Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

"This, this, this, this...!"

On the rooftop of the building, Jackie Chan's mouth hung open in shock. His eyes widened as he pointed at Jade below, struggling to form a coherent sentence. He stuttered for a long moment but failed to get the words out.

He knew about Rankyaku(Tempest Kick).

After all, Jade had gone on and on about the Navy's Six Powers during their journey.

But to Jackie Chan, all those flashy techniques seemed far-fetched—nothing more than exaggerated stories. So he never took them seriously.

Until now…

Until he saw, with his own eyes, a green energy slash erupt from Jade's foot. His entire understanding of reality shattered in that instant.

"It seems Jade has a pretty good grasp of it," Robin commented, far calmer than the stunned Jackie.

Unlike him, she wasn't surprised—only satisfied.

Even though Jade's power came from the Ox Talisman, managing to pull off a complex technique like Rankyaku after just a day of training and reinforcement was impressive.

In terms of raw combat ability, even in the One Piece world, Jade would be considered among the best!

If it weren't for the assistance of the system and the shopping mall, Robin herself would have needed years of training to master this move.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield below, Jade's unexpected display of power sent a wave of shock through the Black Shadow Gang.

Even Tohru—normally composed despite his large frame—stood frozen in disbelief.

As for Finn and his two lackeys? Their jaws were practically on the floor.

"YEAH!!"

The moment Jade landed, she let out an excited cheer, practically bouncing with joy.

She had actually pulled it off—she had unleashed Rankyaku!

And that meant…

The Six Powers of the Navy were real!

Which meant that One Piece, Devil Fruits—they weren't just stories! They existed!

A surge of energy rushed through Jade at the realization.

At the moment, Rankyaku was the only move she knew, but with the power of the Ox Talisman and her natural talent, she darted between the countless shadow ninjas, moving like a ghost.

In an instant, she passed through the Shadow Corps.

"Ah!"

"Ugh!"

"Agh!"

Three screams echoed through the night.

Jade stepped lightly off the faces of Finn's trio, using them as platforms as she elegantly soared past.

And yet…

What seemed like mere taps from her sent all three flying straight into the neighboring building's wall—like bowling pins getting obliterated by a perfect strike.

CRACK.

Large fractures instantly spread across the wall.

Not even half a second later—

BOOM!

The entire wall crumbled under the impact, leaving behind a massive hole where it once stood.

"This... damn brat!!!"

Tohru, who had already been struggling to process what was happening, completely abandoned rational thought.

Fueled by rage, he charged at Jade.

In another timeline, he might have eventually become Jackie Chan's disciple.

But right now?

He was still a top-tier mafia enforcer, personally recruited by Valmont himself.

Unfortunately for him—

He picked the wrong opponent.

"Hah! It's useless, you big fat guy!!!"

Jade smirked, her confidence soaring.

With the power of the talisman, she launched herself into the air.

"Let me show you the power of the future Pirate King!"

"Rankyaku—Moonlight!"

She shouted, swinging her right leg mid-air.

In an instant—

A massive crescent-shaped energy slash materialized, glowing under the moonlight with a chilling, deadly aura.

It shot toward Tohru with incredible speed.

"Dammit! Tohru will not lose!!!"

Unwilling to back down, Tohru roared in defiance.

Instead of dodging, he braced himself—spreading his massive hands apart in an attempt to catch the incoming slash.

BOOM!

A deafening shockwave exploded through the alley.

For a moment, it seemed like Tohru had succeeded.

He had caught Jade's Rankyaku.

But then…

A thin line of crimson trickled down from his palms.

A second later—

The Full Moon Slash intensified, cutting through Tohru's grip.

It tore past his hands and hurtled straight toward his chest.

Thankfully, despite his bulky frame, Tohru's reflexes were still sharp.

At the last second, he twisted his body, altering the trajectory of the attack just enough that it missed his vital organs.

Even so—

SPLURT!

Blood sprayed into the air like a fountain.

A massive, gaping wound opened across Tohru's torso.

"TOHRU!!!"

Finn and his two goons—who had just managed to crawl out of the rubble—screamed in horror.

Ignoring their own injuries, they sprinted toward their fallen comrade.

To their credit, there was a reason Valmont trusted these three.

Despite taking a direct kick from Jade earlier, they had suffered only minor injuries.

But seeing Tohru gravely wounded?

They didn't hesitate.

The Talismans didn't matter anymore.

Revenge didn't matter anymore.

All that mattered was getting Tohru out of there.

