[TL/N: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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If someone like Blackbeard applied to become a dimensional merchant, there's no way Leo would ever allow him to pass.
Though they are all villains in their own ways, Blackbeard is a completely different breed compared to Doflamingo and Crocodile.
While Doflamingo and Crocodile harbor their own ambitions, they are skilled at operating within established rules.
They understand boundaries—what can and cannot be done—and would never take reckless risks for an unrealistic goal.
However...
Blackbeard is another story entirely.
His ambition is as vast as the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit he wants!
Not only is Blackbeard adept at using the rules to his advantage, but he's even better at breaking them.
Leo couldn't guarantee that, if Blackbeard became a dimensional merchant and gained access to the rules of dimensional trading along with the power of primal energy, he wouldn't eventually grow rebellious and entertain thoughts of overthrowing him.
Even though the chances of success would be nearly zero, Blackbeard is the kind of person willing to gamble everything on the smallest glimmer of hope.
But...
If Blackbeard chose to become a dimensional interactor, the situation would be completely different.
Dimensional interactors do not gain mastery over primal energy, and all their activities must strictly adhere to the rules of dimensional trading.
In other words...
The risks that Leo was concerned about simply wouldn't exist.
Moreover, Blackbeard himself was undeniably capable. If his talents were properly utilized, Leo believed he could bring considerable benefits to the Chamber of Commerce.
Thus...
The interview proceeded smoothly.
Both parties had their interests aligned, and soon, under Blackbeard's elated gaze, Leo officially appointed him as a dimensional interactor for the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce.
At the same time, Blackbeard was granted access to the exclusive Dimensional Interactor System.
The system's functionality was straightforward.
It allowed users to consume a certain number of points to travel between dimensions.
The system displayed coordinates and energy levels for various worlds, enabling interactors to select their destinations.
Of course, for a new interactor embarking on their first dimensional journey, the required points were covered by the Chamber of Commerce—a one-time benefit for new recruits.
——
In the days that followed, Blackbeard familiarized himself with the interactor system, its rules, and functionality. He also spent the entirety of his accumulated points with Leo—a total of 100,000 points.
His first priority was enhancing the power of his three-headed Pokémon dragon.
Blackbeard spared no expense when it came to strengthening his own forces. He used a significant portion of his points to fully upgrade all the power-boosting items for his Hydreigon and even purchased a large quantity of energy cubes to maximize its potential.
Total cost: 15,000 points.
Next, he acquired an improved magical necklace from Leo.
Originally hailing from the world of 'Fairy Tail', the necklace contained an embedded magic crystal inscribed with powerful defensive runes.
When charged with magical energy, the necklace could unleash a protective attack strong enough to withstand blows from opponents below level 80.
Under normal circumstances, it could also generate a magical shield at the user's command.
The necklace required ten days of natural recharge time between uses.
However, after Leo's improvements, the necklace could recharge using alternative energy sources, even in worlds devoid of magic.
Price: 12,000 points.
This magical item had little effect on enhancing Blackbeard's strength and was undeniably expensive.
But to ensure he wouldn't face unforeseen risks during his initial ventures into dimensional travel, he had no choice but to make the investment.
For Blackbeard, the expense was well worth it.
The necklace was a recently acquired trade from Kaido, originating from the 'Fairy Tail' world. Not even Enel or Linlin possessed such advanced self-defense equipment.
However, it was only a matter of time before similar items became widely available in the mall.
While ordinary traders might overlook this defensive tool for its lack of power-enhancing capabilities, for dimensional merchants and interactors, it was a valuable life-saving device.
After all, the vulnerability experienced during the initial moments of crossing into a new world could be life-threatening!
In addition to the magical necklace, Blackbeard exchanged points for a special fruit ability: the Swamp-Swamp Fruit.
This fruit allowed the user to transform their body into an endless swamp, complete with an independent swamp space for storing materials and even living beings.
Thanks to Leo's improvements, the Swamp-Swamp Fruit came without the typical side effects of Devil Fruits. Naturally, this enhancement made it more expensive than a standard Devil Fruit.
Price: 15,000 points.
