"THERE'S SO MANY people out and about town!" Alice gasped, turning her head to follow a little boy that was holding onto a candied apple that had rushed past her.

"Yes," Wyatt beamed, his eyes pressed closed due to his smile, crinkling at the corners. "It's always rather busy in the capital of Gladiolum." 

A day after the ball, Wyatt had suggested bringing Alice around the town square to soak in the sights. He personally had to do a little shopping and thought that it would be a wonderful chance for Alice to grow more familiar with the capital. She had been living with the Ragans for nearly two weeks and yet she had barely even stepped out of the mansion's walls. It was best for young ladies to enjoy their time around town with friends. Being constantly cooped up in the study room with Charlie wasn't exactly an ideal situation in Wyatt's opinion. Of course, not that Alice had ever complained.

Strolling through the cobbled streets, Wyatt pointed out some of his personal favorite shops along the way. They passed by boutiques selling beautiful ball gowns, stores selling sparkling jewels, and even quaint little cafes that wafted out the sugary sweet scent of freshly baked pastries. However, while Alice acted as though she was very interested in those, he could tell that was all it was. An act. She simply smiled and nodded to Wyatt's words, not once asking to step into any of those stores like he had expected. Yet again she had him colored surprised.

Just the thought brought a curving smile onto his lips. The girl that his family had chanced upon was most certainly different from the rest of the girls in the capital. She stood out in such a way that there wasn't any spare place for the others to shine. She was the lone star now, a happy and proud resident of the Ragan household. While still suspicious of her origins, Wyatt couldn't help but admit to himself that he was growing fond of Alice Clemente.

"Are you not interested in any of the shops I pointed out?" He prodded. "Those are all famous names here in the capital."

"Oh!" Alice exclaimed. Wyatt watched with his practiced smile as the girl's eyes widened delightfully, eyelashes fluttering like a pair of butterfly wings under the golden sunlight. Her lips parted just a little in surprise before she quickly gathered back her wits, shaking her head politely. "They are all wonderful shops. I just… I don't have any money to buy all those things. Looking through the store window is more than enough."

For years Wyatt had worn the same smile on his face. It was his perfectly crafted mask made to shield his true emotions from the rest of the nobles. No matter what he felt inside, a smile was always the answer to dealing with those that had to be schemed against. However, every time Alice spoke or made one of her silly little expressions, he found his smiles to turn true as day.

"Let us go into that one, then." Wyatt pointed to a little bookshop down the street, a corner store with a gleaming bronze sign. "There are some things I wish to purchase."

Alice nodded. "Alright," she said.

Although her expression remained as still as possible, Wyatt still caught the slight twitch of her lips. The sparkles in her eyes practically screamed of her excitement. She couldn't fool anyone. Even the blind could tell that she was particularly eager to enter the bookshop. 

The little bell that hung above the door rang when Wyatt entered the shop. Inside, there were no other customers, simply a store clerk that had a book in hand. A pair of round spectacles rested on his crooked nose bridge, his eyes scanning the words at an immense speed before he licked his finger and flipped to the next page. At the call of the bell, the clerk looked up from his book, squinting at the door before rising to his feet. The book was placed pages-down onto the counter, a smile upon his lips.

"Master Wyatt!" The old clerk greeted enthusiastically. "I was wondering when you'll be visiting next. The books you ordered two weeks back are finally here." 

"Greetings," Wyatt replied fairly. "And thank you so much for your help with those. It's nearly impossible to find them anywhere else."

The old man waved, his cheeks reddening just a little. "It's no problem. Let me go get them for you." Shuffling towards the back of the shop, the clerk disappeared behind a dividing curtain.

"Do you come here often?" Alice asked, looking around the small bookstore with great interest. At random, she pulled out one of the books from the shelves, her fingers tracing the title of the book on the cover, feeling the indented words on the hard leather.

'History of Gladiolum. Volume III,' it read. Alice had seen a similar history book in Charlie's study room before. Making a mental note to briefly read through the contents of the book, she slotted the book back to its original position.

"Hmm, I wonder." Tapping a finger to his chin, Wyatt looked deep in thought. "I guess I do visit this store a little more than the average folk. They sell writing supplies as well as books and I run out of the former a little too often. Besides, this store is the only one in the capital that can procure rare and often out-of-print."

Walking a little further into the shop, Alice glanced through the assortment of reading materials offered. They had both fiction and non-fiction books in the store, leaning closer to non-fiction books. Most books were new copies, their covers still brightly colored while others were much older and encased in glass covers. Those books seemed old and tattered but the words were still in dark black ink, most likely having been re-written over so that it wouldn't be lost to time. 

The one that had caught Alice's attention was a purple leather-bound book that was almost as thick as a dictionary. The title of this book was written in bright, glittery gold in thick block letters. A small sign that indicated the price of the old tome was placed beside the book. Alice's eyes widened at the number of zeros, her head reeling back a little in surprise. She still wasn't sure about how the currency worked in Gladiolum but with so many zeros, the book was bound to be expensive no matter the exchange rate.

'The Theory of Magic. Volume I,' the title wrote.

"Are you interested in that one? Ooh, that's a pricey one." Wyatt's voice was right by Alice's ear, causing her to jump a little, her ears tingling from his breath. Stepping away, she held both hands to her chest, staring wide-eyed at Wyatt who looked as amused as ever.

"Just looking," she answered before firing back a question of her own. "How much is that book? I don't really know how the currency works here."

"See that symbol over there?" Wyatt gestured to the symbol behind the number as he spoke. "That's the symbol for our currency, 'fleuron'. That's the larger of the two units that we have in our country's currency. The smaller unit is known as a 'flois'. Ten flois equates to one fleuron. To give you an example of its value, five flois can buy you a piece of stale bread at the end of the day in the capital's cheapest bakery, maybe? Books, on the other hand, are usually five to ten fleurons, if it's a common title that can be easily found."

Alice gulped. Judging by the examples Wyatt provided, the currency here in Gladiolum seemed similar to the system she was used to. A single fleuron held as much value as a dollar back home and a flois would be around ten cents. Her hands were starting to feel clammy as she stared hard at the price tag of The Theory of Magic. 

"And yet this book is…" she trailed off.

"Fifteen thousand fleurons," Wyatt finished the sentence for her chirpily.

Fifteen thousand dollars.

Taking another step back, Alice no longer dared to hover near the expensive article. If anything had happened to it, she wouldn't be able to pay the store back for the damages incurred. She had never seen a book as expensive or even half as pricey. 

"Why is this book so… so…"

"Ridiculously priced?" Wyatt supplied. When Alice nodded numbly, Wyatt chuckled. "This is an ancient tome about magic. There are only five copies of this book that was ever produced. But if you're really interested in this book, there's no need for you to fork out such a hefty amount just to read it. We have a copy of it back in the mansion's library."

Flabbergasted and speechless, Alice blinked dumbly at what Wyatt had so casually revealed. Although she long knew that the Ragan mansion was a sprawling estate with many different needlessly fanciful rooms, she hadn't even thought to think that it might house precious artifacts within its walls. 

In Gladiolum, it seemed as though the gap between its people was wider than the ocean. The rich lived in heaven while the poor couldn't even afford hell.

"Why don't you take a look around the bookshop and see if there's anything that catches your eye?" Wyatt offered. "If we don't already have the book back home, I don't mind making a few extra purchases. It's the least I can do for dragging you out here with me on such a warm afternoon."

Alice's heart skipped a beat. She braved a step closer, momentarily forgetting about the book in the glass display case. Cupping her hands together as if they were in prayer, Alice beamed.

"Really? Any book?"

Wyatt's smile didn't falter. "There's no budget, if that's what you're asking."

Alice wasted no time. Her feet went scurrying across the dark wooden boards of the store, quickly scouring the bookshelves in search of any title that might help her or catch her fancy. Her fingers ran down the spines, quickly pulling out a few covers that had caught her attention, some fiction and some not. She had a feeling that most, if not all, of the non-fiction books were already available in the Ragans' library but there was no harm in bringing the books over for Wyatt to look through. These books will become her survival guide in this foreign world.

As the store clerk returned to the front counter, Wyatt slowly made his way over. However, he was still gazing in Alice's way, watching silently and bemused as the girl darted from shelf to shelf, climbing ladders and bending low in search of more. There were already over seven books in her hands and she only ever added more to the collection.

"My," the old clerk exclaimed. "I've not seen anyone so frantic for a good title since you first came to my humble store years ago. The old ladies at the bakery next block over will go mad once they hear that the young Master Wyatt is no longer single."

The white-haired man chuckled. "She's just a curious little bird my brother picked up a while back."

The old man shrugged, unconvinced, but he didn't say a word more on that topic. With a heavy thump, he placed three thick books onto the counter, the covers in the three primary colors. The titles were all written in gold, large block letters.

"This set was a little trickier to find as compared to your other requests but there you go. Though, Master Wyatt, don't mind this old man prying but are you sure you want to dabble in this subject? There's always a price to pay when you go against the laws of science."

"I can pay whatever price the world throws at me," Wyatt casually remarked. Picking up one of the books carefully with a gloved hand, he examined the old cover, grinning with satisfaction. "Besides, I'm just completing my collection. With these, the set will now be complete. There's no need to worry, sir."

"Oh well," the old clerk sighed, pursing his lips. "If you're sure, youngin. Let me wrap these up for you."

Tottering away, the elderly went to retrieve a few sheets of brown wrapping paper and some strings to bundle up Wyatt's purchases while waiting for Alice. 

Partially leaning on the counter, Wyatt continued to observe Alice. She no longer had the strength to carry the books she had picked out. Instead, she placed most of them on an empty table by one side. The stack of books was almost taller than she was and yet she continued to hunt for more, her eyes practically dripping with avarice.

'How peculiar,' Wyatt thought to himself. 'She is unaffected by fanciful dresses or glittering jewels and yet dusty old books can bring her into a craze. What an odd woman. She is most certainly a woman before her time.'

