OPTT: Chapter 41/50

Chapter 41: You've Grown Up Tashigi

Meanwhile, Smoker, who had been chasing Luffy, finished replying to Sengoku's message… and nearly smashed his phone.

His fists clenched, his face twisted in rage and frustration.

"Damn it! I was about to catch that Straw Hat brat, and now Sengoku wants me to turn around?!"

He was fuming. After days of high-speed pursuit, the target was finally within reach, and now the order came to change course. It felt like a duck he'd already caught had flown off his plate.

But beside him, Tashigi looked at Smoker with mild surprise. She could clearly sense his fury, but her own thoughts were quite different.

In her view, just catching up to a pirate didn't guarantee capturing them.

She had a strong hunch that even if they caught up, the result would be the same as last time—Luffy escaping without a scratch.

But she couldn't say that directly. Instead, she tried to reframe things for Smoker.

"Rear Admiral Smoker, try looking at it this way: compared to a single pirate, the stability of an entire nation is obviously more important."

Smoker blinked, momentarily stunned, and glanced at her. Tashigi seized the chance to continue her righteous persuasion.

"I believe Fleet Admiral Sengoku understands this too. That's why he redirected us to Alabasta midway."

Then, as if suddenly struck by insight, Tashigi looked at Smoker with wide eyes.

"Could it be that Sengoku wants us to wait in Alabasta and use it as a trap to catch Straw Hat Luffy?"

Smoker froze like he'd been struck by lightning, rooted in place.

After a long pause, his body jolted. He looked up, his eyes gleaming with sudden realization.

"I get it! That's it!"

"Princess Vivi is on Luffy's ship. She might even be considered a hostage. If that's the case, then capturing them now wouldn't mean much."

His voice now carried a hint of excitement, and the more he spoke, the brighter his eyes became.

"But once they reach Alabasta, Vivi will definitely leave the Straw Hats. That's when we'll strike!"

The fire in his eyes flared. Sengoku's orders now made perfect sense.

Smoker turned to Tashigi, patted her on the shoulder with approval, and said,

"Tashigi… you've finally grown up."

"..."

…

White Island.

A barren island coated in white stone, where salty sea breezes blew year-round, scattering debris. This was the secret base of the Revolutionary Army.

Inside a hidden cave, the sound of laughter echoed.

"Luffy really is young and hot-blooded. Just entered the Grand Line and already dares to challenge a Warlord? Even more daring than his old man was at that age."

Dragon sat on a rock inside the cave, holding a phone, the screen displaying Luffy's latest TikTok video. His smile was full of satisfaction.

He hadn't expected to see his son again so soon after their brief encounter in Loguetown.

But ever since smartphones became common, he could watch Luffy daily—track his updates, see his growth—as if the kid were right there beside him.

He couldn't have asked for more.

Sabo walked into the cave, sea breeze still clinging to him.

Seeing that Dragon was watching Luffy's video again, Sabo chuckled.

"Dragon-san, watching Luffy's updates again?"

"Yeah. This brat keeps shouting about becoming the Pirate King. It's hard to ignore."

Sabo smiled. Luffy really was bold. But when he looked at Luffy's face, he always felt a strange familiarity, like he had seen him somewhere before.

Yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember.

(Author's Note: Some readers were confused, so let me clarify: Previously, Dragon mentioned Luffy when talking with Sabo and said Luffy was younger than him, naturally treating him like a little brother. However, Sabo hadn't regained his memory yet. He only knew Luffy's name and felt a sense of familiarity when he saw his image. At this point in the story, Sabo has not yet recovered his memories.)

What's more, whenever he tried to think harder, he'd get a splitting headache.

He once asked Dragon if they might've met before, but Dragon dismissed the idea.

After all, Luffy grew up in Foosha Village, while Sabo had been rescued on a Celestial Dragon-controlled island.

The gap in geography and experience was too wide.

So Sabo chalked it up to a coincidence, maybe someone he used to know just looked like Luffy.

He shook off the strange feeling and returned his focus to the video.

"This kid really knows how to stir things up," he muttered.

"All right, enough about Luffy. How'd your mission go?" Dragon asked, smiling.

"We made a fortune!"

Sabo's eyes gleamed as he pulled out a folded map and spread it out.

He pointed to a location and reported, "Our phones are flying off the shelves in the West Blue. Morgans sells them for 100 Berries, but we price them at 300 and they're still selling out instantly!"

"Hmph, that's about what I expected," Dragon nodded. Even he himself couldn't stop checking his phone all day except when sleeping.

It showed just how addictive they were.

Once people had a phone, they developed a deep dependency—one that was hard to shake off.

"Right? Once they got phones, people started realizing there's a world beyond their island. Entire countries they never knew existed."

Sabo's eyes glowed as he described it. "We helped them realize their worth. We helped them understand that they can take control of their lives and their countries."

Then he remembered something and smiled at Dragon.

"You might not know this, but there were two or three countries with brutal regimes that were overthrown by the citizens themselves."

"They'd all watched the videos we recorded. It was like they woke up. They took a stand. And now? They've all become our fans."

Dragon nodded, relief in his voice.

"There are many countries like that. They just need a little push to find their freedom."

Sabo agreed and went on.

"And it's not just West Blue. East Blue, North Blue, South Blue—same story."

"Every time we arrive, the phones get snatched up instantly. The ones we ordered from Morgans aren't nearly enough. Now every base is calling in, begging us to restock."

As the phones spread, more and more people were starting to see the world beyond their own.

Places where citizens weren't beaten or oppressed daily.

It sparked something in them. Their awareness grew. Their free will began to awaken.

And for Sabo, that was everything. Their goal was to help the oppressed rise up and take back their lives.

Just then, his phone vibrated. A message popped up.

He glanced at it, then looked up at Dragon.

"Dragon-san, I've got to go. Morgans just delivered the next shipment."

"All right, be careful. Keep an eye on the Navy's movements," Dragon reminded him.

"Got it!" Sabo nodded, then turned and left the cave.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 42: Naked?

Foosha Village.

A gentle breeze drifted through the air, and golden sunlight bathed the peaceful village, as if time itself had stood still.

Dadan sat at the bar counter in Makino's tavern, holding her phone, watching a video of Luffy.

"Hahaha! That brat Luffy's still the same. Hasn't changed one bit!" Dadan laughed heartily, staring at the screen like she was seeing the little kid who used to run wild in the yard.

Makino was shaking a cocktail shaker behind the bar, smiling gently. "Yes, he is."

After a moment, she glanced at the phone again and said with a warm smile, "He hasn't been gone that long, but he's already made so many friends. I'm really happy for him."

Dadan nodded, eyes flashing with a touch of nostalgia.

She remembered Luffy's carefree childhood in Foosha Village. Even though he had grown up and set out to sea, that silly grin of his hadn't changed at all.

