Chapter 17

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Leaving just like that felt a bit of a shame. You fixed your gaze on the second-to-last option, feeling a bit puzzled.

Wang Lufei? Who is that?

A name you’ve never heard before... but you have to admit, even Wang Lufei sounds better than your silly name “Malou.”

You pass on the second choice and directly read out the third option: “My name is Wang Lufei, the man who will become the Pirate King!”

“What?”

Bucky reacted with shock at your words, shouting confusedly, “Nonsense! Aren’t you a woman!?”

“Also, let me tell you... the title of Pirate King will belong to our Captain Roger, no one else can snatch it!”

“Hmm.”

You nodded indifferently: “I know, Captain Roger will become the Pirate King.”

The promotional video in the game clearly states that he obtained everything in the world, and before his execution, he let everyone search for all his treasures, something called the One Piece, which ignited the great pirate era. He was the true Pirate King.

This is the game’s story background. You wouldn’t question it, and Bucky’s words only confirmed your suspicion that the dark-haired uncle here is certainly not the Pirate King right now.

A personally signed autograph must be the right choice.

...Though it feels like your demo version timeline is a bit early.

“Eh?”

Bucky looked at you with a confused expression. “You... you believe that our Captain Roger will become the future Pirate King?”

[System: Bucky’s favorability +10.]

“You’re really a strange one.”

He muttered softly, nervously scratching his red nose and pulling his knitted cap lower over his head, diverting his gaze.

That kid... although secretly selling treasures, deep down he still respects his captain.

But that’s none of your business.

Ignoring Bucky, whose cheeks were inexplicably flushing, you waved your hand and turned away, following memories in your mind through several streets. Soon enough, you found the alley where the general store was located.

Of course, you just weren’t very good at distinguishing directions, but you weren’t lost — all the paths you walked could be remembered clearly.

If only you had a map, it would be easier to find your way. RPG games usually have something like that, pressing the M key to bring it up. But in real life, or rather here, it’s not so simple.

The bald uncle’s general store was indeed at the spot in your memory. The wooden table was piled with all sorts of “junk,” but the price tags seemed to be missing...

Just as you were about to approach, out of the corner of your eye, you caught a familiar splash of red at the end of the street.

Hmm?

The person had their back turned, their iconic straw hat tilted casually atop their head, red hair pressed beneath it. They were bending over, picking cucumbers from a vegetable stall.

— Obviously, it was Shanks, whom you had seen at the market just yesterday.

Watching him pick a plump cucumber and stuff it into a sack, after a moment, the cucumber seemed to respawn in the empty spot. You weren’t sure if it was the same cucumber he just took or if the game replenished it... You smirked, unfazed.

Considering Shanks was still some distance away, you approached the general store’s stall first.

The bald shopkeeper was still dressed flamboyantly. He had been sitting on a small stool, legs crossed, picking his teeth with a wooden pick. Seeing you, an exclamation mark popped above his head.

“It’s you!”

He suddenly stood up, still holding the toothpick in his mouth, shouting, “Guards!!”

“Someone come quick! Catch this brat! She stole from my stall last time and even threatened to kill me!!”

As soon as he finished speaking, three uniformed guards appeared promptly.

“.........”

Wait, not only were your and the fruit vendor’s lines nearly identical, but these three guards looked like copy-pasted versions of the three guards you’d seen earlier!?

And that toothpick—how did it stay in his mouth while he was shouting without falling out? That magical toothpick was literally hovering in midair in his mouth!

You had never felt so speechless. You clearly hadn’t stolen the bald man’s goods... you’d only used his price tag, yet it still attracted the guards.

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However, the expected battle mode prompt didn’t appear.

The three NPC guards with “Guard” tags on their heads approached the stall, scrutinizing you seriously. They took out notebooks and compared various details, making you strangely nervous, fearing they might recognize you...

Though you didn’t know why you were worried. Even if they were the guards Marco had driven away earlier, these three identical low-level NPCs were only level 8; you could knock them down with a single punch.

“She didn’t steal your goods. We can’t take her away for investigation.”

The lead guard closed his notebook and firmly denied the shopkeeper’s request.

Clearly, they didn’t recognize you as the unruly little girl who caused trouble at noon... or perhaps they weren’t the three NPCs Marco had driven away at all.

“B-but...”

The shopkeeper wilted like a dried leaf, his bald head shining pitifully in the sun.

“There’s no but. Don’t interfere with our patrol inspections.”

The guards did not linger. The one on the left even showed a very displeased expression: “Don’t shout around carelessly in the future. It’s a waste of our time.”

