Pirates: I Loaded the Game Panel

"This must be really valuable..." Little Robin murmured. "I can't take it..."

"It's all right. It's a reward for Little Robin!"

Adrian placed the small Den Den Mushi in Little Robin's hand.

Little Robin held it in her palm and curiously reached out to tap one of its antenna-like eyes.

Puru puru—

The Den Den Mushi immediately withdrew into its shell, sticking its tongue out at Little Robin and making a face as it did.

"Hee-hee!"

Little Robin was still a child, after all, and she burst into a delighted laugh.

Seeing this, Adrian nodded to Mrs. Penelope, then left the docks and headed for the Tree of Knowledge Library at the center of the island.

A little over ten minutes later.

The familiar first-floor hall of the Tree of Knowledge Library.

Adrian was about to borrow a chart of the West Blue from the geographic information section when the ever-elusive Dr. Clover stopped him once again.

"Doctor, you again?" Adrian said helplessly. "What happened this time?"

Dr. Clover bristled. "Is that how you see me, Adrian? Do you think I only come looking for you when something's happened?"

Adrian rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, and said, "Yes."

Dr. Clover choked.

"Doctor—"

"I was going to ask how things went with the Capone Gang, but you look well enough. You clearly didn't run into any trouble." Dr. Clover waved him off. "Go on, get back to whatever you were doing!"

Adrian breathed a sigh of relief and promptly took his leave.

No matter when it was, being around venerable old scholars like him always made Adrian feel strangely constrained.

After that, Adrian encountered no further interruptions and borrowed the maps without a hitch.

Basic Sea Conditions of the West Blue, Island Distribution in the West Blue, Common Marine Life of the West Blue, An Illustrated Guide to West Blue Marine Weather...

Looking at the densely packed shelves of books on the sea, Adrian clenched his fist and silently encouraged himself. Once I've worked through these hefty volumes, I'll set out across the West Blue for real!

Three months later.

West Blue, Tyran Kingdom, Maldin Town.

It was a fairly prosperous town of moderate size. Its prime coastal location brought it wealth, but it also drew the occasional pirate raid.

In the middle of Maldin Town's main street, the pirate captain Kado stood with a massive spiked club over his shoulder. Greed flashed in his eyes as he looked at the chests of treasure before him.

The short-statured Captain Kado roared at his subordinates, "Is this all the treasure in town?"

A thin pirate underling answered shakily, "That's more or less everything, great Captain Kado..."

The civilians kneeling all around watched their possessions sitting in the treasure chests, their faces twisted with pain and resentment. Yet not one dared stand up to the pirates.

Why?

The blood-soaked ground nearby and the mound of bodies piled high upon it were reason enough.

Captain Kado swept a domineering gaze over the cowering civilians and gave a contemptuous snort.

"Cowards! Captain Kado's feeling merciful today, so I'll let you live! Have more treasure ready the next time I come! Hahahaha!"

Just as Kado was about to lead his men away with the treasure, he noticed a young man in a white suit standing at the other end of the street. Kado had no idea when he had appeared.

"Where did he come from?"

Captain Kado paused. They had already looted everyone in town. Anyone with a shred of backbone had been beaten to death, and all the survivors were kneeling over there.

So where had this man come from?

"Bounty: 24 million Beli." The young man looked up at the Pirates' leader. "Captain Kado of the Beast Pirates, right?"

"That's right! That's me!" Kado swung his spiked club, making it whistle through the air.

"Then I've got the right man." The young man nodded slightly. He studied Kado, then shook his head. "I'll admit, that name gave me quite a fright when I first saw it."

"Huh? My reputation scared you, kid?" Captain Kado sounded intrigued. "Are you here to join my crew?"

"Join?" The young man blinked.

"Aren't you?" Captain Kado frowned and raised his spiked club high. If he did not get an answer he liked, he seemed ready to smash the young man flat.

"Never mind. I overestimated the average intelligence of people who go to sea to become Pirates..." The young man shook his head and raised an index finger. A small glow of white light appeared at its tip. "As long as I've got the right man."

Mini Hollow: Tempting Gift.

The moment he finished speaking, a tiny, adorable ghost flew from his fingertip and reached Captain Kado in an instant.

Boom!

A violent explosion sent Kado's stocky body flying more than ten meters, kicking up a cloud of dust where he landed.

"That... ability... is..." one pirate underling stammered, unable to finish.

"It's White Ghost!" another pirate shouted.

The rest of the Beast Pirates immediately panicked.

"We're done for! Captain Kado can't possibly beat White Ghost..."

The pirate who had spoken suddenly came to his senses. Cold sweat poured down his face as he looked toward where Kado had landed. "Captain Kado! I—"

Whoosh!

The heavy spiked club hurtled through the air and smashed the Pirates' head to pieces. His headless body collapsed.

"I'm not dead yet! What are you trash running your mouths for?!"

