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Chapter 365: Shanks: Please Give Me Some Face!
Foosha Village, Tavern.
A check stamped with a one hundred million Beri denomination was slammed onto the tabletop by a single hand. With a crisp snap, it shook the rum bottles on the table enough to make them jump.
Shanks, eyes red, stared at Blake behind the counter. That posture didn't look like a Yonko about to turn the New World upside down. It looked more like a gambler who had lost until he was desperate.
"Deal me in!"
Blake leisurely put away the check. His fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop as his gaze swept over Shanks' slightly stubbly face.
Red-Haired Shanks. The most domineering man in the world, bar none. No flashy Fruit abilities. No monster body modifications. Relying entirely on a sword and Haki that could shatter the sky to sit firmly on the throne of the Four Emperors.
"Want to get stronger, huh..." The corners of Blake's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
He tapped a finger lightly in the void. Countless bizarre fragments danced at his fingertips. Finally, they settled on a screen with an extremely simple art style, yet filled with a weirdly oppressive atmosphere.
In the image, a bald man wearing a yellow tight suit and a white cape was carrying a bag of discounted bean sprouts, strolling under the setting sun. And behind him was a terrifying monster the size of a mountain, capable of destroying a city just by moving.
That bald head looked plain, even a bit goofy. But Blake knew that was an existence standing at the pinnacle of combat power across all dimensions. The rules of that world were simple. Either you die, or I die. Or... it's settled in one punch.
"Since you want to experience pure power..." Blake flicked his finger. That screen of light instantly enveloped Shanks and Benn Beckman beside him. "Then go to this world. In this world, so-called 'Face' doesn't work, you know."
"Dungeon Established: [One Punch Man · Elder Centipede]."
"Good luck, C-Class Hero, Red Hair."
...
Buzz—
Space seemed to be torn apart by a pair of invisible hands. A roar of noise instantly filled their eardrums. Shanks only felt a flash of white light before his eyes. Just as that suffocating feeling of weightlessness faded, a smell mixed with car exhaust and unknown spices rushed straight into his nose.
"Cough cough..." Shanks waved his hand, dispersing the dust in front of him. Slowly opening his eyes.
The next second, this Emperor who ruled the New World felt his pupils shrink to the size of needle tips. "This... what the hell is this place?!"
As far as the eye could see, it was no longer the surging ocean. Nor was it a rugged, primitive island. But a steel forest piercing straight into the clouds! Countless giant buildings, several times taller than Marineford, stood densely packed on the earth. Huge glass curtain walls reflected blinding light under the sun. The ground was as flat as if paved by a single piece of gray rock.
Even more ridiculous was that strange boxes made of iron sheet were speeding along the ground like flowing water. Their speed was shocking! And, they had no sails, no oars, and no sea beasts pulling them!
"Boss, close your mouth." A helpless sigh came from beside him. Benn Beckman had an unlit cigarette in his mouth. Although his eyes were also filled with shock, as the First Mate, his professionalism forced him to maintain that aloof coolness. "Don't look like a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time. People around are watching us."
Shanks snapped back to reality and looked around. Sure enough, those civilians wearing strange clothes were pointing at them. There was no fear in their eyes. Instead, there was a playful look like they were watching a monkey show.
"Hey, look at those two old guys."
"Are they Cosplaying?"
"That one-armed act is pretty convincing; even the sleeve is empty."
"Is that Pirates of the Caribbean style? People are still into pirates these days?"
Whispers kept drilling into their ears. Shanks scratched his head, a rare look of bewilderment appearing on his domineering face.
"Cosplay? What's that? Also, they see my red hair and Gryphon, but they aren't scared?"
In the New World, as long as he, Red-Haired Shanks, stood there, within a hundred miles, which pirate wouldn't be scared enough to wet their pants? Yet in this world, he had actually become a rare animal to be gawked at?
"Forget that for now, Boss." Beckman blew out a smoke ring, a sharp glint flashing in his small, wise eyes. "First look at that so-called 'System Panel'. Boss Blake said this concerns our identity in this world."
Hearing this, Shanks immediately focused his mind. With a thought, a pale blue semi-transparent screen instantly floated on his retina.
[Player: Shanks]
[Profession: Pirate]
[Current Identity: Professional Hero (C-Class Rank 388)]
[Current Status: Healthy]
[Main Mission: Kill Dragon-Level Disaster · Elder Centipede!]
[Hidden Mission: Face the Strongest Hero and survive one strike.]
...
After reading these few lines, Shanks froze completely. As if petrified. It took a full three seconds.
"Hah?!"
A roar of disbelief exploded at the bustling intersection, startling the pigeons on the roadside into flight. Shanks pointed at the small line of text on the screen, his hand trembling.
"C... C-Class?!"
"And Rank 388?!"
"Are you kidding me! I'm a Yonko with a bounty of 4 Billion! Even if not S-Class, I should at least be A-Class, right?"
"What does giving me a C-Class mean? Looking down on the disabled?!"
Shanks was completely broken. That feeling was like logging into a game with a max-level, fully geared main account, only for the system to tell you: Please start leveling by killing chickens in the novice village.
This drop was simply harder to accept than having his arm bitten off by the Lord of the Coast!
"Calm down, Boss." Beckman exhaled a smoke ring, glancing at his own panel.
[C-Class Rank 389].
Hmm. Ranked exactly one spot behind his captain.
Damage: Zero. Insult: Critical.
"It seems in this world's evaluation system, our fame is zero," Beckman analyzed calmly. "Also, that so-called 'Hero Association' probably ranks based on kill counts. We just arrived and have no battle record, so ranking at the bottom is normal."
Shanks put away the screen indignantly. Hands on his hips, he looked at this street so prosperous it was dizzying.
"Hmph, what a crappy ranking. I'll find some strong guy to hack in a bit. Let them see what Conqueror's Haki is!"
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