❝I want you to visit me even if it's only in your dreams.❞ 

Gifted a candle that was said to be able to make wishes come true, Alice Clemente burned it that very night only to find herself in an unknown world the next morning. 

She had wished for a life of adventure away from the city and its routine. With her wish granted, she was whisked away to a world very different from the one she grew up in. 

Thrust into a new life, would Alice learn how to adapt? Or would she fall down the rabbit hole only to never surface again?

For the first time in his life, Alexander managed to get out of the castle with no one noticing him. He then entered the capital city... the DRAGON CITY.

The city has busy streets. Busy with people walking on the sidewalks while in each sidewalks have different stalls with different merchandise they were selling. 

The buildings in the city mostly have only 1 storey type of building except for some few exceptional buildings which were 2-3 storey buildings. Each buildings were made up of cut- square shaped stones securely piled up and mounted by a some type of clay mixed in between them.

Inside those buildings were lighted brightly by many candle-lit chandeliers hanged on the ceilings, along with some flowers on unique antique flower vases displayed on each corners of the building. Windows of the buildings were beautifully decorated with different colored thick curtains. And each window covers were like painted with different paintings of famous people in their era in a shell-glass mixed type of window covers.

Almost every buildings has different stalls of stuffs and merchandize they were selling nearby the sidewalks. May it be dry goods like clothings, blankets, kitchenwares, paintings, house furnitures and accessories, gold and jewelries, or wet goods like vegetables, fruits, dragonfruits, bread in the bakeshop, meatshop and livestocks of live animals, they were selling, all can be found and bought from the city. 

There is even one building that's a blacksmith, for they specialized in making swords made out of mixed iron and gold, and mixed iron and silver. They also make specialized and customized types of weapons for the guards and soldiers.

In another building, they were selling parchments and all kinds of stuffs to be used in doing magic and potions...

After Alexander's roaming and exploring the city, he felt amazed seeing everything and stuffs. He keeps roaming a little bit more and found a huge crowd shouting. So he went near and checked onto the crowd to see what's happening. He then, found out that a little boy in a very dirty clothes is getting beaten up brutally by a huge man. So he stopped him and asked, "Excuse me sir, why is this boy being beaten up?"

The man stopped and looks at Alexander. Based on his observation, on Alexander's clothes, he was wearing clothes like from a noble family. So he answered him politely, "This little boy tried to sneak in my store and stole some few bread and few apples."

The crowd who were there watching them and listening to them, upon hearing the man's reasons for beating up the little boy, took pity of the boy and screamed at the man, "He only stole few bread and few apples and then he receives much brutal beatings from you? How cruel of you? Your punishment doesn't equal to the amount of stuffs he have stolen!" 

"Yeah, poor boy and cruel man!"

Alexander waved his hand to silence the crowd, and they did, anticipating what would happen next...

He then, turned to face the man once again and asked, "How much equivalent worth of money did he stole?"

"It's about 10 copper coins," the man replied.

"Okay, here, I'm paying it for 25 copper coins and he is free to go," while saying it, he grabbed one of the man's hand and put on his palm 25 copper coins. And the man with a smile released the poor boy. Alexander then, grabbed the little boy's hand and took him away with him to an isolated place. 

There, in between the two buildings in the slums, Alexander brought the boy with him. He then, used his water magic to wash the poor boy who is still bleeding from the beating.

The boy looks at him with doubts, even thinking that Alexander was just like all the nobles. The boy feared that he(Alexander) might sell him as a slave.

Then, Alexander asked the boy, "Are you alone?"

"No, I have a little sister and I don't have parents."

Alexander then started to hit the boy, more harder and brutal than the man did. 
The boy cried out in much pains.

 Seeing the boy crying in pain, Alexander stopped beating him.
After a while, the boy then asked, " Why? I didn't do anything to you. Why did you beat me?"

Alexander replied, "Do you really think anyone would come with a reason to beat an ant like you? And you even have a sister, I can kill you and make her a sex slave, what can you do then?"

Hearing this, the boy became angry so much to the point of wanting to kill Alexander, but he was unable to move because of the damage he had received.

"Do you know why you are beaten up?" Alexander continued questioning the boy.

"Only if I am born with a golden spoon like you? Haha, no. If only I had power, then you would be the one kneeling to me!" confused but sarcastically replied the boy.

"Yeah, you're right. Power! But how can you get it? Only we, nobles have it. You're nothing but an ant!" smirked Alexander.

Alexander then took a book from his pocket and used a small drop of blood from the boy and dropped it onto the book, so that book cannot be used by anyone except him(the boy).

He(Alexander) threw the book on to the boy and said, "Here's your opportunity, and your injuries are just external, you will be healed in about a week," while healing the boy with his(Alexander) light magic. 

"I will meet you at this same spot at noon after 3 months exactly from now,If you cannot defeat me in 3 months from now,remember it's not hard task for me to find your sister,once I find her I am going to take your sister as a sex slave." continue Alexander 

"By the way, what's your name?" asked Alexander.

"Arthur." the boy replied.

Little did he know that his name 'Arthur' will be feared soon by even gods and devils. And everyone will be shrouded in fear and piss their pants, just by hearing his name.

"Bringing a deadman alive is nothing but transferring his memories into a susceptible host brain like a twin or via artificial growth."

The MC have come up to a theory of a different way of transmigration, and that is sending his memory signals all over the space!

Later, in one of his transmigrated life, he found himself as the 6th prince of another dimension, facing different kinds of battle between gods and titans, devils and kingdoms. 

In between those battles, using his knowledge of technology from earth, combined with all the magic and technology on this other dimension that he is in, he was able to create: PROJECT INDY.

We shall find it out what will happen, as we proceed to read and follow through the MC's 'Forced Transmigration!!!


All credits to my co-author/editor: marjzach2012

[Somewhere in another dimension]
The windchime produced the sweet music in the serene and deadly silent atmosphere, along with the announcement of the arrival of someone. Hung right above the gigantic golden door, it had golden dragons carved on it attached with golden iron pipes of various sizes.
 It's fine golden material sounded so light and elegant that if it were in human realm, people would love to keep going in and out just to hear the sweet music. Now, even after the said person's arrival, the wind chime kept producing fine music which became lighter in sound with every second, eventually coming to an end.
Coming in,no one was in there. The first thing one would notice were the books, of all colors, sizes and shapes, lying everywhere an eye can reach. Perhaps it was a library of some sort, but taking in the old and ragged covers of various books it would be safe to consider this library a treasury for ancient books. 
The inner of the massive hall, however, was eye-catching. It was decorated with red curtains on the single window facing outside. One would consider it an odd mystery whether why the curtains were hung there and what purpose they were fulfilling because no ray of light was coming inside from the windows. 
Even if the curtains were thick, there should be some vision of blurred light coming from them. Curtains are never thick enough to completely overcome the sunlight. Are they?
And it was definitely not because of the night time as anyone would have thought, the visitor was sure about that. But maybe the null, dark and void dimension was the real cause of such screaming darkness which was perhaps going to be prevalent, ready to swallow the light and engulf every being out there in other dimensions.
The visitor knew very well about the time division of this dimension and hence didn't pay much heed to the dark room and continued exploring the room whose surroundings were becoming familiar by the time and his eyes adjusted to the dimly lit environment as well.
Strangely carved spacious shelves, with fairies and cupid figurines resting on the top above all the four edges, were occupying the whole hall. An overwhelming and soothing fragrance was lit up through incense sticks in the gigantic hall which was calming the troubling mind. Quite a contrasting picture comparable to the lurking atmosphere. 
The mysterious man skimmed through the books and looked around the spacious shelves. The eerie room observed his movements as he roamed about in search of something specific. He checked the dirty scrolls in termite eaten shelves and read the names of various books as the pores of his right hand followed the movement of his eyes. Every shelf and the stacked books, all had strange titles and covers, no human would have ever seen books like those!
The titles were intriguing yet they narrated the things about whole new dimensions which were still unexplored. The tales of  some overpowering lords who had become legends now, and many such spells of dark magic and curses that could bring the dead to life or destroy every living being. The man placed his index finger on the first book in the rack as he was skimming along the rack number one thousand and ninety four, and slid his eyes through the titles.
● Altering the time and Reincarnation 
● Sun of fate and the moon of death 
● Finding the truths about Vampires
● Unfinished secrets of werewolves 
● Reinforcements and Immorality 
There were many more to go, but his desired book was still out of  sight, as it was definitely not an easy task to find a required manuscript or scroll, because the famous and forbidden library of dark magic and curses was unkempt and no one dared to open its doors.
The man had sneaked in and found the forbidden library in the dark void dimension. It was his extraordinary dark power which helped him with this otherwise no one would have ever thought of doing so. But the passion of something combined with the poisonous greed can make a man do impossible things.
It went with this mysterious man's case as well. The temptation for him was higher than any other materialistic luxury, the throne of Spirit Realm, and in order to achieve a splendid, unimaginable victory, he showed the perfect qualifications; extreme passion and poisonous greed.
While going through ancient, worn out books one after another the man's movements looked frustrated. He felt it very strange yet odd that all the ancient books were empty, not a single word was written in them. He threw the 'immortality achievement' entitled scroll onto the floor with agitation.
It took him years to find the ancient library stocked with piles of dark stuff but now every effort seemed a wastage to him. The empty scrolls were not going to take him anywhere nor giving him any advantage. It was like he wasted his precious years in passing time for leisure and now he resented his decision to explore the Dark Library.
Taking in his experience with few books that he opened, he felt it useless to open other books in the shelves and vanished into the air to another rack. Using his dark perception powers he tried to sense some powerful aura from the books.
One might find it odd but books with powerful spells and dark energy do have an aura and people of few dimensions can sense them. It's however feared that only few can do so. He then appeared nearby a finely arranged cupboard, which was a few corridors away from the regular shelves, the man moved towards the right corner with a ray of hope.  
It fascinated him that why those books were specifically placed in a glass cupboard rather stacked with other books in those rotten shelves, the mysterious man felt an unknown yet dark force pulling him towards those books. Just like a worn out from cold, man feels a pull towards the sunlight in order to soothe his body. Soul has a nourishment way too and every soul is attracted towards it's food. Just like that mysterious man felt a strong pull towards these mysterious books.
He leaned a little and read the titles of orderly placed books one by one. After that he picked up one with a red cover and golden title. It was the section of deadly magic potions, the man selected a book according to his taste, he could fathom that even if he didn't find his required spells that book would also do his work effectively.
Just then he heard the wind chime's music followed by a thump of the high heels. The man frowned upon the sound and immediately turned around to cast a look at the person who dared to follow him and didn't want to live anymore. 


