"Sanji, you're lucky. We made it back before Evolution Day."
In Piltover's harbor, you can see ships coming and going sporadically.
It may appear desolate, but in reality it is incredibly prosperous.
This is the Grand Line, and environmental limitations mean that connections between islands are not close. Whether it's a merchant ship, a passenger ship, or even a warship, they all have to risk great danger to navigate.
It is already quite remarkable that it has reached this scale.
"Evolution Day? What's that?"
"It's the kingdom's celebration. Although there are other festivals on ordinary days, this is the largest event. Pirates will be banned from entering the country a few days before the celebration begins."
The shipwrecks you saw earlier were from those reckless pirates who tried to force their way in.
"So that's how it is."
"It's about time we parted ways. I'll take you to register in a bit, and then someone else will make arrangements for you. You've probably been scolded a lot lately, but no one will say anything to you anymore."
Piltover doesn't tolerate idlers, including those who are rescued. Unless their injuries or illnesses are too severe, they all have to do something.
Sanji has been working as a kitchen helper these days.
Although it was physical labor, he really enjoyed the job. The captain originally only wanted him to wipe the deck and help with cleaning, but Sanji volunteered to help the ship's cook.
That's how he got criticized; the Sanji of today is no longer the highly skilled chef who cherishes food.
He cherishes food because in the original timeline, he and Zeff were stranded on a desert island and were so hungry that they were skin and bones.
It was through this experience that he realized the value of food.
Sanji's cooking skills are now mediocre, and he occasionally creates some disastrous dishes. He is also quite extravagant and wasteful.
This is also why the ship's cook would scold him. Long voyages are full of uncertainties, and even on familiar routes, there is no guarantee that you will arrive at the supply point on time.
A certain amount of reserves doesn't need to be deliberately conserved, but they also can't be wasted, otherwise, if an emergency occurs, the trouble will be huge.
Even though the Piltover ship had ample supplies and extra emergency food, the cook did not change this old rule.
Sometimes, there's nothing wrong with sticking to the old ways.
Sanji still looks down on the chefs' theories of thrift. Although Judge doesn't value him, he was originally a prince of the Germa Kingdom, and Judge didn't skimp on his food.
"It's alright, I've learned quite a lot."
Boom! Boom!
A tremor came from the ship, and the tall steel giant stepped onto the continental shelf and walked away along the coastline into the distance.
"That is..."
"His Majesty the King's invention, Piltover's national defense weapon, how about it, isn't it cool?"
Yes, yes.
Germa is also a technological kingdom, but the level of technological application in the two countries is completely different.
The most common thing that Germal's complex equipment does is clone soldiers, which also leads to a very complex composition of the Germal Kingdom's personnel.
Cooks, maids, scientists—these are all normal human beings, but the number of ordinary citizens is small; cloned soldiers are the majority.
Then there's the bloodline factor technology used on Sanji and the others; other than that, it's not commonly seen.
Sanji, being unaware of the existence of clones, felt little connection to the Germa Kingdom.
In terms of visual impact, even a giant snail that can climb walls and various small weapons cannot compare to this giant mecha.
"Don't just stand there. I'll take you to do the immigration registration, and then you can try your luck in the lottery. If you're lucky, you can even go up and experience it."
The captain was just being polite, after all, the odds of winning were actually quite low; it was basically a lucky draw.
After going through the process with Sanji, he actually won the lottery.
"You're really lucky, kid."
Looking at the winning lottery ticket in Sanji's hand, the captain was somewhat incredulous.
"I think I've always had really bad luck."
"That means your bad luck has come to an end. There's a saying in Piltover: luck is always conserved; no one is unlucky forever. Since you've made it here, your luck should be turning around."
What if someone is always lucky?
"Then let's pretend that didn't exist. Don't nitpick like that, you little brat! Alright, I'm going home now. See you again sometime."
After taking Sanji to his temporary lodging, the captain waved goodbye to him. These captains who sailed long distances usually worked for a few months and then rested for a few months, earning enough for a year's living expenses in one voyage.
A few months is a short time; after being apart for so long, the captain naturally wanted to go home.
I want to be free.
I hope to find happiness here.
[New life, keep going!]
Sanji wasn't the first person to live here. There were some reflections or goals written on the headboard of his bed, and even some slogans, as if it had become a kind of tradition.
I want to find ALL BLUE!
Sometimes, words can have a special effect. After thinking it over, Sanji added his own words to it.
The next day, he went to the designated location following the address on the lottery ticket. This lottery ticket also had another use: it could serve as a day's tram ticket to help people on the island get around.
"Master, today's lucky winner has arrived. Shall we let him in?"
"Bring it over. Wait, zoom in on the image."
Because Kate was accompanying Uta to the celebration, the person who delivered the message was replaced by Absalom. However, when Oran opened the video, he saw something familiar.
As the image in the Eizou Den Den Mushi was magnified, a curly eyebrow appeared in Oran's eyes.
"How did this guy get here?"
"The records show that he was a war orphan we found a few days ago when our merchant ship passed through the Kingdom of Kochia. Is there anything wrong with his identity?"
"It's nothing, just the son of an old acquaintance of mine. Bring him over, and then you can go about your own business."
"Yes, ma'am."
The palace in Piltover is much grander than that of the Germa Kingdom, after all, its design took Leriana's size into account to a great extent.
Sanji stood there, observing the almost floating palace above him. Since arriving in this country, he had been shocked more and more each time.
"Sanji, right? Come with me, His Majesty Oran is waiting for you."
While Sanji was still wondering why there was no one around this magnificent castle, he heard Absalom's voice.
"Who are you? How did you get here?!"
"You can call me Absalom. I am one of Lord Oran's most loyal subordinates. As for how I got here, I walked here, of course, but you just can't see it."
After all, I'm a user of the Clear-Clear Fruit.
Because Oran had previously mentioned that he was the son of an old acquaintance, Absalom said a few more words.
He could have come directly; his invisibility was just to show off in front of the kids.
However, upon hearing the words "Clear-Clear Fruit," Sanji's body visibly stiffened, and he almost tripped and fell.
"Did you eat the transparent fruit?"
Judge provided Sanji with excellent access to books and Devil Fruit illustrations from all over the world.
Besides All Blue, Sanji's other dream is to obtain the Clear-Clear Fruit.
On his second day in Piltover, Sanji's dream was shattered.
That's all for today, time to rest.
-------------------------------
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