Chapter 430: New Player, Aizen — I Choose That Shield
Bang.
Tsunade slammed her fist on the table, her voice cold:
"So the old man really has gone senile. He's claiming that Jiraiya's decision to save a world cost Konoha two million contribution points? Since when does the village get to decide the payment for a Reincarnation Game player's mission?"
She swept her angry gaze across the curious and mocking expressions of those around her.
She had no intention of restraining herself—this was who she was.
Family disgrace should be hidden? If it's disgraceful, then don't do it.
Aizen explained patiently,
"The Hokage simply wanted to give the clans an explanation. After all, what the village urgently needs right now isn't allies—it's to make up for the deficit in contribution points."
The damage from the Evil God's attack had left the village's reserves crippled.
The border war still raged, and Kirigakure was tightening the noose.
It was… a reasonable excuse.
Tsunade sneered. "And you? Did you really just happen to bump into me? Or was it all part of some deeper scheme?"
In just a few short months, this 'Mr. Moonlight of Konoha' had risen to fame. If it was all genuine, then fine. But if it was all a facade… the level of manipulation was chilling.
If not for Asuma's repeated warnings,
even she might have believed Aizen was the perfect inheritor of the Will of Fire.
Aizen sighed. "Regardless of what happens, at a critical moment, I will always offer my strength for Konoha."
Jiraiya's imprisonment? He played a role.
The gathering of the clan heads to prepare a coup against the fake Hokage? That too, was linked to him.
Encountering Tsunade at the Mobile Unit headquarters? That, naturally, was also part of the plan.
Everything was arranged by destiny itself.
Konoha… was about to receive a grand and glorious funeral.
Terumi Mei smirked maliciously. "Well, well. Isn't that Granny Tsunade?"
The two hadn't been on good terms ever since Danzo's betrayal.
Their meeting now sparked instant hostility.
If not for the Safe Zone's no-combat rule, Terumi Mei would have already thrown hands.
Tsunade retorted without missing a beat:
"Oh? The woman no one wants is here too?"
A vein popped on Terumi Mei's forehead. "I've simply yet to find a suitable husband—not that no one wants me. Unlike a certain old maid who's never been married."
"You looking to die?"
"You first!"
Their heated clash made Shanks, seated nearby, nudge Aokiji's shoulder with a chuckle.
"Aokiji, do you know what's even more fun than adventuring?"
"No idea."
"Watching two beautiful women argue. I'd skip hunting a gold-tier boss just to see this."
Shanks sipped his ale.
Though he spoke softly, both women heard him clearly.
Both Tsunade and Terumi Mei were top-tier players—Tier 2 elites.
[Paladin Lv.45] and [Blazing Arcanist Lv.47] respectively.
Their combined glare sent a chill down Shanks's spine. He quickly ducked his head and drank.
Akainu frowned, disgusted by Shanks's antics,
then turned to Aokiji with killing intent in his eyes.
"Your betrayal of the Navy… is a weight you can't bear. I'll kill you myself."
Aokiji's defection to the [Adventurer's Guild],
and his appointment as head instructor, had utterly humiliated the Marine Alliance.
And for a man like Akainu, who valued pride above all else,
his hatred burned hot enough to reduce Aokiji to ashes.
Old enemies, face to face.
But before things could erupt,
Sothia, the gentle tavern mistress, interrupted with a calming voice.
"Honored players, our new players are about to enter.
If you'd like to place bets, don't miss your chance."
As she spoke,
the large screen in Moonlight Tavern lit up, displaying a dozen new players.
Their outfits varied—
some from the Claymore and Demon Slayer worlds,
others from the Shinobi and Pirate worlds,
and even newcomers from the recently integrated Imperial Arm and Titan Worlds.
Since the latest update,
aside from those with family-issued invites,
a batch of new players was summoned at regular intervals.
All were randomly selected.
Sothia turned over all tavern profits to the Game Merchant
in exchange for broadcast rights to the new players' trials on the first floor of the Tower of Death.
Top players like Tsunade, Terumi Mei, and Shanks frequented the tavern,
placing bets to determine new player allegiances.
This setup significantly reduced disputes over player recruitment.
"I'll bet on that black-haired guy. Cold and stoic—very cool."
Terumi Mei's eyes landed on a boy in black near the screen's edge.
Unlike the panicked crowd of newcomers,
his indifferent gaze remained steady—like a deep abyss, or still winter waters.
Tsunade had noticed him too, but Terumi Mei placed her bet first.
With a cheeky smile, Terumi Mei said,
"Sorry, Granny Tsunade. Tavern rules: only one person per new player."
"Hmph."
Tsunade turned away, scanning the rest.
She quickly selected a new player of her own:
From [Titan Town],
a short man with a familiar insignia—Levi.
"Is that… a dragon?"
Akainu's breath caught. He placed his bet immediately.
The target was a mass of black-purple liquid with no physical form.
It coiled like a serpent, but had two dragon-like horns on its head.
A venomous soul-dragon.
Akainu's eye for talent was sharp.
He recognized it was a soul-based lifeform—likely badly wounded.
Now was the perfect time to coerce it into the Navy.
Given past experience, this kind of elemental creature was at least top-tier Tier 1.
Once contracted and nurtured, it could quickly fill the void left by Aokiji's betrayal.
It could even work alongside Magellan.
Then, Aizen spoke, his voice gentle.
"In that case, I'll choose that one."
His choice shocked everyone.
It wasn't unusual to see bizarre beings from all sorts of worlds—like that venom-dragon.
But this…
It looked like a bronze wall carving.
A hideous dragon head,
layers of coiled bronze draconic body…
lying helpless on the ground.
It looked more like a giant shield than a living being.
It couldn't even move.
Aizen's judgment seemed questionable.
Akainu and others shook their heads.
Only Aizen smiled serenely, his gaze unchanged.
From that bronze-like creature,
he felt something familiar—
an aura of kindred ambition, of someone destined to change the world.
"Your spirit wine will serve as your wager.
The newcomer trial begins now."
Sothia raised her glass to the players and downed it in one smooth gulp.
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