Without a second thought, they grabbed his unconscious body and fled—without even throwing a parting threat.

Meanwhile, Jade stood frozen in place, staring at the blood pooling beneath Tohru.

It was the first time she had ever seen real bloodshed.

Her hands trembled.

For the first time since the battle started, fear crept into her heart.

Minutes passed.

One by one, the remaining members of the Dark Hand Gang retreated.

Leaving behind only the remnants of battle.

The once-bustling alley was now eerily silent.

  ...

  ...

"Jade, what's wrong?"

Jackie Chan, having just been lowered from the rooftop by Robin, noticed Jade standing frozen in place, staring blankly ahead. Concerned, he quickly approached her.

"I..."

Jade's gaze was fixed on the pool of blood before her, her lips trembling slightly.

Without hesitation, she yanked the Ox Talisman from her belt and thrust it into Jackie Chan's hands, as if she were discarding something dangerous.

"Oh! This is too scary, Uncle Jackie! I... I didn't know it would turn out like this."

The adventurous little girl, who had always dreamed of epic battles and legendary heroes, was now coming face to face with the stark contrast between fantasy and reality.

Taking down the Shadow Ninjas hadn't fazed her.

But now—seeing that a single strike of hers had nearly killed someone—she felt an unfamiliar unease creeping in.

This was Tohru. If it had been an ordinary mafia thug, that attack would have sliced them in half without question.

Jackie Chan immediately understood what she was feeling.

He reached out, gently ruffling her hair, and spoke in a soft, reassuring voice.

"Jade, realizing the weight of power... that makes me proud of you."

"It means you haven't become a slave to it. You still have a heart that understands responsibility."

"You did hurt someone, but I don't blame you for it. Just be more careful from now on."

Robin, descending gracefully beside them like a figure from a fairy tale, smiled at Jade.

"Jackie's right."

"Acknowledging the dangers of power is the first step to becoming truly strong."

"It looks like my disciple hasn't disappointed me after all~"

Under Robin's gentle gaze, Jade's inner turmoil gradually settled.

She glanced around at the aftermath—the cracked walls, the debris, the undeniable proof of her strength.

Her fear was slowly replaced by something else.

Was all this... really done by me?

Actually… this is kind of cool!!!

A familiar mischievous glint returned to Jade's eyes, and the corners of her lips curled into a smile.

Jackie Chan and Robin exchanged glances.

Unlike Robin, who seemed pleased, Jackie's expression was a mix of relief... and helpless resignation.

God knows what expression Jade mother will have when she sees Jade now.

Meanwhile…

A heavily modified armed aircraft lifted off from an empty lot outside town, soaring toward the Dark Hand Gang's base.

Inside the cockpit, the seemingly clumsy Ratso expertly navigated the controls, piloting the aircraft with practiced ease.

In the cabin, Finn and Chow worked hastily, tending to Tohru's injuries with a variety of medical tools.

Despite the deep gash on his chest, the wound was hardly life-threatening to someone like Tohru.

Within minutes, they had disinfected and sutured him up.

As the needle worked through his skin, Tohru slowly regained consciousness.

The group exchanged glances but remained silent, each lost in their thoughts.

Even though their boss, Valmont, was surprisingly forgiving of failure, none of them wanted to let him down.

One thing was clear—

Magic was a terrifying force beyond their control.

If they wanted the talismans, they needed a new plan.

For now, the only sounds in the cabin were the steady hum of the engines and the rhythmic thumping of the rotor blades slicing through the night air.

No one noticed the mysterious figure hidden behind a supply crate in the cargo hold.

The aircraft touched down on the grounds of a sprawling private estate.

As soon as the hatch opened, a waiting medical team rushed forward, swiftly loading the injured Tohru onto a transfer vehicle for further treatment.

Meanwhile, Finn, Ratso, and Chow made their way toward a lavish, gold-adorned office.

Inside, Valmont—clad in a sharp green suit—sat behind an ornate desk, his back framed by an enormous, gilded painting.

As the trio stepped inside, looking utterly disheveled, Valmont immediately stood up, his brows furrowing.

"What? Failed again?!"

He couldn't believe it.

These were men who had worked under him for years—criminals who had spread fear across the country, slipping through Interpol's grasp time and time again.

And yet…

They had now failed twice against a mere archaeology professor?!

Even with Tohru and a squad of Black Shadow Ninjas backing them up?!

This was unacceptable.

"Boss, we didn't stand a chance!" Finn whined, rubbing his bruised arms. "They have too many tricks!"

