Answering Host: Of course.
Current Haoshoku, regardless of how it is infused or projected, is essentially a physical extension of 'spirit' and 'will'.
The cold blue light screen flickered in the darkness; the system's emotionless mechanical voice carried a fatal temptation at this moment.
The next upgrade will step into—the domain of the gods.
The text on the light screen began to dance, becoming somewhat obscure and difficult to understand, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
Those who step into this domain no longer merely possess deterrence and destruction, but the authority to interfere with reality and distort rules.
Reference Case: Sun God Nika, the nonsensical power that turns 'imagination' into 'reality'.
Caine's fingers holding the cigar paused slightly, a flash of realization crossing his eyes.
As expected. Just as he suspected.
The pinnacle of this world was never the reckless brutes like the Four Emperors or Admirals who relied on fisticuffs. But those existences who toyed with rules, nearly akin to "Gods".
That old monster Imu, who had lived for eight hundred years, definitely held more than just Ancient Weapons in his hands. At that level, simple physical strength was useless; it was a contest of whose cheat was bigger and whose rules were more unreasonable.
What do I need to do?
Caine exhaled a ring of smoke, his voice calm, but the fire of ambition deep in his eyes burned brighter. Since I'm here, what's the difference between not being the strongest and being a salted fish?
The system panel flickered, listing three suffocating paths to promotion.
To break through to the domain of the gods, one of the following conditions must be met:
Path A: Money Power (Recommended): Consume 10,000,000 discipline points. The system will directly grant you enlightenment for a painless ascension.
Path B: Archaeologist: Find and come into contact with the core origins of the three "Ancient Weapons (Pluton/Poseidon/Uranus)" and analyze their rule-based power.
Path C: Great Adventurer: Reach the final island "Laugh Tale," touch the "Great Treasure" left by Joy Boy, and complete the resonance of will spanning eight hundred years.
After reading these three options, Caine fell silent. The office was deathly silent, with only the sparks of the cigar flickering.
Three minutes later.
He crushed the cigarette butt into the solid gold ashtray, letting out a suppressed, cold sneer.
Ten million? Why don't you just go rob someone?
Caine was amused by the absurdity. He had schemed and manipulated, making Roger a fool, making Rayleigh cry, and playing the entire World Government and Marineford like a fiddle, only to barely scrape together over a million.
And now this system opens its mouth for ten million? This amount is barely enough for a tenth of a down payment?
If he chose A, at this rate of earning points, he'd have to beat up every member of the Gorosei and blow up Holy Land Mary Geoise just to make the count.
As for B and C...
Caine sneered and leaned back into his chair. The Sea King Shirahoshi is probably still a liquid right now, maybe even still in the queue inside her father's body; Pluton is buried deep beneath Wano Country; Uranus is most likely in Imu's hands.
None of them are easy to deal with. As for Laugh Tale? Roger, that riddler, wouldn't speak even if he died.
You're forcing my hand.
Caine rubbed his throbbing temples, but the corners of his mouth gradually curled up into a dangerous and crazed arc.
It seems that trying to be an Admiral peacefully won't save up for a future. To touch the domain of the gods, I must completely flip the table of this world.
I need to cause trouble. Big trouble.
But isn't this a coincidence? It matches my professional expertise!
With that thought, Caine's frustration vanished. The road must be walked step by step. Since the ten-million mark is temporarily out of reach, I'll spend the remaining "pocket change" to improve my ability to cause trouble.
After all, as a Marine scum with a healthy gambling habit, seeing hundreds of thousands in the account balance without spending it was more painful than killing him.
System, bring up the Lucky Draw Wheel.
Caine rubbed his hands, a gambler's characteristic fervor and piety appearing on his face.
Buzz—!
The blue light screen on his retina instantly transformed, and a massive wheel emitting neon brilliance emerged. The wheel was densely engraved with various rewards from the myriad worlds.
Giant of Light Transformation Device Rumble-Rumble Fruit Gate of Babylon (Fate) Eight Inner Gates
Countless rewards flashed before his eyes. Of course, there was also the Thank You for Playing that occupied 2 percent of the wheel's area.
Caine glanced at his remaining discipline points balance: 895,000 points. This kind of awkward number is the most annoying.
Going all-in is a form of wisdom, and even more so, a virtue.
