Sea Circle Calendar 1521, Holy Land Mariejois.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. So that's the guy who spent 100 billion berries to buy an entire kingdom?"
"What a genius. More like a complete idiot!"
"You probably don't know—he actually plans to go rule over those filthy commoners as their king."
"Ew? Doesn't that count as trea—"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! He's the direct heir of the Kurukured family!"
A crowd of bubble-helmeted figures watched Kam overseeing the move, whispering among themselves.
Inside the palace.
"Young Master, are we really moving?"
Anna couldn't help asking.
She truly didn't understand why her Young Master, a proud Celestial Dragon, would want to relocate to some tiny kingdom and become its emperor.
"Yes! We're definitely moving!!"
Kam answered firmly, thinking to himself: If I don't get out fast, my life is over.
He was a transmigrator—but an extremely unlucky one.
Other One Piece transmigrators either arrived decades before the Summit War and became brothers with Whitebeard; or showed off during the war by killing Coby; or at the very least staged a Shawshank Redemption-style escape from Impel Down.
But he, Kam, had transmigrated into a Celestial Dragon with zero combat ability, no special powers—just good looks and nothing else.
Worst of all, he arrived over a year after the Summit War ended!!!
He hadn't even had time to enjoy the perks!!
In less than a year, Luffy would set sail again. Following the manga's plot, the Celestial Dragons' rule would soon collapse!
Once that happened, a powerless Celestial Dragon like him would surely be tortured and killed by enraged civilians.
Why was he so certain?
Just think about what happened to Doflamingo as a child.
"For the sake of staying alive, isn't it better to use my current power, wealth, and influence to buy a kingdom and become its emperor while I still can?!"
Kam sighed inwardly.
He figured that if he became a benevolent and beloved king, he'd have popular support. Even if the Celestial Dragons fell later, the people outside wouldn't easily turn their anger on him.
"Sigh~"
"Though the status is lower than a Celestial Dragon, I can still have a harem of three thousand beauties, work hard at 'planting seeds,' and enjoy life, right?"
Kam rubbed his temples, gave a dry laugh, and started worrying about how to actually become a wise ruler.
[Ding==]
[Keyword "planting seeds" detected. Activating the Many Children, Many Blessings System. Please spread your lineage and revitalize the Celestial Dragons.]
[0.01%]
[100%]
[Ding== Congratulations, Host. Newbie Gift Package received: Beginner Mastery of Armament Haki]
Kam stood frozen, listening to the sudden mechanical voice in his head.
Familiar. Way too familiar!!
"System!"
[Present!]
"Waaaaah— I finally have a system!"
Tears streamed down Kam's face like a broken fire hydrant. All the stress and resentment vanished in that moment!
Being a Celestial Dragon was amazing!
Money, power, women—everything handed to you without lifting a finger!
If given the choice, who wouldn't want to be one?!
Since transmigrating, Kam had racked his brain every day trying to prevent the fall of the Celestial Dragons so he could keep living in luxury.
Seeing no hope, he had reluctantly decided to run away early and become a king.
He'd already packed everything—and then the system arrived!
"Young Master, the luggage is almost ready."
Anna approached. Seeing Kam's tear-streaked face, she misunderstood and said gently,
Kam waved his hand: "No need for luggage!"
"Huh?!"
Anna frowned. No luggage? Even if the Young Master is rich, isn't that too wasteful?
Before she could think further, a pair of restless hands opened the car door and flipped the keychain.
"Ah!"
Anna let out a shy cry, her face instantly flushed. "Y-Young Master… aren't we still supposed to move!?"
Even if the Young Master was eager, this was too sudden!
It was still daytime!
"No more moving! I'm going to be a tyra— no!"
"I'm staying a Celestial Dragon!"
Kam was ecstatic inside. Now that I have a system, why the hell would I move?
Just kill that Luffy guy, and I won't die. I can keep lying flat forever!
…
Three minutes and one second later.
Kam wanted to cry. Really cry!
Not only was his physique weak, but his performance in that department was pathetic too. Even Armament Haki couldn't help…
[Ding== Congratulations, Host, on completing your first major life event: EXP +100]
[Achievement Unlocked: Pioneer. Reward: Beginner Observation Haki]
"It's fine. I have a system. I'll only get stronger!"
Kam clenched his fist, trying to psych himself up.
Since it's a proper system, giving me a stamina pill shouldn't be hard, right?
[Ding== Detecting Host is excessively depleted. Searching for new host…]
[Ding== Original Host elimination countdown beginning]
[Remaining time: 3 minutes]
"What the fuck! System, don't screw with me!"
Hearing the voice, Kam froze in shock.
He instinctively thought it was a joke—but the pain spreading through his body and the sensation of his soul being torn away told him it was real.
Terror of death flooded him.
"System, don't mess around!"
"Waaaaah—"
"I'm not weak!"
"I'm not! I can keep going! I can still…"
Panicking, Kam grabbed Anna again, desperately trying to continue.
"Woo— System, look! I'm not weak!"
"I'm strong!"
Kam roared, but his skills were still on cooldown—he couldn't release his ultimate move!
"Waaaaah!"
"I don't want to die!"
"Damn it!"
"Damn it!"
Kam wailed. He truly feared death!
Otherwise he wouldn't have planned to flee early to save himself.
But no matter how he cried, the feeling of death never faded. The countdown in his head marched like Death's footsteps, driving him to despair…
[30 seconds remaining]
[29]
[28]
"It's over."
Kam squeezed his eyes shut.
At that moment, he felt like the most unlucky transmigrator ever.
He'd only been happy for a few minutes—now he was going to die because he was "weak"?
Come on! This is the original body's fault, not mine!
Kam wanted to scream, but the intense pain and lack of time stopped him.
[3]
[2]
[1]
[Elimination program initiating— wait…]
[...]
[...]
System: …
Half a minute later.
Kam: …
He was stunned again!
The countdown ended over thirty seconds ago—and nothing happened! The excruciating pain had vanished too!
He opened his eyes to find Anna staring at him in confusion.
"I'm still in Mariejois!"
"I'm not dead?"
Before he could process it, a slightly exasperated mechanical voice sounded.
[Ding== No individual exceeding 3 minutes detected within Mariejois range]
[Ding== Re-binding with original Host successful]
[Ding== Please choose whether to accept the correction task]
[Accept and complete: Remain bound to this system | Fail to complete: Unbind and eliminate]
[Refuse task: System will unbind voluntarily; no elimination]
"Huh?"
Kam was dumbfounded.
Then a task panel appeared before his eyes.
[Task: Marry and Build a Happy Life with a Legal Loli]
(Important note: This is completely legal! Sugar is 21–22 years old during this timeline. Mansherry is 24–25 later. According to the latest Civil Code, the legal marriage age for women is no less than 20. Both are perfectly fine!! PS: Stop reporting…)
"Huh??"
…
Formal confrontation with Luffy begins after he sets sail again (Chapter 44 onward). Before that, the Pirate Empress has already been won over…
On the Straw Hat side, Robin has already [voluntarily] offered herself…
Also, Momousagi is dead.