One Piece: A Guide for Ordinary Players

Karina's eyes were only on the gold, and she clung to Robert, pleading with him.

Robert had only intended to tease Karina, so he put his hand on her and the two of them instantly appeared on the deck of the Ark of Proverbs.

Karina's lifelong dream was to become rich, and seeing the enormous ship, which was 70% made of gold, she felt a sense of unreality.

"Boss, where did you get this kind of treasure? Am I dreaming?"

Robert sat on the throne-like main seat: "Kalina, I promised you that if you joined my team, I would lead you to wealth. This ship is just an appetizer; we will have much more wealth to come!"

Karina pressed her face tightly against the magnificent ark: "Boss, my life is yours now! Just tell me what to do from now on, and I'll do whatever you say!"

Robert took out the two seashells that Shanks had given him from his spatial storage. He hadn't had a chance to see what the so-called legacy Whitebeard had left him was, but now he could take a look.

Robert had been to Sky Island before and immediately recognized this as a Sky Island Shell. He took out a shell with his name on it, pressed the top of the shell, and Whitebeard's image was projected onto it.

"Robert, I should be dead by the time I see this footage."

"You told me so many alarmist things back then, and I didn't have time to deal with them all. Since you raised the issue, I'll leave it to you to handle."

"I admit that you said Marco and the others couldn't support the future of the Whitebeard Pirates, and that my old rivals would definitely come after me after I die."

"So I agree with your proposed solution, which is to find a backer for these good-for-nothing kids and give them time to grow."

"Back then, I also joined someone else's pirate crew. Although the old guys on that ship were not as good as me, they were still quite capable."

"Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, whom you mentioned, were both my former comrades. How about that? Surprised?"

"But you don't need to consider these two. I spoke with them privately a few days ago, and it would be good enough if they didn't kick me when I'm down."

"There are a few other strong individuals on board: Golden Lion Shiki, Silver Axe Fierce, Gan Zhui, Gil Bastard..."

“These people have all received favors from me in some way. If I find any one of them and show them the other shell, they should all agree to help me take care of my sons for a while.”

"As for you, the development of the fruit has always been a matter of personal choice. However, in terms of combat skills, you are as weak as an unevolved monkey. Whoever you find, learn from them."

"This is both the task I'm giving you and the greatest legacy I'm leaving you."

The image of the white-bearded man laughing heartily vanished into thin air. Robert couldn't help but wipe the corner of his eye. This old man, whom he had only known for less than a week, certainly didn't treat him like an outsider.

A bitter smile appeared on his face, but he was afraid he wouldn't be able to complete this task.

According to the timeline, Shiki the Golden Lion has already been defeated by Luffy and his crew, and it's currently unknown where he's being held by the Marines.

As for Gan Zhui and Gil Buster, they've already been turned into zombies by Moria. How indifferent is Whitebeard to news about his old friends?

That Silver Axe Fierce is said to be quite strong, after all, he can become the Golden Lion's mortal enemy, but where can he find the old man who has been missing for decades?

Karina gradually calmed down from her immense joy and approached Robert with a smile: "Boss, are we going to find those old friends that Whitebeard mentioned next?"

Robert shook his head: "If I could really find these people, I would definitely go and deliver a message for him, but the problem is that they are probably all dead, and I really can't do anything about it."

Karina sat down next to Robert: "So, what are we going to do?"

Robert placed his hand on the control lever, and the Ark Maxim slowly rose into the air. Robert, having awakened the power of the third stage of his Devil Fruit, was now able to drive the Maxim.

"Let's go see the Indians first, and then we'll formally say goodbye to Ace. Next, we should start building our own team. We can't let you and the Indians do everything."

Karina believed she knew Robert very well, and when he revealed his plan, he probably already had a clear objective in mind.

"I wonder who you've got your eye on this time. I'd like to know what these newcomers' roles are in the team?"

Robert smiled mysteriously: "What our team lacks most right now isn't people, but a mascot!"

