"We're here, Boss! This is the place!" Tesoro announced eagerly, leading the way before stopping in front of a house in a respectable-looking neighborhood.
What met Takero's eyes was an impressive, luxurious villa. It was sprawling in size and decorated with exquisite taste. Takero walked around it, clicking his tongue in amazement. "Hoh! This is a pretty lavish house. It doesn't look like something you could afford. You didn't scam someone to get this, did you?"
He had briefly asked Tesoro about his situation earlier and knew the man was living paycheck to paycheck, hardly someone who could own a place like this.
"The boss is brilliant!" Tesoro chuckled, not feeling the least bit ashamed. "It's not my property, but I didn't exactly swindle anyone for it, either." He lowered his voice, sounding as if he was seeking praise. "This is Gollier's house, the slave trader you took care of earlier."
When Takero had casually mentioned that he needed a place to stay, Tesoro immediately thought of this villa. In his mind, since Gollier was gone, his property and wealth should naturally belong to Boss Takero.
"Besides this house, Gollier has some other properties. Do you want me to take you to see them, Boss?"
"You're very thoughtful," Takero said, understanding his meaning. He didn't mind taking over these assets. After all, Ambri Island was now his territory, so whatever Gollier or the Donquixote Family had left behind now belonged to him.
Earlier, while walking around the island, he had seen casinos, entertainment venues, and various businesses that reminded him of his previous life fighting in underground boxing matches. Good things were meant to be enjoyed, and he was a Saiyan, not an ascetic. His desires for good food, comfort, and battle were stronger than any ordinary person's.
But now wasn't the time to think about all that; he had more important matters to deal with.
"Let's leave it at that for today. I have other things to do. We can talk more when I'm free."
"Yes, Boss!" Tesoro replied, not daring to ask what his boss was up to. Being a good subordinate meant knowing your place and not asking too many questions.
After giving Tesoro a few simple instructions, Takero told him to leave and that he would be summoned again if needed. Soon, he was the only one left in the massive villa. He walked through the rooms and had to admit that the slave owner named Gollier really knew how to live. Every item and piece of furniture screamed extravagance.
Takero found a bedroom, unceremoniously picked out the softest-looking bed, and lay down, stretching his limbs comfortably. Then, he eagerly called out the system panel in his mind.
[Host Information]
[Name: Takero]
[Age: 10 years old]
[Bloodline: Intermediate Saiyan Warrior (Evolvable)]
[Skill: Ki (Lv.3)]
[Items: Senzu Bean...]
[Power Level: 201]
[Super Saiyan Unlock Progress (Stage One): 40%]
[Remaining Lottery Draws: 1]
Looking at the striking "201" in the Power Level column, a smug smile curved Takero's lips. Ambri Island was truly his lucky place! Before coming here, his Power Level was hovering just over a hundred, and in such a short time, it had broken the two-hundred mark. This huge improvement was partly due to his Saiyan ability to grow stronger after recovering from a near-death experience, which kicked in after his thrilling battle with Borsalino. The other part was from the system reward for defeating Doflamingo.
To go from being a weakling to having a Power Level of two hundred in just over a month made Takero exclaim, "It seems I really am a genius!"
He rubbed his chin, starting to ponder. "A Power Level of two hundred... On Earth, I should be able to walk around without any fear, right?"
Although this level of power was less than a speck of dust from a cosmic perspective, for a "backwater planet" like Earth, it was definitely master-level. He vaguely remembered that when Master Roshi unleashed his full power, his Power Level was somewhere around this level.
However, after only a few seconds of feeling smug, he shook his head sharply, forcing himself to cool down. "No, no! I can't get complacent! Even if I can handle most threats on Earth now, what if I run into some crafty old schemer who uses a dirty trick like the Evil Containment Wave to seal me in a rice cooker? That would become the joke of the universe!"
The thought of being trapped in a rice cooker sent a shiver down Takero's spine, and his vigilance shot right back up.
After analyzing his current strength, Takero's gaze eagerly fell upon the two new treasures on the panel: the Super Saiyan progress bar and the lottery draw! Super Saiyan! The legendary Golden Warrior! He hadn't expected to have a chance of unlocking it so soon. This was a wonderful surprise!
