When Ender first obtained the [Worn Flintlock Gun], he received plenty of information about it.
But now, the dagger in his hand came with no such prompts—no stats, no descriptions, not even a note about whether it could be sold.
That made Ender suspect something. The earlier weapon had likely come partly by luck, but perhaps also because Reincarnation Paradise had deliberately arranged it—granting him a weapon, yes, but also ensuring it came with certain risks. That, he reasoned, must be the true rule of the system.
This dagger, however, didn't seem to follow those rules. It was sharp enough to use, but it couldn't be taken out of the One Piece world, nor could it be exchanged for Paradise Coins.
Which made sense—if everything could be traded for currency, then the Paradise's entire economy would be a joke.
Driving the stubborn old horse forward, Ender neared the city gate. The guards were now clearly in sight.
But the horse, unused to its new master, grew restless, ignoring his commands. That put him in a tough spot. He had never actually handled a horse before, yet with the guards watching, turning back was no longer an option.
He tugged the reins hard. The horse snorted and stopped.
Ender decided to stop first and accept inspection. He guessed that leaving the city was relaxed, but entering would be another matter entirely.
A few guards approached—outwardly lazy, but their eyes were sharp and predatory.
"What's this? Back already? You're early today."
Their tone was casual—too casual. Ender's hair stood on end.
They knew the man he was impersonating—the so-called black market merchant—perhaps even had business with him. This was bad.
"S–Sir… I barely got out… T–Toby's men attacked me… urgh…"
His voice was hoarse and muffled, laced with fake retching. The merchant's voice wasn't like his, so Ender purposely distorted it.
Combined with the foul stench of filth covering him, the guards didn't doubt it. In fact, they backed away in disgust.
"What? Toby's gang? Those bastards dare rob you? Don't they know who you are?"
The lead guard scowled in anger, but another quickly interjected:
"Boss, Toby's been growing fast. My sources say he just wiped out Rogil's crew. Other than the Bluejam Pirates, no one in the Dump's got more power now."
"So we're just going to let it slide? What about our cut?"
They exchanged uneasy looks. Though they hated losing money, they clearly feared Toby more.
"You… forget it. Next time this happens, don't bother coming back. Just stay out there and live in the Dump."
Ender nodded submissively, hiding the cold sharpness in his eyes.
Moments like this demanded absolute calm—most failures came from arrogance just before success.
He snapped the reins. The brown horse grumbled but began walking again.
Before he left, one guard crouched to check under the wagon—the usual hiding spot for vagrants trying to sneak into the city.
Luckily, Ender had never planned to hide there. Instead, he'd taken the risky route—killing the real driver and taking his place—exploiting the guards' blind spot.
The garbage cart rolled past the gate. Three meters… five… ten…
"Carlos! Wait!"
A shout from behind. Ender's pupils tightened—but he didn't panic.
"Your nephew's matter's been settled. With enough sincerity, he can join the guard today."
The guard made a rubbing gesture with his fingers—sincerity, meaning bribe money.
Ender nodded quickly, pretending to thank him but instead dry-heaving again.
"Ugh—so sorry, sir…"
"Just go already! You stink from here!"
Perfect.
Crack!
The whip lashed the horse's flank, and with a pained neigh, the beast lurched forward, speeding into the city.
He'd done it—successfully infiltrated the royal capital of Goa Kingdom.
He could've chosen safer ways to enter, but time wasn't on his side.
And from the guards' conversation, he'd already learned two valuable things.
First: the timeline.
This was before Monkey D. Luffy set sail—possibly during his childhood, or even before his birth.
His reasoning? The mention of the Bluejam Pirates—the same crew that fought young Luffy and Ace in the great fire.
In the original story, those pirates were manipulated by the king of Goa to burn down the Grey Terminal, only to be abandoned and left to die in the flames.
Second: an unexpected but crucial opportunity.
That one line—Your nephew can join the guard today with enough sincerity.
It meant the dead merchant had bribed his way into getting his "nephew" a spot in the city guard.
If Ender took that identity, he could infiltrate the guard—and move closer to his assassination target.
It was risky, yes—but also the best strategy. The Paradise hadn't given him any official cover identity.
So, he'd make one.
As he drove through the outer streets of Goa's royal capital, he observed his surroundings.
This was the commoners' district, clean enough but crowded. Vendors shouted, peddling their wares, and ordinary townsfolk bustled by—some smiling, some weary and hollow-eyed.
These were the lucky ones—better than the scavengers outside, but barely surviving.
The world of One Piece was in chaos—wars, pirates, and shifting powers—leaving civilians clinging to scraps of stability.
As Ender watched them, a strange feeling crept in.
It didn't feel like a "mission world."
It felt real—painfully, vividly real.
These weren't NPCs.
They were living, breathing humans.
The guards' sharp instincts alone had proved that—if not for Ender's quick wit and composure, he'd already be dead.
He reminded himself: In this world, never underestimate anyone.
For now, his priorities were clear—clean himself up, open the [White Treasure Chest], and use every resource he had.
Because as a Level 1 hunter in a Level 6, nightmare-difficulty world, he was walking a razor's edge.
(End of Chapter)