Hidden Mission

Luo Ze had not wanted to meddle in the first place. Though the girl was still young, Luo Ze was no good person either. Her life was insignificant to him; he simply did not care whether she lived or died.

However, just as he was about to leave, the system in his mind suddenly sounded without warning.

Hidden mission activated.

Mission objective: Rescue the girl Ellie from the fish-man and make Ellie the host's family member.

Mission reward: Unlock achievement, Madman with a Child.

Achievement unlock reward: Swordsman Upgrade Points ×500. Unlock the function to exchange Beli for Swordsman Upgrade Points.

Beginning transmission of Ellie's information.

Name: Ellie.

Age: Four and a half years old.

Identity: Daughter of the Aier couple from Bock Town.

Devil Fruit: Misfortune Fruit.

Fruit description: Type {Paramecia}. Effect: The user of the Misfortune Fruit brings misfortune to those around them. If the user comes into contact with someone else, that person's Luck Value will fall to zero, and all kinds of unfortunate events will happen to them within a day. For example, choking to death while drinking water, choking to death while eating, encountering a tornado at sea.

Ellie's upbringing: At the age of two, she accidentally ate the Misfortune Fruit, causing her parents to die from bad luck.

At the age of three, Boke Village's villagers harbored ill intentions toward Ellie and choked to death while drinking water.

At the age of four, she caused a Boke Village villager to die of bad luck.

...

Current status: Alone and helpless, regarded as a monster by the villagers.

After hearing all that, the corner of Luo Ze's mouth twitched.

He was not interested in anything else, including Ellie's tragic past.

What he cared about was the function to exchange Beli for Swordsman Upgrade Points, as well as those five hundred Swordsman Upgrade Points.

To complete this mission, Ellie had to become his family. That would normally be nothing, but this little devil brought misfortune to everyone around her. If Luo Ze saved her, would he become unlucky in the future too? Would he even choke to death while drinking water?

That was a question worth considering. If he died from bad luck just for those rewards, it would hardly be worth it.

"System, will Ellie's ability affect me?" Luo Ze suddenly asked. Logically speaking, the system should not be screwing him over this badly.

Sure enough, the system's mechanical voice quickly replied.

No.

"Understood." Luo Ze smiled in satisfaction. Since Ellie's ability would not affect him, this would be easy.

The next second—

Luo Ze stomped on the ground, channeling all his strength into his foot and blasting a hole into the earth. A strange sound rang out, and his figure instantly appeared behind the fish-man.

"Shave," Luo Ze said calmly.

Then, he drew the longsword from its sheath.

Clang!

A crisp sword cry suddenly rang out. The fish-man was startled and abruptly turned to look behind him.

Slash!

Luo Ze ignored his gaze and, without another word, cut off his arm.

Bright red blood dripped continuously as the fish-man's arm fell to the ground.

Ellie felt the hand gripping her suddenly loosen. The fish-man had been holding her in midair, and as soon as his grip slackened, she quickly began to fall.

Luo Ze flashed forward and caught her in his arms.

"Who are you?! Oh! Damn human! You cut off my arm!"

The fish-man finally noticed Luo Ze. Feeling the sharp pain from his wound, his face twisted viciously.

"Stop shouting."

Luo Ze shot him a fierce glare.

Then he slashed at the fish-man's neck, directly severing his head.

Splat!

The head hit the ground, and bright red blood sprayed from the fish-man's neck. The sight reminded Luo Ze of a fountain—except this fish-man fountain sprayed blood.

"You killed him! Fish-men have very keen senses of smell, especially the sharks. Once they smell blood, they'll be here soon."

Monya quickly walked over. Her expression changed as she looked at the fish-man's miserable corpse.

"It doesn't matter. He's dead, so he's dead. If more fish-men come, we'll kill them too."

Luo Ze remained completely calm, speaking as if it meant nothing.

To him, killing one fish-man or killing a whole group of fish-men made no difference at all.

Besides, he quite liked fishman feasts. If these fishmen came in large numbers, he would have more choices.

"Ah, this is the only way."

Monya did not try to change Luo Ze's mind. After spending so long with him, she had more or less figured out some of his personality traits. In any case, as long as she did not argue with him and simply went along with his wishes, everything would be fine.

"Still, I am rather curious. I never thought you would save this girl."

Monya said in surprise.

In her impression, Luo Ze was a villain who killed without batting an eye, an utterly unforgivable bastard.

As for a conscience, he simply did not have one.

So she could not understand why Luo Ze had suddenly developed one.

"I just suddenly felt like saving her." Luo Ze brushed her off casually.

He could not exactly tell Monya the real reason.

"Huh? Why did she pass out?" Only then did Luo Ze turn his gaze and notice that Ellie, in his arms, had her eyes shut tight and had fallen unconscious.

He could not help but feel puzzled.

Moreover, he had already rescued her, yet the system had not reacted at all. What was going on?

"Why is her face so red?" Luo Ze asked in confusion.

As he spoke, he touched Ellie's forehead. A burst of scorching heat suddenly met his hand, making his palm burn.

"She has a fever!" Luo Ze frowned.

"Viper, where do your people live? Take me there. Let's see if there's a doctor."

Luo Ze asked Monya, his tone somewhat urgent.

He had finally come across such a hidden quest. If Ellie got into trouble because of a fever and caused him to fail the quest, he would not even have a place to cry.

"But weren't you going straight to the palace?"

Monya found it strange.

Why did Luo Ze care so much about this girl?

Could she be his long-lost sister?

"No time to explain. Take me there, quickly," Luo Ze said.

"Fine, follow me." Monya did not ask any more questions. She called out to Luo Ze and quickly headed forward.

"You're too slow. I'll carry you. You point the way. Get on."

Luo Ze grabbed Monya at once. She was too slow; who knew how much time they would waste otherwise?

"Ah!" Monya hesitated for a moment, but obediently climbed onto his back.

With her chest pressed against Luo Ze's back, Monya felt something stir within her.

"Which way?" Luo Ze did not think much of it and asked.

"Left."