The next morning, Nolan woke to the sound of seagulls screaming overhead and the gentle lap of waves against the dock. His small boat rocked precariously in the East Blue's early sunlight. The previous night's heroic—if utterly ridiculous—antics had left him with sand in places he didn't know existed, several bruises, and a strangely growing sense of pride.
"Alright, system," Nolan said, stretching and rubbing his sore back, "time to see what being a pirate is really like."
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED – Objective Update: Travel beyond your island. Unlock companions, treasures, and combat experience. Harem potential unlocked: +1 female NPC visibility per adventure.]
Nolan's eyes sparkled. Harem potential? Already? And I haven't even fought anyone yet?
He grabbed the tattered sail he had found in the corner of the dock and shoved it onto his little boat. The wind was gentle, almost suspiciously perfect, as if the seas themselves had been waiting for him. With a shaky push, Nolan shoved the boat into the water. The current almost immediately swirled around him, and he realized—too late—that steering a boat was not quite as easy as it looked.
"Whoa! Whoa whoa! System! How do I—oh no, no no!" Nolan shouted, flailing his arms. A few seagulls swooped overhead, clearly unimpressed by his attempts.
[SYSTEM ALERT – +10 Charm Points for chaos]
"Wait… charm points? Really? I'm falling into the water here!" Nolan sputtered, but the system's chime was already rewarding him for… something. Maybe the seagulls thought he was cute.
By some miracle—or sheer luck—Nolan's little boat managed to glide away from the dock and toward the horizon. And just as the sun hit the water in a blaze of gold, a familiar figure came bouncing across the waves: a straw-hatted boy with rubber arms and a grin as wide as the sea itself.
"Hey! You're going the wrong way!" Luffy called, stretching his arm like a slingshot to point at the nearest open ocean.
Nolan waved nervously. "Uh… hey! You're… Luffy, right? The boy who steals meat?"
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Yeah! I am! And you are?"
"I'm Nolan! Pirate! System-equipped! Future legend!" Nolan struck what he thought was a heroic pose but instead almost tipped his boat over.
[SYSTEM ALERT – +15 Charm Points for introduction of a future ally]
"System… what did you say?" Luffy asked, tilting his head. "You talkin' about meat or treasure?"
"Neither!" Nolan said, scrambling to stay upright. "I mean… powers! Adventure! And maybe… you know, attracting some cute girls along the way!"
Luffy blinked. Then laughed. "Sounds fun! You can come with me!"
Before Nolan could even protest that he barely knew how to sail, he found himself accidentally clinging to Luffy as the rubber boy stretched a massive arm to catapult both of them into the open sea. Nolan barely managed to land upright—though not without splashing into the water more than once—and the system chimed merrily in approval.
[SYSTEM ALERT – Objective Complete: Join a legendary pirate. +20 Experience. Unlock skill: Sea Survival Basics]
"Alright! I knew today would be fun!" Nolan shouted, shaking water out of his hair. "System, prepare for epic adventure points!"
Not far behind, Nolan noticed another figure paddling toward them: a boy with black hair tied in a ponytail, a sword strapped to his back, and an expression that screamed both annoyance and boredom. Zoro, Nolan quickly realized, the swordsman already famous in the East Blue.
"You're the new guy?" Zoro grumbled, squinting. "You're lucky I'm not asleep or I'd—"
"Don't worry! I barely know how to swim myself!" Nolan interrupted, grinning. "Let's be friends!"
[SYSTEM ALERT – +10 Charm Points for successful social engagement with future ally]
And then the orange-haired girl from the docks appeared on a small skiff, glaring daggers at Nolan. "You again! What are you doing here?"
"Saving the day… maybe," Nolan said, striking his best charming pose, which caused the system to buzz with delight. "Also… I hear charm points are awarded for heroic acts?"
[SYSTEM ALERT – +25 Charm Points – Flirtation Successful. Potential Harem Ally Confirmed: Nami]
Nami's eyes narrowed. "You—ugh! You're ridiculous!"
Nolan grinned cheekily. "Hey, life's too short to be normal! Besides, the sea is big, but it's also… full of opportunities!"
With that, Nolan clumsily joined the Straw Hat formation, which consisted mostly of Luffy bouncing around, Zoro trying not to roll his eyes, and Nami making increasingly frustrated gestures. Despite his lack of skill, Nolan's system kept awarding him experience and abilities, as if the universe itself was rooting for his chaotic heroics.
By midday, Nolan had learned several important lessons:
He could barely steer a boat without crashing it.
Every time he tripped or failed, his system rewarded him with experience, charm, or skill points.
Being flirtatiously suggestive in awkward situations caused female NPCs (especially Nami) to glare, blush, or both—which counted as harem progression points.
Despite all of this, he was having the time of his life.
As the sun began to sink, painting the sea in shades of pink and gold, Nolan's system activated again with a sudden chime:
[SYSTEM ALERT – New Objective: Explore the East Blue and acquire allies. Level up to unlock combat skills and enhanced charisma. Harem potential increasing]
Nolan grinned, slumping onto the deck with his hands behind his head. Luffy bounced beside him, Zoro rolled his eyes, and Nami muttered something he didn't catch—though the blush on her cheeks told him all he needed to know.
"Tomorrow," Nolan said, voice full of exaggerated confidence, "I'm going to be a legendary pirate, defeat every pirate and Marine in my path, and—uh—maybe make some new friends."
[SYSTEM ALERT – +50 Charm Points – Heroic Declaration. New skill unlocked: 'Accidental Bravado']
The sea stretched endlessly ahead of them, promising adventure, chaos, and countless opportunities to charm, bumble, fight, and somehow survive. Nolan had no idea how many missteps he would take—but if the system was any indication, each one would only make him stronger… and more irresistible.
And so, as the first night of their voyage approached, Nolan leaned back on the deck, watching the sun sink into the horizon, already imagining all the ways the system—and the sea—would reward his brand of chaotic heroics.