"Life or price?"
At the port of Water 7, Chronos stood on a pirate ship, gripping the captain with one hand, a kind smile on his face.
Scattered across the deck of the pirate ship were charred bodies of pirates, while the captain trembled uncontrollably, repeatedly apologizing.
Chronos remained silent, reaching out with his other hand to grasp another purple Soul Lifespan.
Weighing it in his hand—several decades' worth this time—Chronos revealed a satisfied smile.
"To be honest, I'm quite grateful for people like you, daring to launch attacks and plunder even in Water 7."
Chronos sighed. The shipwrights of Water 7 were actually quite capable fighters. Though they couldn't compare to true powerhouses, dealing with small fries with bounties of only one or two thousand Belly was no problem for them.
"If not for your existence, I wouldn't have such an easy way to expand my savings and earn some extra cash on the side."
Having stayed in Water 7 for several days now, the atmosphere had been mostly peaceful. This pirate ship was one of the rare ones with some actual strength, and its captain was a reckless brute.
After breaking through the coastline, these pirates had intended to come ashore and plunder, only to be promptly apprehended by Chronos, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
Holding the captain, Chronos leaped ashore in a few bounds, found Angeles, and tossed the man over to her.
"Angie, could you handle this? You should be familiar with the nearby Marine base by now, right?"
Water 7 itself didn't have a Marine base, but one was located nearby, as Enies Lobby wasn't far from here.
Over the past few days, after defeating pirates, Chronos had been having Angeles exchange them for bounties. He was quite happy to make money off the World Government.
Angeles' wings were very useful. Coupled with an Ability User's coat, there was no need to worry about her Lunarian Tribe identity being discovered.
"Fifty-fifty split?" Angeles said casually, feeling like she'd been doing manual labor all these days.
"Up to you."
Chronos didn't mind. It was just small change. It was just that, because of his Pops, he had inherently frugal habits.
Angeles shrugged, took the pirate captain from Chronos, and set off.
Watching Angeles depart, Chronos thought of something and clicked his tongue in regret.
After all, she was the first to follow him, and Chronos had intended to help Angeles enhance her strength.
He had previously considered giving her the Siren Fruit he obtained, since they both had wings.
Unfortunately, Angeles had refused. She said she preferred a Devil Fruit that could enhance her physical constitution; something like the Siren, which leaned more towards magic, wasn't to her taste.
Chronos hadn't expected that Angeles harbored the dream of a warrior.
He could only hope to find a suitable fruit for her in the future.
For now, Chronos calculated the time. Tohru and the others should be arriving in Water 7 soon. By the time Angeles returned from this trip, they would probably be able to meet.
At a restaurant recommended by Kokoro—who wasn't a granny yet—Chronos planned to properly entertain the friends who had come from afar.
This would be the first meeting of his core subordinates, and Chronos naturally intended to make it a good start.
…
The ship's whistle blew with a bright, mournful sound. Chronos gazed at the cruise ship before him with a sense of relief.
It was a product of the Great Kingdom, which had inherited Lunar Technology. The kingdom boasted a group of scientists eager to benefit the people, so constructing a mere cruise ship was no challenge at all.
In other words, this kind of cruise ship could be considered the maritime bus of the present era.
Water Seven had somewhat declined, so there weren't many passengers boarding or disembarking. Tohru, being a tall and burly man, was easily spotted by Chronos after just a few glances.
"Tohru, over here!"
Waving the sign he had Flam casually make for picking people up—a single word: "Shining"—Chronos caught his attention.
Tohru was carrying his luggage, accompanied by Jackie Chan and Jade, who seemed to be lecturing him as they walked. Several other children trailed behind them, along with a samurai dressed in distinctly Japanese attire.
Hearing Chronos's voice, Tohru looked up and waved his large, fan-like hand.
"Sir!"
Tohru remained polite as ever. Beside him, Jade immediately perked up at the sound, tilting her head and fixing her wide, sparkling eyes on her Uncle.
"Uncle, we've arrived! I promise I'll behave and listen carefully!"
Jackie Chan rubbed his forehead in a tactical display of exasperation but still replied, "We're only here to help Chronos appraise the treasure he found—it's basic work for an archaeologist. Jade, why did you have to tag along!?"
"Really?" Jade tilted her head, her mischievous energy resurfacing. "But I heard Uncle Chronos asked you to investigate some ruins or something?"
"Jade!" Jackie's expression shifted. "You shouldn't eavesdrop on adults' conversations!"
"Well, you weren't exactly telling the truth either, were you?" Jade retorted, crossing her arms proudly.
By the time Chronos approached, the uncle and niece were still bickering.
A little-known fact: Jade is the daughter of Jackie's cousin Xin Xin, so "Uncle" is actually "Uncle" in the maternal line.
"Jade, Jackie, you're as lively as ever~"
Chronos greeted them with a smile.
Since arriving in this world, Jade had been thrilled—no school, just learning directly from Jackie and Pops. She now worked as a helper at the antique shop.