"Maybe that's just Luffy's charm," Dadan muttered. Then she chuckled and cursed, "I've sent that kid dozens of messages, and he hasn't replied to a single one!"

"Hehe. Maybe Luffy's just not the replying type."

"Hahaha, you're probably right!"

…

Little Garden.

A lush, overgrown island with sea breezes laced with the scent of wildflowers.

The Straw Hat crew finally arrived after following the Log Pose, tension and anxiety clinging to them after days of dodging Marines.

"Oh man, I'm exhausted," Usopp groaned, collapsing onto the grass and gazing at the sky. "It's been days without seeing a single Marine ship. I think we've finally lost them."

Nami stood at the bow, binoculars in hand, glancing repeatedly at the route they had taken.

"We really haven't seen any sign of pursuit. Maybe we did lose them..." she said, though her voice carried uncertainty.

Vivi rested her chin in her hand, looking relaxed for the first time in days. "Maybe they ran into a sea king? Or a lightning storm? Forced them to turn back?"

"Miss Vivi is so clever! I bet that's exactly what happened!" Sanji exclaimed, full of admiration, giving her a dramatic thumbs-up.

Vivi lowered her head bashfully, cheeks flushing. "Not really, I was just guessing…"

Zoro shot Sanji a withering look and scoffed. "Ero-Cook."

Without waiting for anyone, Zoro jumped off the ship and headed for shore.

"Hey! Moss-head, what are you doing wandering off like that?!" Sanji shouted.

Zoro waved without turning back. "Going to find food. Otherwise we'll starve before nightfall."

His fingers brushed the hilts of his swords, and his tone dripped with irritation—clearly annoyed by the cook's flirting.

Luffy's eyes lit up. "Zoro! Wait for me! I wanna go find food too! I'm starving!"

He jumped off the ship and chased after Zoro.

Nami stared after the two of them, exasperated. "Those two never follow orders. It's so annoying."

She sighed and turned her gaze to Vivi.

Before she could say anything, Sanji leapt in. "I'll team up with Vivi-san! That way I can ensure her safety at all times."

"Oh? Then I'll leave it to you, Sanji," Nami replied casually.

She turned to Usopp, whose face went pale the instant their eyes met. He clutched his stomach and said in a shaky voice:

"Guys... I have a very rare condition. If I set foot on land right now, I could... die instantly."

He looked completely serious, like he was moments from death.

The rest of the crew exchanged blank stares. Helpless.

In the end, it was decided: Usopp would stay aboard and guard the ship. Nami, Vivi, and Sanji went ashore to forage.

…

Amazon Lily.

This morning.

Sunlight spilled through the thin curtains, casting a warm glow inside the room.

As Ron opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Hancock lying beside the bed, chin resting on her hands, watching him closely.

A soft pout played on her lips, and her eyes shimmered with shy anticipation.

Startled, Ron shot upright in bed.

"Hancock?! What are you doing in my room?!" His voice was laced with disbelief as he rubbed his eyes, unsure if he was dreaming.

"Hmph! This is my room," Hancock pouted, her lips pursed in annoyance. "Last night, Ron-sama drank too much at the celebration banquet. My body is delicate and fragile, I couldn't carry you—so I left you here ~♡"

Ron stared at her, speechless.

He looked Hancock up and down and couldn't help but complain internally: You? A delicate woman? Who'd believe that?

Still, he remembered drinking a lot last night. Maybe a bit too much. He might've really caused her some trouble.

Just as he was about to get dressed, a light breeze brushed across his skin and he froze.

A chill ran down his spine.

He looked down and realized... he was completely naked.

His whole body stiffened. He stared at Hancock in utter disbelief.

"Hancock… where are my clothes?!"

At that moment, Hancock's porcelain cheeks flushed pink. She whispered like a mosquito,

"Well, you threw up all over yourself last night... So I had no choice but to help you change…"

She looked away, blushing and sulking, clearly blaming Ron for putting her through it.

Ron smacked his forehead, full of regret. Yep. Shouldn't have drunk that much.

He spotted the fresh set of clothes nearby and prepared to change, but Hancock was still standing there... and made no move to leave.

Which made things very awkward.

"Uh… Hancock, I need to get dressed. Could you...?"

"Okay! I'll help!" Hancock beamed as if she'd been waiting for that cue all along. She happily picked up the clothes, face glowing with joy.

Ron's brain short-circuited.

No—that's not what I meant!

"Huh? What's wrong, Ron-sama?" Hancock blinked innocently, though a hint of mischief sparkled in her eyes.

"Hancock... what I meant was, I'll dress myself. Could you please leave the room?"

"...All right. I won't disturb you."

She looked disappointed but didn't argue. As she walked to the door, she glanced back not once, not twice, but three times—reluctantly.

"Oh, and Morgans is waiting for you in the reception room. Says he has something important to discuss."

"Got it. I'll be right there."

Hancock gave him one last look, then reluctantly left the room.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 43: Underground Emperors Five Emperors!

In the reception room.

Ron entered after getting dressed. He found Morgans already waiting on the couch, looking like he'd been there a while. The moment Morgans saw him, he jumped up excitedly, finally reunited with his long-lost buddy.

"Ron! You're looking good! You've been hiding out here this whole time and didn't even come visit your brothers. What, did some pretty face trap you?" Morgans clapped him on the shoulder, grinning mischievously.

"Cut the crap," Ron said, swatting his arm away. "What couldn't you say on TikTok that you had to risk blowing your cover to come here in person?"

Morgans chuckled, but his tone dropped into something more cautious. "I was worried TikTok wasn't secure. What if the message got leaked or monitored?"

Ron sighed and explained patiently, "Quit talking nonsense. You know it's part of my ability. How could a Devil Fruit power be monitored?"

"Oh really?" Morgans gave him a long, meaningful look. "Still lying to me? You think I don't know whether it's an ability or not?"

Ron paused. Morgans' sharp gaze said it all. Yeah, this guy's not easy to fool.

Before he could answer, Morgans grinned and pulled him over to the couch like nothing had happened.

"Ron, you've done me a huge favor. No matter what kind of tech this is, I'm with you for life," he said solemnly, eyes filled with sincere admiration.

"Don't get all emotional. Just get to the point."

Morgans leaned in, getting serious. "It's about the phones."

"The other underground emperors saw how much money the Revolutionary Army made selling them, and now they're all after me, wanting in on the action."

He paused, then continued, "This kind of thing can't be explained in a few messages. That's why I came in person."

Ron nodded. He understood Morgans' concerns.

The phone business had blown up. It wasn't just popular—it was explosive. One wrong move, and it could cause huge problems.

He tapped his fingers on the table, thinking. "All right. Tell me what you're thinking first. We'll figure it out from there."

