The group mall had finally opened, and its contents were jaw-dropping.
Even Vegeta, the proud Saiyan prince, found himself drooling over the incredible items on display.
Weapons of cosmic might, divine techniques from forgotten realms, even raw power itself—each product promised strength beyond imagination. But there was one major problem.
They were outrageously expensive.
Most of the powerful items were priced at a million points or more, with so many zeros that Vegeta didn't even bother counting. Though some cheap, low-level items were available too, they were practically useless to someone like him.
"If only these things could be bought with Zeni…" Vegeta muttered, clenching his fists.
If money were accepted, he'd be able to clear out the entire store with ease. After all, his wife Bulma was the richest woman in the world. With her backing, he could buy up everything from the mall in no time.
But unfortunately, that wasn't how the group mall worked. Points earned from missions were the only currency accepted, and right now, Vegeta's balance sat at a depressing zero.
He sighed.
"There's no other way… I have to take on missions. Lots of missions!"
This thought wasn't exclusive to Vegeta. Many other members of the Cosmic Thugs Group shared the same mindset. Missions were the only path to strength and rewards.
---
Group Chat Buzzing
Goku: "@Krillin, hey Krillin! Now that your mission's done, why don't you come back and tell us more about the world you visited?"
Krillin: "No problem, Goku! I'm just wrapping things up here."
But just as Krillin was preparing to return, a sudden system message popped up for all group members:
Ding! A hidden mission has been discovered!
> Hidden Mission: Assist the Whitebeard Pirates in ending the war at Marineford.
Completion Reward: Double your current strength and receive bonus items.
To accept the mission, the assigned group member Krillin must locate Whitebeard.
If you do not wish to proceed, you may choose to return.
---
Jack's Reaction
Jack, the group's mysterious leader, immediately noticed the alert.
"Oho? A hidden mission?" he said with an amused smirk. "@Krillin, looks like you triggered a hidden quest on your very first outing. Not bad at all."
Hidden missions weren't common. In fact, they were rare—very rare.
To trigger one, several conditions had to be met. First, the base mission itself had to qualify. Not every job carried the potential for a hidden objective. Second, the group member needed to earn a five-star rating from the employer—nothing less. Four stars wouldn't cut it.
Even then, the chances were slim.
Still, when a hidden mission was triggered, the rewards were incredible—far greater than a standard task. More points, more lottery chances, and in some cases, even unique boons or skills.
But there was a catch: the mission difficulty scaled accordingly. It wasn't something just anyone could handle.
In this case, the trigger wasn't entirely dependent on Krillin. Anyone who had saved Ace and earned Luffy's full admiration could have set the conditions in motion. Krillin just happened to be the lucky one.
Or perhaps it wasn't luck, Jack thought. Perhaps it was fate.
Some strange bond seemed to exist between Luffy and Krillin—maybe something deeper, metaphysical, or meta-narrative.
Krillin: "@Group Leader Jack, thank you for the praise! It's an honor to be acknowledged by you."
To receive a compliment from Jack himself? That made Krillin even happier than earning points. Being praised by the enigmatic leader was a badge of honor.
---
Other Members React
Beerus: "What?! There are hidden missions too? This is like getting two jobs' worth of rewards in one! Krillin may be weak… but he's got some serious luck."
Beerus: "Double strength… Hmph. If I received that reward, I could smack those eleven other Gods of Destruction around with a single finger. Not that they're a threat to me now anyway."
Whis: "@Lord Beerus, please don't underestimate Krillin. With how many missions he's completed, he might soon surpass your strength."
Beerus: "@Whis, don't joke around. Catching up to my power isn't that simple—even if you complete missions day and night!"
Krillin: "Haha… of course not, Lord Beerus! Your strength is beyond anything I can reach in a single lifetime!"
Beerus: "@Krillin, don't be so modest. If Jack is giving you this opportunity, don't waste it. Confidence is just as important as power!"
---
The Saiyans Chime In
Vegeta: "Damn it… if I had received this reward, then even Kakarot wouldn't be able to compete with me!"
Piccolo: "@Vegeta, you realize Goku can now reach Super Saiyan 3, right? Even if your strength doubles, you might still fall short."
Vegeta: "Don't mock me, Namekian! If he can reach that form, then so can I!"
Master Roshi: "Well, Goku may be stronger now, but Vegeta's power burst during that last fight was impressive. That said, Vegeta… next time you want to surpass Goku, don't go around looking for someone to slap Bulma again!"
Goku: "@Vegeta, YOU WHAT!? You hit my Bulma!?"
Vegeta: "@Goku, WHAT?! How did you find out about that!?"
Piccolo: "Oh, come on. How else would he know? He must've used Instant Transmission and was spying on you again."
Vegeta: "@Goku, you sneaky bastard! /Angry!"
---
Goku and Krillin – Friends Talk Missions
Goku: "Hey hey hey! @Krillin, you should totally accept this hidden mission! I wonder if there are any strong warriors in that world?"
Krillin: "@Goku, from what I sensed so far, the people here have very weak Ki. I don't detect any strong opponents… honestly, even I could wipe out armies here without trying."
Krillin: "But they do have interesting abilities—things I've never seen before. It's not all about raw strength."
Goku: "Sounds cool! If no one there can challenge you, then go for it. Should be easy for you to complete!"
Krillin: "You're right. I'll take on the mission."
---
New Mission Accepted
As Krillin made his decision, the system confirmed his choice:
Ding! Hidden Mission Accepted: Assist the Whitebeard Pirates in Ending the War!
Krillin's avatar glowed briefly in the group chat—signaling that a new mission had begun.
---
Back in the One Piece world, the War at Marineford was reaching its climax. Battles raged between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates. Ace's unexpected survival had shifted the tide slightly, but the situation was still volatile.
Krillin's objective was clear: End the war. Prevent further casualties. And maintain balance in this world.
If he succeeded, he would gain a reward that could elevate him to a new level of strength.
But one question remained—would Krillin face unforeseen enemies along the way?
Would the universe allow a peaceful resolution… or would destiny conspire to throw him into the heart of chaos?
Only time would tell.
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