Trait: Strongman

Homing gritted his teeth and held on for nearly another ten hours. Gradually, even chewing coffee beans dry could no longer stop his eyelids from closing.

As the sun sank toward the western hills outside the window, Homing, who had been telling stories for more than forty hours straight, finally stretched out his legs and lost consciousness completely.

His dreams were so sweet that even a physical reboot from the slapping hands of Double-flower Red Pole Lu Ye failed.

After drinking the last drop of milk in his bottle, Lu Ye grabbed the bedsheet and slid down. On his way out, he also swiped the last three volumes of the Martin Family series-

"The End: The Martin Family of Cook Street"

"The Return: The Martin Family of Cook Street"

"Deathly Silence: The Martin Family of Cook Street"

"Muscle Bat King."

Lu Ye glared viciously at the pen name, along with the shameless description: "Works four days, rests three, freelance writer."

Traditional gang wars had gradually escalated into exchanges of supernatural powers and magic. Gangsters who had never experienced Guan Yu's spirit had no aesthetic appeal at all.

Given that supernatural powers really did exist here, he could grit his teeth and accept that.

But the guy was already strong enough to blow up a planet with one punch, and he was still cooped up on Cook Street?

Damn it, were his ancestors buried here or something?

Lu Ye took the remaining volumes purely because he wanted to know what other garbage this flop could churn out.

Pointlessly dragging a story out is just as hateful as a terrible ending, Bat King!

Lu Ye crawled to the door by himself with the books in his arms, giving Sullivan and the nurses a fright.

Sullivan picked Lu Ye up, while the nurses rushed into the bedchamber to check on Homing. Another bout of chaos immediately broke out.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought Old Blondie had kicked the bucket.

Lady Daisy probably came afterward too, but Lu Ye didn't see her. He directed Sullivan back to the nursery palace.

According to the unofficial history of Mary Geoise:

From that day onward, Cipher Pol added the Sleepless Trial.

Everyone who took the trial praised Saint Homing as one tough nut.

Rumor had it that, despite being a pampered Celestial Dragon, he had been forced by his own son to stay awake until he passed out, and he hadn't confessed a thing!

The nursery palace.

Lu Ye lay alone on a feather pillow, reading.

The official written language of One Piece resembled the logophonetic writing systems of the East Asian cultural sphere in his previous life.

For Lu Ye, who was mentally mature and had a language pack loaded, all he had to do was connect the characters to their pronunciations. It couldn't have been simpler.

Once he could recognize a thousand common characters, he had little trouble with everyday reading. As for the uncommon ones...

He had the Sullivan-brand reading assistant: point wherever he needed help.

"Well, dear comrade Lu Ye!"

Jinbao suddenly floated in front of Lu Ye, holding up the lottery box and swaying his hips as if he were dancing the hula:

"Want to draw a prize? You can claim the third day's trait now."

"Little Jin, just recommend something."

Lu Ye flipped through his book and drank his milk without looking up. "After all, a dull noble like me, the Sixth Master, really has no shortage of superpowers."

"Roger! Intern Jinbao, at your service!"

Jinbao put down the lottery box, saluted Lu Ye, then plunged his head into the hole in the box.

His two hind legs stretched and kicked in the air, and Lu Ye worried he might drown in the ball pit.

Fortunately, Jinbao came out alive, holding up a small golden ball.

"Ta-da-da-daa! The Strongman trait!"

Jinbao flew in front of Lu Ye and introduced it animatedly:

"A super powerful trait in the game! Its effect is simple and brutal: double physical attack!"

Lu Ye curled his lip in disdain. "It sounds like the strength pills a street performer would sell after putting on a show. Want to smash a stone slab on your chest too? I can swing the hammer for you."

Jinbao chuckled. "Well, it does sound a little tacky, but it's definitely a favorite among power gamers and a godsend for muscleheads!"

Lu Ye glanced at him. "Hey, are you trying to imply something about me?"

Jinbao immediately covered his mouth with his little paws and giggled foolishly.

Lu Ye took the ball, flicked it into the air, caught it in his mouth, and washed it down with a sip of milk.

The screen of light appeared before him once more:

[Trait of a yokai]: "Strongman"

[Footnote to the blessing]: "If one punch doesn't solve it, throw two. If two don't work, throw three. If three still aren't enough...

Friend, how long has it been since you last exercised? Even Zhen Guanxi only took three punches!

In combat, your strength is doubled."

[Mysterious message]: "They always ask me questions and demand answers.

I ask my muscles: Do you know the answer?

My muscles say: I am the answer. I am the only universal solution!"

"Thank you. I like my muscles a lot too. If there's truth in this world, its body fat percentage should be 18%."

Lu Ye thanked himself very earnestly, and the screen of light vanished.

Lu Ye clenched his fist but noticed no change.

"Was my answer wrong, so the trait failed to be added?"

"Nope."

Jinbao took out his phone and showed him the customer interface. "The trait was added successfully, but the Strongman trait has an activation condition. It only works in combat."

"Then isn't it useless?"

Lu Ye rolled his eyes and muttered, "I'm a Celestial Dragon. Me, fight? Who the hell would dare hit me?"

At that moment, not far from the nursery palace.

"Doffy, are we really doing this? Longinus is our little brother."

Rosy sucked on a finger, looking somewhat uneasy.

"You haven't forgotten that he peed on our heads, have you? That was a disgrace!"

Doffy clenched his fists and said viciously, "If we don't beat him up, we'll never be able to hold our heads high in front of Charlos and the others again."

Rosy averted his gaze. "But he's still a little baby. Wouldn't beating him up be too cruel?"

"Idiot, Rosy. We can beat him up precisely because he's little. He'll forget all about it soon afterward."

Doffy adjusted his sunglasses and turned to threaten the CP Agents behind him:

"Stay close! None of you are allowed to go tell anyone. If anyone acts on their own, I'll throw him into the sea to feed the fish!"

"Yes, young master!"

The black-clad agents all answered with a shudder.

"We finally managed to shake off that rotten woman Aila. Now it's time for a contest between us men."

Doffy gave a sinister grin. "That crafty little guy made a mistake and actually ran off to hide in Father's bedchamber for two days. Unforgivable! He must be punished!"

Rosy shivered and followed Doffy, his fingers twisting together as if he were thinking about something.

After they had walked for a while, Rosy suddenly tugged on the hem of Doffy's clothes and spoke quietly.

"Doffy, have I ever peed on you?"

Doffy frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Then have you ever beaten me up?"

"Of course not. But if you ask any more questions, I'll beat you up right now."

"Doffy..."

"Are you done yet?"

"I mean, if I ever peed on you, I'm sorry."

"I forgive you, but you never peed on me!"

"Doffy..."

"Again?!"

"If you ever beat me up, could you apologize to me too?"

The veins on Doffy's forehead bulged into a cross.

It's impossible to communicate with a three-year-old like this!