บท 58: Effects of one piece
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"This is top-secret information from Edge Horizon team!"
"Take it down. That's classified, and Edge Horizon didn't contribute to the design of One Piece World. For details, check in-game directly."
A jokester in the crowd couldn't help but quip, "Look into my eyes—do they look like lemons?"
"Enough chatter. I'm off on a treasure hunt. Let's go!"
The auctions had wrapped up, with John collecting earnings from four auction houses. Despite the chaos they left behind, the profits soared, reaching over 60 million across the venues. One devil fruit alone sold for an astonishing 1.5 billion, thanks to competing game companies backing teams of players who were eager to score big. But with funds diverted between different teams, most players ended up with nothing, and many game companies found scapegoats to blame for the loss.
John noted an interesting glitch players had discovered—logging out to escape risky situations. It wasn't an issue he could fully fix, so he allowed it to play out. However, the auction frenzy had managed to stabilize morale; the intense bidding assured players that devil fruits would always sell, sparking a rush of new treasure hunters.
While most players were spending only small amounts, their combined contributions far outpaced the heavy spenders. After the auction, Seaside City was left in disarray. Pirates, hearing rumors of devil fruits fetching millions, launched raids—but often came up empty-handed since players hadn't received their cash in-game yet. Frustrated, many players admitted they hadn't anticipated the danger in treasure hunting.
Back at the auction house, the middle-aged man respectfully reported into a phone bug. A mocking laugh came from the other end: "Fufufufu~ How interesting, so many new characters in the sea…" It was unmistakably the voice of Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"You're saying he can teleport, make objects disappear, and even speak directly into your mind?" Doflamingo mused aloud. "Could it be Law?"
The middle-aged man hesitated. "Young Master, I don't think it's Law. The voice didn't match his, and I didn't sense his 'room' ability."
"Fufufufu, no matter," Doflamingo replied, amusement lacing his words. "The calm seas are raging once more. Keep tabs on these newcomers, and if any look promising, recruit them. We can't sit on the sidelines in an era like this."
"Yes, young master!" the man responded, hanging up.
Watching all of this unfold, John smirked. "Seems there's real potential in these artificial devil fruits," he murmured, noting that Caesar's research on synthetic devil fruits in Punk Hazard was still underway and would need more time to complete. After checking on this, he turned his attention to Nine Snake Island.
With Emma's unicorn abilities, players like Sarah and the others could continue training even with limited in-game time. Olivia had also developed impressive skills, gaining control over thunderstorms and hail—though she still needed to build her strength.
Two weeks after launch, players were now feeling the full intensity of One Piece World. Nearly every player who ventured out to sea had encountered pirates, resulting in fierce battles, ambushes, and looting. Many of these confrontations had escalated to player-versus-player (PvP) battles, as rivalries flared up.
The auctions hadn't been easy either, with some venues taking more than the standard 10% fee, leaving many players disgruntled and empty-handed. Complaints flooded game forums, and rival companies seized the opportunity to criticize John's handling of the game. But John was unfazed, confident that the strongest would prevail over time.
As alliances and rivalries grew, savvy players began joining established powers in the game. Some gained favor with Whitebeard, earning the status of "son" and securing powerful protection. Others joined the ranks of Kaido and Big Mom, finding safety under the Four Emperors. Even if only as low-ranking members, they avoided constant robbery and could turn the tables on others.
The influx of players also forced the Navy to open global recruitment, though this was for entry-level roles to maintain order rather than high-ranking officers. Many players jumped at the chance to train within the Navy's ranks, preparing themselves for the greater battles ahead.
Both pirates and the Navy were evolving with the influx of new players, making John eager to see how this shift would impact future clashes. As tensions rose and power structures shifted, John looked forward to the upcoming battle—a showdown sure to be influenced by unpredictable player participation.
Meanwhile, the Dragon Kingdom was steadily gaining influence in One Piece World. John had even noticed their discreet connections with the Revolutionary Army. After closely monitoring the game's development for days, John decided it was time to make a few tweaks to keep things balanced.
"It's almost time to bring changes to the Pokémon as well," he thought, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
A/N: Thanks for reading, donate some power stones for extra chapters.
Also check out my Patreon if you want extra chapters up to chapter 76: Patreon.com/AncestorX
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