Caine waved his hand with grand spirit.
Invest five hundred thousand discipline points! Give me a ten-pull!!
Command received, 500,000 discipline points deducted. Gambler Mode activated... Good luck.
The wheel spun rapidly with brilliant flowing light, the pointer jumping frantically.
First pull.
Ding! Congratulations on obtaining: Top-tier Cuban cigars that can never be finished (System Special Edition · Infinite Refill).
... A refined cigar box appeared out of thin air in Caine's hand, his eyes twitching. Fine, although it's useless, at least I'll save on tobacco money from now on. That's reasonable.
The wheel turned again.
Ding! Congratulations on obtaining: Item · Momonosuke Must Die Trial Card (After use, deals 100 percent True Damage to Kozuki Momonosuke).
Good stuff! Save it for later! Caine's eyes lit up.
Ding! Thank you for playing.
Ding! Congratulations on obtaining: Blueprint · Improved Treasure Tree Adam Keel Structure.
Not bad, I can use the G-5 Branch warships to ram the Red Line in the future.
Ding! Congratulations on obtaining: High-quality Meito x5.
Ding! Congratulations on obtaining: Complete Set of Vivre Card Production Techniques.
Ding! Congratulations on obtaining: Charm Fruit (just to make you a little bit more handsome in this face-judging world).
... A series of notification sounds rang out, mostly practical but not stunning items, or purely fun props. Seeing the ten-pull coming to an end, Caine's heart rate gradually accelerated.
Five hundred thousand! That's the hard-earned money he got from selling the Pirate King!
Give me something solid, System Bro!
As if hearing his heart's cry. On the final spin, the wheel let out an unprecedented roar!
The originally multicolored light suddenly converged, turning into an eerie, deep, and ominous blood-red pillar of light, exploding directly in Caine's sea of consciousness!
Ding!!! Great Success! Dimensional Barrier shattered!
Congratulations Host, for obtaining the strongest mental-type ultimate technique from another dimension—
Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan: Kotoamatsukami!
Note: This ability originates from the supreme ocular technique of Shisui Uchiha in 'Naruto'.
Effect: Can directly invade the target's mental world and permanently modify their will without being detected. Whether the opponent is a strong-willed powerhouse or a powerful Celestial Dragon, once the technique is cast, they will be at your beck and call and firmly believe it is their own "true heart".
Restriction (System Modified): No need for a cooldown of over a decade; can consume 1,000 discipline points to offset one year of cooldown. Cannot modify the will of domain of the gods powerhouses (such as Imu), but can cause an instantaneous mental blank.
Clatter.
The cigar Caine had just taken out dropped onto the desk. He froze in place, his pupils shrinking violently.
Kotoamatsukami? The one hailed as the "Strongest Genjutsu", Kotoamatsukami?!
This isn't just a skill...
Caine slowly closed his eyes. A cold, obscure, yet powerfully trembling ocular power surged into his optic nerves like a tide.
When he opened his eyes again. Deep within his eyes, as dark as night, a flash of eerie crimson flickered, and the complex and lethal four-bladed shuriken pattern faintly emerged.
The light in the office seemed to be instantly drained away, and the air temperature plummeted. An invisible mental pressure swept out, colder than Haoshoku, striking directly at the soul.
This thing... is simply tailor-made for a 'just Marine' like me.
For an ambitious person determined to jump back and forth between the Marines, Pirates, and World Government to fleece the most wool, pure destructive power was far less elegant and efficient than "control".
Fighting and killing is so uncivilized. With this, many outrageous operations he didn't dare think about before can now be put on the agenda.
For example... having Fleet Admiral Kong take the initiative to step down and firmly believe it's for the future of the Marines? Or perhaps, making that "King of Loans" who controls the world's economy willingly hand over the keys to the vault?
Even... Caine's gaze passed through the window, looking toward the distant top of the Red Line, that high-and-mighty Holy Land.
If one of the Gorosei were to suddenly have a "discovery of conscience" at a critical moment and support the Marines' independence from the World Government... the mere thought of that scene makes one tremble with excitement.
Hehe... Hehehehe!
In the dim room, the new Admiral covered his forehead and let out a low, pleasant laugh. These five hundred thousand points were more than just worth it.
It's a massive profit!
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion