Announcement: Midnight Launch and Post-Launch Plans
Dear readers,
The book will officially go live tonight at midnight, which is 12:00 AM on the 1st.
First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to my chief editor, Green Bean, for their guidance. Without our conversation, this slow-witted author would have remained oblivious to how vibrant and thriving the world of fanfiction and ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) literature has become.
Next, I must thank my lovely editor, Xiao Yuan. In this regard, I've always believed in the saying, "Fools have their fortune." I've been fortunate enough to always encounter excellent editors. As someone who is "cool and aloof" (read: introverted), I have a habit of never proactively bothering my editors. Yet, Xiao Yuan has never forgotten about this little transparent author who prefers to keep to himself, always offering support along the way.
Lastly, and most importantly, I want to thank the most tolerant and adorable readers in the world—you. Even though you often tease me for writing "short chapters," I've always taken it with a smile and have never been so frustrated that I punched the wall! I've always remained calm and grateful.
I am not a naturally gifted writer, nor do I have a clear roadmap or grand strategy for my journey in online literature. Regarding the success of this novel, the fact that I have received the support of so many kind and understanding readers can only be attributed to one key insight I've gathered:
"One Piece:The True Codex"Readers are not fools.
In the current landscape of online literature, where stories, plots, characters, settings, and styles can all be formulaic, as long as you put in the effort and rack your brains to write something different, readers will surely reward you for it.
A click, a bookmark, a recommendation…
Whether or not you've poured your heart into your writing, among the sea of readers, there will always be someone who can tell.
That's why, even when this novel initially struggled with low readership and some advised me to follow the mainstream trends, I stuck to the unique style and direction of this book.
This style and direction are not easy to write. In fact, it's exhausting and may even seem thankless. But I firmly believe that there will always be readers who will notice and appreciate this novel's distinctiveness and recognize the effort I've poured into it.
In the authors' chat group, we often joke that launching a book is like undergoing a heavenly tribulation—a test of a novel's true merit. Whether it ends in obliteration or steady growth depends entirely on its post-launch performance.
So, whether this persistence turns out to be a laughable and thankless endeavor or the correct choice, the answer will lie in the results of this "tribulation."
I don't have the reputation or authority to call for "supporting the official release," but if you enjoy this novel and believe that I've truly put in the effort, I humbly ask for your support for both the book and myself.
Post-Launch Update Plans:
After midnight, I will familiarize myself with the author backend system for the launched book. Around 12:10 AM, I will release five chapters of VIP content in one go.
Subscription-based updates:
The baseline is 800 first-day subscriptions. For every additional 400 first-day subscriptions, I'll add one more chapter.After the first day, I'll base additional updates on the average subscriptions. For every additional 200 average subscriptions, one more chapter will be added.Currently, the book has around 22,000 bookmarks. While The Pirate Codex may not be the most "meaty" story, it's definitely not filler. When pushing for the new book rankings, some bots approached me about buying my way up the charts. Despite failing to make the rankings multiple times, I firmly refused—not because I'm stingy and unwilling to spend money, but because of my sense of justice (solemn and sacred expression)!Thus, the first-day subscription target is set at a 1:25 ratio with the bookmark count, which is slightly lower than the average for similar fanfiction on Qidian, considering this is my first book launch.
Reward-based updates:
For every 20,000 coins in rewards (equivalent to one Hall Master reward in total), I'll add one chapter. This is based on the total rewards from all readers.
Monthly ticket-based updates:
For every 400 monthly tickets, I'll add one chapter.During the May 1st event, Qidian seems to be doubling the value of monthly tickets—each ticket counts as two until May 7th.
Finally, there will be a baseline of two chapters per day after the launch. All additional updates will be in addition to this baseline.
I've stocked up on a case of Red Bull and two packs of cigarettes. I'm not planning to rest during the May Day holiday—I'll be glued to my computer, writing chapters for you. While there's no upper limit to the number of additional chapters, I won't be able to release them all at once like on the first day. Instead, they'll be released gradually.
Pre-launch Goals:
The first goal was to maintain a consistent update schedule, which I've achieved so far. Post-launch, while continuing to meet this first goal, the second goal is to maintain this adrenaline-fueled update plan through June. If I survive June, then the goal extends to July, and so on.
Final Words:
This humble author is about to face the midnight tribulation. Fellow night owls cultivating their own paths, I humbly ask for your support!
"One Piece:The True Codex"Chapter 118: Resentment
Roy cursed under his breath, then stood up from behind his desk. "The reason we are Marines and they are pirates, and why in the East Blue the Marines can chase pirates away, is because the strength of the Marines surpasses that of the pirates!"
"The Rokushiki techniques were developed by the Marines. And now you want to sell them to Stolt, a pirate? Have you gone mad chasing money?" Roy roared furiously.
"Rokushiki isn't exactly top-secret. Why are you so worked up?" Nezumi retorted, his voice muffled as he held his bleeding nose, with crimson spilling uncontrollably between his fingers. "Besides, Stolt is our ally. Enhancing his strength makes it easier for him to deal with other pirates, which benefits us too, doesn't it?"
Although Nezumi's argument was clearly an attempt at justification, it wasn't entirely baseless. Rokushiki wasn't the Marines' most classified technique. Many Marines had learned it, and among them, there were quite a few who had left the Marines to become pirates. While in the East Blue, many people hadn't even heard of Rokushiki, globally speaking, it was no longer an exclusive Marine technique.