Kado emerged from the dust, transformed. Sharp fangs and claws had sprouted, and coarse black fur covered his body, broken only by a smooth white stripe down the middle of his head.

Zoan: Honey Badger Fruit!

"You bastard! You dared sneak-attack me!" Kado advanced on his enemy step by step, his face savage and his presence terrifying.

"A honey badger—wait, the Honey Badger Fruit doesn't make you any taller?"

The unexpected question stopped Kado short. Then an even fiercer rage surged up from deep within him.

Don't look down on short people!

Kado stamped hard against the ground and shot toward his enemy with explosive force.

"Die!"

His claws flashed coldly as they tore through the wind and pierced his enemy's brain!

But Kado felt none of the familiar satisfaction of crushing an opponent's skull. It felt as though he had merely swiped through empty air.

Yet both the residents of Maldin Town and the Beast Pirates had seen it clearly: Beast Kado's thick, powerful arm had gone straight through White Ghost's head. It was still lodged right in the middle of it—and had not hurt him at all!

"The immortal White Ghost!!"

"He's an even worse monster than the captain!"

The Pirates cried out in terror.

"You're dead!"

Kado roared and charged White Ghost again, swinging his arms relentlessly in an attempt to tear him in two.

Facing Kado's furious assault, White Ghost merely gave a lazy yawn. Then he raised an index finger again.

"Don't underestimate me!"

Mini Hollow: Withering Heart-Piercer.

"I'll—"

Kado's expression changed instantly. The little white ghost had ignored every obstacle and flown straight into his body.

"What—"

Thump!

Kado heard a heartbeat from deep inside his body, far louder than usual. Agony followed, and then all his strength vanished.

"You..."

His heart was completely shattered. Not even a Zoan Devil Fruit could save him.

Kado slowly reverted to his original form. Blood kept spilling from his mouth as he stared bitterly at the young man in the suit. "Why, White Ghost..."

"I really was just passing by."

Adrian shrugged, drew the longsword at his right hip, and stepped forward. With one slash, he took Beast Kado's head.

Then he unleashed another wave of Mini Hollow: Nova Fire, killing the remaining Beast Pirates where they stood.

At the same time, notifications appeared on his panel.

[You killed Beast Pirates captain Kado (LV33). You gained 165,000 experience.]

[You killed a Beast Pirates underling... You gained experience...]

Seeing the notifications, Adrian couldn't help but purse his lips.

At his current level, that little experience was not even worth mentioning...

Partly to complete his [Navigator] advancement quest and partly to gain experience, Adrian had left Ohara three months earlier and begun sailing the West Blue.

Although [Legend: White Ghost] boosted the experience he gained in the West Blue, it was nowhere near enough to fill Adrian's current experience bar!

It had taken Adrian three whole months to slowly build up enough experience to reach LV39.

He was just one step from LV40.

Trials on the edge of life and death always made people more resilient.

Though the shadow of death and suffering had yet to fade, the residents of Maldin Town considered themselves lucky.

"Lord White Ghost!" The town's mayor, a man in his fifties, stepped forward from the crowd. "Thank you so much for helping us!"

Adrian smiled casually and offered a few evasive words in reply.

He had heard similar thanks many times over the past three months. They had pleased him at first, but the feeling had gradually worn off.

Adrian picked up Beast Kado's head, waved to the residents of Maldin Town, and flew toward the sea without looking back. He soon reached the shore.

Two vessels were moored there: a medium-sized, three-masted ship flying a black pirate flag, and a small, all-white boat built for one—Adrian's own handiwork.

The larger ship belonged to the Beast Pirates. A few pirates had stayed aboard to guard it, but Adrian had dealt with them on his way into town.

Thud!

Adrian dropped Beast Kado's head into a wooden box he had prepared, then leaped aboard his boat. He deftly undid the mooring line and lowered the sail, and his boat gradually disappeared beyond the coastline.

A little less than half a day later.

Adrian sailed to the island nearest the Tyran Kingdom that had a Marine Branch base. He had stopped there a few times on his travels and was on fairly good terms with both the islanders and the Marines stationed there.

Marine Base.

"Major Yamakaji! Major Yamakaji..." A communications soldier ran excitedly to the office door to make his report.

Behind the desk sat a smiling man with a cigar in his mouth. He wore a light orange suit, a red tie, and a white shirt.

Like most senior Marine officers, he had a Justice Coat draped over his shoulders.

He was Marine Branch Major Yamakaji!

"Has something happened?"

"It's... White Ghost! White Ghost is here again!" the soldier said excitedly.

Before long, Yamakaji arrived in the base's main hall.

"Who is it this time, Lord White Ghost?" the Marine major asked with his usual gentle smile.

"Beast Kado. Bounty: 24 million Beli." Adrian gently placed the wooden box on the table alongside the wanted poster.