Yuba.
Sunlight sliced through the gaps in the curtains, painting the room in a warm, lazy glow.
Tiny dust motes danced in the golden haze, and the whole atmosphere felt thick with a sleepy, comfortable calm.
The room itself was a total disaster zone.
Clothes were tossed everywhere, and undergarments of all shapes and sizes were tangled up in piles on the floor.
On the huge, soft bed, Mike lay peacefully.
He slowly blinked his eyes open, his vision gradually coming into focus.
A look of pure satisfaction was settled in his slightly narrowed gaze.
He carefully slid his arms out from under the heads of the two women sleeping on his chest, wincing slightly at the stiffness.
He flexed his hands, feeling the blood rush back into them.
Then, moving with the quiet grace of a cat, Mike slowly got up, careful not to disturb the small army of beauties sleeping soundly around him.
They were all knocked out, their sleeping positions a chaotic mess—some were curled up in tight balls, others were sprawled out like starfish, but every single one of them had a content little smile on her face.
Mike just shook his head, a private smirk on his face.
'What a lively bunch…'
He tiptoed over to the balcony and pushed open the window.
Instantly, sunlight poured in like a golden waterfall, washing over his hair and shoulders with its warmth.
He looked out over the city.
Even though it was almost noon, the streets of Yuba were buzzing with energy.
He could hear the shouts of street vendors, the constant shuffle of feet on the pavement, and could almost taste the dust and sweat in the air.
It was all so incredibly alive.
The whole rhythm of the city, a mix of noise and peace, felt perfectly clear in that moment.
Leaning against the railing, Mike narrowed his eyes, a feeling of deep serenity washing over him.
"While everyone else is out there sweating under the midday sun, I'm the only one sleeping in. If that doesn't make me an immortal, what does?"
He answered his own question with a grin.
"I am the immortal!"
A familiar chime suddenly rang in his head.
[Ding!]
[Host has enjoyed a perfect Alabasta journey.]
[Desert passion, enchanting scenery.]
[Total Happy Points obtained: 100,000]
Mike's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh? A hundred thousand Happy Points in one go!" he murmured, genuinely impressed.
Thinking back on the highlights of his trip, he felt a wave of satisfaction.
He'd burned through all his points during his last run-in with Dragon, so getting a huge deposit like this now was perfect.
This trip to Alabasta was totally worth it!
A win-win!
He got to live it up and enjoy a perfect vacation, unlocked some new achievements, and the system rewards came through smoothly.
'Live the good life while getting stronger', he thought.
'The stronger I get, the better I can live, and the more choices I have. It's a perfect cycle!'
The system notifications kept rolling in.
[Ding!]
[Through reasonable "persuasion," you successfully convinced one of the Warlords—Crocodile—to get serious about developing Alabasta.]
[In the future, Alabasta will become even more prosperous and fun. You can look forward to coming back for more Happy Points.]
"Damn right," Mike whispered to himself.
"Once Crocodile levels up Alabasta, we can start building some real entertainment." He imagined a bigger, better Rain Dinners casino, packed with people and every game you could think of, all decked out in luxury.
It would be a top-tier resort.
"When that time comes," he thought, a glint in his eye, "I'm definitely coming back for another vacation."
[You have enjoyed the highest-tier treatment at Rain Dinners.]
[Using your "gambling skills," you successfully won 1 billion Belly in cash, earning Happy Points.]
"Heh, nothing much to say about that one," Mike smirked, feeling a little proud.
"I was just channeling the God of Gamblers. No one could stop me from cleaning house." He made a mental note.
"Maybe I'll open a small casino at Marine Headquarters later. Issho and I can have some fun sparring over a game or two. Of course, I'd probably have to go easy on him. A Marine Admiral has to keep up appearances, after all~"
[You completed a pleasant heart-to-heart talk with the tanned beauties in the transport turtle.]