"First, there's this woman who can just—float in midair! You can't even touch her!"

"Then, some little girl dropped from the sky and—bam! She kicked out a slash of energy like something out of a martial arts novel!"

"Boss, we're just normal guys! How the hell are we supposed to fight that?!"

Ratso and Chow nodded fervently in agreement.

Valmont's expression darkened.

"Floating in midair? Energy slashes like in a novel?" He scoffed. "Do you even hear yourselves right now?!"

His patience was running thin.

Failures, he could tolerate.

But lies?

That was something he would not accept!

At that moment, a mysterious voice echoed through the room.

"I can prove that what they said is true."

"Who's there?!"

The sudden voice put Valmont and Finn instantly on edge.

Before they could react further, a series of pale, ghostly arms sprouted from the floor at the center of the room. The limbs intertwined, rising upward like sculpted vines until they took the shape of a person.

The figure was draped in a flowing, alluring purple cheongsam, a feathered fan in one hand, emitting a faint mist of violet energy. A strange cat-faced mask obscured their features, revealing nothing about her identity—aside from the distinctly feminine curves beneath the cheongsam.

"Who are you?!"

Valmont's instincts screamed danger. His muscles tensed as his hand crept under his desk, fingers brushing against the pistol hidden inside. If this uninvited guest made a wrong move, he was ready to act.

But before he could pull the weapon, the mysterious woman tilted her head slightly, her voice slipping into his mind like a whisper from another realm.

"No need to be so tense, Mr. Valmont."

"I mean you no harm."

As she spoke, she flicked her wrist gracefully.

A pale white arm suddenly emerged from the desk, reaching toward Valmont's elbow. Before he could react, it opened the drawer and retrieved the pistol, placing it on the table in plain sight.

The woman let out a soft chuckle.

"Let's skip the tedious formalities and get straight to the point."

"I am a dimensional merchant—one who traverses different worlds, seeking opportunities. Upon arriving in this realm, I found little of true value… but I did find potential."

"And for that, I require a business partner."

Her voice carried a playful yet unmistakably authoritative tone as she leaned slightly closer.

"Tell me, Mr. Valmont, would you care to be my partner?"

A Dimensional Merchant? A Partner?

Valmont narrowed his eyes.

Despite the otherworldly abilities she had displayed, he remained outwardly calm.

His mind, however, was working at lightning speed.

After a moment of silent calculation, he finally spoke.

"How do I know you're telling the truth? And more importantly… what do I stand to gain from this?"

The mysterious woman chuckled softly.

"Proof?"

She didn't elaborate. Instead, she merely lifted a slender hand—then snapped her fingers.

Snap.

In an instant, an overwhelming flood of knowledge surged into Valmont's mind.

It was like a river of information had broken through a dam, pouring into him effortlessly.

Everything.

Everything he needed to know. Everything he never even thought possible.

His vision blurred as his knees nearly buckled. He gripped the desk for support, his breathing uneven.

"Boss!"

Finn and the others rushed forward, alarmed by his sudden unsteadiness.

But before they could reach him—

"Stay back!"

Valmont's voice rang out sharply as he raised his head. His expression was one of utter disbelief.

What he had just experienced…

This was beyond magic!

This was beyond anything he had ever imagined!

If this information was real—and not some elaborate illusion—

Then he was about to become a very, very rich man!

His lips slowly curled into a grin.

With a newfound eagerness, he stepped out from behind his desk and strode toward the mysterious woman.

Then, without hesitation, he lowered his head slightly in a respectful bow.

"I had no idea a merchant from another dimension had graced us with their presence."

"Forgive my lack of hospitality."

As he spoke, he subtly signaled to his subordinates.

Though hesitant, Finn and the others trusted their leader implicitly. Slowly, they followed suit, bowing their heads in respect.

A soft, amused laugh escaped the mysterious woman.

Despite their newfound reverence, her demeanor remained unchanged—still composed, still enigmatic, still untouchable.

"I take it you no longer doubt me?" she mused.

"Then, Mr. Valmont, I'll ask once more—do you wish to be my collaborator in this world?"

"Yes!!!"

Valmont answered without a moment's hesitation.

A lesser man might have still questioned reality.

But Valmont was no ordinary man.

He was a criminal mastermind—the kind that kept the world's law enforcement awake at night.

A man who could rebuild his worldview in an instant if it meant seizing an opportunity!

And this…

This was the greatest opportunity of his life!