Karina's expression was strange: "Is it like Chopper from Nami's team?"

Robert: Does it have to be like Chopper? How about a Mink bunny girl?

Chapter 3 Saving Private Little Luo

Robert never intended to become the Pirate King. No matter how arrogant the Celestial Dragons were, they couldn't do anything to him, and no matter how dark the World Government was, it couldn't affect him.

However, if you want to live a good life, it is essential to build a team. You can't do everything yourself and fly over to solve every problem that arises in a certain industry.

Therefore, Robert's next plan has to take two steps: first, to continue to strengthen his own strength, and second, to find a group of reliable teammates.

Karina was in a great mood, taking Robert's suggestion of finding a mascot as a joke. With so much gold on the Ark's Proverbs, she wasn't even in a hurry to take the empty promises Robert had made.

Robert found a secluded valley on the Red Earth and parked the Ark Maxim inside.

"Kalina, help me with my makeup. Let's go to the Sabaody Archipelago first."

Robert now has a better grasp of microscopic electron control. With a thought, his cheeks sag and his brows bulge, giving him a distinctly Eastern European appearance.

Karina simply trimmed his eyebrows and then took out a can of hair dye to dye Robert's hair brown. No one could recognize him by his appearance anymore.

When the two reappeared in the Sabaody Archipelago, their mindsets were completely different.

The last time he came, he was in a hurry. Robert was preoccupied with how to fight the Marineford War, while Karina was still hesitant about whether to follow Robert down the same path.

Things are different now. The two wandered around, looking at everything as if they were arriving at the end of the first half of this Grand Line for the first time.

Karina went out for a walk by herself, and when she came back, she was carrying many bags and packages.

Robert gentlemanly took the things from her hands, and Karina took his arm in return, and the two walked on intimately.

"All of this year's Supernovas have left Sabaody Archipelago for the New World. The area is now heavily guarded. I heard there was a mass breakout from Impel Down, and the Navy is trying to stop the pirates who want to go to the New World."

Robert looked relaxed: "Let's go straight to the Indian shop."

A clean and tidy restaurant is located on island number 42, far from the lawless areas numbered earlier, in the main commercial area of ​​the Sabaody Archipelago.

It was almost lunchtime, but the restaurant had a sign on its door saying it was temporarily closed.

The Indian man, looking absent-minded, sat behind the bar until Karina pushed open the shop door.

"I'm sorry about today..."

Upon recognizing Karina as the one who entered, Ah San quickly stood up, his voice trembling as he said, "Kalina... the master..."

Robert followed him into the store, smiling as he looked at Ah San: "What's wrong with me?"

Although Robert was much taller and more robust than when they last met, and his appearance had changed drastically, Ah San would never forget that voice.

"My lord! I knew you couldn't die so easily!"

Robert plopped down on the bar: "Come on, the look on your face just now clearly meant you thought I was dead, okay?"

The Indian man didn't know what to say, so he stood there wringing his hands.

Robert smiled and waved for him to sit down: "Hey, Indian, you're not new to following me. I'm terrified of dying, okay? Would I go to such a dangerous place as Marineford without a perfect plan?"

Ah San and Karina both kept their heads down and didn't speak. Ever since they met Robert, although he always said he was afraid of death, he did all sorts of things that were courting death.

"Even if I really die, does that mean you lot won't live either? Business still needs to be done, right? What about Da Luo and Xiao Luo?"

Reminded by Robert, the Indian man sprang back up from his seat.

"Sir! Little Luo has gone missing!"

Robert's heart skipped a beat. Although he thought he had cut ties with the Indians and their group fairly cleanly, their meetings in the Sabaody Archipelago had all taken place in secluded locations.

But at the time, my mind wasn't on them, so who could guarantee that no one with ulterior motives had secretly discovered anything?

"Don't panic. When did Ronaldo go missing? What about Ronaldo?"

