The wave of information passed as quickly as it came, but the message was clear. Now I knew exactly how to grow stronger. The logic was absurd, but I had no reason to doubt it.
I set that revelation aside for now and focused on the present. Makino was there, behind the counter, arranging some bottles. Her gaze was gentle, her posture relaxed. Her presence fit perfectly with the bar's cozy atmosphere.
I approached the counter and pulled a few coins from my pocket. The money came from the bandits who had tried to rob me but ended up dead in the process. In the end, it was a terrible day for them and a great one for me.
"A drink," I said, tossing the coins onto the polished wood.
Makino took the money and gave a slight smile.
"Rum or sake?"
"Rum."
She calmly poured the drink and slid the wooden mug toward me. I took a sip. Strong, but pleasant.
"I've never seen you around here," she said, wiping a glass with a cloth. "Visiting someone?"
"Just passing through," I replied, keeping my tone casual.
She nodded, asking no further questions. It was clear that Makino was the kind of person who knew when to respect someone's space.
The comfortable silence was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Two men walked in, laughing about some random conversation. One of them glanced at me briefly but quickly turned his attention to Makino.
Apparently, I wasn't worth much notice. Better that way.
I kept drinking, mentally planning my next moves. I had to think carefully about how to handle this new condition. This world was dangerous, and power was the only guarantee of survival.
And now, I knew exactly how to get more.
---
The rum burned on the way down, but I barely noticed. My hands gripped the wooden mug, fingers running over its rough surface, but my mind was elsewhere. Something strange had happened.
When I saw Makino, a wave of information flooded my head. It wasn't just recognition or memory, it was something beyond that. As if the knowledge had simply been inserted into my mind.
The first thing I understood was that I could become stronger. Not just that, I would become stronger. My body would evolve in a way that made no sense. But the truly bizarre part was how.
By getting women in this world pregnant.
But not just any woman. It only counted if she had appeared in the One Piece anime, manga, or movies.
I rested an elbow on the counter and took a deep breath.
The power I had gained upon arriving here was already absurd. Creating loyal shadows from the dead, commanding them, using them to fight… But now this? Each pregnancy wouldn't just make me physically stronger, it would also expand my army. Five extra shadow slots every time.
It was simply ridiculous.
The question was, why?
My mind wandered. I wasn't born with these abilities. They had simply appeared. That meant something had given me this power. But what? An entity? Some unknown force?
I spun the mug between my fingers. Whatever it was, it had put me on this path and set the rules. Power in exchange for offspring.
I lifted my gaze to Makino as she served a table, moving with the calm ease of someone who had seen it all and still kept a warm smile.
Maybe this was a test. Or a game.
Whatever it was, I needed to confirm if it was real. And she seemed like a good place to start.