Another diligent night had passed.
Morning arrived.
No matter how exhausted he had been the night before, Ron always rose early as usual.
After getting dressed, he tucked the blanket more securely around Lucoa, washed up, and stepped out of the room.
When he entered the tavern, Rem and Ram were still busy in the kitchen, while Tohru was sweeping and preparing to open for the day.
Only Kanna sat at the dining table.
She was chewing on a fried dough stick, her already round little cheeks puffed out like a hamster storing food for winter.
Breakfast was as lavish as ever.
There were the usual morning dishes Rem and Ram knew how to prepare, along with steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and plain rice porridge that Ron had taught them to make.
Ron sat down at the table, idly patting Kanna's head while reading the freshly delivered newspaper.
Ever since Morgans had vanished without a trace, his World Economic News had been confiscated by the World Government and renamed:
World News!
The moment Ron opened the paper, the blood-soaked figure of Xiao Zizai leapt into view.
Beneath the image was a bold headline:
Shocking! Marine Vice Admiral Xiao Zizai Bloodbath on Sabaody Archipelago's Lawless Zone on His First Day in Office!
"Are the Marines and the World Government planning to prop him up?" Ron chuckled, unconcerned.
Still…
The only thing that worried him was Xiao Zizai's inner demon.
If killing could suppress killing, then it wouldn't be an issue.
But if it spiraled out of control, the entire sea might turn crimson.
Flipping further down—
He saw the Five Elders and the new person in charge of World News painting a rosy future for the civilians.
Large red letters declared:
After deliberation by the World Government, efforts will be made to completely purge the Four Emperors within five years. Furthermore, the Shichibukai system will be abolished!
Ron stopped reading there. The rest was nonsense.
With Sakazuki's current strength, even cleansing the entire sea wouldn't be difficult.
The real issue was that the Five Elders didn't want that.
If pirates vanished, what reason would the allied nations have to continue paying the Heavenly Tribute?
Without that tribute—
How would the Celestial Dragons and the Five Elders build larger mansions, wear finer clothes, and raise stronger subordinates?
...…
After breakfast, the tavern opened for the day.
Ron had just taken his seat behind the bar when familiar faces began to arrive one after another—Kesha, Liang Bing, the Holy Lord and his son, Hades, Gray Wolf, and the rest.
"Where's Rayleigh? Why isn't he here yet?" Demon Dragon asked curiously.
He was usually the first to arrive.
"When he returned the talismans yesterday, he left the Horse Talisman behind," the Holy Lord replied helplessly.
"The Horse Talisman removes all external forces."
"Kidney deficiency doesn't quite count… but it can at least extend his time a little."
Demon Dragon froze.
Normally, even touching a talisman was a distant dream for him, the Holy Lord's own son.
Why did Rayleigh get one so easily?!
Could it be that the two of them—
Ugh.
Disgusting!
Thinking that, Demon Dragon shot the Holy Lord a look of disdain and scooted his chair slightly farther away.
At that moment—
The tavern door was pushed open.
Bald Qiang hurried in and rushed straight to the bar, placing a flashlight on the counter.
"Boss."
"This is the shrinking flashlight I invented."
"It can shrink people and objects."
Kesha and Liang Bing, who had been arguing through dark communication, immediately lit up.
A genius!
Just like Gray Wolf.
Though angel and demon technology far surpassed most civilizations—
They couldn't create something like this.
It simply defied physical laws.
"Not bad." Ron accepted the flashlight and nodded in satisfaction.
If Gray Wolf could modify it…
Could it gain enlargement capabilities? Or perhaps partial shrinking and enlargement?
With that thought—
Ron reimplanted the memory of "Only Qiang" into Bald Qiang's mind.
In an instant, Bald Qiang's demeanor shifted once more, taking on that fated, world-weary air from yesterday.
At the same time—
Liang Bing and Kesha moved to sit beside him.
Bald Qiang asked calmly, "What business do you two have with me?"
Here we go again…
Kesha first shot Ron a resentful glance before speaking gently.
"Would you be interested in joining Angel Civilization?"
"I can provide you with every research resource imaginable—and anything else you desire."
Liang Bing snorted. "The same old routine."
"Sister, you still don't understand what he wants."
She turned toward Bald Qiang lazily.
"As long as you join Demon Civilization, cutting trees will be a trivial matter."
"This queen can grant you power—"
Before she could finish, Bald Qiang raised a hand to interrupt.
"My apologies. I have no interest."
"In this life, I desire nothing else."
"I seek only to protect that forest and to catch up to the footsteps of my two dearest friends."
"That alone is enough…"
"You should return to your drinks. Do not waste your time on me."
Even so—
Kesha remained unwilling to give up and was about to press further, only for Liang Bing to cover her mouth and drag her back to their original seats.
"In his current state, even if you handed him both Angel and Demon Civilization wrapped in a bow, he wouldn't agree."
"Wait until this state fades."
Liang Bing smiled.
Kesha silently nodded and did not scold her for the earlier rudeness.
The bar fell quiet again.
In his "Only Qiang" state, Bald Qiang spoke little, simply drinking in silence as if contemplating something.
Meanwhile, Ron asked inwardly:
"System, how many points is this flashlight worth?"
[Ding. Shrinking Flashlight: 1,000 points.]
"And if it gains enlargement and partial resizing functions?"
[3,000 points.]
Ron's eyes immediately brightened.
He was just about to call Gray Wolf over—
When the bell above the door chimed.
Ding-ling…
The tavern door slowly opened.
A tall, slender man with pale skin stepped inside, wearing a white robe and wooden sandals.
His features were extremely delicate.
Purple eyeshadow, earrings, and long black hair gave him an almost feminine appearance.
However—
When the man saw Jiraiya seated at a side table drinking, his pupils trembled slightly.
"Ji… Jiraiya?"
"You're still alive…?"
His magnetic voice quivered, revealing the emotion stirring within him.
Hearing that unmistakably familiar voice—
Jiraiya turned around and looked.
He blinked in surprise.
"Orochimaru?"
"How did you end up looking like that?"
"And what do you mean 'still alive'? I never died, okay?!"
...…
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