[ Previous life ]

A marriage that was originally meant to end the long war but the happily married couple fell in the hands of tragic death, lead by misunderstandings that FL killed the ML, herself.


[ Present, Modern Time ]

Sinclair MacLaverty - A mysterious multimillionaire TYCOON, residing in human world is waiting for his BRIDE to be reincarnated. 

NO! Definitely not for LOVE. The Lord wants a revenge but to his DAZE only a marriage again can secure his own life.

Battling with him Syna Rhys- A Journalist is on a mission to expose the rumoured 'womanizer' boss, the young CEO of MacLaverty conglomerate.


To fulfil the VOW of love, taken decades ago the duo is reborn to REWRITE their fate this time, they have to bind each other in THREAD OF TRUST.

BUT What about the REVENGE plan?

Or the Lord will again get bitten by the SNAKE of love? 

How will Syna get to know that she mistook her MATE for her BROTHER-IN-LAW !

Will Syna again become his ACHILLES HEEL? 

What if ANOTHER MAN has taken a LIKING towards Lord Sinclair!?

~~~~~~~~ 
Cover credits to the original artist.

Poetry credits to Instagram poet Thy.Young.Shakespeare


■Before you begin || read my review■

~~~~~~~~

• Check out my other edited works:

>• Calla Lily: The Eunuch King's Goblin Bride


>• Femme Fatale, The Queen Of Chess

MAAGANG dumating si Sia sa branch ng bookstore kung saan nakatakdang maganap ang kanyang first ever solo book signing. Iyon ang unang pagkakataon na magpapakita siya sa mga readers. Sa loob ng halos limang taong pagsusulat, ngayon lang siya makiki-mingle sa madla. Sociable naman si Sia sa mga readers sa social media, pero hindi sa personal. Hindi kasi siya mahilig lumabas ng lungga dahil kina-career niya ang pagiging full-time writer ng Black & Gold Publishing.
Matapos ang mahabang panahon ng pagtatago sa lungga, napilitan na si Sia na magpakita sa mga readers. Nahahabag na siya sa admin ng SNS accounts ng BGP, kulang na lang sumabog iyon sa dami ng notifications mula sa mga readers na nagre-request ng isang book signing event.
Sinalubong kaagad si Sia ng staff pagdating niya sa bookstore. Iginiya siya nito sa bahaging inilaan talaga para sa kanya. Malawak ang kabuuan ng lugar kaya hindi siya makakaabala sa mga mamimili kung sakali.
"Ma'am, magsisimula na po ba ang book signing ni Miss Cresia?" tanong ng staff na si Jessie sa kasama niya.
"Hindi pa naman, one pm pa ang simula ng book signing niya," tugon dito ni Caroline, ito ang nag-aasikaso ng mga book signing at iba pang mga events ng BGP.
Napabuga ng hangin ang staff at nagkukumahog na kinuha ang mga librong isinulat niya para ihilera sa display window ng bookstore.
"Pasensiya na, ha… kaka-time in ko pa lang kasi. Akala ko naman naayos noong pang-morning shift," hingi nito ng paumanhin.
"Pasensiya na ri kung medyo napaaga kami," ani Sia.
Nilingon siya ng staff na binigyan lang niya ng nag-aalangang ngiti.
"Parang pamilyar ka sa akin, Miss Cresia." Nilapitan siya ni Jessie nang matapos ito sa ginagawa. Titig na titig ito sa kanya.
Malamang nga na maging pamilyar si Sia sa staff dahil doon siya madalas bumibili ng libro sa branch na iyon, tumatambay pa nga siya roon kung minsan at kapag ganoon tinutulungan niya itong mag-ayos ng mga libro sa shelf kapag may delivery. Hindi siya nagpapakilala kay Jessie na siya ang writer na si Cresia. Nagpakilala siya rito bilang si Sia, isang book lover.
Sa tuwing maliligaw siya roon mukha siyang ewan, may suot na eyeglasses na ubod ng laki ang lenses at nakataas ang buhok sa isang magulong pusod. Kaya siguro hindi siya nakilala nito ngayon sa ayos niya dahil nagmukhang tao na siya na nalalaman kung ano ang sibilisasyon.
Kinusot ni Sia ang ilong at hinawi ang bangs niyang kahapon lang umeksena para itago ang malapad niyang noo.
"Masyado kasing ordinaryo `tong pagmumukha ko, kaya siguro ang dami kong kamukha. Nakakatakot naman `yon…" biro niya.
"Naalala ko tuloy iyong novel mong A Doppleganger's Love." Malapad ang naging ngiti ni Jessie.
"Nagbabasa ka pala ng mga gawa ko?"
Nire-require ng publisher nila na magbasa ang mga staff kapag may libreng oras nang sa ganoon ay maayos na mai-endorse sa mga customer ang mga libro.
"Yes, Miss Cresia, reader mo ako! Sayang nga lang hindi ko nadala ang mga kopya ko ng libro mo dahil hiniram ng kapatid ko at dinala sa dorm niya..."
"Kumuha ka na lang ng mga bagong kopya at pipirmahan ko. Ako na lang ang magbabayad," nakangiting sabi ni Sia.
"Aba! Nakakahiya naman," tugon ni Jessie.
"Okay lang `yon, basta ba sa susunod na tinulungan kitang mag-ayos dito ililibre mo ako ng milk shake." She winked at her.
Noon niya nakitaan ng rekognisyon ang mukha nito. "Lucresia?"
"Ako nga…"
Narinig niyang tumawa si Caroline.
Mabilis ang naging paglipas ng mga minuto, hindi nagtagal nagsimula na ang book signing event.
Malapad ang ngiti ni Sia habang nakaupo sa likod ng mesa at pumipirma. Bawat first page ay sinusulatan niya ng pasasalamat, kung minsan ay personal na message lalo na kung ka-closena niya ang nagpapapirma dahil madalas na ka-chat o kapalitan ng comment sa SNS.
"Miss Cresia, kung hindi mo mamasamain saan ka po nakatira?" tanong ng teenager niyang reader na nakilala niyang si Eunice ayon sa nakasulat sa name tag nito.
"Sa tabi-tabi lang," tatawa-tawang sagot niya habang pumipirma. "Biro lang, sa Sitio La Playa ako nakatira. Alam mo ba kung saan iyon?"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Eunice. "Nah! Doon din po ako nakatira! Saan pong banda ang bahay n'yo?"
"Malapit sa boundary, secret lang natin ang tungkol doon, ha." Isinara ni Sia ang libro at nakangiting iniabot iyon sa dalaga. "Maraming salamat sa pagpunta."
Tuwang-tuwa ito nang damputin ang librong pinirmahan niya. Nag-request pa si Eunice na magpa-picture sila na pinaunlakan naman niya.
Nagpatuloy ang book signing. Nakipagkuwentuhan siya sa mga readers at nagpakuha sila ng pictures. Sa sobrang enjoyment, hindi na nila namalayan ang paglakad ng sandali. Gabi na nang tuluyang maubos ang mga readers na nagpapapirma kay Sia.
Nag-inat siya nang makalabas ng bookstore ang huling batch ng readers.
"Nakakapagod, ano?" tanong Caroline nang ibaba nito ang isang supot na may logo ng paborito niyang fast-food restaurant. "Kumain ka muna. Nalipasan ka na ng gutom."
"Kayo ba?" alok niya sa mga ito, isa-isa niyang inilabas ang laman ng supot. "Sabayan n'yo ako."
"Sige lang, kanina habang busy ka nagnakaw na kami ng sandali para kumain. Wala, ginutom talaga kami."
Sia leaned back against her seat.
"Ganito pala ang feeling kapag pumipirma sa sariling libro… Nakakapagod, nakakangawit, pero ang saya ng pakiramdam na nakakapagbigay ka rin ng saya sa ibang tao. Dati ang akala ko sapat na `yong nakakapagsulat ako ng mga kuwento na nakakapagbigay ng kasiyahan sa readers ko. Iyon pala hindi mo lang sila basta readers, puwede mo rin pala silang maging kaibigan o kapamilya..."
Nginitian siya ni Caroline. "Natutuwa ako na marinig ang mga salitang iyan mula sa `yo. Ibig sabihin ba niyan may kasunod ang book signing mong ito?"
"Baka naman puwedeng magpahinga muna at mag-ipon ng lakas?" nanunulis ang ngusong sabi niya.
"Siyempre naman…" Nag-thumbs up ito.
Isusubo na sana ni Sia ang hotdog sandwich nang mapukaw ang pansin niya ng lalaking nakatayo sa labas ng bookstore. Nakatitig ito sa mga librong naka-display—sa mga libro niya. The man was tall and lithe with chinky eyes. Clean cut ang gupit nito na nagbigay ng maaliwalas na awra. The shape of his lips and that arrogantly inclined nose compliments the man's handsome face. Kumibot lang ng kaunti ang mga labi nito ay lumabas na kaagad ang dimples sa magkabilang pisngi. Kung hindi nga lang ito gumagalaw aakalain niyang isa itong standee ng modelong tinubuan ng buhay at naglakad para makarating sa harap ng bookstore.  Hindi tuloy naiwasan ni Sia ang pagpantasyahan ang lalaki. Maaari itong maging visual ng hero sa isang nobela. 
Kaagad din namang naputol ang pantasyang iyon nang gumapang ang pamilyar na pakiramdam sa kanyang tiyan. Animo may nagliliparang mga paru-paro sa loob noon, idagdag pa ang mabilis na pagtibok na piso niyang daig pa ang tinatambol. Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Sia, isang tao lang ang nakakapagparamdam sa kanya ng ganoon.
Mabilis siyang nagtago sa ilalim ng mesa nang makitang papasok ang lalaki.
"Hoy, Cresia!" tawag sa kanya ni Caroline. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo diyan?"
Kinurot niya ito sa binti na ikinaigik nito.
"`Wag kang maingay! Basta kapag hinanap ako niyang lalaki sabihin mo nilamon na ng lupa!"
Hindi man nakikita ni Sia ang hitsura nito nasisiguro niyang iniisip ni Caroline nawawala na siya sa katinuan.
Bahagya niyang itinaas ang table cloth para makita kahit ang mga paa man lang ng lalaki. Napasinghap na lang si Sia nang makita ang pares ng sneakers ilang pulgada lang ang layo sa mesa.
"Hi," anang baritonong tinig nang lalaki.
Naisubo na lang ni Sia ang natitirang hotdog sandwich para hindi kumawala ang kahit na anong ingay mula sa kanyang bibig.

