Grand Line, Vacation Island.
This island, sandwiched between Drum Island and Small Garden, is the tacitly agreed-upon stopover for most pirates who have just entered the Grand Line.
Anyone with a normal brain wouldn’t pass up a comfortable life to dive headfirst into a primitive forest to feed the bugs, or run off to freeze in a land of ice and snow.
The entire island is a giant money-burning machine.
Casinos, taverns, brothels, and arenas stretch out in a continuous expanse, swallowing and spitting out Berries and desires day and night without rest.
Since the start of the Great Pirate Era, wave after wave of pirates have flocked here with their plundered wealth, squandering their short remaining lives in a drunken stupor, while also lining the pockets of the bosses behind the scenes.
Hundreds of meters above the dock, a silver figure was slowly descending.
Lucas carried a travel backpack on his shoulder, and with every step he took, a burst of white air waves exploded beneath his feet.
He walked with composure, as if beneath his feet was not empty air, but solid ground.
“Holy crap!
Is that Moonwalk?”
“Doesn’t look like it…
How could those Marines use it so gracefully?”
“Is that the point?
The point is that he’s way too handsome!”
The crowd on the ground instantly erupted, with discussions rising one after another.
This island has always welcomed all walks of life; pirates, Marines, and merchants are all mixed together.
Moonwalk isn’t exactly a rare thing; every few days, some hot-headed Marine would jump down from the deck using Moonwalk in public just to show off, drawing gasps of surprise.
The same technique, when used by different people, is worlds apart.
Those Marines’ Moonwalk looked as clumsy as a flapping duck; but this silver-haired youth before them looked like a deity strolling among the clouds.
Lucas ignored it all.
He landed steadily, casually pushed aside the crowd that had gathered to watch the commotion, and headed straight for the most impressive-looking hotel on the street.
The young lady at the front desk finished processing his check-in with a blushing face, her eyes glued to him, and she was still craning her neck longingly even after his figure disappeared at the end of the hallway.
The room was spacious and luxurious.
Lucas threw his backpack on the floor and flopped into the soft bed in a spread-eagled position.
The night he eliminated Wapol, he had left Drum Island overnight using Moonwalk.
Without a permanent log pose for the first half of the Grand Line, he could only rely on the most basic log pose to travel.
After the log pose was fully charged at Drum Island, the next destination it pointed to was this Vacation Island.
The hidden dangers in his body had been completely resolved, and now there were two paths before him:
Either recruit companions to build his own team and accumulate strength to deal with Golden Lion in the future;
Or, take advantage of the fact that he still had one Lineage Factor vacancy, finalize the third fruit first, and push his strength to the current limit.
Lucas closed his eyes, his fingers tapping the edge of the bed unconsciously.
After much thought, he chose the latter.
It’s never too late to recruit companions, but improving strength brooks no delay.
He went over his actions since he transmigrated in his mind once more, confirmed that he hadn’t altered the fate lines of those future companions, and only then did he set his mind at ease and fall into a deep sleep.
When he opened his eyes again, it was deep into the night outside the window.
Having been still for too long, Lucas felt restless and put on his coat to head out.
Not long after, a brightly lit casino came into view.
In the center of the main entrance, a lifelike rose was carved.
“Another one of Dufield’s properties.
This old guy’s business really is huge.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
On the way to Drum Island, he had specifically looked into the background of the Fukujin Conglomerate.
This rose was the logo of the Fukujin Conglomerate.
Dufield loved to decorate all his properties with roses, from hotels to casinos, from merchant ships to banks—it was everywhere.
He thought about it, and in the end, he stepped inside.
He happened to be running low on Berries, so he came in to restock.
Of course, he wouldn’t gamble.
Actually gambling would likely just be throwing money away; he hadn’t touched gambling while in the Country of Wild either.
But who said you have to win money by gambling to enter a casino?
This is a world where strength is respected.
Pushing open the heavy doors, the noise rushed toward him.
In the smoke-filled hall, gamblers stared at the tables with bloodshot eyes, and roars, curses, and cheers interwove into a chaotic din.
Dealers wore professional fake smiles, methodically dealing cards and shaking dice.
Lucas’s arrival didn’t cause any ripples.
Everyone was busy trying to make money and had no time to care about a new guest.
He raised his hand, his Conqueror’s Haki already primed and ready.
Knock everyone out, sweep up the money from the cashier, simple and efficient.
Just then, his gaze suddenly froze.
On the other side of the gambling table stood a tall woman.
Her fiery, wavy long hair hung down to her waist, her green eyes carried a lazy smile, her wheat-colored skin glowed with a healthy luster under the lights, and she wore a skimpy red skirt that outlined her perfect curves.
Baccarat.
A Paramecia-type Luck-Luck Fruit user.
Lucas recognized her at a glance, and an idea instantly formed in his mind.
He withdrew the Haki he was about to unleash, a playful smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and he strode over.
“Miss, could you share some of your luck with me?”
He leaned down, close to Baccarat’s ear, “I want to play a few hands here.”
Baccarat was stunned for a moment and slowly turned her head.
When she saw Lucas’s face clearly, a flash of admiration crossed her eyes, but she immediately returned to that charming yet aloof demeanor, her red lips curving slightly: “Handsome, my luck isn’t so easy to use.
You might not be able to afford the price.”
She didn’t know how this stranger had seen through her ability, but she didn’t want to harm him.
In Dufield’s casino, winning small amounts was fine, but if you really won too much, you would die.
This handsome man, who clearly didn’t look like an ordinary person, didn’t need to fall here.
Lucas didn’t respond.
He stepped forward and, without a word, grabbed her fair palm and pressed it against his solid pectoral muscles.
“Do you think I can afford this price?”
A scorching masculine aura rushed toward her, and Baccarat’s face turned red in a “whoosh”.
She was both shy and annoyed, and just as she wanted to pull her hand back and call him a “scoundrel”, she looked up and bumped into those azure blue eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat.
“I have a proposal.”
Lucas struck while the iron was hot, “You are responsible for giving me luck, and I will handle any trouble that arises.
We’ll split the winnings, you get thirty percent.
How about it?”
Baccarat pursed her lips and gave him a quick once-over.
Tall, fit build, steady gaze—he looked like a ruthless character who had spent years fighting and killing.
His strength shouldn’t be too bad.
Even if the worst happened, she could still escape unscathed relying on the Lucky Lucky Fruit.
A few seconds later, she lifted her chin and revealed a brilliant smile.
“Deal.”