"I think we need to cooperate with the other underground forces," Morgans said. "If we want to go global with the phones, we'll need their power. Some areas are completely under their control. Without their cooperation, we won't be able to get the phones in."

Hearing that, Ron frowned. He should've anticipated this. With the phones gaining popularity and the profit margins being sky-high, of course the sharks were going to show up.

"Yeah… we need to handle this carefully."

Just then, Hancock, who had been quietly nearby, saw the two start discussing serious business. She stood up gracefully.

"Then I won't disturb Ron-sama. I'll go check on how my sisters' orders are doing." With a soft smile, she turned and left, gently closing the door behind her.

Ron gave a nod of thanks. Once she was gone, he motioned for Morgans to continue.

"So, what do you think of the other five emperors? To put it bluntly, who can we work with—and who can't?"

Morgans smirked like he'd been waiting for this question.

"The key issue with phone sales right now is logistics. And the man who controls the entire Grand Line's sea routes—the so-called King of Sea Transport, Giberson of the Deep Sea Current—is our most crucial partner."

"King of Sea Transport, Giberson?" Ron repeated. The name didn't ring a bell.

"Yep. Giberson's fleet spans the Four Seas. He usually runs contraband—weapons, slaves, that sort of thing. But if we work with him, we can push out mass shipments of phones across the world almost overnight."

Morgans' tone grew more excited. "His fleet is huge, his delivery speeds are insane, and he's more than capable of solving our logistics nightmare."

He paused, then added, "That's the problem with the Revolutionary Army. Sure, their influence is widespread, but they suck at shipping. We've been working with them for ages and barely moved a few million units. That's way too slow."

Ron frowned again. He'd hoped that with the Revolutionary Army's backing, they could dominate the market quickly. But it wasn't working out that way.

TikTok's user base was growing, but not fast enough. Even with the Revolutionaries pushing it, the total user count barely cracked fifty million.

Still miles away from Ron's "small goal."

"What's Giberson asking for?" Ron asked seriously. He already knew Morgans had probably made contact.

Morgans smirked. "Conditions? What conditions? We hold the cards now. He's just a collaborator. If anyone's setting terms, it's us."

He leaned back with a smug grin. "Besides, the phones cost you nothing to make. It's all pure profit!"

Ron rolled his eyes. Nothing? I still need a Berry to make one.

But he didn't argue the point. Instead, he changed the subject.

"What about the others? Who are they?"

Morgans listed them smoothly, clearly familiar.

"There's the Usury King, Lu Feld. The Warehousing King, Umit. The Queen of the Pleasure District, Stussy. And the most mysterious one… the Funeral King, Drug Peclo."

Ron blinked. "Funeral King? That's a thing?"

He genuinely couldn't associate "funeral home" with "underground emperor."

Morgans gave him a long look, unsure if he was joking or just clueless. "You were a potential Marine admiral, and you've never heard of this guy?"

Ron shook his head. "Nope."

Back when he was a Marine, all he did was fight pirates. Why would he know anything about funeral homes?

Seeing that Ron was being serious, Morgans sighed with genuine exasperation but moved on quickly.

"Drug Peclo controls the entire funeral industry across the Four Seas. People call him the 'Reaper.'

He runs the corpse disposal game. Cleaning up evidence, vanishing bodies—that kind of thing. In the underground world, it's an essential and very secretive business."

Morgans' voice lowered.

"And that's not all. Rumor has it he trains a squad of assassins for dirty work."

"But none of that is the most important part. The real kicker is…"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 44: Plea For Help

Morgans paused on purpose, a glint of mystery flashing in his eyes.

Ron's brows furrowed slightly as he looked at him, clearly waiting for more.

Morgans lowered his voice, speaking with a tone both cryptic and ominous: "According to legend, he may possess resurrection technology. The corpses of some powerful individuals have mysteriously vanished... it might be tied to him. Of course, it's all speculation. No solid proof. But just the possibility is chilling."

Resurrecting the dead? Specializing in stealing corpses?

Ron was baffled. All signs pointed to something like Gekko Moria's powers. Was this guy copying the Shichibukai's whole aesthetic?

"Interesting. I didn't expect the pirate world to be hiding so many shadowy monsters," Ron muttered.

"Hahahahaha! Ron, you still know so little," Morgans burst into laughter, clearly smug. "You've only scratched the surface of this world's chaos."

He continued, "Take the Four Emperors—Kaido and Big Mom. They're the surface-level apex. But behind the scenes? It's these underground kings pulling the strings. Think about it—what happens if those kings stop supplying them?"

Ron's expression shifted slightly. Morgans had a point.

Of course, anyone who dared block business with the Four Emperors could expect a 'friendly visit' that same afternoon.

But there was truth to it—trading power and raw strength weren't the same thing.

Ron hated dealing with convoluted matters like this. Luckily, he had Morgans for that.

"My head hurts already. I'm leaving all this to you, Morgans. I'm just here to kick back," Ron said, rubbing his temples, fully committing to his hands-off management style.

"What!?" Morgans shouted, pointing at Ron in disbelief. "Ron! I owe you a lot, sure, but that doesn't mean I'm your errand boy! I still have a newspaper company!"

Ron ignored the tantrum. He casually picked up a cup of tea, took a slow sip, and replied calmly:

"Didn't you move your entire newspaper business to TikTok ages ago? I'm the one who gave you official certification."

Morgans choked on his indignation.

It was true, thanks to Ron, his news agency was now TikTok-verified and sitting at the top of the influencer food chain.

Every video he posted racked up millions of views—way more than anything he ever got selling newspapers.

Without question, Morgans was now the undisputed King of News.

"Of course," Ron added with a playful tone, "If you'd prefer to go back to being a street-corner paper peddler, I'll just go ahead and revoke that verification—"

"Stop!" Morgans wheezed, forcing himself to breathe calmly. After a moment, he slumped and muttered, "Fine, I'll do it."

Ron smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit. We split the profit fifty-fifty. Fair enough?"

"Really?" Morgans' eyes lit up for a second, but then he looked at Ron suspiciously. "You're not serious, are you?"

"Of course I'm serious. You know me. I'm not in this for the money," Ron said with a faint smile.

Morgans stared at him blankly. He did know Ron, and that was the weirdest part—Ron genuinely didn't seem to care much about wealth.

Morgans sighed and stopped arguing. The two of them quickly finalized some key details and left to handle business.

…

Three days later.

A storm swept across the commercial world, reshaping everything with overwhelming force.

Throughout the Four Seas, the Grand Line, and even the New World, whether in bustling port cities or forgotten mountain villages, phones were popping up everywhere.

Restaurants, bars, shops, and even street vendors were now selling them.

Most weren't official channels, of course. But the packaging, manuals, and appearance were identical to the real thing. You couldn't tell the difference.

They were a bit more expensive—but still affordable to most.

