Sea Circle Calendar, year 1498.
Ohara's Tree of Knowledge was still as lush and green as ever.
Yet the winds stirring the world had already reached the West Blue without anyone noticing.
On the golden beach, waves washed the sand off seashells before swiftly retreating. A few crabs scuttled past, blowing bubbles.
In a nearby coconut grove, Jogo was shirtless, wearing only dark blue trousers. Balanced upside down on one arm, he raised and lowered his body to the sound of the waves, concentrating on his one-armed handstand push-ups.
"...678...679..." His quiet counting drifted through the wind.
Under the sunlight, glistening beads of sweat rolled down the clean, defined lines of his muscles and struck the ground.
His breathing was steady, without the slightest hitch.
His lean, balanced physique seemed to have been hammered over and over on an anvil, every ounce of strength locked firmly within it.
He looked as though he could keep performing this feat-nearly impossible for an ordinary person-forever.
Provided no one interrupted him...
Behind a coconut tree, a poorly concealed corner of clothing peeked out.
It fluttered twice in the sea breeze.
A tiny figure suddenly darted out, lunging at the young man before he could blink.
"Jogo!!!!"
Having expected this, Jogo caught the little girl in the purplish-brown dress with one hand and held her in midair, his handstand entirely unaffected.
"699...700...Robin, didn't you have class today?" Jogo asked, setting her aside with practiced ease.
"Heeheehee~ Grandpa Clow is really busy today. He told me to come over with you tonight~" Her voice was bright and sweet.
Apparently well aware that her sneak attack could never succeed, Robin stood on tiptoe and climbed onto a nearby rock with a grin. She sat down, propped her chin in her hands, and quietly waited for Jogo to finish his training.
Her slender, fair little legs swung in the air, as happy as ever.
"Me?"
Jogo was a little puzzled.
"What does the old man want with me?"
Hadn't he graduated ages ago?
"Grandpa Clow said that ever since you passed the exam and became an archaeologist, you hardly ever visit the Tree of Knowledge. He's going to take your certificate back!"
"Heh...709...In his dreams!" Jogo didn't care in the slightest.
His soul had transmigrated into this world...though reincarnation might have been a better word.
He had been born and raised here, his parents unknown.
According to Dr. Clow,
Nico Olvia's archaeological ship had only recently set sail when they found him tied to a wooden plank, just a few months old and wailing.
Judging by the traces left at the scene, a merchant ship had apparently been attacked by the Chest Hair Pirates, who were notorious in the area.
The ship had been destroyed and everyone aboard killed.
Aside from him, no one had survived.
The archaeological team had taken pity on him and fished him out of the water.
Eighteen years had passed since then.
He had grown up eating at the tables of Ohara's scholars.
For the first fifteen years, he had been an oblivious little brat, born and bred in Ohara.
His former awareness had yet to awaken.
Then, three years ago, three-year-old Robin had fallen into the sea and been targeted by a shark. In that critical moment, Jogo had awakened his Conqueror's Haki and saved her.
Along with it came the memories of his transmigration, dormant for fifteen years, and...his cheat, the [Haki Panel]!
As his thoughts drifted, strings of data appeared in Jogo's mind.
[ Name: Jogo Physique level: 2 (73%) Observation Haki (not awakened) Armament Haki (not awakened) Conqueror's Haki (awakened) Equipped traits: "Flower-Flower Fruit (gold)" "Otherworldly Soul (silver)" Reserve trait pool: "Fishing Master (silver)" "Historian (blue)" "Fishmonger (blue)" "Antique Enthusiast (white)" "Strong (white)" "Blood Scent (white)" "Helpful (white)" "Hoodlum (white)" "Child King (white)"
Yes, the [Haki Panel] allowed Jogo to obtain traits of different grades and equip them to his awakened Haki.
For instance, he had obtained "Flower-Flower Fruit" after saving little Robin.
Originally, his Conqueror's Haki could only radiate outward from himself.
With the "Flower-Flower Fruit" trait's enhancement, however, he could release his Conqueror's Haki anywhere within sight, centering it on any point...or even multiple points at once.
That included, but wasn't limited to, other people's bodies!
His melee attack had become ranged-and came with aimbot, too!
Of course, there were drawbacks.
