Dark Abyss Island, Pirate World.
Waking up from a state of confusion, Wood shook his slightly groggy head and finally realized that he had completed the simulated life and returned to the main Pirate World.
["Ding! The character you simulated has died. This instance of the All-World Life Simulation has concluded. You have obtained the following abilities of the simulated character, Wood."]
[Advanced Noble Etiquette: Whether in manners or speech, you have developed the demeanor of a noble. Even the most critical court etiquette instructors cannot find fault with you.]
[Intermediate Business Acumen: As the eldest son of a prominent merchant family, this simulated life has endowed you with extensive commercial experience.]
[Intermediate Leadership Skills: In this life simulation, you gained leadership abilities, granting your commanded soldiers or armies a boost in morale and combat strength.]
[Advanced Assassination Expertise: As a top assassin of the 'Night Raid,' years of experience in assassination have honed your skills and techniques.]
["This simulation of the All-World Life Simulation has concluded. In addition to fixed character rewards, the host may select one of the following rewards:"]
[1. Supreme Teigu: Imperial Guardian - Shikoutazer.]
[The Empire's guardian deity, a weapon that only the founding emperor's bloodline can activate and operate. It is the strongest Teigu in the Akame ga Kill universe and the origin of all Teigu.]
[2. God of Winter: Frost Knight.]
[A third-generation armor-type Teigu. Not only does it possess exceptional performance, but it also has the ability to 'evolve.' However, its side effects are extreme.]
[3. Incomplete Teigu Design.]
[A blueprint left by the founding emperor of the Empire a thousand years ago. Due to the passage of time, it has become incomplete.]
Having anticipated that the rewards would involve Teigu, Wood was still surprised that all three final choices were related to them.
But upon reflection, it made sense. The Akame ga Kill universe revolves entirely around the 48 Teigu. Besides them, there's hardly anything else of notable value.
The reward options had appeared, and now came the challenging decision.
At first glance, the second option, [Frost Knight], seemed like the obvious choice. However, upon careful consideration, the first and third options also held potential value for Wood.
The first option, [Imperial Guardian - Shikoutazer], seemed useless to him at first glance. Without the founding emperor's bloodline, he couldn't operate it. Even if he could, it's essentially a consumable weapon.
The energy source and its refueling methods were unknown. While it appeared powerful at first, once its energy ran out, it would merely be a heap of scrap metal.
Yet this heap of scrap metal was what made Shikoutazer valuable.
From a technological perspective, the Pirate World's technological level was comparable to that of the Akame ga Kill universe—a medieval level of development. However, both worlds also had geniuses like Dr. Vegapunk in the Pirate World and Dr. Stylish in the Akame ga Kill universe.
Although Shikoutazer was classified as a weapon, it was, by all appearances, a genuine military fortress. Its massive size and destructive power would qualify it as an Ancient Weapon in the Pirate World.
Though Wood couldn't use it, he could still study it.
Let's not forget his business—underground arms dealing. His organization even included talents like the Fishman Tom. Even if Shikoutazer were a non-functional pile of metal, studying its weapons and mechanisms could lead to revolutionary creations in this world.
As for the third option, the [Incomplete Teigu Design], the logic was similar. While whether Shikoutazer could be reverse-engineered was uncertain, having the design blueprints would give Wood confidence in replicating Teigu in this world.
The primary concern was whether the materials required to craft Teigu could be found in this world. Teigu required rare metals like Orichalcum and materials derived from Danger Beasts.
But this was the Pirate World, not the Akame ga Kill universe. Rare metals might have substitutes, but what about the Danger Beasts? Would Sea Kings suffice? Though they seemed similar as world-specific creatures, their compatibility was uncertain.
Faced with these three tempting rewards, Wood struggled to decide. As the countdown reached its final seconds, he ultimately chose [Frost Knight].
Under different circumstances, he might not have picked it. After all, in the Pirate World, he already had two swords, "Morning Dew" and "Sky Wither," so he didn't particularly need another weapon.
While the armor enhancement and frost manipulation abilities were strong, they were limited. His own ice magic far surpassed the Teigu's capabilities, especially in this magic-deficient world.
Even the cold resistance was mostly useless here, where only a few individuals wield ice-based powers. It was a niche benefit at best.
Thus, from a broader perspective, the first and third options seemed more beneficial, offering potential to bolster his faction's strength significantly.
However, Wood's pressing situation led to his choice of [Frost Knight]. The main reason for undergoing this life simulation was to strengthen himself for the Pirate World's pivotal [Marineford War].
Reverse-engineering Shikoutazer or completing the Teigu design would take time, offering no immediate advantage in the imminent chaos of Marineford. [Frost Knight], while less impactful long-term, could provide an immediate power boost.
The Marineford War was fast approaching, drawing in the Pirate World's greatest powers.
Even with Wood's current strength, he was acutely aware that surviving the war required every possible edge.
As Wood gradually woke from a hazy state, he shook his slightly groggy head and finally realized that he had finished the simulated life and returned to the main Pirate World.
