From the moment Ethan Chen laid eyes on the skull-and-crossbones flag flying over the fishing village square, he already knew the answer.
This was almost certainly the world of One Piece.
Pirates running rampant, corrupt marines who committed atrocities in the name of justice, tyrannical kingdoms, and the Celestial Dragons aristocrats so high above the rest that no one dared challenge them.
In a world like this, there was nothing more reliable than power.
Strength raw, unfiltered strength and the size of one's influence were the only true measures of security in this brutal, unforgiving world.
And that was exactly what Ethan needed right now.
Especially after surviving a pirate raid, escaping death by a hair's breadth. That near-death experience had been more than enough to make him acutely aware of how fragile life could be.
So when 2B declared her primary directive was now to protect him, he was overjoyed.
That also conveniently completed one of his system's assigned tasks.
Opportunities are never meant for the weak. If you want the world's favor, show your courage and prove yourself.
Task Requirement: Kill one enemy (pirates, bandits, marines, or any armed soldier).
Status: Completed.
Reward: One Summon Token.
(Note: The summoned character may not be loyal to you by default. To gain their allegiance, please make full use of your personal charm.)
Want to find the legendary treasure?
Then gather your companions. A new journey begins!
Companion Requirement: Swordswoman (female preferred, but no odd fetishes).
Status: Completed.
Reward: One Mastery Point (can be freely assigned in your character panel, irreversible once distributed choose wisely).
New Task: You can't set sail without a ship. Unless you plan to swim your way to the legendary treasure?
Ship Requirement: The bigger, the better. If nothing else works, hiding in a barrel and floating with the tide is also an option.
(Warning: Beware of getting swallowed by Sea Kings.)
Note: The ship must be personally owned. Acquisition via purchase or capture is acceptable.
Reward: +1 Lottery Spin
(Task Time Limit: One month. For each day overdue, you'll receive a week-long "Kidney Fatigue" debuff. Do your best to complete the task.)
Ethan pressed his lips together.
The system didn't come with a cold-blooded "fail-and-you-die" clause, but this kind of punishment was, frankly, a cruel torment to any healthy man.
Snapping back to the present, he looked at 2B, who was waiting patiently for his response.
"Then I'll be counting on you for my safety from now on."
2B saluted him formally.
"I will protect you with my life and uphold the honor of humanity."
"You don't need to be that formal. We're partners. Just be yourself."
"Partners…" 2B touched her chin thoughtfully, then nodded. "I will keep that in mind. If you ever need me, feel free to command me."
"Let's head back to the village," Ethan said as he turned. "Maybe there's something we can help with."
Besides, if they were to complete the task of acquiring a ship, the village would likely be the place to start. Given their status as saviors, getting a small boat shouldn't be too difficult.
But before they could reach the village, a squad of armed marines came running toward them.
2B reacted instantly. She drew her greatsword and stepped in front of Ethan, assuming a defensive stance.
The marines halted a short distance away and quickly formed ranks, leaving a path open in the center.
From within the formation, a tall, commanding woman stepped forward. She had long pink hair, a cigarette clamped between her lips, and an air of mature confidence.
Her tight crimson suit clung to her curves, especially around her chest, where a single overstrained button strained to hold the fabric together, like a tiny spider trying to keep a bridge from collapsing.
One deep breath, and that poor button might surrender entirely, unleashing a snowy avalanche.
It was hard not to notice women in this world seemed to come equipped with exaggerated physiques as standard.
She cast a brief glance at the wary 2B, then spoke in a low, unhurried tone.
"You're the ones who saved the village?"
"Yes," Ethan said, gently tapping 2B on the wrist to signal her to lower her weapon. "That was us. Is there something you need?"
"Just confirming. Word is, you're not from around here."
Ethan felt a sudden sense of unease.
He remembered that in this world, setting sail required strict approval from the Marines. Civilian movement between islands was heavily controlled you couldn't just travel wherever you pleased.
Anyone who set sail without authorization pirate, adventurer, or even bounty hunter was labeled a pirate all the same.
Because sailing allowed commoners to escape the crippling taxes demanded by the Marines, the kingdoms, and the Celestial Dragons.
Which is why those with enough courage would rather take to the seas than stay and be bled dry by the system.
Ethan and 2B? One was a dimension traveler, the other a system summon. Neither had any legal identity here, let alone valid sailing papers.
In short, they were indistinguishable from pirates.
Ethan met the woman's eyes without flinching and discreetly squeezed 2B's hand before shaking his head slightly.
The atmosphere tensed.
"Colonel, report-"
A marine jogged up and whispered into the woman's ear.
"No matches among known pirate profiles."
The invisible pressure lifted.
The marine commander reached out a hand.
"Hello. I'm Tashigi. Thank you both for helping save the village."
It was her!
Though she was dressed far more modestly than in the source material, Ethan instantly recognized her pink hair, a cigarette, and that sharp, observant gaze.
Tashigi, the user of the Kiro Kiro no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allowed her to shackle targets with iron binds or summon spear-like constructs for long-range attacks. A dangerous opponent, no doubt.
And apparently, she was still just a commander?
That meant the timeline must be set before the events of Marineford.
Ethan couldn't help but wonder… if Tashigi and 2B fought, who would win?
Shoving those random thoughts aside, Ethan accepted her handshake.
"I'm Ethan Chen. This is 2B. As for the pirates we only fought to protect ourselves."
"Regardless of your reasons, the fact remains that you defeated them and saved this village."
Tashigi let go after a brief handshake.
"You'll receive the full bounty for the pirates you took down. No deductions. I assume you'll be staying here for a while?"
"Yes. We're in need of a ship."
"Then wait here a few days. I'll have the bounty delivered, and as for the loot aboard the pirate ship, I'll have my men catalog and appraise it. Once it's done, I'll convert the value to beli and send it your way."
She turned to leave, but paused.
"I'll be stationed here for a few more days. If you need assistance, you can find me at the warship dock."
With that, Tashigi departed as quickly as she had arrived, the marines falling in line behind her.
Ethan watched her go, eyes drawn to the word Justice emblazoned on the back of her marine coat.
Bounty payments. Help appraising loot. Was this divine providence?
He couldn't help but feel lucky that Tashigi had shown up instead of some corrupt Marine scum like Captain Nezumi, who colluded with pirates, or Axe-Hand Morgan, who ruled through fear.
Was this the proverbial beginner's luck?
Feeling rather pleased, Ethan and 2B made their way back to the village.
But the moment they arrived, all sense of joy evaporated.
The devastation left by the pirates hung heavy in the air. Grief clung to the village like a fog.
When the survivors saw Ethan and 2B return, they gathered around them, offering heartfelt thanks.
"Big brother, this is for you."
Ethan looked down to see a little girl, snot running from her nose, struggling to hold up the plastic bag of snacks he had brought earlier.
"Thanks," he said, taking the bag with a gentle smile. He patted her on the head, then pulled out a pack of soft candy, unwrapped it, and offered it to her.
These snacks once gone, they were gone for good.
He would never get to taste them again.