"Uncle Chronos! What are we going to do for fun this time!? I heard you went to Skypiea? Is it true? Are there really islands 10,000 meters up in the sky?"
The moment she saw Chronos, Jade rushed over to him.
Compared to her somewhat rigid uncle, Jade found it easier to chat with Chronos.
"Skypiea is real, but I've already been there and don't plan on returning anytime soon. If you can, I suggest you go there yourself someday,"
Chronos replied with a laugh. He had a soft spot for this little girl, who seemed like the beloved daughter of this world of adventure.
"I definitely will!" Jade exclaimed excitedly, pumping her fist.
"Chronos, you're going to spoil her like this,"
Jackie said helplessly.
"With you around, she won't,"
Chronos had full confidence in Jackie's upbringing from their adventures—Jade wouldn't turn out badly.
Turning to Tohru, Chronos extended an invitation, "Tohru, I'm planning to start some ventures now. Would you like to join me?"
"Of course!"
The large man nodded happily—that was exactly why he had come!
Then, Chronos greeted the samurai beside Tohru, "You must be Mr. Jun Shiro? Thank you for bringing Little Fu Gui and the others here."
"It's no trouble at all, Mr. Chronos."
The Eastern chef Jun Shiro had a somewhat heavy accent, but he truly possessed the spirit of a genuine warrior.
"Little Fu Gui is an opponent I must give my all to face, and also my friend. I feel duty-bound to help him."
In the storyline, Jun Shiro could use inner energy to stir-fry scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and even halt a small boat rocking in turbulent currents with a single kick. The prowess of an inner energy master was truly fearsome.
After arriving in the pirate world, he might become another example of someone who wouldn't even eat the Flame-Flame Fruit, as it was considered unfit even for dogs.
Chronos nodded, and immediately a large head popped up behind Jun Shiro.
"Brother Chronos! I came to find you!"
Little Fu Gui was overjoyed. His grandfather had finally agreed to let him venture out to train and seek ways to advance his culinary skills, so he had immediately come to find Chronos!
"It's been a while, Fu Gui. You've grown quite a bit taller~"
Chronos patted Little Fu Gui's large head—the texture was indeed quite pleasant.
Compared to his cartoonish, big-headed doll appearance in the animation, the Little Fu Gui before him now seemed more three-dimensional, at least looking more like a young boy.
"And are Little Fei Die, Little Bee, and Little Li here with Little Fu Gui too?"
"Of course!" Little Fei Die snorted. "That guy Little Fu Gui can barely read a few characters. What would he do without our help?"
Hearing this, Little Fu Gui immediately blushed. He was just obsessed with cooking, seeking the true essence of being a chef!
Little Fei Die had a very lively temperament, even bordering on feisty.
However, Jade nearby stifled a laugh. She got along very well with Little Fei Die, as their personalities were somewhat similar.
Little Bee and Little Li merely smiled shyly. It wasn't just their nature—they had both come from the palace and were instinctively cautious.
With five children and three adults in total, and none of the elders from either side present, it worked out perfectly with the two adults on Chronos's side to supervise them one-on-one.
"This is Angeles, a companion I met on Skypiea. She's a mix of Skypiean and Lunarian, hailed as a Sky Warrior in her homeland!"
Angeles, clad in armor, walked over with a smile, the clear, clanking sound of metal accompanying her steps as she greeted them warmly.
"Hello!"
"Wow!"
Jade and Little Fei Die gazed at the female knight before them, their eyes sparkling with admiration.
She's so cool!
Once the two groups were acquainted, Chronos led them properly into Water 7.
He called over several local specialty Bull Frog mounts for the children to ride, letting them experience the scenic waterways of Water 7.
Immediately, lively playfulness erupted, filled with the cheerful laughter unique to children.
Chronos glanced over and, unsurprisingly, saw Jade at the forefront, subtly acting as the ringleader among the kids.
Jackie Chan watched from the side, nearly itching to step in as he saw Jade almost making the Bull Frog sprint.
But Jade still had some sense of restraint, or perhaps with peers around, she didn't fully let loose.
In the end, the group arrived safely at their destination, though the children were somewhat reluctant to bid farewell to the Bull Frogs.
The Bull Frogs simply slapped their tails, finished the last handful of food, and dove into the water, disappearing from sight.
"Hmph! Heartless creatures!"
Jade muttered under her breath at the sight.
Little Fei Die, however, watched the Bull Frogs vanish before tugging at Little Fu Gui to ask what dishes could be made from Bull Frog.
Little Fu Gui fell into thought, while Little Li seemed to stir, perhaps recalling his hunting trips with Little Fu Gui from back in the day.
…
The meal at their destination left everyone in high spirits. Neither Jun Shiro nor Little Fu Gui suffered any ill effects—in fact, the experience left them eager for more.
"Uncle Pengpeng, thank you for your culinary skills! Secretary Kokoro was right—you truly are an excellent chef!"
