NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: 3. System
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Anos was almost speechless with disbelief. Everything around him felt like something out of a fanfiction story it was just too overwhelming.
It all seemed surreal, yet every detail was intensely vivid. Suddenly being transported from his original world to this one was already disorienting enough, but what was happening now made him question the nature of reality itself.
Despite his confusion, Anos felt both nervous and exhilarated. With a slightly trembling voice, he asked, "What exactly does the Universal Mall System do?"
[ Host can purchase Universal products based on their needs or exchange items of equivalent value in beris. The mall offers a variety of goods, abilities, skills, as well as self-defence and offensive capabilities ]
Listening to this mechanical voice, Anos found himself deeply engrossed, unable to tear himself away from it.
The most incredible part was that this system had chosen him. He was elated just thinking about it. As a prince of a kingdom, if he used money to buy things, this system would make it all too easy.
After staying in the system's space for a while, his initial excitement began to fade. At last, Anos asked curiously, "System, is there any initial reward, like a starter gift pack?"
[ All items in the system mall must be purchased with money. Would you like to use one Beri to open the starter gift pack ]
"One Beri?" Anos was momentarily stunned. At the age of five or six, he had rarely encountered anything that required money, and he was uncertain how expenses worked in this new world.
But then he suddenly remembered that in the world of One Piece, everything was transacted in Beris.
Feeling a surge of excitement, he immediately said, "Start!"
Although he didn't have any Beris on him, the system allowed for the exchange of valuable items instead of money.
Anything of equal value could be traded, which meant that all his belongings were potential currency within the system. The balance in his account displayed a total of 353.4 million Beris.
Surprised, Anos wondered what he possessed that was worth so much. Then it hit him it must be the Devil Fruit lying beside him!
But it was too late now. The system would automatically identify and use the nearest items belonging to him for exchange.
[ This is only one time exchange, after this you can purchase from Beris or until the system is updated ]
He still didn't know what kind of Devil Fruit it was or what abilities it granted. However, one thing was certain: it was related to plants in some way.
Even if he didn't use it himself, he thought it would make a great gift for someone else. But now, it was too late.
Anos was no longer disheartened, though. He was eager to see what was in the starter gift pack.
As he heard the sound of Beli being deducted, a golden door suddenly appeared before him. When the door slowly opened, the system's voice echoed again,
[ Congratulations to the host for receiving an initial gift package. Would you like to open it? ]
Seeing the golden glow emanating from it, Anos was thrilled. It looked like something incredibly valuable. He quickly said, "Open it!"
[ Congratulations to the host for receiving a One Piece World Package, which includes the top three forms of Haki and the Marines Rokushiki training method ]
The system's announcement was clear, but Anos wasn't entirely pleased or surprised.
The most concerning part was a footnote added by the system, stating that he must run 10km, do 500 push-ups, and do 1,000 frog jumps every day for ten years.
Although these tasks weren't overly complicated, the requirement to maintain this regimen daily was daunting.
For a child, running 10km a day seemed almost impossible, not to mention the rest of the training.
Was this a gift pack for beginners, or some kind of cruel joke? The whole thing seemed questionable.
Anos was stunned, thinking about the gruelling years ahead. He could foresee a decade of hardship.
Yet, he knew that in this world, strength was everything. If he didn't push himself, who knew what fate awaited him in the future?
Fortunately, his father, the old king, was still in good health, so Anos didn't need to worry about taking over the kingdom just yet.
But if the king were to fall ill in a few years, how would Anos handle the transition?
With a smile, Anos accepted his fate. Despite the absurdity of the system's starter gift, it was something he could live with.
After exiting the system space, Anos glanced at the empty bed beside him, where the Devil Fruit had been. It was gone now. Though he had expected it, he still felt a pang of disappointment.
At that moment, the old king suddenly entered the room and asked anxiously, "Anos, where did the Devil Fruit go?"
Not wanting to reveal too much, Anos smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Father. I didn't eat that thing. I felt it was a bad omen, so I disposed of it."
"Good, good. That fruit was indeed a curse. Our kingdom cannot afford the troubles it might bring," the old king said with relief, completely believing his son's words.
The Kingdom of Tru was located in the South Blue, the second weakest of the four seas in the One Piece world. Anos was well aware of this fact.
