Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

"It seems Kaido's patience over the past half year has finally paid off." 

One Piece World 

As Leo glanced at the hundreds of thousands of points that had suddenly appeared in his account, he accessed the system and quickly identified their source. 

He couldn't help but chuckle. 

Who would have thought... 

Kaido, a man known for his explosive temper, could endure for so long, biding his time in the Fairy Tail Guild for half a year. 

For months, Kaido had done little beyond making friends, with no visible progress in his plans. 

But now, the long wait had finally borne fruit. 

He had endured until the clouds parted, revealing the moonlight—finally, the investment was paying off. 

Fairy Tail World 

Although its ultimate combat power might not match the worlds of 'Bleach' or 'Reborn!', Fairy Tail's power system was impressively comprehensive. Its depth, popularity, and the diversity of its abilities far exceeded those two worlds. 

From humans to demons, dragons, monsters, and even gods... 

From elemental magic to summoning magic, time magic, and space magic... 

Leo was certain that this influx of hundreds of thousands of points was just the beginning. 

As Kaido grew alongside the Fairy Tail Guild and ventured into broader realms, the rewards he would reap would surpass ordinary comprehension. 

Whether it was points or the acquisition of magical techniques... 

Leo was genuinely excited about Kaido's future performance. 

"Do your best, Kaido!" 

With a satisfied murmur, Leo closed the system interface tracking Kaido's progress. 

Now, with the two newly appointed dimensional merchants—Kaido and Linlin—firmly established in their respective worlds, Leo's attention turned elsewhere. 

He focused on the pending world jump application from Enel. 

This application had been submitted three days ago, and Leo had spent that time selecting a suitable destination from the many dimensional coordinates at his disposal. 

Finally, he had chosen a world similar to 'Demon Slayer', one that Enel could investigate. 

Why not send Enel to larger worlds like 'Bleach' or 'Fairy Tail'? 

The answer was simple... 

Enel was too efficient for his own good, and that efficiency made Leo uneasy! 

Leo was convinced that if there were ever an award for "Best Employee," Enel would win it without contest. 

According to Enel's reports, he had already successfully established three small Pokémon worlds within the 'Demon Slayer' universe. 

These miniature worlds operated on a unique system. Their entrances opened sporadically, accompanied by subtle spiritual suggestions that guided worthy individuals toward them. 

Once inside, these individuals could bond with and acquire their own Pokémon. 

Though most of these Pokémon were considered "low-tier" and rarely exceeded Level 10 in strength, they represented significant power for ordinary people. 

The magical abilities of Pokémon were particularly noteworthy. 

Even Pokémon with limited potential carried innate knowledge of moves encoded in their DNA. 

As long as they grew to a certain level, they could naturally unlock these moves. 

Talent mattered little. 

A humble Caterpie could evolve into a Butterfree within a month. With a bit of training, it could master Poison Powder, Sleep Powder, and Stun Spore—skills capable of turning the tide of battle. 

When these seemingly weak Pokémon banded together into an army, their collective power became a force to be reckoned with. 

With the deployment of these three Pokémon worlds, Enel had exhausted all his resources in the 'Demon Slayer' universe. 

Now, with his work there complete, he was eager to move on to the next challenge. 

This strategy of reinvesting all his gains to support Leo's overarching plans was perfectly aligned with Leo's expectations. 

"Enel's dedication is remarkable," Leo mused, a hint of pride in his voice. 

So… 

Leo made his decision. 

He would find a world similar to 'Demon Slayer' for Enel, allowing him to continue expanding his Pokémon plan and carry on the tradition. 

Just like that… 

After three days of searching, Leo finally identified a suitable dimension. Without hesitation, he approved Enel's jump application and remotely activated the transfer, sending Enel to this new world. 

--- 

Wave~ 

A soft bubbling sound echoed. 

In a certain world, an outsider materialized out of thin air. 

Thud! 

A dull noise broke the silence of a deserted construction site, kicking up a cloud of dust. 

"Hm~" 

"Good thing I've learned from experience and came prepared," a man's voice emerged from the swirling dust, tinged with relief. 

As the dust settled, the dim light revealed a tall figure stepping forward. 

It was none other than Enel, the dimensional merchant who had just departed the 'Demon Slayer' world and arrived in this unfamiliar realm. 

Having recently completed his probationary period and earned his title as a full-fledged dimensional merchant, Enel was well-prepared for the challenges of interdimensional travel. 