"Hmph, of course I am."
Uncle Pengpeng, who seemed to share some history with Barefoot Zeff, replied with pride.
However, upon learning that Chronos had been referred by Kokoro, Uncle Pengpeng's expression turned somewhat regretful.
"Kokoro... She was such a beauty in her youth. What a shame she ended up with that guy!"
Clearly, Uncle Pengpeng had his own share of stories.
Kokoro now served as secretary at Tom's Workshop. In her younger days, she had been a stunning secretary, but with age, she had begun to show signs of aging and weight gain.
Yet no one was particularly interested in the romantic histories of middle-aged men and women. Little Fu Gui and Jun Shiro were far more curious about Uncle Pengpeng's cooking secrets.
"You want to know my secret?"
Uncle Pengpeng chuckled.
"Young men, my secret is..."
"Salt," Chronos cut in directly.
"Due to its geography, Water 7 experiences a massive tsunami every year. But that tsunami also brings the purest and most delicious salt."
"While a skilled chef can create delicious dishes with simple ingredients, the best results come from pairing fine tools with fine materials, right?"
Uncle Pengpeng paused, then grinned awkwardly, a hint of irritation in his expression.
"Hey, kid! Don't just interrupt people like that!"
"Sorry, sorry."
Chronos laughed it off, then pulled out a gold brick.
"So, Uncle, do you still have any of that 'Salt of the Water Gods'? I'm willing to pay a high price for it～"
Uncle Pengpeng fell silent. It was the first time he had encountered someone so extravagant.
Who uses a gold brick to buy salt!?
Ahem. "How much do you need?"
Uncle Pengpeng straightened up, all business now.
...
Chronos gifted the purchased salt to Little Fu Gui and Jun Shiro as a present. Though initially hesitant, the two accepted it with a sense of duty after Chronos remarked, "From now on, the kitchen is in your hands."
Back at the hotel, Chronos met with Jackie Chan and Tohru.
He handed over systematically crafted sculptures and jewelry made of gold and silver for Jackie Chan to appraise carefully.
Casually, Chronos asked, "Jackie, have you found that Ancient Sleeping Town I asked about earlier? Legend says there are ruins and treasures there."
Jackie Chan, excitedly examining and calculating the value of the four-hundred-year-old Shandorian gold artifacts, responded without looking up.
Hearing the name "Ancient Sleeping Town," Jackie instinctively replied, "Ah, yes, I found it. It's on a place called Torrance Island. It used to be a deserted island, but in recent years, more and more scavengers have settled there, and it's developed into a city."
"Legend has it that a great war broke out there in the past, turning most of the island into wasteland. It's not impossible that ruins are buried in those hidden areas."
After merging with the world of pirates, Jackie Chan—originally an adventurer and archaeologist—now even carried official certification from Ohara.
In this world, researching history was no longer a big deal, especially since Joy Boy was still alive. If you wanted to know something, you could just ask him directly.
"So, Chronos, did you get some kind of tip? Are you searching for something?"
Jackie Chan looked up and asked, "Now that Chronos has found Skypiea and the City of Gold, this is an achievement worthy of writing books and leaving a mark in history!"
"Yes, I've received information that there's a very powerful Devil Fruit there—exactly the power I need and the final piece I've been searching for."
In the current version of the pirate world, Mythical Zoan types were the meta, but there were indeed very few that could be easily obtained.
The Vampire Fruit was Chronos' clearest target, and the power of that Devil Fruit was truly top-tier.
The ability to absorb lifespan without any prerequisites made it the perfect match for Chronos' Soul-Soul Fruit.
The only question was whether the lifespan absorbed by the Vampire Fruit could be used for the Soul-Soul Fruit.
"Wow~"
At this moment, Jade, who had been eavesdropping from the adjacent room, showed a delighted expression. She had suspected the adults were keeping an adventure from her.
Traveling to war-torn islands, searching for Devil Fruits in lost ruins—it sounded amazing!
"So I'll need your help, Jackie Chan. Not just to appraise these golden antiques, but also to guide me to that place."
"I knew there'd be trouble," Jackie Chan said dejectedly, then suddenly looked up. "After we find the ruins, you have to let me survey the situation inside first."
"No problem," Chronos agreed immediately.
"And you have to send Jade back!"
Jackie Chan emphasized strongly.
"Oh no!"
The three adults in the room turned their heads. Jackie Chan sighed and lowered his head, Tohru pretended not to hear, while Chronos smiled happily.
"It seems Jade already knows. If you don't take her along, the consequences might be worse. So, will you take her or not?"
"Fine, Jade can come, but she must stay in the room, so..."
"Great!"
A cheerful shout interrupted Jackie Chan.
"I don't remember this hotel having such poor soundproofing," Chronos shook his head.
"But no problem, Jackie Chan. I'll create something that can keep an eye on Jade."
Chronos laughed, raising his hand as purple Soul Lifespan drifted through the air.
"Jade will be very obedient~"