It's a Matter of Principle!

The red clouds swirled in the sky as the sun set, painting a beautiful and pleasant scene.

The fiery red sun would likely sink below the horizon before long. The gentle sea breeze blew through the mountains, making one feel refreshed and uplifted.

Chaos carried the elk down the mountain. Over the past three years, he had become familiar with the small town and its neighbors.

He had never revealed his abilities or found the gold on the mountain. He had always relied on hunting to exchange for daily necessities. His home was halfway up the mountain, a ten-minute walk from the small town at the foot.

"Yo! Chaos, you caught another elk! It's a big one!"

As he walked through the town streets, many villagers greeted Chaos.

"I got lucky today, looks like I'll have a good meal again."

Chaos flashed a hearty smile. He knew everyone he passed.

He couldn't catch prey every day. Sometimes, he wouldn't catch anything for two or three days, or he'd only catch small animals like pheasants and rabbits. Chaos had cultivated an image of being an ordinary person.

He was extremely cautious, having perfectly blended into the ranks of ordinary people.

Otherwise, with Chaos's current abilities, plus the three beasts—Lion, Crocodile, and Tiger—it would be easy to catch large animals.

He wore a smile all the way. These people had, more or less, helped him out.

They'd either give him some vegetables or daily necessities like soy sauce, vinegar, and rice. In return, Chaos would sometimes share some game meat and medicinal herbs. They helped each other, and life was relatively peaceful and harmonious.

Carrying the elk, he arrived at the butcher's house on the street. In the town, the butcher handled tasks like slaughtering pigs and also ran a meat stall. Chaos basically sold all the game he caught to the butcher.

The price was fair.

Despite the butcher's fierce appearance, he was actually a kind-hearted person.

After selling the elk, Chaos went to the udon noodle shop run by the elderly Tist couple. He had eaten there on credit many times.

"Uncle Tist, the usual, extra spicy and with lots of green onions!"

He plopped down on a stool and yelled towards the kitchen.

"No problem."

Tist, inside the kitchen, didn't come out to greet him. He knew it was Chaos just by his voice.

"There's a new newspaper today."

Looking at the newspaper on the table, Chaos flipped it open and began to read.

He had been keeping up with the outside world's news over the past three years through newspapers.

The News Bird of this world was a magical thing. Wherever people lived, there would basically be News Birds delivering newspapers for sale.

"The Lone Red Balorik Redfield and Marine Admiral Buddha Sengoku fought for five days and five nights in the New World, destroying a medium-sized island before escaping."

"Iron Fist Garp pursued the Roger Pirates. The two sides clashed in the Grand Line, with the outcome unknown."

"Whitebeard Edward Newgate appeared in the New World and clashed with the captain of the Flying Pirates, Golden Lion Shiki."

"Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong personally dealt a heavy blow to Kaido, but Kaido managed to escape by luck."

"Whole Cake Island, established by Charlotte Linlin, is rapidly expanding its influence."

"World Destroyer Bondi Wald destroyed a Marine branch, and Marine Admiral Black Arm Zephyr made a powerful move!"

"The three new Logia-type Marine rookies, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan, captured numerous pirates with bounties over 100 million in the Grand Line."

"..."

The latest issue of the newspaper reported quite a bit of news.

Besides the pirates who would become legends more than twenty years later, there were also many great pirates not mentioned in the original story, all with bounties over 100 million.

In this era, 100 million was equivalent to three to four hundred million in Luffy's era, and that was without any inflation.

In the future Great Pirate Era, bounty amounts would no longer represent strength but the degree of sin.

Crimes like indiscriminate killing and the destruction of villages and kingdoms would significantly increase bounties.

Unlike this era, where bounties were linked to strength, a higher bounty meant greater strength.

"This is truly f***ing dangerous!"

Looking at the reports, much of the news was already a month or even half a month old!

All sorts of strange and dangerous figures were running rampant outside now; just thinking about it was thrilling.

Although only a few would become legends after the great culling, anyone in this era with a bounty over 100 million had some serious skills.

As long as they could survive until Luffy's era, they would undoubtedly be hailed as legendary pirates.

In this era, Kaido and BIG MOM were already showing their prowess. Roger, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Lone Red, Garp, Zephyr, Sengoku, and World Destroyer were writing their own legends. Rookies like Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan were also shining brightly.

The future Four Emperors, Shichibukai, Marines, Revolutionary Army, and underground kings, and other world structures had not yet formed. The World Government remained the undisputed strongest overlord.

The seemingly foolish figures in the Holy Land were still reveling in their debauched lives.

The Great Pirate Era had not yet begun.

He had been lying low for three years. It was time to go out, see the world, and have some fun.

In his past life, he had been unremarkable, just an invisible person among the masses.

When he saw the glamorous stars on TV, the rich second-generation heirs surrounded by beautiful women and luxury cars wherever they went, or the powerful big shots who were the center of attention no matter where they went.

He also wanted to be high-profile, he wanted to be arrogant!

And others couldn't do anything about him, that kind of life was what he wanted.

After finally getting the protagonist's script, if he didn't mess up this world, he might as well die.

Even if his legs were broken, or he died on the way, he would still complete this journey. Not only would he complete it, but he would do it in a high-profile, arrogant manner.

B, must pretend!

This is a matter of principle.

No room for negotiation!

He was the man destined to become the King of B!!!

After finishing his udon, Chaos returned to the wooden house halfway up the mountain.

This island is called Goat Island, located in the Grand Line!

About twice a year, merchant ships would stop by to sell or buy supplies. If he was unlucky, there might even be some pirates!

Calculating the time, it would be another three to four months before a merchant ship passed by.

Chaos planned to follow the merchant ship to see the outside world. He didn't have any specific goals at the moment.

The most basic core principle was to become stronger.

Once he had the strength to protect his wealth, he would definitely become the richest man in the world.

Even the Pirate King wouldn't have a reputation as resounding as his.

After all, the great pirate era initiated by Roger was based on the ONE PIECE. The ONE PIECE symbolized wealth, power, and fame. These three things were already possessed by the world's richest man.

It was possible that Roger needed other tempting reasons to start the great pirate era.

Also, if he got bored, he could start a couple of side businesses, like becoming one of the Four Emperors or a Shichibukai!

To be able to utter the arrogant and pretentious golden saying, "I'm not interested in money, I've never touched money," he still had a long way to go.

Although it was a bit hypocritical, that feeling was incredibly satisfying.

Night had already fallen, and there were no entertainment activities at night. Chaos could only continue to train.

Although he was a bit tired, the thought of setting sail soon and facing mortal danger made his fighting spirit soar.

Suffering a bit and working hard now was all preparation for the future.

Thinking about the future of arrogant, explosive wealth, none of this mattered!

In three to four months, he would see if he could master Rokushiki or two types of Haki. Even mastering just one would be a win.