Ah San said, "We just rented this shop and opened for business a few days ago when someone came to our door saying they wanted to buy our shop and have us work for them. I didn't agree. Yesterday, Xiao Luo went out to buy ingredients and never came back. It must have been those people who did it! Da Luo has already reported it to the police!"

Robert dared not lower his guard because of a few words from the Indian. At this sensitive time, right after the end of the Marineford War, his own employees had mysteriously disappeared. He was willing to prepare for the worst: this group was after him!

"What was the name of the person who initially wanted to buy the shop? Do you have their contact information?"

Ah San said bitterly, "They said if we come to our senses, we should go to Island One to find the disco owner. They also threatened that if we don't know what's good for us, they have ways to make us submit."

Robert was clearly taken aback. He hadn't even started plotting against Doflamingo yet, but his men had attacked his side first.

Robert couldn't remember which extra this disco was, but coincidentally, he was the one hosting the auction when he and Luffy caused a ruckus at the human auction a few days ago, so Robert instantly recognized him.

"This is my fault. I was too busy before and didn't have time for you."

Hearing Robert say that, Ah San was so moved that he almost cried. In his mind, this was the second time he had messed things up, but Robert had never blamed him.

"Sir, you should just give me a good scolding instead. Saying that will only make me feel worse."

Robert stood up and patted him on the shoulder: "This time it really can't be your fault. It's already quite impressive that you were able to run a snack shop to such a scale that people would miss it in such a short time. You guys aren't exactly combat-oriented, so in the end it's because I, the boss, failed to provide you with security."

He winked at Karina: "When Darrow comes back, do their makeup. Let's temporarily close for the day until I get back."

Ah San said, "Sir, what about Little Luo...?"

Robert smiled slightly: "I will go to rescue him. Don't worry, we'll be back soon. You guys put on your makeup and wait for my news elsewhere."

Without using the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's power, Robert walked out of the restaurant as usual.

Under a large tree across from the shop, two fierce-looking, burly men were staring intently at the restaurant entrance. Robert had noticed them from the very beginning.

"Hey, where did you take Luo?"

Seeing Robert walking straight towards them, the two showed no sign of panic:

"When I saw you go in, I thought you were a customer. But you don't seem that simple. What, are you a thug hired by that short guy inside?"

Robert, with an arrogant expression, said, "I'm a shareholder in this store. Why are you spying on us like this? Tell me, did you kidnap my employee?"

The two men's eyes lit up, and the leader grinned slyly: "You're a shareholder? So you know how to make those novel dishes too?"

Robert keenly sensed the other party's emotions, activated his Observation Haki, and vaguely felt that he could guess what the other party was thinking. It seemed that the two people in front of him were eager for him to give a positive answer.

Robert raised his chin: "I am a top-level chef from the East China Sea. I invented all the dishes in this restaurant. Who do you think you are to question me?"

The leading man grinned maliciously and stepped forward, punching Robert in the stomach.

Although he was a full head shorter than Robert, this punch sent Robert sprawling to the ground, clutching his stomach and retching repeatedly.

Another man stepped forward and punched Robert hard in the side of the neck. The two men then hoisted the unconscious Robert onto their shoulders, gave the onlookers a threatening look, and quickly left the scene.

Robert pretended to be unconscious and was quickly put onto a small boat by the two men.

They thought they would be taken to the population auction house on Island One, but unexpectedly, the small boat headed straight out of the archipelago and eventually stopped under a huge ship.

The two burly men gave a signal from afar, and as the small boat approached, a rope ladder and grappling hook were lowered from the side of the boat.

The two climbed the rope ladder onto the ship, while Robert, with his hands and feet bound, was lifted up by hooks like cargo.

“We’ve caught a big fish this time. Those two idiots only knew a few dishes each, but this guy is their boss. He claims to be a top-notch chef from the East China Sea, and he invented all those novel dishes. He’s sure to sell them for a good price!”