"System," Takero murmured in his mind, "how do the Super Saiyan progress and the lottery draw count increase?"
[Ding! After the Host defeats Elite or BOSS Units, the system will evaluate the combat performance, issue lottery draws, and advance the Super Saiyan transformation progress.]
"I remember that transforming requires accumulating 'S-Cells' to a certain point, along with a strong emotional trigger, right?" Takero asked.
S-Cells were special cells within a Saiyan's body. The more of these cells one had, the easier it was to transform into a Super Saiyan. A calm state of mind was the key to accumulating them. When the S-Cell count reached a certain level, a jolt of strong emotion could trigger the transformation. Takero considered himself a calm person; even during a fight, he was incredibly composed. Did the system know this about him?
The system responded right on time.
[Ding! This system has optimized the Host's S-Cell growth method. In addition to intense combat, extreme emotional fluctuations (including but not limited to wrath, lust, arrogance, greed, etc.) can effectively stimulate S-Cell growth, accelerating the transformation process.]
"So, that means," Takero's eyes lit up, and his smile became incredibly bright, "I can get stronger not only by fighting but also by simply acting on my impulses and releasing my true nature?"
[The Host's understanding is correct.]
Hearing this, Takero's smile deepened. This method of getting stronger was tailor-made for him! It suited his personality perfectly. He silently gave the system a big thumbs-up in his mind.
"In that case, I guess I should 'thank' that bastard Shanks?" Takero rubbed his chin, lost in thought. "If he hadn't run away and made me so furious, I wouldn't have discovered this shortcut."
Thinking about this, he decided to be a little more generous. "Alright, next time I catch him, I'll go easy. I'll just beat him half to death as a small token of my gratitude."
After studying the Super Saiyan progress, Takero's attention turned to the precious lottery draw opportunity.
"System, what's this lottery draw all about? What can I win?" he asked, his tone full of anticipation.
[Ding! The Host defeated Elite Unit "Donquixote Doflamingo" and gained 1 lottery draw. The lottery system contains all kinds of prizes. They are completely random, so it all depends on the Host's luck. Good luck.]
Takero was speechless. "...That's like saying nothing at all." He was, however, a little surprised that Doflamingo was considered an "Elite" unit. "That pink-feathered birdman was an Elite? He felt pretty weak... a bit too easy to beat."
"Whatever, no need to get hung up on it," he muttered, turning his focus back to the lottery draw. "Here goes nothing! Just draw!" Takero enthusiastically rubbed his hands together and decisively gave the order, "System, start the lottery draw!"
[Drawing in progress... The wheel is spinning... Ding!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have received: Senzu Beans x 20, Gravity Training Room (ProMax Version).]
"Hmm? I actually got something good!" Takero's spirits lifted as he quickly checked the details. Senzu Beans were life-saving miracle items, that much was obvious. His battle with Borsalino had relied on a Senzu Bean to turn the tide, so the more he had, the better.
And the Gravity Training Room! He had heard about it countless times! It was a technological treasure from Dragon Ball's Earth, created by Bulma's family! It allowed for hellish training by simulating ultra-high gravity, and the results were incredible. In the original story, Earthlings like Krillin and Tien Shinhan used it to raise their Power Levels from a few hundred to several thousand. For a Saiyan like him, the effect would be even more terrifying.
[Gravity Training Room (ProMax Version): Can deploy an independent space of 10m x 10m x 10m at any location. Gravity adjustment range: 1 - 500 times Earth's standard gravity.]
[Note: Portable design, easy to deploy and retract.]
"Holy crap! This is amazing! Truly amazing!" Takero was so overjoyed he nearly jumped off the bed. This was a tailor-made training cheat! He was itching to try it out immediately.
"Let's start with 5 times gravity to test the waters!"
Buzz...
In the next moment, an invisible pressure enveloped his entire body, as if he were suddenly wearing a suit made of heavy lead. Takero moved his limbs and felt it was manageable. Besides a slight heaviness, his movements were mostly unrestricted.
"5 times gravity is child's play. What about 10 times?"
The moment the thought crossed his mind, he intended to increase the setting, and the gravity instantly skyrocketed.
Crack! Bang!