Unfortunately...
The Dark-Dark Fruit, which Blackbeard coveted above all else, was not yet available in the current mall system.
However, this wasn't a concern.
The mall had no limitations on the availability of fruit abilities, so Blackbeard could always acquire the Dark-Dark Fruit later once it became accessible.
For now, the Swamp-Swamp Fruit was a strategic choice.
Not only did it possess a devouring ability reminiscent of the Dark-Dark Fruit, but more importantly...
Blackbeard needed a 'Logia'-type power.
The primary reason? Elementalization—a critical life-saving capability unique to Logia abilities.
With elementalization, even if Blackbeard arrived in a new world underpowered, he could survive the initial period of weakness. Once he adapted, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to pose a real threat to his life.
When it came to self-preservation, Blackbeard was second to none.
---
The Next Day
Fully equipped and ready, Blackbeard stood on the edge of Celestial Island, gazing out over the vast, blue sea below.
In that moment, his heart burned with ambition, as if a blazing sun had risen within him, illuminating a boundless new horizon.
The new world was waiting for him.
No longer tethered to the 'One Piece' world, Blackbeard opened his interactor system.
Guided by Leo's advice on the pirate world's power levels, Blackbeard made a decisive choice:
He opted for a B-level world.
While he lacked the strength to dominate the invincible foes of an A-level world, a B-level world was ideal. It offered opportunities to assert significant influence once his power was restored.
Although B-level worlds were not as expansive as A-level ones, they still held a wealth of source energy to be harvested.
If Blackbeard could monopolize this source energy...
Imagine how terrifyingly powerful he would become!
"ZEHAHAHAHA!!!"
"The era of Blackbeard is about to begin!"
Suddenly, a torrent of original power surged from Blackbeard's body, enveloping him completely.
In an instant, a flash of white light consumed him, and he disappeared.
——
In the New World
With a loud crash, Blackbeard's figure materialized in the new world, landing awkwardly on the ground.
"Cough!!!"
Blackbeard coughed several times before dragging his weakened body upright.
"Damn it! So this is dimension travel? Sir Leo's warnings were spot on!"
Looking down at his hands and body, Blackbeard examined himself carefully.
His size, muscle density—everything appeared unchanged.
Yet, when he tried to exert his strength, it was as though something was restricting him, preventing him from accessing his full power.
"It really feels like I'm screwed," Blackbeard muttered, standing up as he quickly surveyed his surroundings.
At the moment, he found himself on a rugged, uneven road.
Dense jungles flanked both sides of the road, their eerie silence hinting at hidden dangers.
Yet beneath his feet was a path stretching endlessly in both directions, marked with clear wheel tracks and horse hoofprints.
"Well, I suppose I got lucky—no danger right out of the gate," he said with a raspy laugh.
"Zehahahaha..."
But...
Perhaps his laughter was too grating.
Before his voice had fully faded, a swift shadow loomed behind him.
"Huh? Why is my shadow suddenly so big!?"
Weakened by his current state, Blackbeard's perception abilities were at an all-time low.
Even so, his danger instincts kicked in immediately.
"Activate the protective shield!"
BOOOM!
A deafening crash echoed from behind him.
Whirling around, Blackbeard was met with the sight of a colossal, five-to-six-meter-tall mantis-like monster. Its scythe-like limbs struck furiously at the glowing magic shield surrounding him.
"Gulp—"
Blackbeard swallowed hard, a chill running down his spine.
"No way..."
"Am I really this unlucky?"
Staring at the monstrous mantis, Blackbeard's confidence vanished.
His legs trembled, and within moments, he broke into a frantic run.
The magic shield around him had a limited duration—just fifteen minutes at best.
And in his panic, he had drained the entirety of the necklace's magic power.
In other words...
If he couldn't shake off the monster within the shield's limited time, his fate would be grim indeed.
Running into the dense forest on either side seemed like a death sentence.
If a creature like this mantis existed here, who knew what other horrors might lurk among the trees?
So Blackbeard stayed on the path, sprinting as fast as his legs could carry him.
Fortunately, the road offered some faint hope.