PAPAUWI na sana si Ruen nang maisipan niyang dumaan sa mall dahil nakita niya sa Facebook page ng Black & Gold Publishing na may book signing event ang writer na si Cresia sa branch ng bookstore sa mall malapit sa kanila. Gabi na pero nagbakasakali pa rin siya dahil ang huling post noong mga bandang seven pm ay on-going pa rin ang book signing. Gusto niyang makilala sa personal ang manunulat. Bukod sa pagiging avid reader ng mga gothic at mystery novels nito, siya rin ang gumawa ng ilan sa mga book covers ni Cresia. Isang chef si Ruen, pero hobby niya ang mag-edit ng pictures bilang pantanggal stress na rin. Kaya naman noong makita niya ang post ni Cresia na naghahanap ito ng gagawa ng book covers para sa ginagawang series, kaagad siyang nagpresinta. Iyon ang una at huli nilang interaction. Madalas siyang nagkokomento sa mga post nito, ngunit walang tugon si Cresia kundi ang pag-like lang nito sa mga komento niya. Sa iba-iba, mawawalan na ng gana kung ganoon ang iniidolong manunulat. Sasabihin ay snob o di kaya naman ay pa-famous na. Pero iba si Ruen… May kung anong puwersa ang nagtutulak sa kanya para patuloy na bumili at magbasa ng mga akda ni Cresia. Reading her novels made him feel that they were connected despite being strangers.
Iilang tao na lang ang inabutan ni Ruen nang dumating siya: isang nakauniporme na madaling matutukoy na ang staff ng bookstore, dalawang lalaking nagliligpit ng mga tarpaulins, at isang babaeng nakaupo sa likod ng mesa na marahil ay si Cresia.
Sa totoo lang ni hindi niya alam kung ano ang hitsura ng paboritong manunulat. Hindi nagpapakita ng mukha si Cresia sa mga pictures na ina-upload nito sa SNS. Magpakita man ito ng mukha may takip na mask iyon. Kapag may nagtatanong kung bakit ayaw nitong ipakita ang mukha, ang palaging sinasabi ni Cresia ay pre-cautionary measure iyon. May stalker kaya ito o pinagtataguan?
"Hi," ni Ruen.
"Hello," ganting bati naman nito.
"Tapos na ba ang book signing?"
"Ah, naku… oo, tapos na kanina pa. Nag-overtime nga kami sa dami ng mga dumating para magpa-sign ng mga books nila," magalang nitong tugon.
"Baka naman puwede pang humabol, kahit isang book lang?" pakiusap niya. "You're Cresia, right?"
"Na—" Bigla itong napangiwi at mayamaya pa ay para itong maiiyak. "S-sige…"
 "Salamat," aniya sa kabila ng pagtataka sa naging reaksiyon ng dalaga.
Kumuha si Ruen ng new release novel ni Cresia at binayaran iyon sa counter bago binalikan ang dalaga para papirmahan iyon.
"Okay ka lang ba, Cresia? Bakit parang iiyak ka na?" tanong niya nang makabalik na sa harap ng mesa.
"O-okay lang ako… naiiyak talaga `ko kapag masyadong nao-overwhelm." Nanginginig ang kamay nitong pinirmahan ang first page. "A-ano nga ang pangalan mo?"
"Ruen Dale DelaCourte." Kumunot ang noo niya. "Hindi mo ba ako nakikilala?"
"Ah… ano kasi…" Napakislot ito. "Aray ko!"
"Okay ka lang?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.
Yumuko si Cresia, may kung anong ginalaw sa ilalim ng mesa. "O-okay lang ako. Kanina kasi may nahulog na pagkain sa ilalim ng mesa nilanggam na kaya nakagat ako."
Tumango-tango na lang siya. Nawi-weird-uhan si Ruen sa inaakto nito, pero siguro ay naturalesa na nito iyon. Kasabihan na na may 'saltik' sa utak ang mga writers.
Kaagad nitong ibinalik ang libro matapos pirmahan iyon.
"Cresia, hindi mo ba talaga ako nakikilala?" Medyo hindi matanggap ni Ruen na hindi man lang siya nakikilala ng dalaga.
Poker-faced lang ito.
"Avid reader mo ako. Ako ang gumawa ng book covers ng Blue Moon series mo kung nakalimutan mo na." Binigyan niya ng emphasis ang huling apat salita.
"Oh… it's you! Ha-ha-ha! I'm sorry, pagod na ang utak ko." Alanganing nginitian siya ng dalaga. "Thank you so much for your hardwork!"
"May pangako ka sa `kin na kapag nagpapirma ako sa iyo ng libro bibigyan mo ako ng bonus na kiss dahil iginawa kita ng book covers." Pinanlakihan ito ng mga mata. "Pero okay lang, hindi pa kita sisingilin ngayon."
Nakangiting dinampot ni Ruen ang libro at naglakad na palabas ng bookstore. Hindi pa man siya ganap na nakakalabas nahagip na ng mga tainga niya ang pagpalatak ni Cresia at ng kung sino. Hindi na siya nag-abala pang lumingon.

