Munching on a fragrant roasted chicken leg, Roger felt his life was complete.
The long-awaited scent of meat exploded in his mouth, and the blissful grease soaked every taste bud.
This feeling was even better than unlocking some medieval technology.
He looked around the deck, where the pirates, who had just acquired "Immortal Crew (the explorer Limited Edition)," were celebrating in the most primitive and wildest way.
Billy, that big fool, was hugging a wooden pillar, letting Hanson chop his arm with an axe.
The severed arm dropped to the ground with a "thud," only to regrow from his shoulder within seconds.
It made him as happy as a 300-pound child.
The other pirates weren't much better.
Some were playing 'mutual stabbing'—not that kind of mutual stabbing, the Long Ge kind.
Others were competing to see who could hammer a nail into a wooden plank with their forehead.
The entire deck, rather than being an immortal party, was more like a madhouse team-building event.
Roger contentedly licked the oil from his fingers.
So delicious!
However, he soon noticed a few out-of-place individuals at the party.
Jack Sparrow leaned against the ship's rail in the distance, an empty wine bottle in his hand, watching the madmen with a complex expression.
He was clearly plotting something.
Hector Barbossa, tied up like a dumpling, and his skeleton crew, who had just been freed from the curse only to see a new group of "colleagues," looked utterly devoid of hope.
As for his "student," Miss Elizabeth Swann, she was hiding by the Captain's Cabin door, her face pale.
It was as if she was witnessing some large-scale cult sacrifice ritual.
"Hmm?" Roger muttered to himself.
Something wasn't right.
Why hadn't this immense blessing reached them?
Could this "Immortal Crew" blessing be a targeted data package?
[Host, would you like me to display the detailed rules for this "Special Blessing"?]
The System's voice timely echoed in his mind, carrying a hint of superiority, as if saying, "See, I told you you didn't read the user agreement carefully."
"Cut the crap, hurry up."
Roger urged in his mind.
The next second, a translucent panel unfolded before him.
[Special Blessing: Immortal Crew (the explorer Limited Edition)]
[Activation Condition: Loyalty to the explorer and its Captain Roger reaches 80 points (out of 100) or above.]
[Effect One: Within a one-kilometer radius, physical damage rapidly self-heals.]
[Effect Two: Immune to all negative effects of the Aztec Curse.]
[Currently Activated Crew List: Gibbs (100/100), Billy (100/100), Hanson (100/100)...]
Roger's gaze quickly scanned the long list of perfect scores.
Finally, it landed on a few bright red, failing names.
[Jack Sparrow: Loyalty 20/100 (Status: Cooperative, Pending)]
[Hector Barbossa: Loyalty -20/100 (Status: Hostile, Captured)]
[Elizabeth Swann: Loyalty -101/100 (Status: Traitor, Under Instruction)]
Roger looked at these numbers and fell silent.
A few seconds later.
He couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Damn!
This wasn't an immortal blessing at all!
This was clearly a loyalty detector!
Not being cursed only meant your loyalty wasn't enough!
Want to freeload on company benefits?
First, see how much value you've created for the company!
This, oh, this is called survival of the fittest!
"Brilliant!"
Roger slapped his thigh.
This was much more effective than any ideological and moral education.
He picked up the remaining half of the chicken leg, deciding to personally "console" these few "colleagues" who hadn't made the cut.
The first was Jack Sparrow.
"My dear Captain Jack, why are you drinking alone here?"
Roger walked up to him and affectionately draped a greasy arm over his shoulder.
"Look how much fun everyone's having. Aren't you going to experience the thrill of regrowing a lost arm?"
"Oh, Lin, my dear friend."
Jack squirmed with a look of disgust, trying to shake off the greasy hand, but failed.
"I believe that, as a captain of taste, maintaining the integrity of one's body is a virtue."
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