Fate Weaver System

Year 1511 of the Sea Circle Calendar, North Blue, Minion Island.

The frigid wind swept up flecks of snow, cutting across the island's buildings like blades.

This abandoned town called "Ghost" had now become the Barrels Pirates' temporary stronghold.

Inside the mansion atop the mountain, the pirates were holding a banquet in the hall, celebrating their big deal three days in advance.

"Popping champagne at halftime. You idiots deserve to die here."

In the storeroom, a handsome young man with black hair and black eyes sneered as he swiftly resealed the drugged liquor.

The man's name was Van. He was a ship's doctor who had been forced to join them not long ago, and also a transmigrator.

In his previous life, he had seen a child fall into a reservoir. As a medical student, he had jumped in on impulse, only to be fished out of the sea by some fisherman from another world.

After learning that this was the dangerous and chaotic world of pirates, he decisively went home with the man and began the dull life of studying medicine and tempering his body.

He had thought that such a remote location would let him keep his head down and survive, but good times did not last.

Just half a year later, the Barrels Pirates had raided the town.

Amid the chaos, the town's only doctor had been hacked to death, leaving Van, an intern, as the unlucky extra they dragged along.

From then on, he had lived in constant fear, terrified that either the Marines or pirates would kill him.

Until, during a later raid, the Barrels Pirates unexpectedly obtained the Paramecia-class Op-Op Fruit.

At that moment, the once-blurry plot of the original story became crystal clear, and he connected every piece.

Trafalgar Law, who suffered from Amber Lead Syndrome; Rosinante, the Marine undercover agent seeking to seize the Op-Op Fruit; Vergo, the Donquixote Family's mole who would arrive with the Marines; and Doflamingo, who wanted to double-cross them...

These people were about to appear, and the outcome was obvious.

The deal the Barrels Pirates had been looking forward to would not bring them unimaginable wealth. Instead, it would become their doom.

Other than Dory, the captain's son, who would escape quickly enough to be rescued by the Marines, everyone else would be killed by the Donquixote Family and die miserably on this island.

"Although I might survive if I flee with Dory, someone with my talent probably won't be accepted by the Marines. Besides, I don't want to be a Celestial Dragon's dog."

"If I don't want to be controlled by others in the future, then Law will have to suffer a little. Fortune favors the bold."

Van put the sealed crate of liquor back where it had been, then prepared to put on a show by sorting through his medical kit.

Unexpectedly, just as he stood up, an icy mechanical voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

[Hostile intent detected. The world line is about to undergo drastic changes. The Fate Weaver System has officially activated.]

Host: Van

Age: 20

Height: 1.88 meters

Passive Ability: Fate's Unpredictability (Fate may issue warnings at any time. The host may obtain rewards by exerting influence.)

Active Ability: Fate Weaving (The host may independently construct fate events, subject to the system's approval.)

Physique: D (The average level of ordinary people in the pirate world.)

Haki: Not awakened

Devil Fruit: None

Combat Skills: D

Special Abilities: None

Overall Strength: D

Item Storage: Empty

Fate Points: 0 (Can be used to construct fate events; can activate the system shop and purchase lucky bags to draw special items.)

...

[Ding! The host is detected to be on Minion Island. The Fate Alarm is sounding immediately.]

[Current Event: Op-Op Fruit Transaction]

[Fate Anchors: 3]

[Anchor Traits: Kindness, terminal illness, hidden sin]

[Tip One: Going with the flow is as easy as turning over one's hand; defying fate is as hard as reaching the heavens. Rewards are determined by the influence caused by the host.]

[Tip Two: Every anchor will be locked onto by the system. The host has only one chance to rewrite fate and obtain rewards.]

[Tip Three: Tampering with fate will disrupt subsequent events. Please proceed with caution.]

...

"Fate Weaver... you came at just the right time!"

The torrent of information stirred up a raging storm in Van's heart, but he quickly calmed down.

He had already planned to stake himself on this gamble. The system's appearance was merely an additional challenge; though it would make escape more difficult, it also came with corresponding rewards.

It was not a mandatory mission anyway. No matter how he looked at it, this was a great thing.

"Fate Anchors... If they're meant to change someone's fate, then they should represent three specific people. They definitely won't be nobodies."

"There aren't many famous figures involved in this incident, so the anchors aren't hard to guess. The important thing is staying alive."

"I can fight for rewards where possible, but I absolutely can't get carried away..."

Just as Van considered the possible mishaps and ways to escape, a brown-haired boy suddenly burst into the storeroom.

"Brother Van, so you're here."

The newcomer was Dory. Although he was Captain Barrels's biological son, he was not valued and was often beaten and cursed at. He was treated barely better than a slave.

"We're almost out of medicine, so I was planning to sort some out." Van remained calm. "Have your injuries healed?"

"They've been fine for ages!" Dory scratched his head. "Father never hits that hard. I can recover on my own, so there's no need to trouble you."

"I'm a doctor. It's my duty." Van smiled. "And we're friends. If I ran into trouble, wouldn't you help me?"

"Of course I'd help!" Dory looked excited, but quickly lowered his head. "I'm just afraid that if Father finds out, you'll get dragged into it."

Barrels had originally been a Marine rear admiral, but later fell into piracy and burned, killed, and plundered without restraint. This had deeply disappointed Dory, who had once admired his father.

Van wanted to offer some comfort, but before he could speak, an irritable shout came from the hall.

"Dory! Bring the booze!"

"Coming right away!"

Dory's face went pale. He hurriedly picked up the sealed crate of liquor and rushed out of the storeroom.

"It has begun. This is my only chance. I can't afford to miss it!"

Van's gaze turned cold. He retrieved a revolver from the hidden compartment beneath his medical kit, then waited quietly.

"Tell me, how much do you think a fruit like this can sell for?"

In the hall, Barrels opened a treasure chest before everyone and proudly displayed the Op-Op Fruit to his subordinates.

All the pirates present were officers and already knew the price of the deal. They immediately burst into laughter.

"This is hilarious. Have those government bastards lost their minds?"

"If we really get that much money, we won't need to keep being pirates, right?"

"Yahahahaha! That's right, that's right..."

The banquet's atmosphere reached its peak. Everyone laughed, drank, and ate meat, imagining the luxurious lives they would lead after receiving their shares.

Dory was responsible for pouring their drinks, but before even one round had passed, someone suddenly collapsed as the "alcohol" hit him.

"Hey! I told you long ago that you couldn't hold your liquor..."

Barrels's expression changed drastically. His men were collapsing one after another, and even he himself felt an overwhelming drowsiness.

Realizing something was wrong, he shook his head hard and glared furiously at Dory. "The wine is poisoned!"

"I don't know!" Dory hurriedly explained in fright. "This was from the batch we seized last time. You drank it before too!"

"If it wasn't you, then..."

His eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Barrels finally could not hold on any longer, slumping into his chair and falling into a deep sleep.

The Op-Op Fruit slipped from his hand and rolled some distance toward the storeroom, where Van finally picked it up.

"I'm a doctor! This Devil Fruit should have been mine to eat in the first place. He wouldn't give it to me, so I'll take it myself!"