"KAILANGAN mo ba talagang panggigilan ang binti ko?" reklamo ni Caroline nang lumabas siya mula sa ilalim ng mesa.
Pinunasan ni Sia ng tissue paper ang mga labi niyang nakulapulan ng ketsup at mayonaise dahil sa walang habas na paglantak niya ng hotdog sandwich sa ilalim ng mesa.
"Patawarin mo ako at mahigpit lang ang pangangailangan ko," aniya.
"Reader mo pala ang lalaking `yon, bakit mo pinagtaguan?" nakahalukipkip na tanong ni Caroline. "May promise ka pa raw kiss sa kanya. Hirap naman sa `yo papangakuan mo ng gano'n hindi mo naman pala kayang ibigay!"
"Siyempre joke lang naman `yong sa akin, malay kong seseryosohin ng mokong na `yon." Nag-ayos na siya.
Oo, totoong ipinaggawa siya ng book covers ni Ruen. Pinipilit niya itong bayaran pero ayaw naman nitong pumayag. Hindi siya sanay na may utang na loob sa binata simula pa noon kaya hindi siya mapakali na wala siyang maibabalik dito. Kaya dala ng pagiging lukaret ni Sia, nasabi niya noon sa binata na kiss na lang ang magiging kapalit ng mga book covers na iyon. She was not flirting back then. Hindi niya naman akalain na seseryosohin nga iyon ni Ruen.
Matagal nang alam ni Sia na reader niya si Ruen. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw niyang makilala nito kung sino ang tunay na tao sa likod ng pen name na 'Cresia', sa ganoon lang niya nararamdaman na may halaga siya sa binata…
High school pa lang si Sia noong magkagusto siya kay Ruen. Marami ang nagsasabing puppy love lang daw iyon at hindi magtatagal ay mawawala na rin, pero hindi nagkaganoon. Her feelings grew deeper. Minahal niya si Ruen sa isang hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan. Napakahirap bigyan ng paliwanag. Idagdag pa na napakakomplikado ng kanilang kuwento, kung isusulat iyon ni Sia baka abutin siya ng forever hindi pa rin niya nabibigayan ng ending. Walang katapusan ang pagmamahal niya para sa binata, hindi iyon mauubos…
"Uuwi na ako, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Bye-bye!" paalam ni Sia sa mga kasama at hindi lumilingong lumabas.
Hindi niya naiwasang mapabuga ng hangin nang tuluyang makalabas ng bookstore.
Dumaan muna si Sia sa restroom para ilabas ang kanina pang kinikimkim ng pantog niya. Ilang beses niyang d-in-eadma ang 'call of nature' kanina, at ngayon ay nagbabalik dala marahil ng tensiyon nang makita niya si Ruen.
Hindi naman sa mukhang arinola si Ruen… Ano lang kasi… Ay, ewan!
Ipinilig na lang niya ang ulo. Hindi na niya dapat pinagkakaisipan pa ang bagay na iyon dahil sasabog na ang kanyang pantog.
Mabuti na lang at may isa pang bakanteng cubicle kaya nailabas kaagad niya ang matagal na kinikimkim. Ilang sandali pa siyang nanatiling nakaupo sa toilet seat kahit na tapos na ang pag-ihi, ninanamnam ang maginhawang pakiramdam. Tahimik na tahimik sa loob na para bang siya lang ang tao kaya hindi naiwasan ni Sia ang magulat nang makarinig ng pag-flush sa katabing cubicle. Nagkukumahog tuloy siyang tumayo at nag-ayos ng sarili. Biglang umatake ang pagiging matatakutin niya lalo na nang maalalang minsan siyang nabiktima ng multo sa loob ng restroom ng unibersidad na pinasukan noong kolehiyo.
Pagbukas ni Sia ng pinto, eksaktong bumukas din ang mga pinto ng cubicle sa hilerang iyon at lumabas ang mga babaeng halos kasabay niyang naglakad palapit sa sink. Biglang binasag ng tilian ang katahimikan nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata sa salamin.
 "Mga Tets!" they said in unison.
"Sia!"
"Pau!"
"Genel!"
"Mela!"
"Abby!"
Naghalu-halo ang mga boses nila sa loob ng restroom, kagaya noon walang pakialam kahit pa pagtinginan sila ng mga taong noon ay kakapasok lang.
After high school graduation nagkahiwa-hiwalay sila noong magkolehiyo. They remained connected through SNS pero hindi na uli nakakita ng pagkakataon na magkasama-sama dahil ang bawat isa ay naging busy na rin sa kanya-kanyang career kalaunan. Hindi akalain ni Sia na ang pagdedesisyon niyang lumabas sa kuweba nang araw na iyon ang magiging daan din para muli niyang makita ang mga kaibigan. Hindi niya inaasahan na makikita si Ruen at ang mga ito. Napaka-nostalgic tuloy ng pakiramdam niya nang sandaling iyon.
"Ay, ang OA n'yo ni Mela, Sia!" ani Pau na may kasamang hampas sa braso niya. "Para namang milya ang layo ng mga bahay n'yo."
Magkalapit lang ang lugar nila ni Mela, pero dahil busy nga ito at siya naman ay once in a blue moon lang kung lumabas, bihira pa sa patak ng ulan sa desyerto kung magkita silang dalawa.
"May pupuntahan pa ba kayo? Kung wala na kumain tayo, my treat!" yaya niya sa mga ito.
"Sure," halos magkakasabay na tugon ng apat.
"Let me touch up, okay?" sabi ni Genel na nag-umpisa na sa pagpapahid sa mukha ng pressed powder.
Inilabas naman ni Sia ang lipstick at sinabayan ito sa pag-aayos.
"Ang ganda ng kulay ng lipstick mo, Tets." Nilingon niya si Abby na katabi lang niya. "Pa-try ako, puwede?"
Iniabot niya rito ang lipstick matapos gamitin. Pagkatapos magpahid ni Abby hiniram din iyon ni Genel, hanggang sa maipasa na kina Pau at Mela. Lumabas sila na iisa ang kulay ng mga labi nila.
"Ganito rin tayo noon…" natatawang saad ni Abby habang naglalakad sila papunta sa restaurant na napili nilang kainan.
"Hindi ko nga akalain na magagawa uli natin ang ganito ngayon," segunda ni Pau. "Alam n'yo na kung ano ang ibig kong sabihin…"
"We know right!" ani Genel na itinaas ang monopad. "Compress tayo dali, pang post din ito sa Instagram!"
"Wala akong account sa Instagram," ani Sia.
"Don't worry, connected naman ang Instagram account ko sa Facebook kaya makikita mo ito. Pero mas okay kung gagawa ka ng account sa Instagram."
Nag-wacky face si Sia bago kumislap ang flash ng cellphone ni Genel. Pinagpasa-pasahan naman kaagad nila ang cellphone para tingnan ang kuha.
"Tingnan n'yo, may epal pa nga naman sa likod."
"Patingin nga." Kinuha ni Pau ang cellphone mula kay Abby. "Meron nga."
"Mga engot, nasa mall tayo malamang may taong mahagip sa likod natin." Binawi ni Genel ang cellphone nito. "Okay lang pogi naman."
Lumingon si Sia sa likuran nila, maraming tao ang naroon. Hindi mahagip ng mala-CCTV niyang mga mata ang sinasabing pogi ni Genel na nahagip ng camera.
"Si Sia basta usapang pogi gala ang mga mata, grabe talaga!" Siniko siya ni Abby.
"Mahilig ako sa pogi dahil sila ang kabuhayan ko," depensa niya.
"O, tingnan mo na lang dito." Ibinigay sa kanya ni Genel ang cellphone.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Sia nang makita kung sino ang poging nahagip ng camera. "What the—seriously?"
"Bakit?" magkakasabay na tanong ng mga ito.
"It's Ruen!"
Nagpalinga-linga siya pero wala na roon kahit anino ng binata.
Pinag-agawan ng mga ito ang cellphone.
"Shit, seryoso si Ruen ito?"
"Ang pogi, jusmiyo!"
"Pumayat siya, dati ang chubby niya."
"Bakit hindi man lang niya tayo naisipang batiin? Ay, baka hindi niya alam na tayo ito, ano?"
"Sia, affected ka pa?" sabay-sabay na tanong ng mga ito.
Hindi siya sumagot, bagkos ay binilisan niya ang lakad.
"Hintayin mo naman kami, Tets!" sigaw ng mga ito.

High school classmates at best buddies sina Genel, Mela, Sia, Abby at Pau. Tinawag ang kanilang grupo na T.G. (Takas Girls) dahil sa nakakatuwang hobby nila noon na tumakas sa klase. Pagkatapos ng graduation nagkahiwa-hiwalay ang lima at muling nagkita-kita after college. Sa muling pagkabuo nila nananatiling palatakas pa rin ang magkakaibigan. Pero ngayon ay hindi na sa klase kundi sa malupit na tadhana na. Nakatagpo sila ng pag-ibig ngunit tinakbuhan nila iyon, pinagtaguan, tinakasan.

In the box were books—or rather, neatly stacked magazines.
On the cover of each of these magazines was a bright yellow border with a laurel leaf pattern. All were well-kept, and arranged in the order of their published date.
Without looking, Li Du already knew the title of the publication: "National Geographic," the most well-known and widely circulated magazine in the US and around the entire world.
The box that the little bug had flown into had magazines from 2000. There were titles like "Stunning Rare Footage Reveals Elusive Snow Leopards," and "Discover Europe's Far-Flung Island Paradise."
Beyond these magazines, there was also magazines from other years: 2001, 2002, 2003. A portion of them were from 2004.
Li Du's gaze lingered on these magazines. National Geographic was a series of quality magazines. It had rich content and impactful information. Li Du had been reading it lately as he had found that such magazines could broaden one's horizons.
The magazines that he had been reading were all from various years, as they had been retrieved from the storage units. They were worthless, and so he had kept them for his own reading.
These magazines were different from those that he had previously found; their value would be greater because they were arranged in order. There would be people who wanted to collect them.
Li Du retrieved the little bug; there was no sign of the young man who had stolen the basketball. He was going to have the little bug leave.
The little bug, however, hovered in the air. It then found many more cardboard boxes which had been wrapped up tightly.
Thinking of the magazines he had seen earlier, his heart fluttered. So he got the little bug to fly into the other boxes for a look.
They were still National Geographic magazines with covers depicting the same yellow border with the laurel leaf pattern and arranged in order of issue number. Those in the box were magazines from these five years: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999.
Not one issue short!
The other boxes were also National Geographic—all the boxes were. Counting from the recent years, there were more than 20 boxes, covering more than a century's worth of history!
As the little bug flew in and out of these boxes, Li Du felt as though he were watching a documentary on history. He had found magazines from the last century: 1980s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s, 1930s . . .
Lastly, he found a small booklet which had been wrapped with cling film. It was different from those magazines with yellow borders on their covers. This book had a pink cover with a number on its top right corner: 1888.10.
Li Du, who was familiar with National Geographic, was shocked to see this thin booklet. If he recalled correctly, this was the serial number of the first National Geographic publication!
The little bug flew inside the cover. There was faint traces of autographs signed by fountain pens. A row of names were on it: John Wesley Powell, Adolphus W. Greely . . .
Li Du was not familiar with these names—most people from modern times would not be familiar with these names. Only after searching for these names online with his phone did he realize how famous they had been during their time!
John Wesley Powell had taken the lead in the exploration of the Grand Canyon. He was, at that time, a famous explorer of wetlands and water sources. Adolphus W. Greely was the first person to perform polar exploration; he was also known as the "Ice and Snow Warrior."
These men had another identity: the founders of the National Geographic magazine and the earliest members of the Cosmos Club.
The first article in this pink booklet was titled "The Classification of Geographic Forms by Genesis" and was signed by W.J. McGee.
These magazines were much different; there was not a single photograph in them. They were filled mostly with words and figures, with the simple layout but serious analysis.
For more than a decade after it was first published, National Geographic did not have any pictures. Because of the academics within the articles, the inclusion of photographs was deemed as shallow.
This was up until 1905. Then, the publication's CEO Grosvenor had, at the risk of being fired from his job, inserted 11 photographs taken by a Russian explorer of Lhasa in Tibet.
In the same box as the inaugural issue, Li Du found this exact issue—the photograph of Lhasa in it was in black and white.
Scanning through these magazines, Li Du took in a deep breath.
He retrieved the little bug, and then as he stared at this storage unit, he felt exhilarated.
Honestly, he would like to have these magazines. They were simply too precious. That was, however, not why he wanted to have them. If he could get his hands on them, he wouldn't sell them away.
National Geographic might have been referred to as a magazine, but it could actually be thought of as an encyclopedia of sorts. The full set of the publication encompassed a whole century's worth of the best adventurers', scientists' and photographers' hearts, sweat and tears.
This set of magazines was more than just a showcase of sights and sounds. It also covered the ordinary folks, the planet's creatures from the depths of the sea to the tallest mountains, as well spoke about the vast universe. To people with a passion for nature and life, it was like the work of God!
This was especially true for the inaugural issue; only 200 copies had been printed in October 1888 and none had been put on sale. After all the key personnel had signed them, they were ceremoniously sent out to those who had supported them in their work.
More than 120 years later, this inaugural issue had become a rarity. When Li Du had searched about it on the Internet, only the Cosmos Club in Washington had retained its two copies.
One copy had once appeared on the Internet; it was put up for auction on eBay. It had sold for 400,000 US dollars.
Eventually, it was found to be a reproduction instead of an original.
Even so, it still sold for 50,000 dollars in the end. Reproductions of the inaugural issue were also rarely seen.
Li Du had no idea who these magazines belonged to but he could tell that the owner did not value them.
These boxes had been placed in the storage unit haphazardly. They were full of dust; some of the boxes had even been chewed on by vermins and bugs. Due to the humidity and weight impact, signs of damage had started to appear on some of the magazines.
He thought about it, and deduced that the owner probably did not know the value of the magazines. He could maybe find a way to buy them over. 
Seeing that he stood still, Hans asked, "What's wrong with you? Getting sick?"
He flashed his middle finger at him."F*ck you, you're the sick one. Come, let's continue searching for that *sshole. He must be in one of these houses."
Ah Ow walked along the path. When she passed a garden, she sniffed and then howled excitedly.
Li Du released the little bug to let it fly into the house attached to the garden. It was empty but when the little bug flew out, he saw someone hiding in the kennel of the garden…