For the truly poor, though, even these prices were a stretch. They had to wait and hope for price drops.

Restaurant and bar owners, sensing an opportunity, started displaying phones prominently. Pirates, merchants, tourists—anyone passing through—couldn't help but take a look.

While sipping on drinks or snacking, customers would casually pick one up, flip through the instructions, ask for the price—and boom, another sale.

Selling phones ended up being more profitable than food or booze!

Even in remote areas, villagers came across simple roadside stalls filled with these sleek new devices.

Vendors patiently explained how the phones worked and what they were good for.

Wealthier families started buying them as a form of entertainment. Owning a phone became a symbol of modern living.

The poor? They could only watch enviously, hoping one day they could own one too.

Despite the inflated prices in black market sales, enthusiasm didn't drop. In fact, it surged.

Phone fever had swept across every region. In towns big and small, people buzzed about them constantly.

Those who already had phones walked around proudly.

Those who didn't could only stare in longing.

And with all that exposure, user growth skyrocketed.

Tens of thousands of people joined TikTok every single day.

From the early days of a few million users, the app now boasted over eighty million.

The growth stunned even Ron.

However…

Despite reaching 80 million users, the system still didn't upgrade.

Ron sat in his room, staring at the system screen with frustration. He'd expected a system notification by now—new features, better functions, some epic power boost.

But the system remained dead silent.

"How many users does it take to upgrade?" he muttered, tapping the interface repeatedly.

He tried asking the system directly, but it didn't respond. Total ghost mode.

"Whatever. As long as the numbers keep going up, it'll trigger eventually."

Bored, Ron opened the video feed and began scrolling.

Then his expression froze.

He had stumbled upon another Straw Hat video.

But this time… it wasn't their usual chaos.

It was an urgent plea for help!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 45: Nami's Illness

"Help, everyone!"

"Please, someone save our navigator, Nami!"

"Can someone, anyone, tell us what illness she has? She's burning up! Her fever's so high it could boil water!"

"She must've been bitten by some strange bug. When I went with Nami-san to forage, she was fine until this tiny insect bit her."

Vivi's face was streaked with tears as she looked at Nami, her eyes full of pain and worry. Nami's fever refused to break, and her body was trembling slightly.

Her voice quivered, like she could burst into sobs at any moment. Right now, she felt just like she did as a child—utterly helpless and lost.

Nami's face was flushed deep red from the fever. Her breath came in short gasps. Her whole body trembled uncontrollably, which only made Vivi more anxious.

Luffy had recorded this video because they were truly out of options.

There wasn't a single doctor on board, and they were stuck in the middle of the sea, far from any medical help.

Luffy's face was filled with panic as he filmed, shouting anxiously, "Nami suddenly got a fever, and we have no idea what to do. Please, help us!"

Meanwhile, the video had already gone viral on TikTok.

The comments were flooding in, likes were soaring past fifty thousand, and the video's popularity was still climbing fast.

Fans who truly cared about Nami were clearly pushing it up—or maybe someone was secretly paying for promotion.

Even the haters, who usually went after Luffy, didn't say a word against Nami. She was just too well-liked.

So aside from the Straw Hat crew, the viewers were probably the most anxious.

The comments were full of suggestions from self-proclaimed doctors, but no one could agree on what was wrong. Nami's symptoms were just too strange.

Some guessed a tropical disease. Others said it was a severe allergic reaction to a bug bite. Some even suspected a rare virus. But no one knew for sure—they could only offer vague advice.

"Take her to the nearest island right away! Find a doctor there!"

"Do you have any herbs that lower fever? Try those first!"

"She might've been poisoned. Check the bite wound immediately!"

Vivi read through the comments, feeling both touched and powerless.

She knew the fans genuinely wanted to help. But right now, they were limited in what they could actually do.

Nami's condition kept worsening. Her fever stayed dangerously high, and her body grew weaker by the minute.

Vivi gripped Nami's hand tightly and whispered softly, "Nami-san, hang in there. We will find a way."

Luffy stood nearby, his face full of regret and tension.

Seeing Nami like this tore at his heart. He silently swore to find a solution, even if it meant putting his life on the line.

Meanwhile, TikTok's comment section was still exploding.

Ron was also watching the stream and noticed some users recommending Chopper—but the Straw Hats didn't seem to see those messages.

He frowned slightly. "TikTok's algorithm still has issues," he muttered. "But it's understandable. It's based on data."

Since the Straw Hat crew mainly posted adventure and inspirational content, the algorithm mostly pushed them similar creators and live streams. Their fans were also primarily into that genre.

So it made sense that Chopper's videos didn't show up in their feed.

"Looks like I'll have to step in." Ron was about to use his admin privileges to manually push Chopper's stream to their feed when something caught his eye.

Above the Straw Hat Pirates' profile picture, a red tag popped up: "Live."

"Huh? They're livestreaming?" Ron blinked. He quickly tapped in.

In the livestream, Nami lay weakly on a bed, her lips pale and her skin colorless. She looked like she could die at any moment. Her breathing was shallow and quick, making everyone watching tense up.

Usopp was bawling uncontrollably in front of the camera. "Please, kind viewers, help us find a doctor for Nami!"

Sanji was crying too, guilt all over his face. "She was fine when we left! What the hell happened? It's my fault. It's all my fault!" His eyes were bloodshot, filled with regret.

Zoro stood in silence, brows tightly furrowed. His face was unusually tense.

He was clearly distressed. They had already tried contacting several doctors, but none could diagnose Nami's illness. He clenched his fists and muttered, "Damn it. What kind of sickness is this? Why can't we fix it?"

Luffy was lying by Nami's side, yelling, "You damn virus, get out of her body!"

Everyone around him facepalmed. They immediately pulled him back.

Luffy struggled and kept shouting, "Nami, wake up! Wake up!"

"Luffy," Zoro said in a low voice, "stop yelling. She needs rest. If she doesn't die from the illness, she'll go deaf from you." Luffy finally quieted down, but his eyes were still full of fear and guilt.

At that moment, Vivi appeared in the frame. She looked into the camera, sobbing, her voice barely holding together. "Please… help us. We really don't know what's wrong with Nami-san. If anyone can save her… I'll do anything. Anything at all."

Fans in the livestream chat went wild.

"Nami-chan, please hang in there!"

"Is there a doctor watching? Please check her condition!"

"Luffy! Do something! Don't let anything happen to Nami-chan!"

---

These guys were really falling apart. Vivi and the Straw Hats were desperate and helpless, and it got to him.

At that moment.

The top-right corner of the livestream showed 100K+ viewers, and comments were flying so fast that even Ron's messages got instantly buried.

"I'll have to take the direct approach," Ron muttered. He was just about to send a massive gift to get their attention and then recommend Chopper's stream…

When something unexpected happened.

