"I I'm alive?" The pirate looked almost hopeful.
"Alive, yes. Lucky? No," Eli said coldly. "Falling into my hands isn't mercy."
The pirate's expression collapsed. "...Right."
"Here's the deal," Eli said, crouching down. "I ask, you answer. Got a problem with that?"
The man gulped. "If I tell the truth, will you let me live?"
"No."
The pirate gaped. "Can't you at least lie to make me feel better?"
Eli smirked. "You're not worth lying to. But if you behave, I'll make your death quick."
"…Fair enough," the man muttered miserably. "Ask away."
Eli leaned in. "You said you're a captain under Gugochi. Can you find him?"
"Yes. He never stays with his fleet, but the three of us captains can reach him through our Den Den Mushi."
"Good. Where is he now?"
"He's based in the Gogchi Kingdom. He's… a noble there."
Eli raised an eyebrow. "A noble? For a slave trader?"
The pirate gave a bitter laugh. "Gugochi's just his alias in the black market. His real name is Alfred, a renowned philanthropist and the greatest 'benefactor' of the Gogchi Kingdom."
Eli's smile turned razor-sharp. "The irony never ends."
He'd seen men like this in his past life criminals who wore halos for the world to see.
"Do you know Madam Shirley?" Eli asked next.
"I've heard of her," the pirate admitted. "But never met her."
Eli nodded thoughtfully, then continued his interrogation until he had every detail of Gugochi's network names, locations, and routes.
When he was satisfied, he stood up. "If your information checks out, I'll give you that quick death I promised."
He left the cabin and gathered his crew. After briefing them, he said calmly, "Next stop: Gogchi Kingdom. Target Alfred."
Everyone nodded, eyes blazing with resolve.
When they arrived near the Gogchi Kingdom, Eli planned to bring the pirate along for identification but found him dead, a finger stabbed through his own heart.
Eli frowned. "Guess loyalty runs deep in scum." Still, he'd already learned what he needed. Evidence didn't matter. He wasn't a cop he was the executioner of evil.
The Gogchi Kingdom was wealthier than most in the South Blue, thanks to its alliance with the World Government. Pirates rarely dared to touch it under the Navy's shadow.
Eli didn't dock the Silver Dragon at the main port. With their growing reputation, walking in openly would only alert their target.
He hid the ship on an uninhabited island, stored it in his personal space, and used his spatial ability to bring the crew directly into the kingdom.
"According to plan," he instructed. "You clear out Gugochi's underlings. I'll take the head himself. We regroup here when it's done."
They split off at once.
Eli spread his Observation Haki across the entire kingdom, scanning for a familiar presence. It didn't take long to find him at a grand charity gala, of course.
Alfred stood on stage in a pristine suit, his smile gentle, his tone humble. The crowd hung on his every word, chanting his name as if he were a saint.
Eli appeared behind him in an instant.
"Gugochi," he whispered coldly, gripping his shoulder. "You were hard to find."
Alfred froze. His mind blanked. How how does he know my secret?!
Before he could react, space twisted around them. A swirling vortex consumed them both.
The audience screamed. Guests stumbled and ran, overturning tables and spilling wine as the noble vanished before their eyes.
Eli ignored them. He dispatched Alfred's guards with casual flicks of his fingers and dropped a stack of papers detailed records of Alfred's crimes onto the marble floor before disappearing again.
Panic erupted behind him. Justice, however, had already moved on.
Elsewhere, Big Pan and the others fought their way through the kingdom's underworld, destroying slave dens and liberating prisoners.
But they soon faced a dilemma hundreds of rescued civilians, terrified and lost.
"Captain, what do we do with them?" Big Pan reported.
Eli wasn't surprised. "Send word to Crow. He's been looking for good people to join his cause."
When Crow's group arrived, he grinned at the sight. "You've outdone yourself again, Eli. I'll take it from here." He clapped Eli on the back, eyes gleaming. "The revolution thanks you."
Eli chuckled. "Keep them safe. That's enough thanks."
After wiping out Gugochi's forces in the Gogchi Kingdom, the crew moved on to eliminate his remaining two pirate fleets.
Alfred broke quickly under interrogation. Eli only had to snap his arms before the man confessed everything, betraying his partners without hesitation.
A week later, both fleets lay at the bottom of the sea.
Eli didn't kill Alfred yet he still needed the man to uncover Madam Shirley's true identity. For now, the infamous slave trader sat locked away, awaiting his final judgment.
With the South Blue finally purged of Gugochi's network, Eli looked to the horizon. The next destination was clear.
"The Grand Line," he murmured, smiling faintly. "Let's see what kind of chaos awaits us there."
The wind caught his coat as the Silver Dragon sailed toward the unknown, carrying with it a crew ready for whatever came next.
_________________________________________________
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