They love gold, and they love silver. Even more so, they love gems that dazzle, like stars across the skies. 
Firearms, jewelleries, and precious metals; A collector’s world will not be complete without antiques.  
Storage auctions, old goods trade, re-estate sales and gold-digging. But the truth is, if one wants to make money, then the supreme way is through searching for the legendary treasures. 
Holding the fort, there’s an ocelot, a wolf, and an Andes condor. At the side, there’s a loyal hound, an irascible ape, and an African honey badger. Who said that you can only rely on humans when treasure hunting?! 

Sister Xue coughed awkwardly and suddenly pointed to the front with a quivering finger. 
Qin Guan craned his neck from the back seat and saw Shao help Fang open her Mini Cooper. Shao sat in the driver’s seat.
"How did they get together? Qin Guan, are you having an affair with her?"
"What are you talking about? Do you think I’m that kind of guy?" Qin Guan pretended to be angry. 
Embarrassed, Sister Xue exhaled a cloud of smoke. "I thought she wanted to take advantage of you, like those actresses. I had no idea. That sister is really open-minded. She’s from a foreign country. This is so romantic!"
Qin Guan smiled helplessly. Open-minded is an understatement. The truth would shock the audience. Fortunately, my heart is taken, or the outcome might have been different.
Neon lights were shining in the dark night. It was so late that even the moon had fallen asleep. Qin Guan crept up to his dormitory, hung his suit on a hanger and lay down on his bed.
There was a distinct difference between the noisy party and his roommates’ snores. Qin Guan tried to recall some important information. Did I have the snow beef tonight? That’s terrible! The mad cow disease will break out in Japan in a few days! Then what? I’m so sleepy. I should just sleep. 
Another note was added to the dormitory snoring concert. This was the nature of ordinary life. The simpler, the better. His girlfriend would never laugh at him for his moderate aspirations.
Qin Guan didn’t tell Cong Nianwei about the incident at the party. Most men had their secrets, and they kept them for self-protection or because they were ashamed.
Hand in hand, they arrived at the training centre in the Handian District, which had been recommended by Cong Nianwei’s tutor.
In the following days, they’d have to take the TOEFL, GRE or GMAT exam and apply to American universities with their scores.
Time was pressing. Cong Nianwei had no time to waste.
Both of them were good at English. What they needed was just some training before the exams.
As the last ones to get there, they stood out among the group of students dreaming to go abroad.
As soon as Qin Guan entered the classroom, he noticed that the students were divided into two groups.
The tutor was not there, so all the students looked at the two freshmen. The leaders of each group waved at them. "Sit here!"
Silence prevailed.
"Hey, those are hillbillies over there. Steer clear of them, or they’ll break your fragile hearts!" said the student on the left side, who was wearing a fashionable outfit with golden chains.
    The student on the right side seemed more serious. He sneered at them, saying, "Look at their binder covers and shirts before you decide. Even money couldn't compensate for their low IQ!"
Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei looked down and saw the logos of their universities on their shirts and binder covers.
The student on the left raised his middle finger towards the student on the right. "You are a just peasant! Students of famous universities are different from each other. Look at the boy's Polo shirt and pants. Would a f*cking poor student be able to afford that?" 
Smiling, Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei exchanged a glance with each other before walking to the middle of the two groups, where two calm guys were seating.
They were writing swiftly without looking up. "Rich kids are on the left side and poor students relying on scholarships are on the right."
Qin Guan pulled up the chairs in front of them and sat down. "We are neither."
The two students raised their heads to size them up.
"No wonder you didn't choose a side then. Are you going to study performance or art overseas?" the handsome guy asked Qin Guan.
The other guy stared at Cong Nianwei and said, "Maybe he’s a rich second generation heir going abroad for his girlfriend. Let’s not invade their privacy." 
Cong Nianwei smiled and offered her hand. "Hello, I’m Cong Nianwei. This is my boyfriend Qin Guan. We’ll be applying to different departments in the same university in the US. New York, as expected."
The gentle student insisted on his viewpoint, "You are from QH. Judging by your age, you have only two options: Columbia or New York University. As for your boyfriend..."
Qin Guan didn’t feel offended. "My goal is MBA at Columbia."
The student was shocked. He sized them up again and shook hands with them. "He Ming. And this is Guan Jian."
The four of them shook hands with each other. The two group leaders coughed unnaturally, but remained silent.
The tutor entered the classroom and the lesson began. Cong Nianwei listened to him carefully, but Qin Guan felt that the lesson was too simple. His gifted memory was the best tool for learning vocabulary. 
Cong Nianwei was jealous of Qin Guan's confidence. She was good at professional studies, but Qin Guan was talented in characters and language.
He Ming was doubtful of Qin Guan. As an international student, who had travelled all over the world with his parents, he dared not look down upon the GRE. How could that handsome guy be so confident? 
The GRE full mark was 1,600, but Qin Guan was sure that he would get at least 1,100 points. TOEFL focused on speaking, listening, reading and writing. Ivy League universities set high standards for that exam.
Qin Guan began to yawn impatiently. He had originally thought there would be some kind of secret to success. Could I skip some classes? 
The annoyed tutor counted the 99th yawn of the striking freshman. Pretending nothing had happened, he announced they would be taking a 15-minute break.
As soon as the tutor went out with his teaching material, Qin Guan became the center of the room. In 2001, most students would choose the US as their destination, as the country was famous for its money, freedom and dreams.
Some fashionable girls gathered around Qin Guan, attracted by his looks. Cong Nianwei’s sour look didn’t stop them.
"Hey, I know you! You are VOGUE’s cover boy!"
"He’s a model? But he’s Zhang Changzhong, the toy boy from ‘Daming Palace’!" 
The brave girls wanted to push Cong Nianwei away and take the seat beside Qin Guan. Qin Guan stood up to protect Cong Nianwei.
"He is so tall! And he has such a nice figure!" 
"Yes, he deserves to be a model! Take a photo with me!" 
The girl tried to lean on Qin Guan's chest.
The leaders of the two groups were watching them happily. Qin Guan patted his desk, making everyone fall silent. 
Then he pointed at Cong Nianwei and said, "This is my girlfriend. We are preparing to go abroad, just like you are. I hope we can all enjoy a good studying environment."
Guan Jian, who was sitting behind Qin Guan, kicked the spare desk beside him and said, "Lan Jin and Cui Jun, control your groups. They are too noisy."
The atmosphere was getting charged. Lan Jin, a red-haired boy, waved at the girls, indicating that they should keep a distance from the two demons.
The girls from Cui Jun's group, who had originally been watching silently, took this chance to walk away.
Qin Guan looked at Guan in appreciation. Guan grinned and said honestly, "Don't thank me. I was also annoyed." Then he buried his face in a book and fell asleep.
He Ming smiled and glanced at both sides. The two leaders bent their heads unconsciously.
Nothing else happened. It seemed that Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei had been accepted by He and Guan. No one dared speak to them on their own initiative. 
Guan didn't show his face until the class was over. When he stood up, Qin Guan realized he was even taller than him.
Compared to him, He Ming looked much more preppy. They parted ways in the parking lot. One of them got in a military car with a plate number "甲A" [1], and the other got in an embassy car [2]. They drove away, leaving smoke behind them.  



Qin Guan was reborn and sent back to his final semester in High School 18 years ago. Getting a second chance at life, he works hard to turn things around and eventually become a Prince Charming. What will his life be like the second time around? What will he have to go through? How will he succeed in turning from a loser into a Prince Charming? Read this story carefully and find out!

Early February, the temperature is still cold and the weather is a color Sheen would describe, pale blue. It's a color that makes you feel the coldness and the warmth that the sky will make you feel. 

Light clouds surround the vast sky which mixes with the sun's Ray's during sunset and sunrise. 

Sheen covers her eyes while looking up, covered in a fluffy cream-colored jacket, she is on her way to pass an initial plot for her new novel this coming December. 

Before her college graduation, she had two national awards for writers: Best Teen Novel Writer and Influencer of the Year, from a single book that she was writing during her college days. 

Her books are like new series shown on the television, it catches everyone's attention. 

It becomes a talk in the street and a trending hashtag, it is something that everyone knows. 

But not everyone knows the author's real name since she only publishes with her pen name: Sheen. Only her co-workers, family and friends know who she is, Sierra Haley Eureka Ellaine Neomi Verrez or Sheen. 

With her not-very-long-name, not only she chooses Sheen as her public identity, but it is also to keep her own world on her hands and her writing world to the outside. 

As she walks to her office, she stumbles upon a familiar face.


Someone she would not want to see but is dying to see. 

The irony and the contradiction, makes her heart beat thousands faster than normal, her face burns a higher degree, her whole body stuck at the last movement. 

The person who made her that way saw her pathetic state but for some reason, didn't react and made his way out of her sight, as if she was not there, as if there was nothing to give attention to.