Ever since realizing he was in the world of pirates, he understood that the East Blue was the weakest of the seas, while the North Blue was considered the strongest.
But being one of the weakest seas had its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it meant fewer encounters with pirates.
On the other, whenever pirates did show up, they could easily ravage the entire kingdom.
"Father, what were those Marine men doing here earlier?" Anos asked curiously.
The old king thought for a moment, then smiled. "It seems they were looking for the wife of the Pirate King, who is rumoured to be hiding in our country. The Marine wants to capture her and came here to inform us."
"The Pirate King's wife?"
Anos was taken aback. When he had studied the world of pirates, he had always used the Age of Exploration as a timeline. He hadn't expected to be so close to such historic events.
But this was good news. At least it meant that the main characters of the future pirate era had not yet emerged, giving him plenty of time to carve out his path.
Even though he was excited, Anos knew he needed to focus on his training. His priority was to make the most of the next ten years. He was determined to become strong enough to protect his kingdom from any threat.
"Father, starting tomorrow, I will begin rigorous training. I must become powerful. I will ensure that no one dares to bully us or act recklessly in our kingdom," Anos declared seriously.
The old king was overjoyed to hear this. The white hairs on his head seemed to turn black again with renewed hope. He patted Anos on the shoulder and said, "Good son. If you have the will, then pursue it. I'm still strong enough to hold this throne for a while longer. You won't need to take on these burdens just yet."
"Don't worry, Father. You'll live for many more years," Anos said with a smile.
Although the old king's health was declining, Anos was deeply grateful for his father's care and guidance in this new world.
Growing up, Anos had never known his mother, and he was acutely aware of the sacrifices his father had made.
The Kingdom of Tru was poor, both in military and economic terms. People often struggled to find enough food, and the kingdom had seen little improvement over the years.
Being in the South Blue meant there were no favourable opportunities for trade or economic growth.
Before reaching his current position, Anos hadn't thought much about the kingdom's issues. All he could do now was wait and address the problems one by one in the future.
The next day, Anos began his training in earnest. He was determined to face the challenges ahead with full preparation.
The Kingdom of Tru was relatively safe and peaceful, so there was no immediate danger. Still, the old king assigned a few guards to follow Anos during his training, just in case.
Anos's daily routine was rigorous. He would wake up early and run 10km through the forest. For a child, it was an immense task.
The first few days were the hardest. After completing his exercises on the first day, he didn't want to get out of bed the next. He felt like quitting, but he persevered.
After a month of training, his initial laziness had mostly disappeared. He could now run 10km in one go.
Day after day, year after year, Anos continued the same regimen. Even the palace staff couldn't understand why he chose to endure such hardship when he could have lived comfortably.
But his perseverance won him the respect of the kingdom's ministers. They saw in him a tenacity and determination that refused to yield, qualities that earned their admiration.
This routine continued for several years.
In the seventh year, the old king's health deteriorated rapidly. At over eighty years old, his condition was to be expected.
After his daily training, Anos began involving himself in state affairs. The Kingdom of Tru had few significant issues, as it had always been impoverished and overlooked.
Five years ago, the execution of the Pirate King in Loguetown changed the world. His last words ignited the Great Pirate Era, and even the South Blue saw a surge in pirate activity.
This led to a further decline in the kingdom's already fragile economy.
Fortunately, most pirates consist of ordinary people, and the kingdom's lone army is sufficient to restrain most of them.
However, occasionally, we encounter exceptionally powerful individuals, making heavy casualties unavoidable.
The "Great Pirate Era" has dawned, and many dreams of becoming pirates. As a result, the entire Kingdom of Tru has plunged into destitution.
Anos had foreseen this when he first engaged in state affairs. However, achieving prosperity for the entire Kingdom of Tru remains challenging, at least in the short term.
Yet, for Anos, with his modern perspective, managing these issues may not be as daunting, especially considering that he also possesses a unique system.
Now, in the eighth year of the Great Pirate Ara, Anos is 14 years old and stands at about 1.8 meters tall, with a well-proportioned and muscular physique.
Although he has not actively participated in the kingdom's governance, his elevated status has drawn the attention of many throughout the realm.
The old king is bedridden, nearing the end of his days and detached from the outside world. Aside from training and attending to state affairs, Anos spends most of his time by the old king's side.
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Thank you for reading!