A bold system alert suddenly popped up in the middle of the screen:

[Major Medical Streamer "Doctor Chopper" Is Requesting to Join the Stream!]

The alert was so clear and prominent that Vivi noticed it instantly.

Her eyes lit up with surprise. "Medical expert? Doctor Chopper?"

She quickly tapped Chopper's profile picture and checked his info. When she saw that he was an officially verified major medical streamer on TikTok, disbelief washed over her face.

"It's an official certification!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 46: Don't Panic

Vivi immediately shouted, "Everyone, look! A doctor requested to join the stream!"

The rest of the crew rushed over when they heard her. As soon as they saw Chopper's title, their faces lit up.

Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Chopper? He's a doctor? Let him in, quick!"

Usopp said excitedly, "That's great! Maybe he can save Nami!"

Sanji even jumped to his feet and yelled, "Accept the request already, don't waste time!"

With everyone urging her on, Vivi didn't hesitate and tapped "Accept."

The livestream screen quickly split in two. The left side showed the Straw Hat crew, and the right side showed Chopper.

"H-hello everyone, I... I'm Doctor Chopper." His voice was a little shaky. It was clearly his first time streaming with other creators.

He was used to private patient consultations. One-on-one was no problem. But facing the Straw Hats like this... he suddenly felt nervous for no reason.

"A reindeer? A deer's talking? Can you actually treat people?" Usopp shoved his face into the camera, staring in disbelief at the tiny deer on screen.

His eyes widened. The skepticism was written all over his face.

Bonk!

Vivi slammed her fist into Usopp's head and snapped, "Don't question Doctor Chopper's skills!"

Her tone was sharp, eyes firm.

She'd already seen the TikTok comments. While Chopper might look unusual, the guy had rave reviews. Fans strongly recommended him, even calling him a miracle-working doctor.

Plus, she'd taken a quick peek—his follower count was in the millions.

Clearly, this wasn't some random internet vet. The guy had credentials.

As expected, Chopper began explaining in earnest. "Hello, Straw Hat crew. I got urgent messages from my followers saying one of your crewmates is seriously ill. I heard a lot of doctors tried and failed to identify the condition."

The moment he said that, Sanji, Usopp, and Luffy all started shouting over each other to explain, their voices overlapping into pure chaos.

Chopper looked overwhelmed.

"Alright, shut it!" Vivi barked. The room fell silent.

Vivi calmly began to explain, "The one who's sick is our navigator, Nami. We went to a small island recently. While we were gathering food, Nami got bitten by some weird insect. She's had a high fever and has been unconscious ever since."

"A strange insect?" Chopper frowned deeply, already analyzing.

His expression shifted. He'd clearly entered full doctor mode.

"This is rare... I'll need more details. Did you keep the insect? Or get a clear look at it?"

Vivi shook her head, helpless. "We didn't realize at the time. We just saw her get bitten. Then the fever started. We didn't keep the bug, and we didn't really see it clearly."

Chopper nodded slowly, his eyes full of thought. "What about symptoms? Besides the fever and unconsciousness... any rash? Vomiting? Seizures?"

Vivi thought for a moment. "Nothing else obvious. Just high fever and fast breathing. No vomiting or convulsions."

"A special insect bite..." Chopper muttered, frowning again.

The Straw Hats held their breath, not daring to interrupt.

Seconds ticked by. The livestream went dead silent, save for Chopper's soft muttering as he sifted through thoughts.

Then suddenly, Chopper's voice rang out in surprise.

"Thank you Bellamy for the shiny air balloon 🎈!"

"Thank you Jonathan for the sports car 🏎!"

"Thank you Koby for the Universe 🌌!"

The entire crew froze.

Huh?

Aren't we... treating Nami?

Why are you suddenly thanking people???

Seriously, you're a doctor—can you be a little more professional?!

Vivi nearly lost it, but she gritted her teeth and chose not to interrupt.

She knew Chopper must still be analyzing. She had to be patient.

But Luffy had no such restraint. He leaned in toward the camera and yelled, "Hey! Blue-nosed reindeer! Are you even a real doctor?! What's wrong with Nami?! Tell us already!"

Chopper flinched, clearly startled. A bit of panic flashed in his eyes as he stammered, "Uh... uh, don't panic! I think I've seen a case like this in a book before... but I can't quite remember right now. Hold on, I'll go check! Just wait!"

He leapt off his stool and bolted toward a massive bookshelf, dragging a little step ladder behind him. He began frantically climbing and pulling out books.

His movements were clumsy but urgent. It was clear Nami's condition had him rattled too.

Vivi sighed deeply. Anxious but composed, she told herself to trust him.

He might be a talking reindeer... but he was a doctor.

The rest of the crew stood around, silently watching Chopper's tiny figure scrambling through tomes.

Usopp finally couldn't help himself. "Doctor Chopper, can you hurry up? Nami can't wait much longer!"

Chopper paused, turned around, and looked at them with apologetic eyes. "I know you're worried. But this illness is rare. I really need time to check my references. Don't worry. I'll do my best."

Vivi nodded firmly, her tone calm but full of conviction. "Doctor Chopper, we trust you. Take your time. We'll wait."

Chopper's eyes softened. A flicker of gratitude passed through them.

He gave a determined nod and went back to flipping pages like a madman.

He searched through every medical book, his stubby hooves fumbling with covers, flipping each one with laser focus.

His movements were awkward, but... oddly adorable.

Even though the crew was still anxious, seeing Chopper work so seriously calmed them a little.

They knew that, for now, the only thing they could do was wait.

Inside the livestream, the tension was sky-high.

Fans of the Straw Hat crew—especially Nami's hardcore supporters—were glued to their screens, desperately waiting for Chopper's diagnosis.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 47: Just Click The Buy Button

Besides Straw Hat fans, a surprising number of doctors were also watching the livestream.

Some of them were the same doctors who had previously examined Nami's condition. Others had been pulled in by TikTok's algorithm.

They were watching with great focus, hoping to pick up some diagnosis skills or rare case knowledge through this live consultation.

After all, this kind of case was unheard of, and every previous doctor had failed. Now, a blue-nosed reindeer with an official TikTok-certified medical title was trying his luck. Everyone wanted to see how far he could go.

The bullet comments poured in fast and furious:

"Can this reindeer really pull it off? Anyone got the scoop?"

"Doctor Chopper's a medical prodigy. Even terminal illnesses fear his hooves."

"No way. So many human doctors failed, and a reindeer figures it out? I'm calling cap."

"If you don't trust Chopper, at least trust TikTok's official certification. He's verified!"

"I just checked. It's real! Chopper's legit!"

"Go, blue-nosed reindeer! If you save Nami-chan, I'll send a Firework!"

"Exactly! Save Nami-san, please! Seeing her suffer is worse than getting sick myself!"


---

One comment after another rolled in. Nami's fanbase was massive, and even half of the Straw Hat anti-fans had turned into Nami stans.

Ron sat comfortably in his room, watching the stream with a smile. Even though he already knew the outcome, he still wanted to see how it played out live.

Soon after, Chopper came sprinting back with a thick medical book, clearly thrilled. "I found it! I found it!"

"Doctor Chopper, is Nami saved?!" Vivi's eyes sparkled, her voice trembling with hope.

"What's the diagnosis, Doctor?" Sanji, Usopp, and the others crowded around, all staring at Chopper.

"Mhm, got it!" Chopper pointed excitedly at a page in the book. "Tell me, did you guys visit an island with a primitive ecosystem?"

"Primitive ecosystem?" Usopp scratched his head. He'd been on the ship the whole time.

"Sounds about right," Zoro said after thinking a moment. Sanji nodded too, though he didn't sound confident.

Vivi didn't hesitate. "Yes, Doctor Chopper. The place is called Little Garden. It's covered in untouched jungle. I heard it still has ancient species, even extinct bugs."

Her eyes suddenly widened as she remembered something. A flash of panic spread across her face. She looked at Chopper in disbelief. "Wait... it couldn't be..."

"That's right." Chopper's tone turned serious. "If the island's like that, then Nami-san was likely bitten by an ancient insect. Based on her symptoms, this aligns perfectly with Kestia Fever. Of course, we still need to monitor her condition to confirm."

Even though Chopper said that, he was already 90% sure.

Kureha had taught him not to speak in absolutes. Always leave some wiggle room.

"Kestia... Fever?" The rest of the crew looked completely lost. The name alone sounded terrifying.

Luffy frowned and shouted, "What's Kestia Fever?! It sounds super bad!"

Chopper nodded, his voice low. "It's an extremely rare illness caused by the bite of an ancient insect. The symptoms include high fever, coma, and potentially hallucinations. If not treated promptly, the condition can rapidly deteriorate and even become fatal."

Meanwhile, In the livestream chat, the watching doctors suddenly started reacting.

---

"I suspected it was something like this... Chopper beat me to it."

"Same! I was just checking the same book. Missed it by a second!"

"Kestia Fever... I literally treated a case yesterday. How did I forget? I'm embarrassed."

"Shameless. Look at these clout-chasers trying to leech off the stream. Disgraceful."

"Blocked. This level of fake expertise doesn't deserve a license."

"Doctor Chopper is a legend. Diagnosing something this obscure? Incredible. I'm Hogback. If possible, I'd love to exchange notes with Doctor Chopper."

"...Hog-what-back? Never heard of him."

---

Chopper's eyes lit up when he saw that last comment. "Doctor Hogback?! The legendary genius doctor?!"

His voice shook with excitement. He'd just met his medical idol—live.

"It's an honor to exchange knowledge with you! I'll visit once this livestream ends!" Chopper quickly followed him, and Hogback followed back.

With the diagnosis confirmed, a weight lifted from Vivi's heart. She clutched Nami's hand and asked urgently, "Doctor Chopper, what's the treatment plan?"

Chopper nodded. "First, I'll prescribe medicine to stabilize her condition. We'll need to monitor her closely over the next few days. You'll have to help measure her heart rate, breathing, and temperature. That data's critical for the treatment."

Sanji quietly extinguished his cigarette, frowning.

Smoking during a TikTok livestream? Instant ban.

He asked seriously, "Doctor Chopper, those measurements need specialized medical tools, right? We don't have any of that on board. How are we supposed to check them?"

The rest of the crew looked over too. Yeah... they really didn't have anything high-tech.

Chopper rubbed the back of his head and chuckled awkwardly. "That's not a problem. Just click the little shopping cart in the bottom right corner and place an order."

Everyone: "...."

Silence.

The Straw Hat crew all turned slowly toward the corner of the livestream screen.

Sanji tapped the shopping cart and was immediately met with a product list full of medical supplies:

1. Syringe – Medium, 10 Berries

2. Syringe – Large, 20 Berries

3. Syringe – Extra Large, 50 Berries

4. Gauze Roll – 20 Berries

5. Bandage Set...

6. Heart Rate Monitor – 10,000 Berries!

...

There were way too many items.

In short, one word: Complete.

If you had to use two? Professionally insane.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 48: Certified Chopper

Sanji was stunned. He had never encountered such a professional doctor in his life.

"What about the medicine?" Sanji asked cautiously.

Chopper waved his hoof, as if this were no big deal. "Nami's condition is urgent. If it isn't cured within five days, it'll trigger a series of infections, and eventually, her organs will start failing. I'll get started on preparing the medicine right away. Once it's ready, you can place an order via the shopping cart and just take it when it arrives."

Sanji, well-versed in shopping cart protocol, immediately nodded. "Doctor Chopper, please hurry. We can't delay Nami-san's treatment any longer."

To everyone's surprise, Luffy suddenly grew impatient. He stared at Chopper and shouted anxiously:

"Put up the link! Put it up now! I wanna buy it immediately!"

It was Chopper's first time dealing with such a... passionate customer. He looked a little aggrieved. "There's no need to be that anxious. I'll have the medicine ready very soon."

"No! Just post the link first! I'll buy it now and you can ship it once it's done!"

Luffy was clearly a seasoned customer. He must have blown half his Berry stash on food from the app already.

"Ah, okay, okay." Faced with Luffy's relentless pressure, Chopper uploaded the medicine link. The price tag: 100,000 Berries.

The second the link appeared, Luffy slammed the buy button without hesitation.

Vivi glanced at the shopping cart price, let out a breath of relief, and patted her chest. It wasn't as expensive as she'd feared. Totally within budget.

"Doctor Chopper, please prepare the medicine as soon as possible. Nami's condition really is critical."

"Mm-hmm, don't worry," Chopper reassured her. He then turned toward the livestream, addressing his viewers. "Everyone, I'll need to end the stream early today to start preparing the meds. If you have any questions or illnesses, feel free to DM me. I'll reply when I can."

With that, Chopper ended the stream and dashed off to mix the medicine.

Meanwhile, the Straw Hat crew finally let out a collective sigh of relief. Nami was saved!

They followed Chopper's instructions and placed the order.

Moments later, a small black vortex appeared beneath the phone. One by one, boxes dropped out from thin air.

"That was way too fast!" the crew exclaimed, staring at the mysterious boxes in awe.

"Thank you, TikTok devs!" Vivi said with emotion in her voice, a genuine look of relief on her face. "If it weren't for TikTok, Nami might not have gotten any help."

"Yeah, and huge thanks to Doctor Chopper too. Who else would've known about such a rare illness?" Sanji agreed, his eyes full of admiration.

Vivi smiled and urged, "Come on, hurry up. Open the boxes and check Nami's vitals."

"Right!"