 After some time, Sheen had collected herself and continued walking, but her mind got stuck to the pair of eyes she saw and missed so badly which made her forget where her office is and found herself in front of the mirror while tears are flowing from her eyes. "I still..." was the only words that she uttered, incomplete yet full of the feeling she keeps. 

Pain, love, and longing. 

She wiped her tears with some tissue she has and retouched her makeup to hide the redness around her eyes. She then went to her office.

"Sheen, a lady whose heart was broken by a man who she loved the most, is a famous national author. The books she writes are about romance yet she never really did experience romance itself. We made a call with the author of Leaving on a public plane to answer some questions." 

The television echoed around the office when she arrived, the interview she had yesterday is now on air. 

Since she is an unknown writer, they have decided to just have a call interview instead of going to the show. 

She silently seats down as her co-workers watch the show. 

"So, how come you have never been in a romance? You told us in your last interview that you have been in love before yet here you are, an untouched romance novelist."

She remembered how that question made her feel yesterday, it questioned her view of herself about her relationship with her first love. 

Many didn't understand what she said in her last interview. "Let me clarify that, yes, I fell in love. But I was the only one in love. 

You see, romance is something that is created from two individuals who shares and feels the same. 

You can't have a romantic relationship with someone who doesn't feel what you feel." As the words penetrate her ears, she smiled. 

Those were something that she would write in her novels. The pain of unrequited love from a romance writer.

Sheen, a famous book author of romance and a victim of unrequited love, finds herself in need of true romance for a new novel. She stumbles upon young men while thirsty to create the novel she needs to write, she jumps from one romance to another to create the perfect romantic book she can ever write.

Sam's physic used to be normal, he wasn't fit but was neither big nor slim too as he carried heavy boxes as a part time job for three years now. He was also pretty tall from his culminating 190 centimeters (6 feet 3 inches), now that his body shape was upgraded he gave off a strong and manly feeling. He looked at himself in the mirror and a big smile appeared on his face, even his facial feature seemed a bit better now as his jawline was not pronounced.

He tried putting on a tee shirt but the bulging muscles made it tight for him to put it in, he would have to buy a size above from now on. Until his next shopping session he would have to put on some oversized shirts. After finally getting tired of looking at his new body he went to do breakfast and next went to wake Em up.

While they were eating breakfast Sam saw that Em seemed a bit down as she didn't eat very much and her mind seemed elsewhere. 
"What'up Em' ? You seem a bit low, did something happen at school ?"

She looked at him with tearing eyes and replied 
"Next week there is that sport contest at school and everyone will be participating with their dads or moms..."
Of course he understood the meaning behind her words, he felt bad for this little girl. He had grown up with his parents until 3 years ago but she probably didn't even remember their faces as they had died when she was 4 years old. He hugged her and whispered "Don't worry baby, big brother will be here with you ! I'll skip university and come with you."

Em finally flashed a big smile
"Big brother is the best ! I love you !!"
 he wiped her tears and kissed her on the cheek. She ended her breakfast in a very happy mood while watching a cartoon on TV and then was sent to school by Sam.

Today Sam didn't have class but he'd have to go to his part time job, he worked as a mover and had to carry heavy boxes and furniture for a living. He had 4 days free of classes in the week so he worked full time on these days instead of working after class, he had proposed the idea to his boss and his boss didn't even think about it and answered yes. The boss was an old friend of his dad and he took care of the siblings as much as he could after their parents had died. 

Sam was greeted by all his coworkers when he went in the local, he had worked with them for 3 years now and all of them were good friends, after changing into his work clothes, a navy blue overall and old brown boots he went with the rest to wait for the boss to dispatch them on their missions. After a few minutes the boss's secretary came over, she was a  chubby cute girl around the age of Sam. She wasn't only a secretary, she was also the boss's daughter and she was an old friend of Sam, Emma. They had went to the same school from the primary school to the high school but she stopped her studies after high school as she already had a work in her dad's company. "Sam, the boss want to talk with you." She said with a cute smile, when she and Sam were on the road to her dad's office she looked curiously at him and asked "You seem different... did you gain weight recently?" This was exactly what he was wary of, would the people around him realize he had changed from a day to the next ? He didn't mind Em as she was still young and wouldn't mind these details but the rest would definitely think it was weird so he answered "Yeah I've been eating healthy and training a lot lately and I'm finally starting to see the results of my hellish training." With a big smile and she didn't think much of it she just looked a bit more at the changes with a bit of blush on her cheeks...

When Sam got into the office he was greeted by his boss and dad's old friend, Oscar. He had called him uncle Oscar since young as he was very close to his father, way more than his real uncle which he had met only once when he came to their home a few years back.

Uncle Oscar looked at him guiltily and said "Sam take a seat, want a drink ?"
Sam saw that look in his eyes and realized that something happened or was going to happen so he just sat down and answered "I'm fine uncle Oscar, what did you call me for ?"
Uncle Oscar seemed to hesitate and finally launched himself
"I.. I'm sorry Sam. I know your situation but mine isn't that good too, it's a hard decision but I had to take it for the benefit of the company... the company is dismissing a few workers because we can't pay them anymore. We're keeping only a few full time workers."
He didn't need to end his sentence, he wouldn't call Sam to tell him this if he wasn't amongst the dismissed workers.

Even though Sam was ready to head a bad news this one was definitely the worse he could hear at the moment. This work was his only source of income, if he lost it he couldn't even pay his rent. He had to do something but uncle Oscar was closed to any negotiation. Sam left the company dejectedly, as the owner of the company was his uncle he would pay him more than any other place for the same amount of work...

After a while Sam was home lying on the couch and thinking of what he could do now. 
Even after thinking for a long while he couldn't think of a job that could pay him enough, the jobs he was the most qualified to do were physical ones like carrying or moving heavy things, even more since he had gotten the +10 strength points that he didn't even have had time to try.

After thinking about a lot of unconvincing alternatives he was about to give up for the moment when a voice resounded in his head, this voice made him happy just hearing it.
[System awakening - Master please make a choice :
- Level 1 singing skill book.
- Level 1 writing skill book.
The system is nearing the required energy to wake up completely, please be patient master.]

This notification came right on time, Sam was thinking where or who did this heaven sent gift came from when a pop up appeared in front of him. Both skills could help him make money, Sam had heard that people on YouTube made good money if they did enough clicks... if his singing skill were up to par he could make a place for himself on that platform and if there was a level 1 book there was obviously next levels books so he could definitely do well in that domain. He could also write a book and sell it but would a rookie's book sell enough ? And even if he sold enough writing a book wasn't a one day story. For the songs it was easier as he didn't have to sing his own songs but could make covers. Sam hesitated for a bit before clicking on the singing skill book.

Now the question was if a Level 1 book was enough to make him famous, a lvl 1 boxing book was around the same as a black belt taekwondo user. He guessed a lvl 1 book was around the level of a very good amateur or a rookie professional, this was only in the case where all the lvl 1 books gave the same amount of experience and technique. 

Now Sam has to find a cheap recording studio to rent for the shortest time it would take him to record his first song. He went in his room and turned on the old computer, it was an old model from Dell. It took around a minute to completly launch, he first went on YouTube to check other people's cover and to inspire himself, he couldn't do a bad job as it would definitely reduce his view count if the video was of a bad quality. Then he went on the internet browser and checked for the studios not to far and called them to check their prices. Finally he found one, now he needed a camera of a good enough quality but when he checked the prices they ranged from 600€ to exorbitant prices like 3000€. And those were only the amateur materials, he preferred not to check the professional ones. The price was too much but he found a site where he could buy it in many times so the price was divided in 4. He went on and ordered his camera, for the next few days he got the rest ready, he chose the song he wanted to cover and started training his singing.

Sam and his little sister live alone but his life is already hard enough trying to end his studies and give her the best life possible while facing bullies and financial issues. This is when he acquires the choice system which from time to time give him the choice between two skills or attributes.

If someone likes my work and can do me a better cover than the one I did myself for free I’ll take it thankfully haha

At Night, On the sailing Stormbreaker .

Ramus and his crews is gathered on their ships living room while hearing Sam explanations.

"So after careful counting process, we got 2,8 billion belli and 4 billions worth of treasures as the result from the raid on The Baggio Families, if we adding our previous 11,7 billion saving, now we got total wealth of 18,5 billion beli !!"

"Wonderful !!" Ramus said while his crews is cheering, laughing and whistling happily.

"This is crazy..we just sailing and kick some ass for less than 2 months and we almost gaining 20 billion beli's" Lance said.

"Okay..we have 18,5 billion in our inventory right now..and as you guys know, i have a plan to modifying and upgrading our Stormbreaker, i don't know how much for the cost it needed, but i need various of rare materials and components which it will cost a lot, so i will keep the 15 billion beli for our Stormbreaker future plans, 2,5 billion beli will be manage by Sam for our journey and adventure needs" Ramus said and the crews nodded.

"I don't want my crews to be blinded by wealth and only live for it, having a lot of money is good thing but it's not everything, of course i am also don't want to see you all come back with empty hand after you guys put your life on the line for every raid we did, so i will use 1 billions and split it among us, how much you got, it's depend on your own performance and task during the raid, the strongest you are..more money you will get, so you all better be training diligently"Ramus said.

"Thanks Captain!!" The crews said happily.

"Then..if any of you is getting any treasures by your own efforts and not by our group efforts then those treasures or money is solely belong to yourself, you don't need to gave it to our inventory group..but don't do anything that i hate for getting those money and treasures, we are not just a pirates, we are the Storm Riders !!" Ramus Said.

"Aye Captain!!" The crews replied with high spirits.

"As for devil fruit, if any of you is founds some of it, it's also solely belong to you...but if you don't want to consume it, i forbid you all to sell it to the outsider..you can either put it on our inventory and you will got the compensation equivalent with your devil fruit abilities and rarities or you can sell it to your own crew members, and if we got more people to joining our group, make sure that all of you who present here right now, is telling them about this rules...you all understand ?" Ramus said.

