The pirate world.
Issho returned, and time began to flow.
"A familiar scent."
The sea breeze blew into the cabin, giving Issho the long-lost feeling of coming home and putting him utterly at ease.
Although his time in the other world had been something of a vacation, it was ultimately not where he belonged. Those five days felt like a dream.
[Congratulations! As a Heroic Spirit, you successfully helped your Master-Lin Xiaoran-achieve final victory in the National Fortune Game! Rating: perfect!]
[Congratulations! You have received a national fortune reward: Mystic Eyes of Death Perception!]
[Mystic Eyes of Death Perception: eyes that can see the "death" of things. Even if it is a god, I can kill it for you!]
"What is this?!"
A pulse, a warm current, flowed through the eye sockets that had been blind for decades. It did not hurt; it felt wonderful!
When the transformation ended, light shone into the darkness.
Even with his eyes closed, Issho could sense the light outside.
"The reward actually restored my eyes?!"
Honestly, Issho felt that regaining his sight was a reward he could take or leave. After all, there was far too much darkness upon the seas that he did not want to witness with his own eyes.
Because the more he saw, the more he would feel his own helplessness and inability. Was that not another kind of torment and suffering?
Fortunately, however, these newly acquired eyes had other abilities.
Issho opened his eyes, and the world he saw was actually shattered!
Inside the cabin, lines covered everything, whether the windows, the floor, the cabin door, or even a tiny cup.
"Are these the Lines of Death that the Mystic Eyes see?"
The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception could see the "death" of anything that existed. If one cut along the "Lines of Death" one saw, it would inflict absolute damage that could neither be defended against nor healed.
Issho silently drew his sword and swept it along a line on the table before him!
The table was sliced apart without the slightest resistance, falling to the floor in two halves with a thud.
Issho had not put much strength into that slash or used his abilities. However, considering that his sword was a Great Grade Sword, he still could not directly gauge the actual power of these Mystic Eyes.
But if they truly could ignore defenses and injure an enemy, that meant Issho could easily cut through Haki or Devil Fruit abilities alike!
So what if it was Kaido of the Beasts?
Could he withstand "death"?
"The National Fortune Survival Game... truly miraculous!"
Issho marveled endlessly, grateful that he had been summoned there as a Heroic Spirit and that his opponents this time had not been strong. Otherwise, how could he have obtained such a reward?!
He even hoped in his heart that his Master, [Lin Xiaoran], would summon him there again!
Issho closed his eyes. The world he saw was simply too fragmented, severely interfering with his vision. He still needed some time to properly adapt to it. Until then, he would keep things as they had been.
Issho left the cabin and stepped onto the deck.
"Admiral Fujitora!" The Marines greeted him one after another.
"Mm. How far are we from Dressrosa?"
"Reporting, Admiral Fujitora! At this speed, we will arrive in two days!"
"Understood." Issho nodded.
The vacation was over. It was time to get down to business.
Click.
The door suddenly opened, and Jiang Jiayou, Che Yisi, Han Wenju, and Chang Jian immediately stood at attention and looked toward the doorway.
"You are?"
Lin Xiaoran sensed that these people were all standing outside her door, seemingly waiting specifically for her.
Thinking of the National Fortune Game, Lin Xiaoran guessed that they were government officials.
"Hello, Miss Lin! Allow me to introduce myself. I am the director of Country L's National Fortune Analysis Bureau. This is Che Yisi, head of the analysis department; Han Wenju, head of the intelligence department; and Chang Jian, captain of the military's National Fortune Bureau branch! We are here to pick you up!"
They put on their most amiable smiles and nodded in greeting to Lin Xiaoran, afraid that such an imposing gathering would frighten the young girl.
"Hello~ Um, please come inside first so we can talk."
Lin Xiaoran invited them in.
"Then pardon the intrusion!"
Jiang Jiayou and the others filed inside.
Only after everyone had sat down did Lin Xiaoran ask, "May I ask what you mean by picking me up?"
Jiang Jiayou put away his smile, his expression turning solemn and earnest. "Thanks to your outstanding performance this time, you successfully won the game for our Country L and earned the greatest national fortune reward in history! First, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to you, Miss Lin!"
Lin Xiaoran waved her hands and hurriedly said, "There's no need to be so formal. It was what I should have done! It's what every chosen citizen of Country L should do!"
"You are truly modest, Miss Lin!" Che Yisi looked admiring.
"Our main purpose in coming here this time is to ensure your safety, Miss Lin!" Jiang Jiayou continued, "I'm sure you know that every victorious challenger becomes a target for other countries, regardless of which country they come from.
"Normally, they only target them within the game, trying to eliminate them, just as you experienced in the game."
Lin Xiaoran nodded to show that she understood.
"But your performance this time was simply too outstanding, and your score broke records again and again! As a result, before the game had even ended, other countries dispatched some of their spies hidden within our borders, regardless of the cost, specifically to investigate your identity and home address.
"Therefore, I arranged in advance for personnel to come here and secure the entire apartment building, precisely to prevent the enemy from assassinating you after your return!
"Fortunately, our operation went smoothly. We stopped some spies and assassins and successfully captured some of them!"
Jiang Jiayou briefly recounted to Lin Xiaoran what had happened over the past few days.
"Thank you!" Although Lin Xiaoran had now obtained abilities and did not need to worry too much about her personal safety, Jiang Jiayou and the others' actions still moved her deeply. This also showed that she had gained Country L's recognition and support!
Jiang Jiayou began explaining their purpose. "Miss Lin, it is no longer very safe for you to keep living here, so we came to invite you to the National Fortune Analysis Bureau. The military guards that location, and no one can enter or leave freely without a pass. It is extremely safe!
"Of course, you can also rest assured that there is a dedicated residential area there, and even detached houses with their own entrances. You can choose whichever you like!"
"Are we leaving now?"
Lin Xiaoran did not refuse Jiang Jiayou's invitation. She was on her own anyway, so she could live anywhere.
Most importantly, moving to this National Fortune Bureau really would spare her a great deal of trouble.
Lin Xiaoran did not want people bothering her just because she had become famous.
One should not underestimate the treatment given to challengers who won the game for their country. Just look at Andrei from E Country: he had won only once, yet people chased after him, shouting that he was a hero!
Then look at Park Bu from Country H. If he actually won, people would deliver money, beautiful women, and the like right to his door. If he won a few more rounds, establishing a chaebol of his own might not be an impossible wish either.
Thus, Country L treated Lin Xiaoran the same way. As she was now, they would do their best to satisfy any request she made, provided it was not too outrageous.