Han Yu reappeared in a small general store located on a street corner in New York City, the heart of the Marvel universe. The shop wasn't spacious, but its interior was well-equipped and cozy.
This humble store had been acquired by Han Yu half a year ago. He was once an ordinary citizen of China on Earth, a fervent fan of superheroes and manga. His journey to this world of extraordinary beings in the Marvel universe began the night he finished watching Avengers: Endgame. With a blink of an eye, he found himself transported to this fantastical realm.
The general store served as his golden finger, a mystical binding that accompanied him on his adventures. Initially, he had envisioned an instant rise to fame and fortune, perhaps even marrying a beautiful and wealthy woman. However, the system had other plans, assigning him endless tasks that turned his life into a grueling 996 work schedule.
Upon his return, Han Yu immediately addressed the system. "System, settle the collection task with the keyword 'Shinra Tensei'!"
The voice of the general store system echoed in Han Yu's mind.
"Task settlement complete. The system has detected additional items recorded: S-rank ninja technique [Outer Path: Resurrection of All Things], S-rank ninja technique [Hundred Endurances Technique], and S-rank ninja technique [Yin Sealing Technique]."
"Extra reward obtained: Item Draw Card x1!"
Han Yu exclaimed with joy, "An Item Draw Card? It was worth bringing back those three S-rank ninja techniques!"
With a swipe of his right hand, a floating holographic screen materialized in front of him, visible only to him. It displayed his personal information within the system.
[Name: Han Yu]
[General Store Level: Senior Assistant]
[Basic Ability: Immortal Seal]
[Additional Abilities: None]
[Items: Item Draw Card x1]
[Weapons: Hyōrinmaru]
[Current Upgrade Points: 20]
[Upgrade Required Points: 50]
...
Han Yu's gaze burned with intensity as it rested on the "Item Draw Card." This item was far more valuable than the Shinra Tensei itself. It had the power to draw items from countless worlds, and each item would be in its most advanced form, sparing Han Yu the trouble of upgrading weapons.
Within the general store system, acquiring an Item Draw Card wasn't limited to extra rewards. It could also be obtained by spending upgrade points, but the price was exorbitant. A single Item Draw Card cost a hundred upgrade points, a price that might as well be considered robbery! Han Yu struggled through countless tasks to accumulate a fraction of that amount, making the cost seem almost fatal.
Tapping lightly on the "Item Draw Card" entry in his personal information panel, Han Yu pinched the air with his fingers, and a purple card with golden edges materialized slowly in his hand.
"I hope I can draw something good this time. My ice-type zanpakuto, Hyōrinmaru, was drawn from here. Let's see if I get another treasure."
Just as Han Yu was about to start the draw, the wind chime hanging by the entrance of the general store rang out with a crisp melody, forcing him to halt the process and put away the Item Draw Card.
The wind chime could only be activated by individuals from various worlds who possessed a certain status. The stronger they were, the faster and louder the chime would ring. Under normal circumstances, even the strongest gusts of wind couldn't move it, making it seem like it was broken.
The door swung open, revealing a figure standing there. Han Yu's face lit up with a warm smile as he recognized the visitor. "Whitebeard, come for more booze?"
"Haha, you know me well, Han. Three hundred jars on the straw mat!" boomed Whitebeard, his laughter shaking the very walls of the house.
Outside the door that Whitebeard pushed open, there was no sign of New York's bustling streets. Instead, a vast expanse of empty land stretched out before them. The general store connected to countless worlds, each with its designated location. Whitebeard had stumbled upon this island and the little shop during one of his voyages.
He was amazed by the exceptional quality of the liquor here. In all his long years, he had never tasted anything so potent. Compared to this, their own alcohol seemed bland. Hence, Whitebeard frequently visited to purchase liquor, often in the hundreds of jars. Each jar, if packaged in regular bottles, would hold the equivalent of two or three dozen bottles.
"As always, leave them in the usual spot. The price remains the same." Han Yu chuckled. Though they were in different worlds, money was no issue. The system automatically converted the currency to the local equivalent.
"Alright, I'll send someone to fetch them. The money's already outside." Whitebeard nodded, a trace of fatigue flickering across his face before he turned to leave. Just as he was about to step out, Han Yu called after him.