"Aye Captain!!"

"Sam, Shin , Pinto, Chew and Kuroobi after this, i want you all to re inspecting the treasures and miscellaneous items on our treasury room..maybe there some hidden clues or hidden part or clues of some secret..i don't know..just check it..because tomorrow i want to sell those treasures and miscellaneous items and convert it to money, keeping this lot of treasures in our ship is not convenient and our treasury room is almost full" Ramus said.

"Okay we got this captain" Sam said.

"For tomorrow i want all the treasures that have been inspected and sorted by Sam group, to be sold to different locations on West Blue, as for this matter i will leave it to Lance, Daz, Vitto and Gotti to handle it" Ramus said.

"Okay leave it to us" Lance said.

"And what is my task captain?" Ask Arlong.

"Train..you need train very hard Daz almost catch with you in tekkai and Soru while Shin is already surpassing you by large margin after he got the cold devil fruit, as the 5th member of our group you need to very strong ehehehe.." Ramus said.

"Damn it...okay i will train" Arlong sighed.

"Captain is right, you always lazy when it comes to training since our childhood Arlong" said Kuroobi.

"Hahaha..even my fishman karate and kami e progress is better than you" Chew teased.

"Quack Quack Quack.." Dodo is make a fun of Arlong.

"Shut up you stupid bird, its not none your business...and all of you, just you guys wait..i will creates amazing techniques" Arlong said.

"Great, now all of you can take yours shares from Sam..i will go back to my rooms" Ramus said.

"Aye Captain"

Soon Ramus we're sitting on his personal research room and he immediately opening the chest from the Baggio vault then he taking out all the book inside it.

"This series of green covered books is a written by someone called Professor Leygulf D Neri and it was listed that this book was created  350 years ago..he must be one of the D families, this book is secretly containing the information about how to learn and reading a Poneglyphs...if im not mistaken 800 years ago the World Government already started to banning any ability to reading and researching Poneglyphs..but why this kind of book is still exist...it is the references book that used by the Ohara archaeologists to learn about Poneglyphs ?" Ramus is confused.

Ramus also find a diaries from the ancestor of Baggio Families who named Franco Corleone, it's turn out that Franco Corleone was Leygulf D Neri secret apprentices, Franco is secretly have responsible for keeping Neri research database materials including Neri theory summaries. 

When Franco turn 22 years old, his master was got caught by the World Government after they found that Leygulf and his apprentices is studying the Poneglyphs and later he and his apprentices is sentenced to death except Franco. The World Government is mistaken Franco twins named Alberto as Roberto himself and kill him on the spot while Franco is runaway to the West Blue and change his identity from Franco Corleone to Franco Baggio while keep safeguarding his master books and journals without everyone knows.

But what make really surprises is the three large and thick scaled animal skin covers book like journal which have been written by Famous Botanist and Zoologists who also a famous explorers named Columbos that lived 500 years ago. Ramus ignored the Poneglyphs book and immediately reading the Columbos journals. 

Next 2 days, Lance group has been successfully sold all the treasures and convert it into beli's. Ramus decided to give Vito and Gotti some devil fruits. Vito chooses Zoan Owl devil fruit because he feel that owl superb visions will be great help for his marksmanship. Gotti chooses Zoan Buffalo devil fruit because he think that fruit will enhance his strength even further and really suite his frontal combat style.

Ramus also imparted Rokushiki techniques to both Vito and Gotti and ask them to train with other crews, while he also teaches Tommasi and his friends geppo techniques. Vito and Gotti is feel very grateful toward Ramus, especially Gotti who immediately crying when he was given the devil fruit and rokushiki techniques.



Meanwhile on the Marine Headquarters.

A tall middle age man with a stubby beard wearing marine hat and outfit were seated in front of tall man with seagull hat, this man is marine fleet admiral Sengoku, Near them there are several high marine officer including Garp who busy eating a rice crackers.

"BAM" Sengoku hit the table furiously.

"What do you mean Catacombo..did you just said that he and his crews can use Rokushiki.?!" Sengoku said.

"Yes..Sengoku san" Said Catacombo.

"When do you find about this ?!!" Said Sengoku furiously.

"1 month ago..i got some report from Captain Reiner from Maluku Island about very strong pirates group that suddenly appears in West Blue, this pirates called themselves The Storm Riders !!" Catacombo said.

"This group is appearing out of nowhere and taking down many notorious pirates in West Blues..i have send Commodore Daigin to handle them but they are very hard to find!!" Said Catacombo.

"What do you mean by that !!" Ask Sengoku angrily.

"Every times this group is taking some action, they always suddenly quickly disappear after that..all my mens cannot found them no matter how hard they try..." Said Catacombo.

"You are a rear admiral, use your head !!" Said Sengoku.

"Then how do you know they can use rokushiki ?" Ask Tsuru.

"Two days ago..this group is attacking The Baggio Families Base on Palerimo Island, they also defeating Captain Tukul from Solo Island Base who accidentally on their patrolling routines nearby Palerimo Island, after i heard about the accident..i am immediately send my men to checking the the situation in there and luckily i got their footages from Baggio Families surveillance den den mushi.." Catacombo said.

"Why you don't immediately send Daigin and other Commodores to chase them again ?" Ask Sengoku.

"I can't ..they are really strong, after watching the footages, i think no one from our rear admiral rank can take them down..even their vice captain named Lance is already so strong and many strong individuals is also in their group" Catacombo Said.

"Bwahahaha..is not their fault those brats is very strong" said Garp.

"Do you know them Garp san" Said marine officer with very tall hair and marine cap with long beard.

"Mm...what did i say..just forget it bwahahaha...cuit..cuit" Garp said and suddenly make weird expression while awfully whistling.

"...." All the people presents is very familiar with this expression of Garp, every times Garp trying to lie, he always making that kind of expression.

"GARP !!" Sengoku shouted.

"...."

"Shit...Alright i will tell you guys" Garp said.

"I have met them couple times, at that time there only three of them, their Captain is called Ramus, he was ex prince of Goa Kingdom, i don't know where he learned Rokushiki but when i met him he was already mastering all the rokushiki techniques and several rokushiki secret techniques like rokuogan and seimei kikan and i think he probably the best rokushiki user i have ever saw in my entire life while his two subordinates rokushikis is on par with Rob Lucci from CP 9..and i feel this Ramus talent and potential is even higher than our current three admirals..bwahahaha" Said Garp proudly.

All of them was shocked, they know Garp is rarely praising people especially with so high assessment like that and Sengoku who know him best as his best friend immediately found something was off.

"Why you not invite such talent to joins marines Garp ?" Ask sengoku.

"I don't like to see such shameless and sneaky brat join marines !!" said Garp.

"What do you mean Garp san" said others marines.

"Nothing i just don't like him" Said Garp who his face expression becomes weird again.

"He is lying again!!" All the marines present at same time.

"Spit it out Garp i know you are hiding something, what happen between you two ?" Said Sengoku.

Facing all the serious look from his fellow marines, Garp finally began to tell them what happen between him and Ramus, including when Ramus lure him into the bet, the shameless and sneakiness of Ramus fighting style and strategy, Ramus creative and variation techniques of Rokushiki, the process when he lost the bet and haki learning method that he give to Ramus.

"This Ramus is very cunning and yet he was very talented, to mastering rokushiki into such perfection..and he learning about haki..his crews also learning the rokushiki..the sudden appearance of anarchy holes disease in Goa Kingdom and Westblue, it's must be him..." Sengoku talk to himself while his vein on his forehead started to bulged.

"The Komeng accident mystery is finally solved" Said Tsuru.

"What do you mean Tsuru san" Ask Catacombo.

"He is from East Blue, he was appearing in West Blue shortly after Komeng accident is happened..although Komeng cant use all the rokushiki techniques but he still veteran fighter who have many experience, i think no one in the current East Blue can take him down except this young man, also that Gracious Killer Pirates is too strong for any East Blue Pirates except his crews" Tsuru Said.

"Damn you Garp..why you don't prevent him to become pirates, why you let such dangerous young man learning haki, are you wanted to created trouble for us.." Sengoku was so angry that he began to strangle Garp.

"Bwahahaha..it's okay sengoku, we will capture him later..bwahahaha" Garp was laughing.

Soon all the marines inside the room is trying to calming the furious Sengoku and prevent Garp to annoyed Sengoku even further. Finally after 1 hour the situation is return to normal.

"So what should we do now Sengoku san, this Ramus and Storm Riders pirates is too dangerous not only they were strong, but there also possibility of this group is possessing Dyna stone or dynamium ores from Garador Island and they must be the culprits behind that vicious anarchy holes diarrhea disease.

"This group must be planning to go to the Paradise soon, give all of their crew members high bounties, especially this Ramus for baiting other pirates and bounty hunter on paradise to attacking them....and make sure that we must keep our eyes on their movements if they have entered Paradise, we must sent our vice admiral immediately if we found a chance..we cannot let's this group to grow even further" Sengoku said seriously.

"ROGER THAT !!"

A man named Ramus was transmigrated into One Piece world as fallen aristocrat of Goa Kingdom.

Join Ramus and his two loyal retainers for building greatest pirates crew and kingdom to waging war with all World Government scheme and One Piece world.

“Warning !! This stories if fiction of fictional story so don’t take it seriously or effecting your real life because what inside the stories is nothing real”

“Warning !! This stories contain inappropriate language and stories material content , author apologies if there a stories material that against to some religion believe because that not what author intentions”

“Warning !! This stories contain adult and mature material so author hope to restricted to the adults reader only”

English is not author mother language so, author apologized for bad english and grammars in the story. 

As for reader who don’t like bad grammar novel, this novel is not for you i’m sorry.

Any character and material from original one piece is from and belong to Eichiro Oda work and author do not have any copyright for it.

I do not own the picture on the cover, i just randomly pick it from the internet.

famous book covers

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The Writer's Romance

Choices system

Here I Come One Piece World !!

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