Nicola didn't overthink it: "Are there any that suit us?" Since Geer could become strong because of his Talent, he should also have something different about him.
Sang was just an ordinary employee and didn't care much about having power. She only wanted to protect herself because she felt danger on the great sea. Now that she knew she could return to Vinia Island soon, she just wanted to give it a try.
Raiden Ei didn't want to bother with these people; they were all too ordinary. Even if they were given a Devil Fruit, they wouldn't become that strong. Even if someone managed to change their fate drastically after eating a Devil Fruit, that one-in-ten-thousand probability wasn't something she could encounter.
Only Geer made her care a little. She had a system, and upgrading it required massive resources. Becoming a Marine was impossible; there was no future in it. If she wasn't a Marine, she needed a faction. Geer was a talent she had provisionally marked.
Originally, she just wanted to go with them to the Marine Branch, exchange the bounties of the Silver Axe Pirate Crew, and then part ways. They would naturally be sent back by the Marines, while she would head to the Grand Line.
Raiden Ei thought for a moment and still explained: "Only Devil Fruits are suitable for you, but Devil Fruits are hard to find. Other methods are not very suitable for you." If their physique wasn't addressed, everything else would be in vain.
There was an upper limit for an ordinary person; how could they break through it? They could only rely on daily hard training and external breakthroughs, which required both the belief in becoming stronger and persistent effort.
Nicola felt a bit dejected; it turned out he still couldn't possess his own power. Sang was also a bit downcast. They had both come filled with hope, only to be defeated by reality.
Raiden Ei didn't want to discourage the two too much and comforted them: "You don't need to be so sad. This world doesn't just have swordsmen who wield blades; there are also sharpshooters who use guns. If you work hard enough to become a scientist, you can have whatever you want.
There are many ways to become stronger in this world; it's just a matter of willingness and whether you can learn it or not."
Nicola and Sang recovered a bit of their spirits: "Thank you, Miss Raiden Ei. It's just that we haven't worked hard enough. I understand what you mean."
Raiden Ei finally breathed a sigh of relief, having successfully fooled them: "Mm, it's good that you understand. Don't force yourselves. Anything that suits you is worth trying. Cooks, doctors, shipwrights, Navigators, musicians—all are possible. Learning them might not give you immense power, but it will help you better understand yourself and this world.
Alright, we should go now. There's nothing much to see on this ship; it's time to set sail."
Nicola and Sang bowed and thanked Raiden Ei again. It was the first time they had heard such words. Although they had heard of those professions in newspapers before, they hadn't felt anything; they were just people they didn't know.
Now, Raiden Ei's words made them re-evaluate those professions. They still had so many paths to choose from; there was no need to fear.
Raiden Ei sensed this scene beforehand with Observation Haki and reached out to stop the two: "I don't want to shorten my lifespan." She didn't want them bowing like that again and used a reference to the Flower Country as an excuse.
Sang was puzzled. What did'shorten lifespan' mean?
Nicola was more direct and asked immediately: "What does'shorten lifespan' mean?"
Raiden Ei gave up; this was too hard for her: "It means something bad is about to happen. Let's go!" Without waiting for them to ask more, she walked ahead first.
Nicola and Sang could only follow. They hadn't even looked around the ship yet; they had only been talking with Raiden Ei.
Walking to the ship's side, Raiden Ei told the two to board first. They naturally didn't resist and obediently climbed back onto the three-masted sailboat via the rope ladder. She, meanwhile, stored the small single-masted sailboat into the system backpack.
Gatt had already selected the route and was preparing when he saw Nicola and Sang return. He guessed that Raiden Ei was back and they were about to set sail.
A short while later, Raiden Ei indeed found him. The pirate ship was also gone—it had either sunk or she had taken it. He didn't care.
Gatt greeted Raiden Ei with a slight smile: "Miss General, good noon."
When others were around, Raiden Ei usually maintained a faint expression, showing no discernible emotion: "Gatt, is the route confirmed?"
Gatt's expression also shifted to a work mode: "Yes, it's confirmed. We are going to Dokabaka Island. Our ship should arrive in three days. We can depart anytime now."
Raiden Ei nodded: "Good, then let's set sail! We've stopped here long enough."
Gatt stood up from the deck and signaled the others to prepare for departure. The group of four thugs who were with Nicola also received orders from Gatt to attend to their duties.
They had just learned the facts from Nicola and Raiden Ei. They were still somewhat unwilling; they still yearned for powerful strength.
Raiden Ei sat down by the ship's side and opened the system panel with her consciousness:
energy conversion system
Initial Panel:
Energy 2676
Raiden Ei
Age: 0
Physique: 6 + (50000)
Armament Haki: 4 + (10000)
Observation Haki: 4 + (10000)
Conqueror's Haki: 1 + (10000)
Backpack: Kusanagi no Inabikari, single-masted sailboat, wild fruit, raft, bamboo tube, wooden barrel, miscellaneous items
She sighed. It had been almost twenty days since she arrived in this world, and she had only earned that little bit of energy. When would it end!
As time passed, the three-masted sailboat began sailing on the great sea again. Unlike before, when they lacked a destination, Dokabaka Island was the destination for this voyage.
At this moment, no one was paying attention to the eight pirates tied beneath the mast. They all had their eyes wide with rage, as if they had transformed into man-eating demons.
But they knew clearly in their hearts that they no longer had the ability to resist. They could only suppress the anger in their hearts, yet they were still extremely resentful that they had actually abandoned their pirate ship.
Raiden Ei suddenly felt a strong emotional fluctuation. She turned to look at the eight pirates and muttered: "What are they doing? Their gazes are so fierce."
Having nothing to do, she had intended to continue cultivating. But seeing those few pirates, she wanted to extract some intelligence from their mouths, which would be convenient for her future navigation on the great sea.
Although she had read the original manga, this place was different from the manga. It was truly necessary to clearly understand the events currently happening in this world. After thinking through these matters, Raiden Ei got down from the ship's side and walked straight toward the base of the mast.
Shan Xi saw the woman who looked like the leader approaching. In order to survive, he naturally tried to be as submissive as possible. Pirates who hadn't seen the cruelty of pirates were not good pirates.
Raiden Ei stopped nearby, looking at them with eyes devoid of any emotion. Her exquisitely beautiful face also gave them an icy feeling, as if she truly intended to kill them.
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