"You don't look well. Is everything alright?"
Whitebeard glanced back at Han Yu, shaking his head as if reluctant to speak.
"You're one of my regulars," Han Yu persisted. "If you have something on your mind, you can talk to me. Maybe I can help."
"You're just a simple storekeeper. I can't drag you into my adventures," Whitebeard replied, but as he met Han Yu's gaze, he sighed softly. "Since I've bought so much booze from you, I suppose it's okay to tell you. It's Ace. The Navy has captured him, and he'll be executed soon. I'm going to rescue him, but I might not come back this time."
Han Yu was taken aback. He had met Ace, a cheerful and polite young man who treated everyone kindly. He had even come to the store on Whitebeard's behalf a few times, striking up friendly conversations with Han Yu. After their group's meals at the shop, Ace would always volunteer to help clean up, earning him a favorable price from Han Yu.
Seeing Han Yu's stunned expression, Whitebeard chuckled bitterly, not expecting to say more. In his eyes, Han Yu was just the owner of a small shop on a lonely island in the vast ocean. Words couldn't change anything.
With a lonely figure, Whitebeard left, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Han Yu stepped out of the general store, standing on the soil of the pirate world, and only then did he realize that the money bags piled up on both sides of the store had reached an astonishing six meters high, far exceeding the prices he usually charged.
"System, transfer all these coins into the currency system and let me see how much we have."Han Yu turned to address the general store system.
"Starting conversion...""Conversion complete!""Current currency unit: Marvel World, USD.""Converted amount: Three hundred thousand dollars!"
Han Yu's face contorted in surprise. Three hundred thousand dollars!In the past, the money he collected from selling alcohol, even for hundreds of jars, would only amount to around a hundred thousand dollars at most, not much more. This amount was definitely substantial for most people.
Since the Pirate King's World lacked sophisticated brewing techniques, Han Yu sold his liquor at a premium, but Whitebeard didn't mind and paid generously, albeit never this much before.
"I should go and check it out later."Han Yu muttered to himself, not wanting to let such a good customer slip away.
A thread of invisible energy gathered in Han Yu's palm, forming a transparent miniature figure smaller than a palm, crafted from his mental energy.
"Go."With a soft command, the transparent figure darted out, quickly catching up with Whitebeard's departing ship and perched on the mast, observing everything.
Inside the cabin, Whitebeard suddenly felt a strange sensation, as if he were being watched. He stood up and surveyed his surroundings.
"What's wrong, Dad?" one of Whitebeard's crew members asked.
The strange feeling soon dissipated, and Whitebeard shook his head slightly, dismissing the chaotic thoughts from his mind. "Nothing, let's hurry and rescue Ace."
Watching everything unfold from the tavern, Han Yu nodded silently. This mental energy construct could serve as his avatar, monitoring everything and possessing a degree of combat prowess, making it an excellent tracker.
With his mental energy avatar keeping tabs on Whitebeard, Han Yu could attend to his own matters. He once again took out the item extraction card and spoke.
"System, extract an item!"
He slapped the card forward, and it transformed into streams of light that converged ahead.
The light gradually condensed into a ring that glowed with a verdant hue.
The ring was crafted from an unknown silver metal, with a green gemstone embedded at its apex. Above the gemstone was a design comprising a circle and two horizontal lines.
Han Yu opened his palm, and the ring, as if possessed of sentience, automatically slipped onto his finger. Immediately, two beams of green light enveloped Han Yu's eyes, and a voice echoed in his mind.
"Holder of the Ring, recite the oath!"
Oath? What oath?
Before Han Yu could even ask, a passage appeared in his mind, and his lips moved as he recited the words etched within.
"In the brightness of day, in the darkness of night,Demons and specters, nowhere to hide.Evildoers and traitors, tremble before my divine light.The Green Lantern shines forever, illuminating all eternity!"
As the words left his lips, a brilliant green light surged forth from the ring, enveloping Han Yu in its glow. It lasted for several dozen seconds before slowly retracting back into the ring.
In that moment, Han Yu felt a spiritual connection to the ring. If it were to leave his possession, he would instantly be aware.
Only now could he scrutinize the ring in detail, and a stunned exclamation echoed throughout the general store.
"W...T...F! It's a Green Lantern Ring?!"