...

In the days that followed, Chopper and the Straw Hat crew posted daily updates, sharing detailed records of Nami's treatment.

They carefully logged her temperature, heart rate, breathing, and other vitals—giving fans a full picture of her progress.

Chopper's professionalism and dedication reassured everyone. Confidence in him only grew.

Finally, on the second day, Nami's high fever broke. She woke up.

Though she was still weak from the ordeal, her mind was clear. She knew full well who had saved her—her crew and Doctor Chopper.

She expressed her thanks to Chopper directly in a video.

Luffy was so moved that he immediately offered Chopper a spot on the crew.

But before he could finish asking, Nami, Sanji, and the others instantly vetoed him.

"Are you crazy?! He's a verified top streamer on TikTok! No way he's joining our ship!"

And with that, Luffy gave up.

Three days later, Nami made a full recovery.

She posted a TikTok video, smiling radiantly as she said, voice trembling with emotion: "Thank you, Doctor Chopper. Thank you, my friends. Without you, I don't know what would've happened to me."

A rare and bizarre illness, solved by a reindeer.

The entire medical world was stunned.

Drum Island became famous overnight.

As word spread, doctors from across the world made pilgrimages to Drum Island to study under Chopper.

Many of them intended to stay only a few days. Most of them never left.

Dalton personally welcomed them, tirelessly clearing land and helping them build new homes.

In the pirate world, doctors had always been a loose network. Without an organized structure, their status was relatively low.

But that was about to change.

Drum Island—once the Drum Kingdom—was now the holy land of medicine.

Doctors exchanged techniques, shared research, and supported one another.

It wasn't just Chopper who made Drum Island famous, it was the collective strength of all who gathered there.

This was no longer just an island. It was a place of hope and miracles.

"Doctor Chopper is amazing. Just three days of discussion with him and I've learned so much!" one doctor commented on TikTok, full of admiration.

"Don't look down on Doctor Chopper just because he's a reindeer. I'm a goat—so what? All animal doctors, unite! I've left Zou and I'm heading straight to the holy land in my heart!"

"Doctor Goat, don't leave! You're the only doctor in our whole town!"

"Don't be sentimental. Just follow my TikTok. I'll treat illnesses through the app from now on."

"Huh... honestly, that might actually work."

"Safe travels, Doctor Goat."

"...."

Ron also watched all of this unfold. Even he was surprised by how quickly Chopper picked up the shopping cart hustle. Not only was the little guy an expert in medicine, he was now a livestream sales pro too. His potential was off the charts.

Watching Chopper's success on TikTok, Ron couldn't help but sigh inwardly. "This kid's a natural-born genius."

To support Chopper's rise, Ron took time to drop ten Carnivals into his stream, then let him grow on his own.

Meanwhile, on Drum Island's junk heap.

It was a wasteland of rotting trash, the stench overwhelming.

Wapol clutched his newly acquired smartphone, eyes full of longing.

He'd earned it after a week of garbage duty. To him, it wasn't just a phone—it was hope.

"Bastards. They're all bastards." Wapol was filthy, his stomach rumbling. He hadn't eaten all day.

He looked around. His eyes settled on a large nearby tree. A sly grin crept across his face.

"Who cares? I'm a Munch-Munch Fruit user. I can eat anything as long as it fills me up!"

Muttering to himself, he chomped into the massive tree.

The taste was... okay. Not great, but edible.

In just a few bites, Wapol had devoured the entire thing. He let out a satisfied burp.

"Burrrrp~"

And then he noticed—his body had changed. It had transformed into... a tree. Leaves and all.

He looked down at himself, eyes sparkling with curiosity and delight.

"My ability really is that awesome!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 49: Content Creator Wapol

Just then, a group of villagers passed by the garbage dump. When they saw Wapol's tree-like form, they were startled at first. But they didn't run away.

Instead, they all pulled out their phones and started recording.

Their expressions were like they'd discovered a walking, talking jackpot. "This is gonna blow up! This is going viral!"

"Guys, check this out! It's a humanoid tree that walks and talks. Unreal!" one villager shouted to his camera.

"Hit that follow button, everyone! If we break 100 followers, I'll climb up and grab a specimen for y'all!" another chimed in, already fantasizing about his influencer debut.

Wapol noticed they weren't scared of him at all. They were even filming him like he was some kind of zoo attraction.

A wave of rage surged inside him, and he was just about to explode on them.

But then, a flash of inspiration struck him.

Wait a second... His body was weird. And they could film it... so why couldn't he?

He knew his ability well. As a Munch-Munch Fruit user, anything he ate, he could absorb and transform into.

If he ate a metal drum, his body became like steel. He'd eaten a tree, so now... he was a tree.

And he realized something important—no one on TikTok was doing this kind of content.

A totally untapped niche!

In other words... he was going viral!

"HAHAHA! You dumb hippos! I'm gonna go viral! I'm going viral!" Wapol cackled wildly, his laughter echoing across the dump like a lunatic.

The villagers filming nearby exchanged nervous looks.

"This guy's nuts," one of them whispered.

"Yeah, he's completely lost it."

Afraid he might actually be contagious, they quickly deleted their videos, stuffed their phones away, and backed off slowly... then ran.

Once they were gone, Wapol snorted coldly, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes.

He was used to being misunderstood. Whatever. It wouldn't affect his plan.

With surprising dexterity, he picked up his phone, propped it on a rock, aimed the camera at himself, and hit record.

"Chat, I'm Wapol. The reformed Wapol. And today... I'm gonna eat a tree in three bites!"

He opened his massive mouth and chomped into a nearby tree.

Like it was made of cake, the tree came clean off in a single bite.

Two more bites, and the whole thing was gone.

Then Wapol turned to the camera, gave a mysterious smirk, and said, "And now... it's time to witness a miracle."

His body began to stretch.

His limbs twisted into branches, bark spread over his torso, and in the blink of an eye, Wapol had fully transformed into a giant tree.

"Hehehe..." At the end of the video, he even dropped a personal slogan:

"I'm Wapol. The omnipotent Wapol."

After binging so many videos, Wapol had cracked the formula.

All the top influencers had a gimmick. His? Omnipotence. He could eat anything. Become anything.

After reviewing the video a few times, he hit upload.

He didn't have any fans, so naturally, there were no views, no likes.

But he wasn't worried. He knew TikTok had a new creator support program. New users got priority pushes. If the video was good, traffic would snowball.

So all he had to do now... was wait.

"Give me some likes already... I'm starving here," Wapol muttered, pulling his ragged coat tighter around him. Shivering in the garbage heap, he fell asleep clutching his phone.

He had no idea...

That while he was sleeping, TikTok's backend had already flagged his video.

It got pushed to a small test audience. And those early viewers? They were hooked.

Likes, comments, shares—it all began trickling in.

