Chapter 245: Pirate King · Zhou Ning
One piece Pirate King · Zhou Ning.
His personality: wise, calm, and ambitious.
His talents: Tony Stark (Purple), Mermaid (Blue), Portable Elder Mentor (Purple).
His skills: Devil Fruit Creation (Expert), Armament Haki (Grandmaster), Observation Haki (Master), Conqueror's Haki (Master), Iron Man Suit Crafting (Advanced), Scientific Research Ability (Grandmaster), along with countless densely packed navigation-related skills.
———
Only now did Zhou Ning's stifled mood finally ease. After struggling in a battle of wits with the Lucky Clover for so long, this was the first time he felt he had truly gotten the better of it.
Clearly, he had a hidden template for traversal but had deliberately refrained from using it—forcing himself not to even think about it—waiting until the unlucky streak had passed before activating it.
But thinking about it more carefully, this could very well have been yet another trap set by the Lucky Clover. As a supernatural being, his memory should be flawless—yet he somehow couldn't remember to buy the "Spider-Sense · Zhou Ning" template, nor to use the hidden template, both of which were crucial!
Zhou Ning suspected this was actually part of the bad luck effect—a real headache!
[You have chosen the Pirate King · Zhou Ning for traversal.]
[Match successful. In this parallel world, you are the subverter of the Celestial Dragons' rule, the one who brought the Great Age of Pirates to an end. You are the Pirate King, master of the seas, protector of the Four Seas, a legend, and a living myth. You command a towering battleship seemingly from the depths of hell and possess technological power far beyond this world's era. What changes will you bring to this world? Let's wait and see.]
[Current world exploration rate: 40.8%. When it reaches 66.7%, you will unlock permission to access the next map.]
[The next map will be a BONUS random map, with difficulty and setting completely random. It has currently been confirmed as Level 5 dungeon "Tempestuous Seas."]
[Traversal coins earned in BONUS maps will be multiplied by 2, and you will receive one additional reward you can bring out of this world. This reward is not limited to items or skills. Therefore, you must explore this world as much as possible.]
[If you die in the simulation, the game ends.]
[Now boarding the time machine… 1%… 33%… 65%… 95%… Whoosh… Traversal complete.]
[Note: When using a template for traversal, you may freely choose the time and location.]
[Note: Template characters possess a degree of subjective initiative and can sometimes act unexpectedly.]
[You did not choose the time or location for traversal.]
[You have been randomly transported to the waters of the Caribbean in the year 1716. From this moment on, the wheels of history begin to turn.]
[April 9, 1716 — You appear on the waters of the Caribbean, aboard your flagship, the Pluton. Not far away is a small pirate fleet of four ships. Unexpectedly, upon seeing the steel monstrosity that is the Pluton, they do not flee, but instead move in for a boarding battle, intent on capturing it. Who gave them such courage?]
[For what most people would call a nightmare start, you find it merely amusing. Though these ships might be considered mid-tier vessels in this world, the gap compared to a legendary ship is obvious—they are nothing but small fry before you. The Pluton fired only two shots to sink the two ships charging in the lead.]
[The Pluton' fearsome display instantly shattered their courage. When your ship reached speeds of over 18 knots, they quickly raised the white flag.]
[There were still some twists—upon seeing that you were alone aboard, your captives tried to resist. But after some "friendly negotiations" involving Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki, they willingly complied.]
[Through conversation, you learned their leader was Tuval, a rather well-known pirate who operated on the trade routes between the Mediterranean, Europe, and the New World, with a bounty of 6,000 gold coins. Such an amount makes him a "great pirate"? You were stunned—but perhaps he was exactly the kind of subordinate you needed.]
[Tuval was a somewhat grim-looking middle-aged pirate from Marseille, a maritime trade hub on France's southern coast. His usual targets were merchant ships traveling between Europe and the New World. After seizing goods, he would head to Port Royal to fence them. When he attacked you, he had just finished plundering a ship from "the New World" island of Montserrat.]
[Over the next few days, you completely subdued Tuval with your leadership charisma and the aura of the Pirate King. He initially refused to submit, but after several failed escape attempts, mutiny attempts, and assassination attempts—followed by a thorough beating—he became your devoted follower, much like Brynd Morton or Enel in another world, obediently taking the post of your first mate.]
[According to Tuval, you are currently in the waters near the Leeward Islands. Even at the Pluton' cruising speed of 18 to 20 knots, it would take about three days to reach Port Royal.]
[BONUS map special commentary: In places you have yet to see, the entire pirate world now knows that a new legendary vessel has appeared on the Seven Seas—the fifth one after the Flying Dutchman, the Queen Anne's Revenge, the Silent Mary, and the Dreadnought—a pitch-black steel warship. On your voyage to Port Royal, more than one pirate ship encountered the Pluton.]
[April 12, 1716 — When the Pluton docked at Port Royal, you could clearly feel the fear from your peers. Being back on Earth felt pretty good. The city's architecture reminded you of the West Blue from the Pirate King's world—rugged in style. The air here was thick with both freedom and decadence, something you found familiar. Aside from the many fierce-looking pirates coming and going, there were also plenty of British soldiers in red coats. If you weren't mistaken, the pirates and the navy seemed to have reached some kind of understanding—colluding and using each other. Very interesting.]
[With your abilities, establishing yourself in this world is naturally no problem. But thanks to your experiences in the One Piece world, your ambitions have inevitably grown. Your sights are set far beyond merely establishing a foothold—you want to influence this world in every possible way, and your ambitions are greater still.]
[From what you know, this is now the trade and transport hub of the Caribbean, and the most decadent city in human history. Any shameful crime can be found here. To conquer the Caribbean, you must begin by securing a foothold in this city.]
[With Tuval's introduction, you spent a few days here, and through your leadership charm—and more importantly, the fame of being captain of the Pluton—you recruited a large group of pirates, giving your forces their initial shape.]