Chapter 303: Chapter 4: Chance Encounter (4th update, bonus for monthly pass)
After rummaging around for a while, Su Xiao finally found a few bundles of Belli and three gold coins inside that wooden table.
The Belli amounted to hundreds of thousands, which is roughly equivalent to tens of thousands of RMB in purchasing power, making these pirates seem rather poor.
However, the three gold coins were quite valuable, crafted from pure gold. The surface design featured five spheres linked together—one at each corner of the coin and one in the center—forming the World Government’s emblem.
[World Government Commemorative Coin ×3]
Origin: One Piece, World Government Hide Factory.
Quality: Green
Type: Valuable Item
Rating: 12
Description: Can be sold to Reincarnation Paradise or given to story characters. If gifted wisely, it can earn the goodwill of story creatures, with the level of goodwill increase related to Charm.
Price: 900
...
This item is quite good. Su Xiao did not rush to sell it, instead storing the three coins in his storage space.
After confirming there were no other items in the captain’s cabin, Su Xiao gave up searching and rested against the seat.
Soon, noises came from outside. Su Xiao quickly walked out of the captain’s cabin, and a beautiful island came into view.
The island wasn’t small, and the whole island was covered in buildings. These structures converged to form a tower-like appearance for the entire City of Seven Seas, with water gushing out of its tip like a fountain. A few waterways ran through the city, channeling the gushing seawater back into the ocean.
The grand scale of the City of Seven Seas was beyond imagination. Originally a land island, the island sank and was submerged underwater.
The residents of the City of Seven Seas chose not to migrate but continued building on the original structures to rise above the sea’s surface.
Centuries of building upon building have made the City of Seven Seas so elevated above the sea that the city feels like it’s built on the sea, making it a true seaview residence where one can fish from their own window.
The pirate ship Su Xiao was on slowly sailed toward the City of Seven Seas, headed for the backstreets.
Although the City of Seven Seas welcomes pirates, they can’t enter through the front gate openly, as that would be a challenge to the rules. It’s a facade,
Upon entering the backstreets of the City of Seven Seas, the ship sailed between houses. The water channels between these houses were quite wide, at least tens of meters, and the residents of the City of Seven Seas seemed unfazed by the heavily damaged pirate ship, as if accustomed to such sights.
Finally reaching the City of Seven Seas, Su Xiao stood on the ship’s rail and leaped towards a residential area.
The houses in the City of Seven Seas were built in rows and were very tall, most being over a dozen stories high. In front of each row of houses was an alleyway for pedestrians, with seawater just beside it, a unique sight found only in the City of Seven Seas.
Leaving the pirate ship allowed those pirates to breathe a sigh of relief, who soon sailed away.
The morals of those pirates had nothing to do with Su Xiao. They brought him here, and he spared their lives; it’s just that simple.
Standing on the alleyway, a prompt from Reincarnation Paradise appeared.
[The Hunter has arrived at the City of Water, Main Quest activated]
[Main Quest: Faction Choice]
Difficulty Level: Lv.7
Mission Description: Join either the Galley-La Company, World Government, or Straw Hat Pirates.
Mission Information: Your choice of faction will affect subsequent missions.
Mission Deadline: 3 natural days.
Mission Reward: 2000 Paradise coins.
Mission Penalty: All Attributes -3, and forced teleportation out of the Derivative World.
...
The initial main quest isn’t difficult; it’s merely choosing which faction to join.
Su Xiao first eliminated the Straw Hat Pirates as an option, for a simple reason: incompatibility, as the Straw Hat Pirates would not accept his way of doing things, and he wouldn’t agree with their approach either.
An enemy should be eradicated completely; it’s ridiculous to just ’knock them flying.’ If not for Luffy’s powerful family, his kin would have long been avenged. Thinking of Dragon, Garp, Ace, and Sabo, Su Xiao shook his head; the likelihood is slim, as Luffy is the weakest of the bunch.
With the Straw Hat Pirates ruled out, the remaining options were the World Government and Galley-La Company. Joining the World Government would be somewhat challenging, given Su Xiao’s ’Gundam’ 5 Charm Attributes and his aura; it’s a good result to not be driven away.
Thus, only Galley-La Company remained, with Iceberg as the president.
Galley-La Company is the largest force in the City of Seven Seas, ostensibly a shipyard, but in reality, it controls the City of Seven Seas and wins the hearts of the people, to the extent that even the Navy can’t interfere in some matters.
The City of Seven Seas has only a dozen Navy personnel stationed, mainly responsible for emergency communication, indicating the city’s significant status.