By morning, Wapol's video had started gaining traction.

The moment he woke up, the first thing he did was check TikTok.

Still groggy, he rubbed his eyes, picked up his phone, and opened his account.

When he saw the comment and like counts slowly ticking up, a flicker of satisfaction crossed his face.

It wasn't much. But for a brand-new creator, it was something.

Then he tapped into the comment section, curious what people were saying.

The replies came flooding in:

"Bro what?? Three bites and he eats a whole tree???"

"Someone get this man a burger. I'm sending him sunglasses to barter for food."

"Don't gift him anything! That's Wapol, the former tyrant of Drum Kingdom!"

"Wait what? Isn't that where Doctor Chopper's from? That island's a global medical hub now!"

"Dang... this guy's got it rough. Still, it's kinda his own fault. But maybe he's really changed."

"'Changed' my foot. This guy's totally faking it!"

"Let's wait and see first."

"...."

Reading through the comments, Wapol's heart was a tangled mess.

He really had changed.

Drum Kingdom, without his rule, had become the Holy Land of Medicine. Something he'd never dreamed of.

He couldn't believe how vile he used to be. All he wanted now was to be a decent creator. Earn enough for three meals a day.

The comments didn't discourage him. They fired him up.

From that day on, he uploaded new content constantly—bizarre, ridiculous videos of him eating random junk and transforming.

He even began responding to fan requests. Want to see him eat a weird item and turn into it? You got it.

He started branding himself as "the people's creator."

If fans wanted it, he'd eat it.

If fans liked it, he'd become it.

And to his surprise... his follower count started climbing fast.

Hope returned to his eyes. His confidence surged. He doubled down on filming.

His comment section grew livelier by the day, flooded with supportive messages.

And as he read each one, Wapol's heart warmed with a strange, unfamiliar feeling.

Gratitude.

"I will go viral! You stupid hippo!"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 50: What’s That? Can You Eat It?

With the help of the underground forces, smartphone sales exploded like a lit powder keg, unleashing massive energy across the seas.

The speed of mobile phone adoption was beyond everyone's expectations. They were even being sold in places unreachable by news pigeons.

Places like... the mysterious, sealed-off Wano Country!

Wano Country.

A land of perilous terrain and closed borders, long isolated from the outside world.

Its rigid caste system created a vast chasm between nobles and commoners.

Even someone as influential as Morgans had trouble sending his news pigeons in. The only reason smartphones even made it here was through shady deals between the underground trade network and Kaido's people.

But here's the problem—most commoners in Wano could barely afford to eat, let alone buy a phone.

Smartphones had become a luxury symbol. Only those with status and power could afford one.

Not just because of the price, but because distribution was tightly controlled by a handful of powerful individuals.

So, in Wano, phones weren't just devices—they were badges of nobility. A status symbol.

Of course... that was assuming someone actually bought one.

"Phones! Fresh smartphones! Just in today!" A vendor on the roadside shouted, his voice straining with desperation and hope.

But no one paid him any mind.

Hollow-eyed pedestrians shuffled past, stomachs rumbling. Some turned their heads slightly at the shout, but kept walking, weighed down by hunger.

"Phone? Is that a new kind of chicken?" one muttered. "I've forgotten what meat even tastes like. Can't afford food, forget the phone."

They sighed and moved on, bitter smiles on their faces.

The vendor, confused and frustrated, watched them walk away.

His name was Ricks. He worked for the underground organization known as the King of Seaborne Transport. Thanks to a cooperative deal, he had permission to set up shop in Wano.

There were sellers like him scattered all over the country.

If they met sales targets, they got a huge cut.

Today, he'd woken up before dawn to claim a prime spot. The sun was now directly overhead, baking him alive, and he hadn't sold a single unit.

Who would believe this?

Phones that were flying off shelves everywhere else... weren't even getting a glance in Wano.

Absolutely absurd.

As for why they didn't just cut deals directly with local pirate leaders? Simple: profits.

Partnering with high-level pirates meant guaranteed profit cuts.

And those pirates didn't believe in contracts. It was all about who had the biggest fist.

You could pay Kaido's men today, and tomorrow a bigger crew could take over and demand another payment.

No thanks.

So, the safest strategy was to leverage side agreements. Let them open stalls or shops quietly without stepping on any toes.

This was the unspoken rule of pirate-era commerce.

It avoided direct conflict while still tapping into the local market.

But Wano was proving to be a major exception.

Most folks here couldn't even afford rice, let alone a smartphone.

Ricks stood there, drenched in sweat, watching the disinterested crowd. He couldn't help but curse his fate.

"This is nuts! I'm Ricks, the North Blue Sales Champion's right-hand man... and I can't sell a single damn phone?!"

He paced around his booth, muttering in frustration. He stared at the passersby, trying to make sense of their apathy.

Desperate to pull in customers, he whipped out his phone and opened TikTok, showcasing exciting videos to nearby pedestrians.

"Isn't this amazing? It's so fun! Everyone on here's a genius! I could scroll all day!"

He shouted himself hoarse. Not one person stopped.

They just trudged past, blank faces, totally uninterested.

Ricks nearly lost it. "This is ridiculous! Just ridiculous!"

Back in the North Blue, he couldn't even keep phones in stock. People were lining up overnight just to get one.

Now? He was chasing people down and they didn't want it.

"How is this happening?" he muttered, staring at the screen in disbelief.

He tried to remember what it felt like to sell out stock within minutes, to bask in customers' admiration.

But here? Nothing.

"Is it because they're just too poor?" The thought crept in.

He glanced at the ragged clothes and sunken cheeks of the pedestrians. A trace of sympathy flickered across his face.

But he quickly shook his head. "No. That's not it. These things are fun! There's no way people don't want them. I must be using the wrong strategy."

Just then, a voice piped up.

"Huh? What's a mobile phone?"

Ricks looked up.

Queen was sauntering over with his entourage, holding a bowl of red bean soup that looked obscenely sweet and delicious.

His men followed behind with wide grins, carrying a massive iron cauldron full of more red bean soup.

Ricks' pupils shrank in an instant—Plague Queen!

He'd done his homework before coming to Wano. He knew the chain of command.

Kaido, the Four Emperors. Uo Uo no Mi, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon form. Dubbed the "Strongest Creature Alive."

Below him were the All-Stars, the Tobiroppo... monsters, all of them.

But strength was one thing. Business was another. Two totally different games.

Besides, his stall bore the King of Seaborne Transport's insignia. They had working relations with the Beasts Pirates. He shouldn't be targeted.

Still, proper etiquette was important.

"Queen-sama! What an honor! A rare guest indeed!" Ricks beamed with a professional smile, rushing forward to greet him.

It wasn't just that the guy was Queen, it was because this was finally, finally his first potential customer.

And he had to sell this phone!

(To be continued.)