Outside, the sun was slowly climbing up announcing the arrival of a new day.
"Phew…" Sakura sighed as he entered his shop, wiping the sweat with a towel while sipping on cola.
"Suuu…. Suu….." At his gaming chair by the receipt desk, Ralts was sleeping while Aqua was resting somewhere else her body curled like a cat—the chair having expanded like a bed.
*sniff* *sniff* Sakura raised his arms near his nose.
He'd been visiting the nearest bathhouse almost daily ever since Ralts was born but Sakura right now, fatigue and laziness won over hygiene.
In the end, Sakura burned off the dirt attached to his body and clothes and called it a day.
Sakura walked behind the counter, scooped up the sleeping Ralts, and dropped into his gaming chair with a sigh, hugging her close.
From his inventory, he retrieved the Timewatch and stared at it in silence.
It would be a lie if he said he got over the Timewatch scam from yesterday, but what was done is done. The price had been paid.
"Allows you to travel at any point of the timeline of your desire and brings the person of your desire to the present…" Muttering this, Sakura sighed once more.
Then, slapped his cheeks regaining his focus. Opening the timewatch revealed the well-crafted hour clock.
*tick* *tock* *tick* *tock*
The needle moved by second by second in a maintained rhythm.
"Who am I bringing back to the present…?" Sakura asked—his gaze pursuing the needle.
Gol D. Roger— 'Didn't he want to meet Joy Boy?' Sakura speculated the chaos that would happen when it was revealed that the Pirate King traveled to the future.
It was very unlikely for Gol D. Roger to run away from his era just because of a word from a single person.
In fact, even if Sakura revealed that he would be executed at Loguetown, Roger would probably laugh it off even if he believed it.
Besides, there was no merit in doing so.
The next person that came to his mind was Ginny: The reasoning behind this was filled with Sakura's selfish desire.
In short, he just wanted to see Ginny live with Kuma a happy life.
Since their backstory was filled with tragedy—escaping a slave's life only to be captured again to die as a certain Celestial Dragon's 8th wives—Sakura wanted to at least fulfill Kuma's "what if."
Before being a reader, he was a human. Like everyone else, he yearned a happy ending.
That's why he stole the Flame-Flame Fruit from Ace in the first place.
"But what is the merit in it? Self-satisfaction? First of all, I don't have the rights to meddle in someone's past just because I am aware of it," Sakura muttered shaking his head.
"It's his fault for having his wife stolen anyway," Sakura scolded himself.
One by one, he discarded the names that came to mind.
No matter what, Sakura couldn't find a person worthy enough with the possibility to come to the present with him.
*knock* *knock*
At this moment a knock echoed from beyond the door and two people entered ringing the bell from above.
It was Roja. 'Hm? What matter does this guy have?'
"Boss, good morning,"
"Oh, Roja… and Smoker? Some issue?" Sakura greeted Roja and Smoker.
"We've just received information regarding the Rock-Hard Fist Gang and we're just about to raid them—it's something for a Marine like me to ask a random civilian like you, but are you interested in joining us?" Smoker said extending his hand.
Sakura pondered. "Is Roja the one who gave you the information? Now that you mention it—ever since the first day, no such a group approached my shop…"
Roja responded by gesturing peace fingers. "Rock-Hard Fist Gang aren't the type to attack the strong in the first place. Returning with a broken leg convinced them not to approach your shop."
'So his self-destruction tendency began on the first day…' Sakura wiped his sweat nervously.
At the same time, a system notification popped up.
[Ding! You have triggered a hidden quest!]
[Hidden Quest: Clean Out Loguetown]
Complete Conditions 1: Complete annihilation of Rock-Hard Fist Gang's main branch.
Fail Conditions: Death.
Rewards: Skill - Trend Maker.
"Anyway—that seems fun. When are we going?"
"Right now. It's best to raid when many gang members aren't awake yet."
Half-surprised by the decisiveness of Smoker or the Marine—Sakura nodded too lazy to think.
"Master…? Where are you going?" At this time, Aqua woke up from her bed—innocently asking the three.
"We're going to raid a place," Sakura replied nonchalantly.
"Th-then… I will help you!"
"Hmm…That's a big no," Sakura smiled.
"It's going to be dangerous, you know? I didn't install you with a combatant feature."
"Even so...!" Aqua prayed to her master.
Usually, Sakura wouldn't hesitate to take her if he was going out to play, but today's matter involved her safety making him unwilling to take Aqua with him.
"Well, Boss, since she looks like that how about just bringing her and having her watch from afar? I doubt that's going to be dangerous with marines around," Roja said brightening Aqua's expression.
"What a pain... Fine. Come with us, but you're not allowed to get near, okay? I'm not a fanfiction protagonist that becomes god in the tenth chapter so I'm not confident in protecting you," Sakura rubbed his head and said.
"Thank you!!"
