[Current Balance: 374,970,583 scudi, 70 baiocchi]
---Night time---
"What the hell..." Captain Oldgate muttered, swirling the dregs of ale in his tankard as he stared glumly at his crew that were scattered around the noisy Roman tavern they had practically commandeered.
"It's been five damn days since we docked in this city... those brats sure are taking their sweet time."
His first mate went beside him and leaned close, keeping his voice low. "Captain, with all due respect, I think we've overstayed our welcome here…" He nodded his head subtly towards the tavern entrance.
Oldgate didn't even need to look. He'd felt the eyes on them for the past day… Roman soldiers, trying to look casual but clearly keeping watch on the large group of armed sailors occupying the tavern. They weren't causing trouble, not in the slightest, but their presence was noted.
"Aye... our men have also been restless since yesterday," Oldgate replied gruffly, finally turning to face his mate. "Damn shame we're stuck waiting. If only that brat Alaric didn't take so long..."
"Didn't take how long?"
The familiar, nonchalant voice cut through the tavern noise.
Oldgate's eyes widened, and he whipped his head around. There, leaning casually against the entrance doorframe, was Alaric, looking entirely unhurried. Behind him, Reuben and Flavia entered, looking around the tavern.
"What took ya so long, boy!?" Oldgate demanded as Alaric strolled towards his table, Reuben and Flavia following. The blonded slid onto the bench opposite Oldgate.
"Well... carriages aren't exactly the fastest mode of transport, are they, Captain?" he replied smoothly, pulling out one of his premium cigars and lighting it with the usual touch of his finger. He took a leisurely puff and smiled. "Buy me a drink, will ya?"
Oldgate slammed his tankard down. "Huh!? You make me and hundreds of good men wait around in this city for five days, attracting unwanted attention, and you have the gall to ask for a free drink? From me!?"
Alaric nonchalantly blew a smoke ring, nodding calmly. "Yeah..."
Oldgate caught the rich, woody aroma of the cigar smoke and his eyes widened slightly in surprise… it smelled expensive. But remembering the blonde's cheekiness, he scowled. Reuben and Flavia took seats beside Alaric.
"Damned brat," Oldgate grumbled. "You have more money than I do."
"And to that, I agree," Reuben added quietly, earning a raised eyebrow and a chuckle from Alaric.
"Anyways," Alaric said, changing the subject, "when are you ready to set sail?"
Oldgate threw his hands up in exasperation. "La Providencia's been ready to set sail four days ago! Fully repaired, stocked, and the crew's over-rested!"
Alaric paused, taking his time for another drag from his cigar. "La Providencia... that's the galleon's name?"
Oldgate looked genuinely offended. "You boarded her! Sailed on her for weeks! Fought pirates for her! And you never even knew her name!?" He slumped back against the bench, grunting. "Brats these days, so damn annoying..."
Alaric smirked. "Come on, Captain Whitebeard, don't be sad." He gestured expansively around the tavern at Oldgate's crew, who were now watching the exchange with interest. "Have your men order anything they want. Drinks, food, whatever the kitchen can make. My treat."
A hush fell over the nearby tables, then murmurs spread through the tavern. Oldgate stared at Alaric, eyes wide again. "Brat, you better not go back on your word! That's hundreds of thirsty sailors!"
Alaric looked around at the expectant faces staring at him. "Well?" he called out. "What're you all waiting for?"
"YEAAAAHHHHH!"
The tavern erupted in cheers. Sailors jumped up, waving down the overwhelmed tavern keeper, shouting orders for ale, wine, and food.
Alaric leaned towards the frantic innkeeper. "Hey," he said calmly amidst the din. "Don't worry about the cost. Serve them whatever they want. I'll give you a massive tip for the trouble. Just hang in there!"
The tavern keeper's eyes practically beamed, and he suddenly seemed to move with comical speed, taking orders left and right.
Flavia, seated beside Reuben amidst the sudden celebration, leaned closer to him. "Is he... is he always like that?"
"Nah," Reuben replied honestly. "This is the first time..."
[- 348 scudi, 77 baiocchi]
[Current Balance: 374,970,234 scudi, 93 baiocchi]
(Converted to pounds, this is a hundred plus.)
---
Alaric grinned in amusement as he watched La Providencia's sailors stumbling and dragging themselves up the gangplank. It was technically still midnight, barely past the hour they'd returned from the Basilica fiasco, but Captain Oldgate, likely still fueled by the previous night's revelry and eager to fulfill his lucrative contract, was in the mood to set sail immediately.
