Simultaneous Transcenders: Becoming Legends Across The Nine Heavens Chapter 20: The Stronger the East, the Weaker the East - Novel Cool

Chapter 20: The Stronger the East, the Weaker the East

Chapter 20: The Stronger the East, the Weaker the East

As the dinner hour approached, the crew member from earlier returned.

"Sir Swordsman, the captain has prepared a feast for you. Please follow me."

Luk nodded and followed the crew member to the captain's quarters, where he met the captain who had requested to see him. The captain was a relatively young man, around thirty years old, with a broad forehead, thick lips, and well-defined features—nothing too out of the ordinary.

"Mr. Luk, it's an honor to meet you."

The captain extended his hand with a smile, "I am Captain Samp Ayan. Welcome aboard the Samp."

"I haven't exactly made a name for myself yet, so how did you hear about me?" Luk shook his hand and quipped.

"Don't worry about that now. Let me first show you the hospitality of the ship." Ayan's expression remained unchanged as he led Luk to the dining table.

The large table was piled high with an array of foods. Golden, glistening steaks, a whole roasted suckling pig with a crispy exterior, plump chickens and ducks with shiny, oily skin, and a variety of fish dishes. There were also various meats, fruits, and wines that Luk couldn't name.

"Such a feast? I thought supplies on the sea were usually scarce." Luk was both pleased and surprised. He quickly took his seat and began to devour the food with the speed of a tornado, plates clattering as he shoveled everything into his mouth.

"Every time we pass an island, we stop for a day. While passengers disembark or attend to their business, we also restock on supplies."

Ayan explained as he poured himself a glass of red wine. He intended to pour one for Luk as well but noticed that most of the food on the table had already been consumed, and the rest was disappearing at an alarming rate.

As he shakily handed Luk a glass, Luk swallowed the last piece of meat, scratched his head, and gave Ayan a slightly embarrassed smile.

"Captain Ayan, did I eat too much?"

"Not at all, a swordsman of your caliber naturally eats more than an ordinary person." Ayan suppressed a twitch at the corner of his mouth and asked politely, "Are you full? Would you like more?"

"That's too kind of you." Luk's eyes were sincere as he continued, "I can't refuse your hospitality, so another course would be great. I'm only about a third full."

What a bottomless pit! That last comment was clearly a hint to prepare at least two more courses.

Ayan called out, and a crew member entered. After a brief conversation, the crew member nodded and left. Ayan smiled and said, "The food will be here soon. Please wait a moment."

He wisely refrained from making any requests until after Luk had finished eating. He waited quietly as the food kept coming and being swallowed into Luk's seemingly dimensionless stomach. It wasn't until Luk had cleared the table three times and let out a satisfied belch that he stopped.

"Ah, it's been a long time since I've eaten so well." Luk patted his slightly bulging stomach, finally getting to the point, "So, Captain Ayan, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Actually, before I ask for your help, I need to confirm something." Ayan took a deep breath, "I see your destination is the next stop, Windmill Village, is that correct?"

"That's right." Luk nodded slightly. His plan was to return to Windmill Village to visit some old acquaintances, rest and recuperate, and then find Zoro to check in with the dojo. After that, he would enter the Grand Line and return to Alabasta.

Then, he would take care of Crocodile!

Anyone who dared to mess with his hometown deserved to be dealt with. If Crocodile knew when to back down, he could be recruited; otherwise, he would be eliminated, and not even Impel Down would be his refuge.

There was a slight risk, of course. Crocodile was no pushover, and Luffy's victory over him in the early stages of the story was largely due to plot convenience.

Ayan had no idea that the man before him was planning to take down a Shichibukai. After receiving Luk's confirmation, he sighed in relief and asked another question.

"Are you planning to visit Log Town soon? Or perhaps somewhere closer, like Cocoyashi Village or the Baratie restaurant?"

"Coincidentally, I was thinking of heading to Log Town," Luk glanced at the captain. "If you have something to say, just come out with it. I don't like beating around the bush."

After a moment of silence, Yann lowered his voice. "Here's the thing: the Samp's route involves navigating around the various islands in the East Blue, from the remote Windmill Village all the way to Log Town, which is the closest to the Grand Line."

"Our chosen stops are where we can restock and resupply—Shimotsuki Island, Gotto Island, Shell Town, Orange Town, Syrup Village, Baratie, and Cocoyashi Village. After reaching the end, we take a month to rest and then return the same way."

The places the captain mentioned stirred some memories in Luk. He couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic. These were all familiar names, and two years from now, Luffy would follow this route to gather his initial crew.

However, Luk couldn't quite remember which story corresponded to which location. Was Orange Town the village where Nami was oppressed by the evil dragon? He recalled that Nami loved oranges and money. Cocoyashi Village must be where they acquired the Going Merry, given that Kaya's last name is also 'Ko.'

Where did Zoro come into play? It must have been the Marine base ruled by Monka, but that wasn't mentioned in the route!

Sigh, this is giving me a headache. I should go back and ask the other Lucks if they remember the details.

"Mr. Luk, Mr. Luk?"

The captain's voice snapped Luk out of his reverie. He blinked. "I'm listening, go on."

Yann licked his lips, looking a bit nervous. "On our recent voyages, our ship has encountered the fleet of a terrifying pirate. If we hadn't fled in time, we might not have made it back."

"So, we hope you'll consider joining us on our next trip to Log Town. During the voyage, you could temporarily serve as the Samp's protector. We're willing to pay you 200,000 berries per day, with meals and lodging included!"

The mention of meals and lodging made Luk, who was about to refuse, reconsider. He raised an eyebrow. "If my schedule allows, I'll consider it. But who is this terrifying pirate you mentioned?"

What kind of terrifying pirate could there be in the East Blue? There are only a few major players, and who could be terrifying enough to warrant such concern? Could it be the clown Buggy?

Let's talk a bit about the geography of One Piece. The world of One Piece has only one continent, the Red Line, which, along with the Grand Line, divides the ocean into four major seas: the North Blue, the West Blue, the South Blue, and the East Blue.

The East Blue is both the weakest and the strongest sea.

It's considered the weakest because, in terms of overall strength, it ranks last among the four seas. From an author's perspective, Oda designed it as a beginner's village for the protagonist, so it shouldn't be too powerful to avoid Luffy being defeated before he even reaches the Grand Line.

In reality, this is due to the presence of two strong Marines, Garp and Smoker, who suppress any promising pirates before they can grow. The only exception is Luffy, who has powerful connections and a strong background.

However, the East Blue is also considered the strongest because it has produced some of the most formidable figures in the world, such as Gol D. Roger, Shanks, Monkey D. Garp, Dragon, and Ace.

In the future, it will also be home to the Straw Hat Pirates. So, it's strong in the past and will be strong in the future, but it's weak in the present, a beautiful paradox.

Yann's face showed fear, and his body trembled uncontrollably. He hesitated, worried that Luk might refuse the job once he heard the name of the pirate, but he decided that hiding it might also result in a refusal.

"He is the overlord of the East Blue, commanding thirty fleets and over three thousand subordinates, with a bounty of 14 million berries."

"Admiral Kurokic!"

(End of Chapter)

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