He was clad in a full set of soft protective gear designed to minimize injury, even if he fell from a significant height. A Nichirin hung at his waist alongside a submachine gun of unknown origin. 

Though his equipment didn't guarantee complete safety, it provided him with considerable psychological comfort. 

However… 

His precautions seemed unnecessary this time. 

The construction site where he landed was eerily quiet, devoid of any apparent danger. 

After carefully surveying the area and confirming the absence of threats, Enel exhaled a deep sigh of relief. 

"Phew~" 

"Looks like I got lucky this time. Landed in a safe zone," he murmured, recalling his harrowing arrival in the 'Demon Slayer' world. That was an experience he never wanted to relive. 

"Alright, the usual plan!" 

"I'll stay hidden until I can become fully elemental." 

Speaking to himself in hushed tones, Enel scouted the area for a suitable hideout. He soon found a pile of building materials with several poorly stacked beams that formed a small hollow, just large enough for a person to crawl inside. 

The spot was dimly lit and partially obscured by shadows, making it an ideal hiding place. Without hesitation, Enel entered the space, curled up tightly, and hugged himself for warmth, resembling a pitiful beggar. 

If the traders who once revered the great and enigmatic Lord Enel could see him now—curled up like a stray dog in a dusty crevice—they would be utterly shocked, possibly losing their composure entirely. 

But Enel didn't care. 

After all, pride was secondary to survival. 

Determined to stay hidden until he gained sufficient power to protect himself, Enel resolved to remain in his makeshift shelter, avoiding any unnecessary risks. 

However… 

As the saying goes, "The tree desires calm, but the wind does not cease." 

Enel's determination to stay inconspicuous seemed to clash with the whims of fate. 

Just as he settled in, he heard footsteps approaching from a distance. 

A murmur of voices followed. 

Enel's ears perked up, and he strained to listen. Judging by the tones, the voices belonged to a man and a woman. 

But what an unfortunate coincidence… 

The pair happened to walk right past the wall that separated them from Enel's hiding spot. 

Enel frowned, his body tensing instinctively. 

Unbeknownst to him, the woman—a quiet girl with purple hair—glanced casually in his direction as she passed. A dangerous smile flickered across her lips. 

At that moment, the man's voice broke the silence, hesitating before speaking in a low, nervous tone: 

"Uh… Miss Rize, if possible, could we meet again sometime?" 

"Hm…" 

Enel, listening intently from his hiding place, couldn't help but feel a sudden release of tension. He let out a quiet sigh of relief. 

"What? So they were just a couple passing by?" 

"It seems I overreacted." 

"This place is so quiet and secluded, no wonder it's perfect for couples to confess their feelings," Enel mused. 

Almost instinctively, he perked up his ears, ready to eavesdrop. 

Even though he was now a dimensional merchant... 

Gossip... 

...was a primal instinct of all living beings. 

No one could resist its pull—not even a self-proclaimed [God]. 

And Enel wasn't just content with listening. He began to secretly speculate on the couple's next moves. 

After all, waiting for his powers to recover was tedious. A bit of entertainment wouldn't hurt to pass the time. 

"Hm… For a girl to come to such a remote spot with a boy, she must feel comfortable and safe with him." 

"Their slow pace suggests neither wants to end this moment of solitude anytime soon." 

"That means this young man's confession is sure to succeed!" 

Though Enel had no personal interest in romance, his time spent spying on others' lives back on the Sky Island had made him quite adept at analyzing human behavior. 

And, just as he expected… 

After the boy spoke, a soft, sweet voice responded from the other side of the wall: 

"Kaneki-kun, we share so many similar tastes in books and are the same age. We really have a lot in common, don't we?" 

As she spoke, a train passed by in the distance. Its flickering lights illuminated the scene with a haunting contrast, as though blending light and shadow into a realm of Yin and Yang. 

The boy, Kaneki Ken, appeared visibly moved, nervously looking at the girl as his emotions caught in his throat. 

True to Enel's prediction, the pair seemed to hit it off quickly. Before long, the girl fell into Kaneki's arms. 

"Well, there go two more singles off the market," Enel muttered, using the slang he had learned from Leo. A satisfied, almost maternal smile spread across his face. 

However… 

Just as he thought the conversation might veer into something inappropriate for young ears, the situation took a sudden and chilling turn. 

"Ahhhh!!!" 

Kaneki's joyous embrace turned into a blood-curdling scream, piercing the silence. 

The sound jolted Enel, who had been enjoying the drama, into alertness. 