“Go to hell, bald man.”

They spat a mouthful of thick phlegm on the shopkeeper’s head, then turned and left in a grand procession. The metallic boots clicked rhythmically on the stone pavement until they disappeared from view.

You: “...”

So mean! So despicable!

The guards were supposed to be the champions of justice at noon, but now suddenly they were cold and ruthless. Is stealing a price tag not considered stealing goods? You even felt a bit sorry for the shopkeeper!

Though he nearly ripped you off for tens of thousands before, so forget it... your sympathy vanished instantly.

“Ah!”

Just as you were about to check if the bald shopkeeper had any quest, a voice of surprise came from behind. You instinctively turned your head, and a huge face appeared before you.

Whoa!!

Shanks had somehow appeared right behind you, happily holding his straw hat. Just a minute ago, he was still at the end of the street. His delicate face startled you so much that you fell to the ground, but he was completely oblivious.

“Isn’t this Malou? You’re still on this island today?”

Shut up! Don’t call me that name!

Though you were beginning to get immune to the name, you silently got up, never expecting Shanks to suddenly invade your personal space like this.

Damn, can this game be any scarier?

Choice 1: Good afternoon, Shanks.

Choice 2: Send me 50 Beli, and I’ll tell you my schedule.

Choice 3: Yes, I have some secrets about Bucky to share with you.

Choice 4: Leave.

Options popped up over the red-haired boy. You checked them and felt the first choice was the most normal.

But the second choice would get you money. Choosing that shouldn’t reduce favorability, right? After hesitating, you read it out: “Send me 50 Beli, and I’ll tell you my schedule.”

“Eh? 50?”

Shanks scratched his hair and actually pulled out a 50 Beli coin from his pocket, handing it to you: “Sure.”

Really, really giving it to me?

Player’s favorability with Shanks +1.

You beamed with joy, happily taking the coin. Looking down, you saw a small white note stuck on the back: Remember to pay me back next time.

“...”

What a jerk, asking you to pay back for only 50 Beli!

For players in the game, there’s no such thing as “borrowing.” You tore off the note as if you hadn’t seen it and pocketed the coin without hesitation.

“So?” Shanks asked with a smile after you accepted the coin, “What’s your schedule?”

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“Just wandering the streets... maybe visiting the palace at the island’s center if I get the chance.”

You casually replied. He responded with surprise at some keywords: “The palace?”

“That’s great! I want to go to the palace too! I heard the town’s best doctor was invited to visit the palace. Our captain wanted to visit him this morning but unfortunately missed him...”

“Well, no use forcing things that aren’t meant to be—that’s what Captain Roger said.”

Shanks said cheerfully, “If all goes well, we’ll set sail and leave tonight.”

Oh.

So they’re leaving soon. That’s pretty quick.

Before he left, you decided to boost your favorability a bit. You took a banana from your backpack and handed it to him.

“Oh, for me? Thanks.”

[System: Shanks’ favorability +2.]

You handed him another.

“A banana, thanks.”

[System: Shanks’ favorability +2.]

And another.

“Okay, I’ve got it.”

[System: Shanks’ favorability +1.]

...It actually decreased.

You hesitated about what to give next. Thinking about how Bucky’s favorability increased sharply just by giving him some trinkets he liked, maybe Shanks had favorite things too. You started rummaging through your backpack for other useless junk.

You tried a crab first.

“Oh! Looks delicious, thanks.”

[System: Shanks’ favorability +2.5.]

Not bad at all! You didn’t rush to give him a second crab but kept searching. For example, the old sailor had given you not just some punches but also three useless lobsters and a bottle of snake oil.

Snake oil is good stuff—it adds 1 charm point and restores 10 HP... You weren’t going to give it to an NPC; you’d save it for yourself when your HP got low.

You tried giving a lobster.

“This is for you.”

“Oh... huh? This is...”

Shanks’ mechanical gift-receiving gesture suddenly paused. His eyes brightened, and he gave you a hearty smile: “Lobster! I really like eating these, thanks!”

[System: Shanks’ favorability +13.]

Whoa.

You really figured out what he liked. The favorability boost was huge. Since the lobsters didn’t add any attributes, you didn’t hesitate to give him the remaining two.

“Wow! I love these. They’ll be great for cooking.”

The red-haired boy repeated similar words twice.

[System: Shanks’ favorability +13.]

[System: Shanks’ favorability +13.]

The lobsters were gone, freeing up a slot in your backpack.

What else should you give him?

Thinking about what else Shanks might like, you suddenly thought of Gol D. Roger’s nose hair.