The farther away he used it and the more points he activated, the more his physical and mental energy consumption increased exponentially.
But that was no obstacle for Jogo.
As someone who had transmigrated, he had been born with the prestigious, exclusive trait "Otherworldly Soul."
It strengthened his Conqueror's Haki, vastly improved his control over it, and reduced the strain its use placed on his body and mind.
It gave his staying power a massive boost!
As for the other traits in his reserve pool,
it wasn't that Jogo didn't want to equip them. His current physique could only support two traits on each type of Haki.
That was one reason he trained so hard.
"Jogo~ Can we go catch fish later?" Little Robin braced her hands against the rock and leaned forward expectantly, her smooth black hair brushing gently against her face in the breeze.
Jogo was an expert at catching fish!
All he had to do was find a spot full of fish, dive into the sea, and sweep the area with Conqueror's Haki. Before long, the surface would be covered with all sorts of sea creatures, their eyes rolled back.
Thanks to this outrageous fish-blasting technique, he had not only earned the "Fishing Master" trait but was also close to single-handedly dominating Ohara's fishing market and becoming some legendary king of fishmongers.
"I should bring the old man some fish, so he'll stop nagging all day. 723...724..."
Suddenly remembering something, Jogo asked Robin:
"Was there any big news today?"
"Yes!"
Robin excitedly repeated the conversation she had overheard at Dr. Clow's: "Pirate King Roger was executed in Loguetown in the East Blue!"
"Grandpa Clow and the others kept talking about something called 'One Piece' and the 'Great Pirate Era.' Um...I didn't understand."
727...
The workout that neither wind nor rain could stop came to a halt.
"Roger's dead..."
"It's already that time?"
Jogo murmured under his breath. Suddenly losing interest in training, he flipped lightly onto his feet.
Roger was dead, and the Great Pirate Era had begun.
That meant Ohara's Buster Call wasn't far off, either.
He looked at the [Haki Panel], which had shown no changes for half a year, then raised his head toward the sky he had gazed at for eighteen years and let out a heavy breath.
It seemed it was time for him to set sail, too.
"Let's go, Robin. Time to catch fish!"
"Okay!"
Amid laughter as clear as silver bells, two figures, one tall and one short, headed toward the shore.
That evening,
the room built inside the Tree of Knowledge's enormous pod-like structure was brightly lit.
"No matter how many times I eat it, honey elephant-trunk bluefin tuna always moves me!" Clow, whose hair resembled a clover, heaped praise on that evening's dinner, his face full of bliss as he ate.
He had completely forgotten about lecturing Jogo.
Jogo secretly flashed little Robin an OK sign.
Just one little old man. Easy!
Little Robin used her Flower-Flower Fruit to pass plates out of the kitchen.
Unlike its usual quiet atmosphere, the Tree of Knowledge had plenty of visitors that day.
Almost all the archaeologists who had yet to set sail had gathered there.
They savored the dinner Jogo had brought, indulged in a rare drink, and excitedly discussed what had happened during that day's live broadcast.
"Good riddance! Another pirate dead!!"
"That's hard to say. Other pirates are one thing, but with a pirate like Roger, who knows whether his death is good or bad for the world?"
"Shouldn't 'One Piece' be the important part?"
"I bet it has something to do with the Void Century!"
"Damn it, why did he have to hide it? I want to get my hands on 'One Piece' right now!"
"Hey, cheer up! The world's about to descend into chaos! We're witnessing history!!"
The historians were rarely this worked up, and they argued furiously.
Eventually, they brought their dispute to Jogo, asking him to decide who was right.
As the child they had all raised together, Jogo had been called on to mediate their disputes since he was little.
Of course, more often than not, the dispute went unresolved, and little Jogo ended up bawling because he couldn't choose between them.
But they simply enjoyed doing it too much to stop.
Jogo set down his chopsticks.
"I think you all have a point...but I have something else to tell you."
"What is it?" Everyone turned toward him.
Under their puzzled gazes, Jogo said unhurriedly, "I'm planning to set sail and become a pirate!"
The room fell silent for two seconds.
"What?!!!!!" In the still night, the archaeologists' collective cry of shock exploded through the Tree of Knowledge.
Good heavens! The born archaeological prodigy they had raised from infancy was switching careers to become a pirate!!
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