[Your entire body and mind achieved a perfect release, gaining 5,000 Happy Points.]
"Tsk, tsk, that was definitely a perfect experience!" The attitude of those dark-skinned sisters was top-notch!
'Next time, we can try some different positions... explore some new flavors.'
[Your values and ideals have earned the respect of Marine Headquarters Admiral—Aokiji. Admiral Kuzan has reignited his fighting spirit.]
[As long as you don't cross the line, Admiral Kuzan will unconditionally be on your side.]
[Even if you do cross the line, he will seriously consider your ideas before making a choice, earning Happy Points!]
'Nice! With Kuzan on my side, plus Old Man Kizaru, I'm one step closer to being able to do whatever I want at Marine Headquarters.'
'Who's gonna dare say I'm slacking off now?'
'I was just in my office, carrying out the special newspaper-reading assignment that Admirals Kizaru and Aokiji gave me! Got it?'
[You showed off your skills and successfully made a deal with the Whitebeard Pirates, bringing Fish-Man Island under your name.]
[Future heart-to-heart talks with mermaid ladies will now be much easier, earning Happy Points.]
'Excellent. Mermaid ladies, hehehe~'
[You battled a group of temptresses all night, transforming into manwhore Mike, and successfully subdued them one by one, gaining 5,000 Happy Points.]
'Ah, a fierce night of battle, but it was worth it! Conquered every last one of them!'
[Host, please keep up the good work and continue to enjoy a joyful life in the one piece world!]
[The Joy System will continue to support you! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧]
Mike stroked his chin, a thoughtful look on his face.
He was in such a good mood... was now the perfect time for a gacha pull?
'Mmm, maybe next time,' he decided.
'I'm afraid I'll use up all my good luck and get nothing.'
'I'd lose my points and it would ruin my mood.'
'Better to wait until some idiot provokes me.'
'The system always boosts the rates then. I'll cash in big time!'
"Alright then, time to get ready for the next stop."
Mike casually slipped on his Marine uniform.
The tailored fit made him look tall and heroic.
He stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar.
He turned and glanced back at the women still fast asleep on the bed.
Their soft, even breathing filled the room.
Mike smiled faintly and blew them a silent, gentle kiss.
With that, he walked quietly but firmly to the door.
"Let's go. To Skypiea," he said to Kuro, who was waiting patiently outside.
"Yes, sir!" Kuro nodded and swiftly draped the Marine cloak over Mike's shoulders, his movements as smooth as flowing water.
The desert wind blew past, carrying the dry heat of Alabasta.
The "Justice" kanji on his cloak fluttered gently in the breeze.
****
The New World.
The Whitebeard Pirates' massive ship was a hive of activity as the crew prepared to set sail.
They were on their way to Fish-Man Island to meet up with Mike.
Just then, Marco walked quickly into the main cabin.
"Pops," he said, casually pointing a thumb at the nervous-looking rookie trailing behind him.
"Someone from Red-Hair's crew is here."
Whitebeard looked up slightly.
"Hmm?"
The rookie from the Red-Haired Pirates took a shaky breath, his whole body trembling as he handed a Den Den Mushi to the giant Yonko.
The moment the call connected, the cheerful voice of Red-Haired Shanks boomed out.
"Whitebeard!"
"I'm busy, Red-Haired brat. Get to the point."
"Gahahaha, you old-timers never change!" Shanks laughed. "Listen, I've got two things I need to talk to you about!"
Suddenly, Shanks's tone dropped, becoming low and dead serious.
"First, you need to know. The Marines have a new monster on their hands."
The moment he said that, every pirate in the room froze, their eyes locked on the Den Den Mushi.
"Red-Hair," Whitebeard said, a slight frown on his face.
"Are you talking about that kid, Mike?"
"???"
On the other end of the line, Shanks's voice suddenly shot up in urgency.
"Whitebeard… Wait… HOW DID YOU KNOW?!!!"
-----------------------------
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