Wood held the newspaper in his hand, the corner missing from where it had been torn. He carefully read the news about Fire Fist Ace and learned that this time it wasn't Ace chasing Blackbeard, but Blackbeard who had set a trap, waiting for Ace to take the bait.
Although the beginning was slightly different, the result was the same.
Ace had been knocked down by the Blackbeard Pirates' plot and handed over to the Navy. Through negotiations, Blackbeard had become the new member of the *Shichibukai* (Seven Warlords of the Sea).
Now that Ace had been captured, it meant that one of the most climactic events in the series, the "War of the Best," was about to unfold!
To be honest, whether Ace lived or died didn't matter much to Wood. He wasn't just a fan watching a series—he was a real person living in this world now.
As someone who actually lived here, Wood's impression of Ace was pretty average.
There's no denying that Ace was loyal and cared deeply about his comrades. But it was precisely because of his impulsive actions that many lives were needlessly wasted.
In the War of the Best, both the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates suffered heavy casualties. So many people died trying to save Ace, including major figures like Oars and other Whitebeard Pirates' elite members.
And even though they managed to rescue Ace, in the end, he still didn't make it out of Marineford alive. This directly led to the downfall of the Whitebeard Pirates and their loss of Yonko status.
Ace's failure to escape Marineford wasn't because his comrades weren't strong enough—it was because of his own recklessness. He had the chance to flee but chose to turn back and die!
Sure, Akainu's insult to Whitebeard was unforgivable for Ace. But what about all those who died trying to save him?
Was Whitebeard's name the only thing Ace cared about? Were the lives of everyone else meaningless to him?
After all the sacrifices made to save him, shouldn't he have honored their memory by surviving, growing stronger, and seeking revenge later?
Throwing away all those sacrifices just to get himself killed made no sense.
This wasn't a noble act of willpower; it was sheer stupidity. After escaping, his life was no longer just his own.
Because of Ace's reckless decision, the Whitebeard Pirates were utterly defeated. Whitebeard himself died, most of the elite crew members died, and those who could carry on Whitebeard's will also perished…
Of course, everyone has their own perspective, but as far as Wood was concerned, Ace's death was not worthy of sympathy.
What concerned him now was the impending chaos. The Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates were at war, and with the War of the Best about to erupt, what kind of chaos would engulf the seas?
Three of the Yonko were preparing for massive battles. Given the Navy's current strength, they wouldn't be able to control this situation.
Once these two wars break out, every pirate and criminal across the sea would likely rise up and take advantage of the turmoil.
And, sure enough, not long after Wood read the news, Fleet Admiral Sengoku of the Navy Headquarters contacted him.
Sengoku had to admit that Wood had done an exceptional job in provoking a fight between Big Mom and Kaido. In fact, despite Wood's laid-back attitude, every mission he undertook always yielded remarkable results.
Because of this, Sengoku had started to rely more on Wood, calling on him for every difficult mission. This was why Wood often complained that Sengoku never gave him any easy tasks.
In fairness, having the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates clash was highly advantageous for the Navy, as they could profit from the situation. This had been the Navy and World Government's intention from the start.
However, after Ace's capture, things took an unexpected turn…
Initially, the Navy had planned to use Ace as a bargaining chip to negotiate with the Whitebeard Pirates. After all, killing a mere division captain wouldn't be enough to deal a fatal blow to Whitebeard's crew.
But after investigating Ace's background, they were stunned to discover that Fire Fist Ace was actually the son of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
Ace's status, previously just the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, instantly skyrocketed.
However, with this revelation, the Navy could no longer handle Ace's situation as they had before.
The bloodline of the Pirate King was something neither the Navy Headquarters nor the World Government could allow to exist. Ace had to die.
And by executing Ace, they could also demonstrate the Navy's power to the entire world, which would serve as a strong message.
But Sengoku knew Whitebeard well enough to understand that if the Navy intended to execute Fire Fist Ace, the Whitebeard Pirates wouldn't sit idly by.
With the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates already embroiled in their conflict, the Navy couldn't afford to focus on that front anymore. They were already making all necessary preparations for Whitebeard's inevitable assault.
And that's why Sengoku had called Wood, asking if he was interested in participating in the upcoming "War of the Best."
"Robin, our vacation ends here. We need to head back to Dark Abyss Island immediately.
"Have the factory push its production harder during this time. We need to stockpile more weapons. The seas are about to descend into chaos."
Once they returned to Dark Abyss Island, Wood left Robin and Russ to manage things while he entered seclusion for training once again.
To deal with the turmoil that was about to sweep across the seas, Wood knew that only greater strength would ensure his survival in the face of all the coming changes.
This time, Wood had earned two opportunities for the "Multiverse Life Simulation," so he decided to use them to further improve his abilities.
His goal was that, upon waking from his seclusion, he would at least have the strength to truly challenge the Yonko—not just temporarily hold his ground.
Robin and Russ were not surprised by Wood's decision to "go into seclusion." Everyone has their secrets, and without a doubt, this was Wood's greatest secret.
"Would you like to use one of the multiverse simulation opportunities?"