"Making it easier to deal with other pirates..." Roy looked at Nezumi as if he were staring at a fool. "Then wouldn't it also make it easier to deal with the Marines? Allies are formed based on equal strength. If you arm others with your weapons, beware that they might one day use those weapons to hold a blade to your throat!"
"Get out!"
Nezumi opened his mouth to say something more but was abruptly cut off by Roy's angry shout. He shot Roy a resentful glare before slinking out of the office in defeat.
Roy walked to the balcony, his deep gaze following Nezumi's retreating figure as it disappeared into the distance.
Captain Eusolin Heller approached Roy from behind, looking hesitant to speak.
"If you've got something to say, just say it," Roy said without turning, as if he had eyes on the back of his head.
"Sir, I fear that your actions may backfire. You know Major Nezumi's personality. He might resent you for this and become even closer to that group of pirates."
"That's exactly what I want him to do," Roy replied calmly, his face now devoid of the anger he had shown while reprimanding Nezumi. "I hope he sells his loyalty entirely to Stolt—that would suit my plans perfectly."
Once Nezumi's figure had disappeared beyond the branch base, Roy turned back to see Captain Heller's puzzled expression.
Unlike Nezumi, Heller was Roy's trusted confidant, having followed him since his first day in the Marines. Over the years, he had remained by Roy's side, earning his trust. This allowed Roy to share certain thoughts with Heller and entrust him with certain tasks.
"Stolt recently proposed that he and his entire crew join the Navia Kingdom's forces under the condition that he be granted nobility. Arcadio personally agreed to this," Roy sighed. "Arcadio doesn't think much of it, but I can't shake the feeling that Stolt is not as simple as he appears. He's certainly not as straightforward as he pretends to be."
"Bribing Nezumi, eliminating other pirates within his sphere of influence, and now donning the guise of the kingdom's military and nobility—there's a connection here. The more I observe this young pirate, the more I feel he has grand ambitions. But as for what exactly he's scheming, I haven't figured it out yet."
Captain Heller's expression grew solemn upon hearing this. "If that's the case, sir, why not simply eliminate him?"
"Arcadio, that old dog, is currently very satisfied with Stolt as an ally—more satisfied than he ever was with Barbarossa. Now Stolt is about to become a noble, which essentially places a handle in Arcadio's hands," Roy said with a frown. "Stolt and his pirate crew are no pushovers. Eliminating him won't be easy. If it were just that, it wouldn't be a problem. But the key issue is that it could also lead to a falling out with Arcadio. After all, we are allies, and our relationship is based on mutual respect. Acting recklessly could cause Arcadio to harbor resentment."
As a Marine, Roy had the authority to eliminate William and replace him with another pirate ally, even if it required considerable effort. After all, eliminating pirates was the Marines' duty. However, Arcadio was a high-ranking official of a World Government-affiliated nation and held significant influence in the Navia Kingdom. Such an ally wasn't easily replaced.
"And Major Nezumi?" Captain Heller asked.
"I want Stolt's fox tail to show itself sooner rather than later. I suspect his bribery of Nezumi isn't as simple as it seems," Roy said, his tone growing heavier. "I need to find out what he's really up to!"
"Isn't it for Rokushiki?" Heller asked.
"If Stolt knows about Rokushiki, he must also know that obtaining such techniques through Nezumi requires my approval. After all, I'm the only one in the 16th Branch who has undergone training at headquarters," Roy explained. He cursed Nezumi again, knowing that Stolt must have learned about Rokushiki from Nezumi. That fool wasn't just greedy but also stupid, completely unaware of the foundations he relied on. "Stolt understands that I'm unlikely to act like Nezumi."
Seeing Heller nod in realization, Roy returned to his desk and continued, "Stolt is no ordinary man. By forcing Nezumi to align himself with Stolt, I'm pushing him to accelerate his plans. If he has any ulterior motives, the sooner they're exposed, the better for us. He's still young, and his strength hasn't fully matured yet. He's easier to deal with now. If he speeds up his actions, he's more likely to reveal something. That will make it easier for me to catch him in the act and justify my actions to Arcadio."
"Enough about this," Roy said, shifting topics as he pulled a file folder from his desk drawer and waved it at Heller. "Your transfer papers. As you wished, I'll be sending you to headquarters for advanced training."
Heller smiled sheepishly.
In the Four Seas, it wasn't just pirates who aspired to venture into the Grand Line. Marines shared the same ambition. After all, the officers in Marine headquarters held greater prestige. Any Marine with aspirations would seize the opportunity to train at headquarters, not only to enhance their skills but also to face stronger adversaries and possibly advance their rank more quickly.
Heller was no exception. Still young, in his twenties, he was grateful to Roy but couldn't resist the allure of serving in the Grand Line.
"Thank you for granting my request, sir!" Heller said.
"You'll regret it someday," Roy replied, shaking his head. "The people at headquarters, especially the higher-ups, are mostly fools. They only value brawn over brains, and bureaucratic inefficiency runs rampant. Your talent is decent, but the Grand Line is full of geniuses and monsters. Even if you train like mad, you may not be able to match them, nor will you gain the attention of the higher-ups."
"When you've spent over a decade like me, struggling in the Grand Line, facing countless dangers, yet seeing your rank stagnate while some inexperienced, gifted fools rise through the ranks simply because of their talent and strength, you'll understand. Ideals and aspirations are meaningless—power and status are what truly matter."
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