There have been too many legendary events here, the ancient weapon Pluto was built here, which is why the World Government maintains an ambiguous attitude towards the City of Seven Seas, neither drawing closer nor distancing itself.
The unique geography and unique status have created a unique culture here, where both the Navy and Pirates can come to buy or repair ships, and both sides exercise restraint after entering the City of Seven Seas.
As the mayor of the City of Seven Seas, Iceberg, also known as Iceberg, holds a transcendental status. He is not only the mayor but also the president of the Galley-La Company.
Thinking of this, Su Xiao decides to join the Galley-La Company, which will be beneficial for future actions. The Galley-La Company is a mix of fish and dragons, and no one cares about his origins. It’s common for Pirates to work here.
Although the Galley-La Company is the easiest to join among the three forces, it is also the most dangerous.
Three spies from the World Government are lurking in the Galley-La Company, members of CP9, whose strength is not to be underestimated.
It can be foreseen that Contractors joining the Galley-La Company must be very few; calling it rare is no exaggeration. With those three spies present, there’s always a risk of being killed.
The World Government and Straw Hat Pirates are different, especially the Straw Hat Pirates, possibly gathering over 90% of the Contractors.
Walking leisurely through the city, Su Xiao perceives something amiss after going through several rounds; many pathways are dead ends, separated by sea water, requiring a leap to a path several meters away to continue forward.
Houses separate the waterway, and a bridge is rare and far apart. If it continues like this, finding the Galley-La Company will take considerable effort.
Su Xiao thinks of a means of transportation in the City of Seven Seas, a creature known as Bull, an amphibious creature capable of rapid swimming in the sea, equipped with a small boat behind it to allow free navigation through the City of Seven Seas’ waterways.
After a nearby search, Su Xiao finds several Bull rental shops and rents a Bull for just 1000 Belli.
This creature called Bull is a ’cowfish,’ poking its head above the water while its body submerges, carrying a small boat with seats on its back.
The Bull looks comical, showing its full set of flat teeth, seemingly always smiling, a very gentle creature.
Su Xiao sits in the small boat behind the Bull, holding the map gifted on renting the Bull.
"Seems it’s not far."
Su Xiao attempts to communicate with the Bull he’s riding, and the blue Bull emits an ’eee’ sound, as if it truly understands.
"Do you know the location of the Galley-La Company?"
"Eee～."
The smiling Bull nods, flapping its fins and swiftly swims forward, weaving through the City of Water’s houses.
Seeing the Bull, Su Xiao recalls Bubute Ni, whose core is still inside the storage space, having been stifled for so long it should be released.
Upon releasing Bubute Ni, the little boat beneath sinks, and the Bull pulling the boat shrinks its head, somewhat afraid of Bubute Ni.
Just out, Bubute Ni romps around, but the boat’s space is limited, and Bubute Ni falls into the sea with a splash.
A proper doggie paddle appears, Bubute Ni is not afraid of water, instead swimming freely in the sea, causing splashes everywhere.
Su Xiao suddenly thinks he might have wasted 1000 Belli, realizing he should have had Bubute Ni pull the boat.
"Come back."
Hearing Su Xiao’s shout, Bubute Ni climbs back onto the little boat, drenched, Bubawang instinctively shakes off the water, splashing sea water everywhere.
Sea water drips from Su Xiao’s cheek, Bubute Ni utters a murmuring sound from its throat, obediently lying in the boat.
Su Xiao shakes the sea water off the map in his hand, being splashed with sea water is just a small matter; he can’t forget the two punches Bubute Ni valiantly helped to block inside the whale’s belly, if hit by those punches, he would remain inside the whale’s belly forever.
Galley-La Company has several shipyards; Su Xiao is heading towards No.1 Dock.
Half an hour later, Su Xiao arrives at No.1 Dock, a large expanse covered in lumber, occasionally spotting a cannon.
Many shipwrights are sweating as they work on the open ground, some building ships while others maintaining cannons.
A shipwright in a white tank top, wearing a top hat with curly hair catches Su Xiao’s attention; he has a uniquely-shaped beard on his chin, and a completely white pigeon standing on his shoulder.
Rob Lucci! One of CP9’s agents, now undercover in the Galley-La Company.
Rob Lucci carries a heavy wooden plank, building a ship. On him, Su Xiao faintly smells an almost undetectable scent of blood; perhaps some Contractors have already attempted to join Galley-La Company with predictable outcomes.
Unintentionally, Rob Lucci looks towards Su Xiao, their eyes meet, Rob Lucci pauses his work, possibly sensing Su Xiao’s sharp aura.
PS: (Got surpassed on the monthly ticket rankings, crying)