"Yes!"
[Ding! The Multiverse Life Simulation is about to begin. This dimension will soon enter a state of slowed time. The host will cross over to another dimension in five seconds. Please prepare yourself.]
[The simulation world selected: *Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World*]
[Entering the crossover countdown: 5, 4, 3... 1. Multiverse Life Simulation begins!]
As the system's countdown echoed in his ears, Wood blinked, and the next time he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in the center of a city.
"Hmm, no matter how many times I experience this, the realism of it always catches me off guard."
Clenching his fist, Wood took a moment to check his body. Relieved that he hadn't turned into a baby again this time, he quickly began to observe this new world.
The city featured medieval European architecture, and based on the clothes and attire of the people passing by, it was easy to deduce that he had arrived in a world of swords and magic.
There was no need to ask how Wood came to this conclusion. Among the merchants and pedestrians, he saw several people with animal ears.
Clearly, this wasn't a world populated solely by humans. Moreover, the magic energy in the environment was exceptionally vibrant, indicating that this was a world rich in elemental forces.
Being new to this place, Wood decided to gather information before forming a plan. He approached a nearby merchant, intending to strike up a conversation.
However, just as he was about to speak, a small figure rushed past him, nearly colliding with him, before leaping over his shoulder.
As the figure jumped, Wood felt the wind elements around her come to life. It was evident that the girl had used the magic of this world.
"Sorry, mister, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. Someone really bad is chasing me."
The person who had collided with him was a girl, no older than fifteen, with straw-colored blonde hair and bright red eyes. Despite her shabby cloak, she was strikingly beautiful.
And from her hurried demeanor, it was clear that she was indeed being pursued.
"What remarkable agility. It seems this world is even more interesting than I thought.
"That girl, despite her young age, would easily be considered an advanced magic user in the world of *Mushoku Tensei*."
Though Wood hadn't yet seen the girl's full capabilities, he could tell from her speed that she was far from ordinary. Even Paul from *Mushoku Tensei* might not be her match.
"If someone with such skill is still being chased, it means her pursuer must also be no ordinary person."
Not long after the blonde girl passed by, another figure appeared—a beautiful girl with silver hair, also wearing a white cloak. Clearly, she was the one pursuing the blonde girl.
At first, the silver-haired girl didn't pay any attention to Wood, focusing solely on catching up with her target.
However, just as she passed by, a gray cat materialized from behind her, speaking in a clear voice: "Emilia, this man's mana is far stronger than expected. He's no ordinary passerby.
"And there's also the scent of a blessing around here. It's possible he's in league with the girl we're chasing."
Hearing the cat's warning
, Emilia stopped in her tracks and quickly jumped back to put distance between herself and Wood. Her eyes, once curious, were now filled with suspicion.
"Ladies, I think you've misunderstood something. The person you're after ran off in that direction.
"As for me, I don't even know that girl. I have no idea who she is or what's going on.
"Do you believe me when I say that?"
Though Wood wasn't sure what the blonde girl had done to upset Emilia, he was certain that they now considered him an accomplice. Wood knew that in these situations, things were typical for things to escalate into a fight.
But to his surprise, instead of attacking, Emilia simply regarded him thoughtfully. Then, after a moment, she turned to the cat.
"Puck, I don't think he's lying. He doesn't seem like a bad person…"
Wood was stunned. While it was true that he wasn't in league with the blonde girl, he hadn't expected Emilia to believe him so easily.
"Well, if Emilia says so, then that must be true," said the talking cat, Puck. "Still, mister, your mana is quite remarkable. You're unlike anyone else I've ever met here. Even Roswaal can't compare to you.
"It's strange to see someone with such powerful mana wandering through a small town like this."
Since this was a world of swords and magic, Wood wasn't particularly surprised by the talking cat. Moreover, he could sense that both Emilia and Puck were far from ordinary.
"Don't be so modest," Wood replied. "If my mana is powerful, then what about the young lady beside you?
"Unless I'm mistaken, her mana is at least twice as strong as mine. Even though it seems to be sealed, saying I'm the strongest here feels a bit ironic."
Though Emilia may have seemed harmless, Wood could clearly sense the enormous magical power she and Puck possessed.
As for Puck, while it seemed small and cute, its hidden mana was no less than Wood's.
And Emilia, on the other hand, possessed the most magical power Wood had ever seen.
Though most of her magic seemed sealed away, the fact that it could be unlocked meant she was a force to be reckoned with.
"Emilia, Puck, why did you stop chasing her?"
At that moment, a young man with black hair, wearing a tracksuit and holding a convenience store bag, ran up to them, panting for breath.
As soon as Wood saw this newcomer, his attention shifted from Emilia to the black-haired youth.
Likewise, the black-haired youth sized up Wood, his gaze filled with a strange intensity, and perhaps, even a hint of hostility.
Wood's interest in the young man stemmed from his unusual attire—the tracksuit and convenience store bag—items that didn't belong in this world.
It seemed likely that this youth, like Wood, was not a native of this world but rather another "chosen one" who had crossed over into this dimension.
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Don't forget to give Power Stone
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