In the end, Sakura persuaded by Aqua's puppy looks and permits her to follow him.
…
The main base of the Rock-Hard Fist Gang wasn't as far as Sakura had imagined.
Smoker and Roja led the team through the back alleys of Loguetown.
Away from the bustling ports and the busy market squares—they entered deep into the residence area.
Beyond the residence area were the huge mountains unmaintained.
Upon entering, the scenery transformed by a whole other level—the uneven roads, and a half-finished factories. The stench of rusted irons combined with the rotting trashes stimulated the team's now causing Sakura to at least use his Purifyre to clear out the trashes on his way.
"You were a Logia User?" Smoker said with raised eyebrows.
"I'm a Flame-Flame Fruit User. Haven't I told you? What did you even invite me for?" Sakura replied while playfully sending out flames.
"I hadn't considered inviting you until Roja mentioned you. But if it's like that… I see…" Smoker pondered to himself thinking about something.
Then he said, inviting. "Are you interested in entering the Marine and beating up evils together?"
"Eh, that's a hassle. I wouldn't want to become someone like Admiral Kizaru," Sakura refused without an ounce of hesitation.
Sakura's wording confused Smoker.
Becoming a cog in the machine... then killing his closest friend only to fall into deep depression wasn't on Sakura's bucket list.
In the end, Sakura didn't bother explaining.
"I see, that's a pity but I expected you to say that," Smoker replaced his smokes and inhaled a new one.
Whilst continuing this meaningless banter—the team arrived to see multiple men with 'MARINE' on their caps. Amongst them was also Tashigi wiping her glasses.
Perhaps they couldn't afford to be discovered by their enemies, the amounts of men in the camp weren't as many as Sakura had expected and many familiar faces entered Sakura's sight. Many of them were regulars of his Internet Cafe.
They were waiting for hours eating meat jerky—in fear of being discovered they didn't even light up a campfire.
"Ah, Captain Smoker has arrived!" Tashigi happily announced Smoker's presence.
Upon his arrival, the mood suddenly brightened up. 'Just how much trust between his subordinates does this guy have?'
"Hm. I thank you all for gathering up, Tashigi, are there any movement from the Rock-Hard Fist while I was away?"
"No, sir. There has been none—Captain Smoker... the three besides you…" Tashigi pointed dumbfounded.
"Don't worry about them. The two can fight," Smoker said but his henchmen weren't convinced.
They knew of Roja's gaming prowess but they hadn't experienced his strength in real life. Meanwhile, Sakura was just an 'ordinary' shop owner albeit his technology were a bit strange.
'Is this where I show my worth?' Sakura asked himself before making a speech. "Have you thoroughly checked all exit routes? From the novels I've read, a mansion like that usually consists of a hidden exit."
Tashigi saluted unconsciously. "Y-yes! We've investigated the area thoroughly. Aside from the one exit I've ordered for marines to stand by, there is nothing else."
'Wait, why am I saluting? Sakura-san is just a regular citizen!' Tashigi canceled her motion after asking herself.
Sakura nodded. "Well, since a friend of mine requested my assistance, shall I repay the favor by using my ability to help you guys out?"
Sakura shifted his gaze past the trees.
In contrast to the Victorian structures popular in the port district—the cabin in the mountain was of much simpler two-floored building mostly made out of wood.
Its size was around the size of a regular apartment—nothing too big but comfortable size for men to live in.
'If it's around this size…' Sakura thought to himself, spreading his palm.
Winds fluttered, and flames gathered in his hand forming into a blazing sword.
'Whole creation in the universe turns to ashes,' was the literal translation of the technique inspired by a certain old man. He spoke of a big word but in truth—Sakura was just making a sword made of flame.
But what was wrong with it? Even Shanks used
The difference would be the sheer power between the two techniques.
Under the gazes of many marines—Sakura lazily stared at Smoker and asked. "Can I begin now?"
"…I permit you," Smoker responded. It would be a lie if he said he wasn't curious about what Sakura could do.
At his signal, the pure flame wrapped around the sword raged intensely—then nodding—Sakura lightly threw the sword upward, toward the cabin trailing a line of flame stabbing deep into the structure.
Then, with a boom, the sword exploded into countless wisps of fires—imprisoning the cabin with a blazing fortress.
*swish*
Only one entrance opened amongst the blazing inferno allowing the marines to enter.
"S-shop owner, you were this strong?"
"I'm glad I was marines and didn't snatch the owner's cola."
"You didn't? Crap…"
Under the amazed gaze of marines, Sakura merely yawned lazily—creating a lazily floating hammock woven from threads of fire sleeping on it. "I've used up most of my power to seal off the Rock-Hard Fist… what the hell is with their naming sense…"
Sakura shook his head—closing his eyes—continuing. "I've used up my power to seal off their exit path. I leave the rest to you."
"""Yes sir!""" Marines saluted carrying their muskets.