Wait… the side quest actually completed?
Nao ignored the absurd flavor note at the end and blinked in surprise.
He distinctly remembered that the quest's completion requirements were to enter the wedding hall with Big Mom and achieve her "final conquest."
Did simply entering the literal "wedding hall" count, even without a wedding taking place?
And the other requirement…
Nao scrolled up the message log with a slightly constipated expression, and sure enough, he found a large segment of new messages that had just refreshed earlier.
[Charlotte Linlin has been fully conquered, romantic relationship established]
[Player gains second-tier point reward: 350,000 points]
[Third-tier daily sign-in reward activated. Maintaining the relationship will accumulate sign-in days]
[Charlotte Linlin: Current sign-in days: 1]
[Upon reaching one month of sign-in days, an additional point reward will be granted. Upon reaching one year, an A-rank gift box * 1 will be granted]
[If either party declares an end to the relationship, or if either party's feelings deteriorate and disappear, the relationship will be considered ended, and sign-in days will be interrupted]
[Relationship has ended]
[Sign-in days have been interrupted]
[Please re-establish the relationship to obtain sign-in point rewards]
Who the hell would re-establish it?!
Nao's eye twitched as he grumbled, looking at these prompts, lost in thought.
It seemed that the moment he stepped into the wedding venue, Big Mom's favorability towards him finally maxed out, triggering the "final conquest" condition.
However, because he had always disliked Big Mom and couldn't meet the requirements for maintaining a relationship, it instantly broke off, terminating the connection.
"Another 350,000 points?"
Nao's eyes lit up. "What a lucky day, surprises just keep coming…"
Adding the previous 600,000 from completing the side quest, it meant he had squeezed a total of 950,000 points from Big Mom.
It was simply an explosive harvest.
—Thank you, Charlotte Linlin!
If he'd known earlier, maybe he would've gone a little easier on her. He could've at least left her the ground floor of her beloved chateau.
[Current Points: 1,014,000]
His previously near-empty balance had suddenly exploded past the seven-digit mark. He was flush with resources now.
Nao felt refreshed. He then turned his gaze to his inventory, where the 80% off shop coupon and the S-rank gift box lay quietly.
It was worth noting.
This discount coupon, unlike the one he received a year ago, was a permanent item.
This meant he didn't need to rush to buy "Limb Regeneration" like last time; it could remain in his inventory.
It wouldn't be too late to use it when a desirable, expensive item appeared in the shop.
"It's a shame it came a bit late," Nao rubbed his chin. "Almost a month has passed. Otherwise, I could have directly bought 'After Tomorrow…"
It was a slight regret.
However.
There would be plenty of opportunities in the future. This item wasn't currently needed, and there would be chances for it to reappear in the shop, so Nao didn't dwell on it much, shifting his attention to the S-rank gift box.
"Hmm…"
Next, it was time for his fourth favorite activity: opening boxes.
Open for me!
A golden light flashed, and the familiar blue dice appeared, beginning to spin rapidly.
[S-rank Gift Box, opening. Please wait]
[Rolling…]
The blue dice spun quickly. Nao didn't even blink, watching the entire process. After putting so much effort into getting this gift box, it wouldn't make sense if he didn't get something substantial, right?
[Roll completed]
[This gift box's reward type: Skill Scroll]
The golden light dispersed, and a new prompt box appeared before his eyes.
[You have acquired a new skill: Voice of All Things]
[Type: Passive Innate Skill]
[Description: Upon comprehending, you will receive the grace of nature, allowing you to hear the Voice of All Things and communicate freely with all species existing in the natural world.]
[Note: Only those with a pure heart, recognized by the will of the world, are qualified to acquire and use this skill.]
["Hawks soar in the sky, fish dart in the shallow depths, all beings strive for freedom in the frosty heavens."]
"Voice of All Things…"
Nao blinked. He hadn't expected a skill like that.
While it wasn't the powerful sword technique he had anticipated, in a sense, it was even rarer and more precious.
As far as he remembered, in the One Piece world, looking back thousands of years before and after the Great Pirate Era, those who could hear the Voice of All Things were few and far between, right?
In recent years, the only one confirmed to possess it was Pirate King Gol D. Roger himself.
"Let's try it…"
Nao closed the system panel and turned to look at a group of giant fish swimming past him. He calmed his mind, focusing on the surrounding flow of life—and sure enough, a series of chaotic, fragmented thoughts began filtering into his ears.
"Hungry, hungry…"
"Follow the lead fish, don't fall behind…"
It was all simple stuff.
Still, fascinating.
He watched the fish swim away with keen interest, gazing into the deeper, dark ocean floor. A bold idea suddenly arose in his mind.
This world was, after all, predominantly ocean. The Sea Kings lurking at the bottom of the sea were the species at the very top of this world's food chain.
If he could use the power of the "Voice of All Things" to conquer and control a group of Sea Kings, or make friends among the Sea King population…
Wouldn't he be able to become an existence like Princess Shirahoshi, the Ancient Weapon Poseidon?
"Sea Kings…"
As this idea emerged, Nao could hardly suppress his eagerness to try it out.
Where were the most Sea Kings, and the most powerful ones?
Naturally, the Calm Belt.
So…
"No need for a Vivre Card," He looked through the gloomy darkness towards the endless ocean, grinning. "I'll just swim straight through the Calm Belt back to the West Blue!"
The West Blue bordered the southern end of the Calm Belt. To get there from the New World, he didn't need to cross the Red Line at all.
This way, he could save a Vivre Card and also initially test the upper limits of the Voice of All Things' effects. It was simply killing two birds with one stone…
No, three birds.
He had long wanted to experience what it was like to cross the entire Calm Belt with just a human body.
Although the Calm Belt was extremely dangerous, having buried countless overconfident strong individuals.
But precisely because of that, it had a meaning worth challenging!
...
Just as Nao changed his plans and headed towards the Calm Belt.
The chaos he had unleashed at Whole Cake Island—despite the Charlotte family's best efforts to cover it up—was already starting to leak out.
Thanks in no small part to Morgans' deliberate manipulation and media orchestration, the flames of scandal couldn't be contained.
And once the headlines exploded outward, everything hit the world like a tidal wave.
-Oven, the high-ranking executive easily defeated in an instant.
-Katakuri, whose battle ended in a draw with no clear victor.
-Whole Cake Chateau, reduced to rubble.
-The enraged Big Mom, and the Charlotte Family deploying all their forces, setting up an inescapable net, yet gaining nothing…
When all of this, a detailed report encompassing all causes and effects, appeared in the newspapers.
Countless factions—large and small—across the Four Seas, the Grand Line, and the New World were instantly shaken. The news ignited a firestorm of public uproar!
And the name Nao Natsuya—
After nearly half a year of silence, once again echoed across the seas, becoming the center of attention for countless eyes!