After a few minutes of running, he spotted a young man stepping out of the forest ahead.
A cunning glint flashed in Blackbeard's eyes.
He immediately veered toward the young man, shouting for help as he ran.
Of course, Blackbeard didn't truly believe some random passerby could take down the monster.
But a soft-looking boy like this?
Surely, the mantis might stop chasing him in favor of an easier meal.
'Better you than me,' Blackbeard thought, feeling no guilt whatsoever.
But...
Something strange happened.
The young man, upon seeing both Blackbeard and the monster, showed no fear. Instead, his eyes lit up with excitement.
Without hesitation, the boy drew the long sword strapped to his back and charged forward.
"Huh? Did I stumble across some kind-hearted, overly enthusiastic kid?" Blackbeard was stunned.
Still, it didn't stop him from running straight past the boy.
In an instant, their paths crossed.
A flash of cold steel tore through the air, followed by the thick stench of blood filling the space.
Hisssss~!!!
The mantis let out an ear-piercing screech of pain.
Curious, Blackbeard skidded to a stop and turned around.
To his utter disbelief, he saw the mantis monster lying on the ground, its upper body severed and twitching weakly.
The young man stood tall, his sword dripping with the creature's blood.
"Jackpot!"
The eyes of Blackbeard, who had narrowly escaped disaster, lit up. He quickly wiped away his panicked expression and replaced it with a serious, composed demeanor.
Striding over to the young man, he clasped his hands together and said with a wide grin, "Thank you for your help, little brother!"
"Your skills are truly extraordinary! To take down such a terrifying monster in a single blow—unbelievable!"
"Ah ha ha ha..."
Hearing Blackbeard's praise, the boy—who had been posing triumphantly—blushed and replied with pride, "It was just a Level 2 dangerous species. That's nothing special!"
"But, uncle, what are you doing alone in such a dangerous place?"
"Well... um..." Blackbeard hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's... a long story, really."
He trailed off, avoiding the question.
Before the conversation could grow awkward, Blackbeard quickly shifted gears, steering the discussion toward the young man. Through clever questioning and casual conversation, he soon gleaned valuable information.
The boy's name was Tatsumi.
He was a skilled warrior from a small mountain village under the empire's rule.
Tatsumi explained that his village had suffered years of hardship due to poor harvests, war, and the destruction caused by dangerous species. The people were struggling to make ends meet.
To help his village survive, Tatsumi and two friends had decided to leave for the imperial capital, hoping to earn enough money to support their families.
Unfortunately, they had been ambushed by thieves along the way, and Tatsumi had been separated from his friends.
After wandering through the forest, he finally emerged onto the main road—just in time to see Blackbeard fleeing from danger.
That was when he stepped in to help.
It didn't take long for Blackbeard to win over the kind-hearted and straightforward Tatsumi.
Blackbeard spun a tale of his own, claiming to be a bodyguard who had also been separated from his caravan due to a bandit attack. He asked if Tatsumi could accompany him to the safety of the imperial capital.
Tatsumi, with his natural generosity and enthusiasm, immediately agreed, thumping his chest with confidence.
Although Tatsumi's understanding of the world was limited due to his sheltered upbringing, Blackbeard wasn't discouraged.
"The imperial capital Tatsumi mentioned is bound to be a hub of information," Blackbeard thought, hiding his grin.
More importantly, Tatsumi himself was no ordinary youth.
The monster that had chased Blackbeard earlier was around Level 20–30.
For Tatsumi to kill it instantly, his strength must be at least Level 40.
In a B-level world, combatants rarely exceeded Level 70—those at Level 70 possessed the power to destroy cities.
Level 60 fighters were among the most elite, their numbers so small they could be counted on one hand.
Combatants in the Level 40–60 range formed the backbone of this world's power structure.
If the interactor system's assessment of this world was accurate...
Then for someone like Tatsumi, already at Level 40 at such a young age, the future held unimaginable potential.
For Blackbeard, weakened as he was, this was a golden opportunity.
"A strong ally like Tatsumi in my current state?"
"There's no way I'm letting this chance slip by!"