Although Wood was confident that there were only a handful of individuals in the Pirate World who could defeat him, the upcoming Marineford War would gather one or two of such figures. Additionally, there would be at least three to five individuals capable of fighting him to a standstill or even wounding him in the ensuing chaos.
Among those who could potentially kill Wood, the first was the world's strongest man, Whitebeard. Despite his age and self-deprecating claim of being a relic of the past, even appearing on the battlefield with an IV drip, Wood, having watched the series, knew the old man could effortlessly crush a Marine Admiral or a few Warlords if he went berserk.
The second was the naval hero, Monkey D. Garp. While Garp's power had remained ambiguous throughout the series, his younger self was known to have relentlessly pursued the Pirate King, Roger, across the seas.
Moreover, when the legendary Golden Lion Shiki caused chaos at Marineford, it was Garp who fought him for three days straight, ultimately capturing him. Considering that Shiki, Roger, and Whitebeard were among the previous era's strongest figures, Garp's ability to capture Shiki and chase Roger suggested that his overall strength was on par with Whitebeard's or perhaps even greater.
As for those who could fight him to a standstill or injure him, there were the three Marine Admirals—Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji—along with Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the superlative Warlord, Dracule Mihawk.
While the captains under Whitebeard's command were formidable, they were still no match for Marine Admirals or Sengoku. With so many powerful individuals present at Marineford, it was clear that the stronger Wood was, the better. Even though the enhancements from the "Winter Knight" were limited, they still provided him with a slight edge.
Perhaps, with the addition of the Winter Knight's strength, Wood could gain the upper hand in a previously even fight against one of the Admirals.
After making his selection, a flash of light illuminated the room, and a long, entirely blue blade materialized in front of Wood, its tip firmly embedded in the deck.
Reaching out, Wood pulled the blade free, feeling a distinct chill in his hand as he held it. He could sense the blade's faint joy and familiarity.
After all, this was the weapon that had accompanied him in countless battles in another world. The sensation of holding it again was inexplicably heartwarming.
"Winter Knight, let's fight side by side in this world once more," Wood murmured.
Gripping the sword, he stepped out of the cabin and stretched. His eyes fell on Nico Robin, who lay on a deck chair, calmly reading a book.
When Robin saw Wood emerge from the cabin and look at her with an expression akin to seeing an old friend after years apart, she wasn't surprised.
Wood's simulated lives had become a routine. While only a few days or a week might pass in the Pirate World, Wood would spend years or even decades in the simulated world.
Such a vast difference in time often made Wood feel as though he was reuniting with old friends after a long separation, even though for them, only a few days had passed.
Robin, observant and intelligent, had long since noticed this peculiarity. However, she never questioned him about it because she understood that everyone had their secrets.
"It's been a while, Captain," Robin said with a gentle smile. "Finally done sleeping? The world outside has been in an uproar lately."
During Wood's simulated life, Ruth and Robin took turns keeping watch. Not only to prevent anyone from approaching but also to ensure they could immediately report the latest developments when Wood reemerged.
"So, what's the situation out there? The Marineford War hasn't started yet, has it?" Wood asked. Spending years in the world of "Akame ga Kill" had caused him to forget some of the events that had transpired just before he left.
"The execution of Fire Fist Ace is in two days. The Navy has forcibly summoned the Seven Warlords of the Sea for reinforcements. Meanwhile, the Whitebeard Pirates have been making significant moves, clearly unwilling to abandon their second-division captain."
Robin continued, "While you were meditating, both the Navy and the Whitebeard Pirates placed large orders for weapons, clearly preparing for the impending war. Fleet Admiral Sengoku even called once. I mimicked your voice to respond. He requested that you arrive at Marineford by today and explicitly ordered us not to supply weapons to the Whitebeard Pirates."
Wood had long anticipated such interruptions during his simulations. Thus, he had instructed Robin, his most trusted confidant, to use her Flower-Flower Fruit abilities to mimic his voice in case of emergencies.
"Sengoku is way too nosy," Wood scoffed. "I've been an undercover Navy agent for years and haven't seen a dime of pay. Now he's telling me not to do business? Ridiculous. Ignore him. Sell the Whitebeard Pirates as many weapons as they want, as long as they pay. We're arms dealers, not charity workers."
"As for the Navy's order, if they don't clear their outstanding balance, tell them to get lost."
Robin chuckled, her charming smile showing that she had expected this response. "I thought you'd say that. I've already taken care of it."
Wood blinked in surprise, then gave a satisfied nod. "Prepare a ship for me. Nothing too large. Just make sure it has a few fish-man sailors. I'm heading to Marineford."
"It's already prepared," Robin replied smoothly. "The ship is docked at the port, stocked with food and water. In addition to the fish-man sailors, Ruth and Perona are coming with you this time."
What else could Wood say? A competent assistant always seemed to predict his next move. Robin had already taken care of everything before he even opened his mouth.
"Oh? Ruth and Perona are coming along this time?" Wood mused with a grin. "In the past, you were always the one eager to tag along for such excitement."
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