Under the sudden surge of gravity, the luxurious bed beneath him couldn't bear the immense weight. The bed frame let out a painful groan, and the mattress, along with Takero, collapsed and crashed heavily onto the floor.
"Whoa! That scared me!" Takero snapped back to his senses and quickly turned off the gravity room. "I forgot about all the furniture in here! Looks like next time I need to find a sturdy, empty, and isolated place to really have some fun with this."
He stood up, brushed the dust off himself, and shrugged with a little guilt as he looked at the collapsed, expensive bed.
After a while, he finished taking stock of everything he had gained from his trip to Ambri Island, and Takero was incredibly satisfied. Not only did his Power Level skyrocket and his Super Saiyan progress take a huge leap forward, but he also got a free Gravity Room that would let him "cheat" his training anytime, anywhere. He had truly hit the jackpot.
But if there was one regret... "Sigh!" Takero let out a helpless sigh, his face full of annoyance. "It's all that flashy bastard's fault for running away so fast! If I could have pinned him down and beaten him into the ground, the rewards would have definitely been much better!"
If only he had been more proficient with his newly learned flight technique, he never would have let his opponent escape so easily. But in the next moment, he clenched his fists, and fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. "Next time we meet, it won't be so easy, you flashy bastard!"
Then, feeling a bit tired, he fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, at Marineford, in the Fleet Admiral's office, heavy stacks of documents were piled up like mountains, and the room was filled with smoke. Borsalino, completely unaware that he had been put on a priority watchlist by a certain Saiyan youth, was giving his report to Fleet Admiral Sengoku, whose face was grim.
"So... that's the situation, Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Borsalino said in his usual drawn-out, helpless tone, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the desk. "It's not that I didn't want to take down that villain. It's just that... that kid is too strange and troublesome. His abilities are like nothing I've ever seen or heard of before! To preserve the Marines' fighting strength and bring back important intelligence in a timely manner, I could only... make a strategic retreat."
After finishing his report, he comfortably took a sip of his coffee. So delicious! Getting off work early was truly a joy.
Sengoku, however, had no intention of letting him off the hook so easily. With a very serious expression, he pressed on, "Tell me again, what exactly are that kid's abilities?"
"First, there's that unknown energy," Borsalino began, the light glinting off his sunglasses and hiding his eyes. "It's definitely not from any known Devil Fruit. It's a dark red aura, like solid flames wrapped around his body, and it was able to withstand my Light-Speed Kicks. He even grabbed my 'Ama no Murakumo' sword with his bare hands! Its toughness and destructive power far exceed what's normally possible with Armament Haki. Plus, he seems to be able to manipulate this energy for attack, defense, and even flight!"
He continued, "More importantly, even without using Armament Haki, he could sense my Logia body."
"Second, there's his physical strength," Borsalino's tone carried a hint of disbelief. "My Light-Speed Kicks, which are powerful enough to shatter steel warships, hit him squarely several times! Logically, he should have been pulverized. But what happened? He only sustained minor injuries, and..." He paused, as if recalling the scene. "And, after my laser beam pierced his shoulder, he ate something, and his severe injuries healed at a visible rate in an extremely short time! His recovery power is comparable to an Ancient Zoan user, or maybe even... surpasses it! If that thing the kid ate could be mass-produced, I guarantee we could easily assemble an immortal army!"
"Finally, there's that kid's tail. He looks a bit like a Mink, but he doesn't have their obvious animal features. Combining all these points, I strongly suspect that kid is an experimental subject created by some scientific group!"
Sengoku listened in silence for a long time before slowly speaking. "Are you saying you suspect Red-Haired Shanks is behind all of this?"
"That's right!" Borsalino said with conviction. "I saw with my own eyes that Red-Haired Shanks and that strange kid have an unusual relationship. Even if Shanks isn't the one who created him, he's definitely involved!"
Don't let his usual lazy demeanor fool you; his deductive abilities were surprisingly sharp. See? No matter how well Red-Haired Shanks tried to hide, he still figured out the truth!
Finally, Sengoku erupted in anger, slamming his fist on the table. "That despicable Red-Haired Shanks!"
...
"Achoo!"
On a ship in an unknown sea, Shanks sneezed again, once more becoming the scapegoat.
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