Setting Sail

Rono excitedly stood up from a very old, small fishing boat, waving the coins in his hand at a News Bird. The News Bird hesitated for a moment before flying towards him. After all, no one would forbid a young man who had survived a shipwreck from caring about world affairs, right? Besides, he had money. Well, that really wasn't the main reason. The News Bird quickly flew in front of Rono. Rono happily stuffed the money into the News Bird's money bag, and casually stroked its long neck. "Crack," the News Bird's neck snapped 180°. Rono skillfully took off its money bag, emptied the money, and threw the bag into the sea. He looked practiced, as if he had done this at least 20 times before. "Sigh, there are fewer and fewer News Birds lately. Am I really going to die here? As expected, manga is all lies. What about the promised fishing boat trip?" Rono muttered as he twisted the bird's neck, then drank the bright red "drink." After finishing the "drink," he took out a piece of dried meat from the cabin and started gnawing on it.

Time rewinded two days ago. Rono boarded this "borrowed" old fishing boat and began his escape. The thought of being chased and hacked at by over 20 people made Rono click his tongue. "I just stole a knife, is that such a big deal?" Actually, if Rono hadn't operated under the principle of "I'm a good person, how can I watch others fornicate in broad daylight?" and used an Amplifying Den Den Mushi to broadcast an audio live stream to the entire town, that old man (the male protagonist of the live stream) wouldn't have pursued him so relentlessly. In the end, it was all his own doing.

Time rewound again. After Rono had eaten and drunk his fill (in a certain sense), he lay down again, pretending to be dead. This was to conserve energy. It wasn't until sunset that Rono suddenly sat up and looked into the distance: a cargo ship was slowly approaching him. Rono excitedly waved his hands, holding a money bag in each hand. The clinking of gold coins was a pleasant sound.

Regardless, under Rono's hopeful gaze, the cargo ship slowly approached and lowered a soft rope.

"I'm saved!" Rono climbed onto the ship with the help of the sailors. The sailors on board stared at him, maintaining their vigilance. A bearded uncle wearing a triangular captain's hat and a captain's uniform asked, "What are you doing here? And on a fishing boat."

"Mhm, mhm." Rono cleared his throat. He had only drunk some News Bird blood today, and his throat was a bit dry. "Um, Uncle, I just ran out randomly and got lost. Can you give me a ride? I'll pay." Rono didn't answer the captain's question but replied, shaking his money bag as he spoke.

The captain sized Rono up. Besides the two money bags in his hands, a Tachi sheathed at his waist, and clothes of decent quality, he believed some of his words. He's just a thrill-seeking kid.

"Alright, how old are you? We're heading to Alabasta. If it's on the way, you'll have to pay 100,000 Belly. After all, it's not close to Alabasta. If it's not on the way, we'll drop you off at the next port, and you can give us a symbolic amount of money."

"Ah, it's on the way, it's on the way! Oh, my name is Rono, and I'm 15 years old!" Rono replied with a grin, scratching his somewhat greasy red hair. "Then please take care of me! Here, this is the ticket money."

The captain took the Belly and waved his hand, and the sailors gradually dispersed. "You're lucky you met us. If you had met pirates, they might have sold you as a slave. I advise you to go home as soon as possible."

The captain knew very well that it wasn't on the way at all. If his broken boat could come from Alabasta, he'd eat his own feces. However, he had no relation to Rono and didn't want to get involved further, so he offered a word of advice.

That night, Rono, having eaten his fill, lay in a hammock wearing a sailor uniform (bought, of course, second-hand). He silently recited in his mind: System, attribute panel.

"Beep." An electronic sound echoed in Rono's mind, and a panel was projected onto his retina:

Body Strength: 21 (10)
Bone Strength: 25 (15)
Abilities: Self-Healing Factor, Bone Claws
Note: Average adult body strength is 10, bone strength is 15
Evaluation: You have nothing to be proud of. Your advantages are all racial talents. You are still trash.

Rono grumbled, "You look down on racial talents? Others wish they had them. I'm naturally superior to others!"

"Given that the Host is a bit arrogant, the System has decided to send a reward: Hell Training (1). Failure penalty: Electric Shock LV3."

"...Um, can I refuse?"

"..."

"I was wrong, I am guilty. I shouldn't have been arrogant. Please, System, be lenient..."

"Host has important items dropped, please pick them up promptly." The System's tone was devoid of emotion.

"Sigh! Where, oh where?" Rono stood up and looked around. Suddenly, he spotted a pile of sparkling things under his feet. "Wahahaha, as expected of the protagonist, just casually picking up treasure!" He bent down and picked it up. "Ding, found a pile of Integrity, do you wish to pick it up."

∑°□°!! What the heck, Rono froze, and silently kicked the "Integrity" aside, then lay on the bed. "Sleep, sleep, everything will be fine when I wake up..."

The next morning, Rono looked at the contents of Hell Training (1) and swallowed hard: 5000 punches, 5000 kicks, one hour of horse stance, 500 repetitions of 100-meter shuttle runs (15 seconds limit each time). Time limit: 7 days.

Note 1: Young man, I heard you're getting a bit arrogant. Come, come, let me teach you how to behave.

Note 2: If the standard is not met, the count will not be registered. The standard is assessed by the system, and the system reserves the final right of interpretation.

Note 3: If the task is not completed on the same day, the time for that day will be void.

It was exactly 6 AM when he was awakened by the system and began the brutal 7-day Hell Training.

"Kid, I didn't expect this from you, so diligent! Oh right, time for meals, don't be late!" Nick, the Sailor who sold clothes to Rono, came over to greet him.

It was only then that Rono realized it was already noon.

In the dining hall...

With a clatter of dishes, Rono leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. Looking at the more than 20 meal trays on the table, he exclaimed, "I haven't eaten this much in so long! o≧v≦o"

The dining hall was silent. Everyone was stunned by Rono's appetite. The captain silently lit a cigarette. "His ticket should be doubled! This is a huge loss."

After digesting for a while, Rono began a new round of training. If not for his Self-Healing Factor, Rono felt he would have been ruined. 5000 punches and 5000 kicks weren't a lot for him, but they weren't a little either. The real difficulty was the system's assessment standard!

He threw a punch. Ding, deviated from the punching path by more than 1cm, standard not met. Current count (1566/5000)...

Rono was internally collapsing. A sentence flashed through his mind: "I have an MMP I don't know if I should say!" Rono had undergone the system's daily training before. The tolerance was 5cm, and the number of repetitions for various exercises wasn't this high. It was much easier than this Hell Training (1). Rono then remembered the only punishment he had ever received. It was when he got too carried away and forgot his daily training. He received a Level 1 electric shock punishment. The next day, he went out with an explosion of hair. If he failed this time, he would receive a Level 3 electric shock. Rono felt he might be found foaming at the mouth and unconscious in bed the next day. This was even with his Self-Healing Factor. An ordinary person might have died instantly. Recalling the fear of being electrocuted, a surge of power instantly coursed through Rono.

Hmm, Level 3 electric shock has 30 shocks.

Waking up at 6 AM, Rono spent his days in the training room, only leaving for meals and bathroom breaks. It wasn't until around 10 PM that Rono barely managed to complete his tasks.