From the other side of the wall came the girl's voice, now crazed and dripping with malice: "So delicious!" 

Her tone, so sweet and shy just moments before, was now utterly deranged. 

"No way… Is this another world of cannibalism?" 

A cold shiver ran down Enel's spine as he instinctively gripped his weapons—one hand on his blade, the other loading his gun. He prepared himself for action, his mind racing. 

Fully equipped and on guard, he let out a bitter chuckle. 

What was happening now on the other side of the wall was clearly not the "inappropriate" scene he'd anticipated. 

It was something much, much worse. 

On the other side, the girl—Rize—began speaking again, her words twisted and horrifying: "Kaneki-kun, there's something I love even more than reading." 

"And that's ripping out the insides of those who try to escape… savoring every bite while admiring their terrified expressions!" 

Splat! 

A burst of blood sprayed into the night, illuminated by the moonlight. Its vivid red shimmered with a haunting beauty, almost surreal in its danger. 

But the blood didn't come from Kaneki Ken. 

It was from Rize herself. 

From her tailbone, a long, crimson tail had erupted, sharp and menacing. 

Kaneki, his face filled with despair and disbelief, tried to defend himself, but Rize only laughed, her wicked grin perfectly matching her monstrous form. 

"Wahahaha…" 

"Run, Kaneki-kun. Run as far as you can before I catch you~" 

"Oh, and by the way…" 

"The little eavesdropper on the other side of the wall—yes, you!" 

"Run too!" 

"Once I'm done with Kaneki-kun, I'll come find you next!" 

"...!" 

"She's spotted me?!" 

The bitter smile on Enel's face deepened as he realized the predicament he was now in. 

He, who had initially felt a fleeting sense of fortune, quickly emerged from the small hole. 

"What an unbelievably unlucky guy I am," he muttered under his breath. 

"To think I'd travel to two worlds in a row and both would be full of cannibals…" 

Without any hesitation, Enel sprang into action. 

Listening closely to the commotion on the other side of the wall, he could tell that the boy had started running for his life. 

Meanwhile, the cannibalistic girl was in relentless pursuit, her scarlet, oversized tail lashing out like a predator toying with its prey. 

"She seems way more interested in him than me… lucky break," Enel quipped bitterly before scaling the nearby pile of building materials to get a better view. 

From his higher vantage point, the grim scene became clear: the boy was already drenched in blood. 

With such an ordinary human physique, it was obvious that he wouldn't last much longer. 

"Damn it! Can't you hold out just a little longer!?" 

Muttering a curse under his breath, Enel leapt down from the pile and dashed in the opposite direction without a second thought. 

Based on the strength the girl had displayed earlier, she wasn't exceptionally powerful—probably no stronger than a level 20 opponent in gaming terms. 

If he could just keep running for an hour and regain his elemental powers, he was confident he could take her down. 

But there was no time for calculations now... 

Driven by the will to survive, Enel pushed his body to its absolute limit. 

However... 

Just as he managed a few strides, an earsplitting crash reverberated through the area. 

Bang! 

Enel didn't stop running, but he instinctively glanced back. 

To his shock, he saw that a massive pile of steel beams had collapsed right where Rize had been toying with the boy. 

"..." 

After a brief moment of consideration, Enel decided against investigating further. 

Instead, he pressed on, sprinting toward the distant hum of activity. 

Soon, he arrived at a busy street bustling with people and vehicles. 

The vibrant energy of the place stood in stark contrast to the desolate construction site he'd just fled from. 

This had to be a safe zone. 

Enel, no stranger to ground vehicles thanks to Leo's basic lessons about low-tech worlds, recognized the cars zipping by as a common means of transportation. 

"Hah... Looks like I made it to safety," he murmured to himself. 

The peaceful expressions of the passersby reassured him. 

It didn't seem like cannibals were a pervasive threat in this world. 

Otherwise… 

That crazy woman wouldn't have specifically chosen an abandoned construction site to ambush Kaneki Ken. 

With that thought, Enel allowed himself to relax, exhaling deeply. 

But just as he was beginning to feel relief… 

The wail of sirens filled the air as several ambulances sped past him, heading in the direction of the construction site he had just fled. 

"Hm?" 

Enel frowned, sensing that something wasn't quite right. 

Still, this wasn't the time to get involved. 

He took a moment to memorize the symbols and text on the side of the ambulances. 

Then, without hesitation, his figure blurred as he disappeared into the bustling crowd, blending seamlessly into the street's anonymity.