The wind is clear and the sun is warm, the Endgame is steadily sailing on the Grand Line.
Shano had just finished his morning training and was leaning against the ship's railing, holding a steaming cup of coffee, enjoying the sea view and savoring this rare moment of tranquility.
Someone stealthily approached, reaching a small hand out from under his arm towards the coffee cup.
But as soon as she touched the cup wall, Shano unceremoniously slapped her hand away.
"Ouch, that hurts!"
"What are you doing, stealing bitter coffee without sugar?" Shano said irritably, "Uncle Zeff brewed a big pot of coffee this morning, go serve yourself if you want some."
"The kitchen is too far..." Nami emerged from his arms, looking up at him pitifully.
"You might as well be lazy to death."
Shano was long immune and too lazy to respond.
He suddenly noticed the newspaper clutched in Nami's hand and raised an eyebrow, "Did you run into the News Bird this early today? Or is there still no report on Crocodile?"
"I searched through every page, nothing."
Nami puffed up her cheeks and rolled the newspaper into a tube, banging it on the railing, "It's been a week already, the efficiency of the World Economic News Agency is just terrible!"
Damn it, what's Morgans up to?
Maybe her brother isn't worried, but she sure is anxious!
She wants her brother's bounty to soar, shaking the entire Grand Line.
Such a big event, yet not even the slightest ripple?
"It's been a week already, huh."
Shano slowly sipped his black coffee, letting the bitterness spread on his tongue, "With the current situation, it has nothing to do with Morgans' efficiency anymore, someone is obviously suppressing the news from above."
"Can they suppress it when people are dead?"
Nami curled her lips.
"For a while, it's still possible."
Shano mused, "It seems the Navy Headquarters wants to buy some time to save face before the news inevitably comes out."
Crocodile's conspiracy didn't come to light, so in the Navy's eyes, he's a model among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, like one of their own.
Moreover.
This time, he died while following orders from Headquarters, coming to arrest me. Even in the most heartless company, this counts as an occupational hazard, naturally, he can't die in vain.
So, the most desirable thing for the Navy Headquarters right now must be to hurry and arrest me as soon as possible.
Then, they can announce Sand Crocodile's death, making it more or less understandable without losing face.
"Oh..."
Nami responded weakly, seemingly unsure if she was listening.
She slouched on the railing like a sun-dried kelp, even her orange hair seemed to have lost its luster.
Without a new bounty order, life feels joyless.
Thinking about her brother's defeating the Seven Warlords of the Sea and how no one knows about it, she just... ahhhh, it's just so frustrating!
"Where's your sister?" Shano asked, "She got up at four in the morning to go to the training room, and now it's breakfast time, still hasn't come out?"
"Not yet." Nami propped her chin, "These days, she's training harder and harder, resting only after ten at night, I guess until she masters Armament Haki, it'll stay like this."
Shano said nothing; he understood Nojiko.
She is similar to himself back then, a strong-willed person, unlike the carefree Nami. Seeing the crew one after another mastering Haki, it bothers her not to be able to break through.
Indeed.
The current Endgame Adventurer Group has basically achieved the mastery of Haki by all crew members with the Falcon Sculpture's buff.
Smoker goes without saying, he came aboard with it.
This guy is one of Zephyr's prized pupils, mastering Dual-Colored Haki before even graduating from the elite camp at Headquarters.
Among the remaining crew, Kuina was the first to master Armament Haki.
The Young Swordswoman's talent is enviable, she began utilizing the Entwining and Hardening abilities just three days after leaving Twin Cape.
She's currently trying to master Overbearing Haki and the advanced technique of integrating it with Sword Qi; progress is quite promising.
Next was Zeff; the old man started practicing after departing Whiskey Peak.
As for Ah Yin...
This one's talent is truly baffling; as it ages, its physical prowess automatically boosts like inflated balloons, no need for practice.
And Armament Haki seems to be something everyone around it mastered sequentially, it would've been embarrassing if it didn't, so it somehow learned along the way.
"Call her for breakfast."
Shano sighed, instructed: "If she doesn't come out, it's okay, just make sure to deliver her meals, don't forget."
"Uh-huh." Nami nodded. She was familiar with delivering meals; back then, she and Nojiko often brought food to their brother who was training hard at the mountaintop.
Once Nami disappeared from view, Shano took a sip of coffee and casually opened the system panel.
A month had passed since the last market refresh. He had planned on browsing the market while sipping coffee; if it weren't for Nami interrupting him, he would have already placed his orders by now.
—An azure screen unfolded before his eyes.
The first six items didn't interest Shano at all; he clicked past each one, slightly frowning with a sense of unease.
There were only ten items in total, and more than half weren't worth buying. Could it be another time he'd leave empty-handed?
Fortunately, the seventh item that came up instantly made his frown disappear.
[High-tier Pet Egg]
[Type: Special Item]
[Price: 4000 points]
[Description: After purchasing the Pet Egg, a high-tier pet cub will be randomly selected by dice roll, excluding inferior bloodlines. The lowest rating is A, and initial loyalty is determined by the cub's type and the host's first impressions.]
[Seller's Note: None, direct sales by the system]
...
There's finally another pet egg?
And it's high-tier... Shano found it hard not to be tempted; it's a guaranteed super gacha!
Back in Cocoyashi Village, he hatched Ah Yin with an A+ bloodline from an ordinary pet egg, which was already using up all his luck.
So if it were another ordinary pet egg this time, it would likely result in trash, leaving him hesitant to purchase.
But a guaranteed A...
Let's buy it!
Shano bought it right away; the price of four thousand points would have been a fortune back then, but now it's not so bad.
If luck's not on his side, he might lose a bit, but if it hatches a partner and powerhouse not inferior to Ah Yin, then he's making a killing regardless.
His curiosity couldn't be contained; he didn't even add it to the cart, directly placing an order.
He planned to open the egg first, then see if there were any remaining items he wanted to buy.
Spending four thousand points, the high-tier pet egg arrived, and Shano wasted no time in choosing to hatch it.
[Random dice roll selected, please wait]
[You have obtained a new pet: Yukimi Botamon]
[Hatching now...]
The dice vanished without a trace, and a silver-white pet egg appeared, starting to crack from the top.
In just a few seconds.
The top of the eggshell completely shattered, and a fluffy snowball jumped out, blinking its big black eyes curiously as it looked around.
"Just this?"
Shano stared blankly at the little thing in his hand.
Cute?
Of course, it's very cute, like a Nuomi, round and soft.
Even back when Ah Yin was a Samo Pig, in terms of cuteness, it fell short compared to this, and if it were a girl, having such a pet would surely be delightful.
But how does this resemble bloodlines above A-Class, or something worth a four thousand points fortune?!
It's a scam!
As if responding to his complaint.
Soon, as the pet egg turned into a virtual shadow and disappeared from the system panel, several new lines of prompt text emerged in a stream:
[Bloodline Rating: S+]
[Initial Loyalty: 80]
[Description: A Digital Monster baby covered in floating white fur, considered a type of Botamon. Named Yukimi Botamon due to its white body. As long as the owner establishes a strong enough bond, its exceptional talents naturally will lead it to evolve into its ultimate form within the tribe.]
[Evolution Path: Yukimi Botamon → Nyaromon → Salamon → Gatomon → Angewomon]
Shano's expression instantly froze.
Wait, what kind of monster is this?
Angewomon?!!!
"So it's you!"
Shano immediately pulled an Ocumelov-level face change, smiling cheerfully as he hugged the little Yukimi Botamon tightly and playfully stroked it:
"Well, why didn't you say so earlier? Such an adorable little baby, welcome to this world!"