The crew, however, looked less than thrilled, many clearly nursing hangovers from Alaric's generous treat hours earlier.
Alaric himself was perched comfortably in the galleon's crow's nest, enjoying the cold breeze and the quietness of being on top. He idly scrolled through the items presented in the [Buy] section of the System interface, occasionally glancing down at the deck below.
Since Alaric had essentially chartered the entire ship for the journey, there were plenty of empty cabins. 'That means, I get to be as far as I can from Reuben and Flavia's room.'
He could sense Reuben down on the main deck near the railing. Looking down, he saw his friend gently rubbing the back of Flavia, who was leaning over the side, looking distinctly green around the gills. Yeah… she's drunk. Alaric chuckled softly at the domestic scene before turning his focus back to the System interface.
[Naruto's Goggles - These goggles symbolize hope and a desire to become a ninja, reflecting Naruto's determination to gain recognition and acceptance from the village - 4 scudi.]
[Shino's Sunglasses - A round sunglass once worn by Shino Aburame - 4 scudi.]
[Gama-Chan - Naruto Uzumaki's wallet...]
[...]
Alaric kept scrolling, feeling like he was browsing through Amazon or eBay. Most items were mundane or niche, but eventually, he found a category that piqued his interest.
[Otsutsuki Clan's Lifespan (Pure) - Grants 10000% Increase in User's Lifespan. User's physical appearance will stop aging at 25 years old. Can be passed to descendants but will dilute by 10% onwards if bloodline is mixed. - 4,000,000 scudi.]
[Otsutsuki Clan's Lifespan (Mixed) - Grants 1000% Increase in User's Lifespan. User's physical appearance will stop aging at 40 years old. Can be passed to descendants but will dilute by 10% onwards if bloodline is mixed.- 1,000,000 scudi.]
[Uzumaki Clan's Lifespan (Pure) - Grants 500% Increase in User's Lifespan. User's physical appearance will stop aging at 50 years old. Can be passed to descendants but will dilute by 10% onwards if bloodline is mixed.- 800,000 scudi.]
[Uzumaki Clan's Lifespan (Mixed) - Grants 200% Increase in User's Lifespan. User's physical appearance will stop aging at 70 years old. Can be passed to descendants but will dilute by 10% onwards if bloodline is mixed. - 300,000 scudi.]
[Senju Clan's Lifespan (Pure) - Grants 250% Increase in User's Lifespan. User's physical appearance will stop aging at 60 years old. Can be passed to descendants but will dilute by 10% onwards if bloodline is mixed. - 400,000 scudi.]
[Senju Clan's Lifespan (Mixed) - Grants 100% Increase in User's Lifespan. User's physical appearance will stop aging at 80 years old. Can be passed to descendants but will dilute by 10% onwards if bloodline is mixed. - 100,000 scudi.]
"Woah..." Alaric murmured, genuinely surprised by the options. He analyzed the items, focusing on the descriptions.
"Interesting... so they can be passed down to my future children and onwards..." He paused, pulling out the last cigar from his pack. He crumpled the empty pack and tossed it overboard into the water below before lighting the cigar with his finger and putting it to his lips.
'Now that I think about it... I'm basically immortal thanks to the Phoenix Sage Mode,' he thought, gazing up at the stars that were visible in the sky while taking a long drag.
'If I am ever going to marry someone... settle down... I can't just have them dying on me after a normal lifespan.' He took another drag, considering.
'But there are no options to pass my kind of immortality through the System.' He frowned slightly. 'Well... aside from becoming a Jashinist or using Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear technique... nah, that's just too creepy and involves sacrificing others. Not my style.'
He stared thoughtfully at the entry for [Otsutsuki Clan's Lifespan (Pure)]. 'Ten thousand percent increase... stops aging at 25... heritable, even if diluted...'
He took one last puff from the cigar, letting the smoke drift away on the breeze. 'I'll just keep this in mind for now. You never know…"'
He closed the System interface, content to simply watch the stars as La Providencia finally pulled away from the docks, heading north towards Florence.
He closed the System interface, content to simply watch the stars as La Providencia finally pulled away from the docks, heading north towards Florence.
'…after I'm done travelling, I'll increase my political standing and aim for world domination, WUAHAHAHA…' Alaric thought then chuckled at himself.
'Just kidding…'
'…or am I?'
(This is just a chapter where Alaric's flexing his coin a little bit hehe)
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