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Chapter 394: Even Dogs Wouldn't Go to Laugh Tale?
Time seemed to have been fast-forwarded in the East Blue, the sea once mocked as the "weakest."
Ever since the day Imu blasted a hole in the sea and the Admirals and Emperors clashed like gods, the entire structure of the world had collapsed and rebuilt itself overnight.
In just half a month. Only half a month!
Foosha Village, a tiny hamlet that used to take half a day just to locate on a map, had undergone an earth-shattering transformation. The originally peaceful port was now completely jammed with ships. Looking out, there weren't just pirate ships flying Jolly Rogers, but also warships painted with the Marine seagull emblem, and even the luxurious cruise ships used strictly by the World Government.
Further out at sea, countless top-tier powerhouses from the New World were fighting tooth and nail just to fight for a docking spot.
"Get lost! This is my ship's spot!"
"Who the hell do you think you are? I'm a great pirate with a 200-million Beri bounty!"
"Two hundred million? You think 200 million makes you worthy of Foosha Village? Get to the back of the line! Didn't you see the ship in front of you belongs to a former Warlord of the Sea?!"
Curses and insults rang out endlessly, day and night.
But bizarrely, the moment they stepped foot onto Foosha Village's soil, these murderous thugs of the sea became as obedient as elementary school freshmen.
They had no choice. Who would dare cause trouble here?
Look to the left, there was the Marine Hero Garp fighting his grandson for meat—the kind of guy who could shatter a Shinra Tensei with a single punch. Look to the right, there was Whitebeard weaving flower crowns for his "daughters"—holding Murakumogiri that could slice through space at any given moment.
Even the old man sweeping the streets might turn out to be a hidden master fresh out of a dungeon.
Causing a scene here? That just meant you felt reincarnation was taking too long and wanted the VIP express lane straight to the underworld!
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Tavern, Second Floor
Morgans was so thrilled his feathers were practically vibrating. His camera shutter was clicking so fast it was nearly sparking.
"Big news! This is the real big news! Who cares about the Four Emperors clashing or Marine Headquarters? That's all in the past! The center of the world… has shifted!"
He looked down at the street below, once a simple dirt path now paved into a "Golden Avenue" via various powers, and gulped heavily.
In the past, what was the ultimate dream of a pirate? It was the end of the Grand Line. It was Laugh Tale. It was the "One Piece" left behind by the Pirate King, Roger. To claim that illusory great treasure, countless people had thrown their lives away on the seas.
But what about now?
Morgans had personally overheard two pirate captains who had just arrived from the New World chatting.
"Hey, I heard an Eternal Pose to Laugh Tale showed up, should we go rob it?"
"Rob my ass! Are you sick in the head?"
"Ah?"
"What's the point of going to Laugh Tale? What's the point of finding Roger's treasure? Can it teach you the Kamehameha? Can it give you the Sharingan? Can it regrow severed limbs?"
"Uh… probably not."
"Then there you have it! Instead of wasting time going to Laugh Tale, I'd rather move bricks in Foosha Village for two extra days to save up for a Beginner Dungeon ticket!"
"Wise words, Boss! Laugh Tale? Even a dog wouldn't go!"
Morgans was utterly flabbergasted hearing that.
Roger, oh Roger. You started the Great Pirate Era, yet that man named Blake ended your era in just a single month!
Which pirate still cared about treasure now? Devil Fruits? Those were hard currency now—not for eating, but for pawning to buy dungeon tickets!
Even the Celestial Dragons, those high-and-mighty pigs, were now selling off their family fortunes just to beg for an "admission ticket" into the tavern.
The once-sacred and inviolable Mary Geoise? It had long been deserted! The Five Elders had all relocated to Foosha Village, even setting up a makeshift office at the village entrance, giving it the grandiose title: "World Government East Blue Branch Office."
In reality? It was just to be closer to the dungeons, hoping to catch a whiff of the powerhouses' overflowing auras every day!
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Inside the Tavern
Blake sat with his legs crossed, looking at the thick stack of bills in his hand, fighting a grin harder than suppressing the recoil of an AK-47.
"This business is getting a little too big."
Just moments ago, Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, had sent people to deliver three entire ships full of gold. For no other reason than to reserve three Mid-Level Dungeon slots for next month.
And Shanks, who had just been scammed into the One Punch Man world, emptied the Red Hair Pirates' entire savings the moment he woke up, despite having his worldview beaten out of him.
He wanted to go again! He claimed it was just to see that bald man one more time, and he'd accept it even if he was beaten to death.
This was the magic of the dungeons. This was the magic of true power.
When true "miracles" were placed right in front of your eyes, so-called dreams, authority, and wealth became completely worthless. Only becoming stronger was the eternal truth.
"Boss." Makino walked over holding a cup of coffee, staring blankly at the bustling crowd outside the window. "Grandpa Mayor told me yesterday he wants to change the village's name."
"Change it to what?" Blake asked casually, taking the coffee.
"Village of Gods." Makino gave a bitter smile. "He said if you throw a brick in the village right now, you'll either hit an Admiral or an Emperor. Calling it Foosha Village is too low-profile, and he's worried it isn't fitting of everyone's status."
Pfft—
Blake nearly spat out his coffee. That old village chief sure knows how to read the room. However…
Village of Gods?
Blake set down his cup and looked out at the distant sea with deep eyes. That expanse of ocean, once filled with adventure and slaughter, had now become exceptionally "peaceful" because of his arrival. Everyone was busy participating in the rat race, busy working to buy tickets; who had the time to go out killing and fighting?
Even the Marines had become half-hearted about catching pirates. If they arrested all the pirates, who would contribute to the dungeons' GDP?
"No need to change it," Blake said with a faint smile. "Foosha Village is fine. The turning windmill represents endless life and vitality. Besides…"
He stood up and walked to the window.
Down in the plaza below, Imu, having just acquired "Ki," sat cross-legged in the void, meditating with her eyes closed. Surrounding her were Garp, Sengoku, Rayleigh, and a massive group of legends from the old era. Everyone was sitting around like grade-schoolers, earnestly trying to secretly learn from her.
The scene was absurd, yet incomparably real.
Blake lightly tapped his fingers against the windowsill. "Besides, this is already the center of the world. Does the name even matter anymore?"
He tapped the table again, a shrewd merchant's glint flashing in his eyes. "Since every single one of you thinks you're unbeatable, I'll give you something a little more exciting to play with."
System, he called out in his mind. Unlock the 'Raid' permission. Blake looked at the dizzying array of BOSS icons in the system list, a wicked, sadistic smile curving his lips. Since every single one of you thinks you're invincible under the heavens, I'll let you witness what true despair looks like.
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Wzzzz—
Just as the crowd outside the tavern was still arguing over line-cutting, a majestic fluctuation suddenly erupted from inside.
Immediately after, a massive virtual screen appeared, floating high above Foosha Village. It could be seen perfectly clearly even from miles away on the open ocean.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up. Upon that screen, several lines of large, blood-red text slowly materialized.
[New Mode: Raid (Large-Scale Team Dungeon) officially online!]
[No more fighting alone!]
[No more small squad skirmishes!]
[Assemble your strongest partners to challenge god-like opponents!]
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