One Piece: A Guide for Ordinary Players

A ring of sound-emitting devices was placed around the island, playing Uta's recorded songs continuously throughout the day. Anyone who entered the vicinity of Aregia Island would be affected by Uta's singing.

When Uta is awake, she will pull sailors near the island into a singing environment. Before the ceremony, the sailors will be controlled by Uta to turn their ships around. This is why there are legends in the surrounding waters about sirens using their songs to bewitch sailors.

When Uta is asleep, the singing can also make people dizzy and drowsy, and make it difficult for them to distinguish directions.

Even if someone notices there's something wrong with the sound and chooses to plug their ears, the turbulent currents and reefs around the island are difficult to avoid, which is why Uta reminds Karina to follow the guidance of the song.

In other words, to get closer to the island, one must be actively released from the illusion by Uta and then follow the guidance of the song to reach Eregia.

But Robert's keen observation skills allowed him to spot a large ship trailing far behind him. The pirates on board had their ears completely plugged and were communicating with each other using hand gestures.

Karina nodded solemnly in agreement, and the next second Robert had already transformed into lightning and appeared on the ship.

The people on the ship were startled by Robert's sudden appearance, but they quickly realized what was happening and, with fierce expressions, drew their weapons and surrounded him.

Robert laughed as he dodged the oncoming blade, about to unleash a powerful attack to wipe out the entire enemy team, when suddenly his vision blurred and Uta's angry face appeared before him:

"Hey, sir, please don't resort to violence."

Robert's face twitched. This Song-Song Fruit was a bit too much. Even though he was so strong now, having developed his Devil Fruit to the third stage and mastered two types of Haki, he had no power to resist at all.

Of course, looking back, when Uta was preparing his world-destroying plan two years later, Luffy's entire crew, having graduated from Onigashima, were powerless to resist, so it all makes sense.

“Girl, I’m protecting you. These people are following us with their ears plugged. It’s obvious they’re after you. Now you’re pulling me into the Song Environment. They can’t hear the singing and can’t get in. Haven’t you considered whether I’ll die?”

Uta pouted: "You're alright. They're trying to cut you, but your body is acting strangely. Their knives have all gone right through you. How about this, I'll control your body to avoid them and swim ashore."

Robert screamed in terror, "No! Please don't! Just let me stand here and take the hits! I'm a Devil Fruit user too! They can't kill me if I stand still, but if I jump into the sea, you'll really get me killed!"

Uta stuck out her tongue, then suddenly her expression changed: "Why is he here again! Um... what's your name?"

Robert was confused by her words: "My name is Robert D. Nelo. What's going on outside? I can't see and I'm very worried."

Uta, looking furious, asked, "Are you good at fighting?"

Robert frowned and thought for a moment: "I guess I'd consider myself pretty good."

Uta looked conflicted: "Can I beat Shanks? I don't need to beat him, just his henchmen. By the way, do you know Shanks?"

Even though Robert knew the plot well, he didn't know what Uta was up to: "I do know Shanks, but I definitely can't beat him. As for his subordinates, it depends on who they are. I probably can't beat people like Beckman either, but apart from a few top-notch executives, the rest of the Red-Haired Pirates combined are probably no match for me."

Uta gritted his teeth and said, "You're Karina's friend, can you do me a favor?"

Robert thought to himself, "You have me completely under your thumb, do you still need my help?"

But Robert said, "Of course, you're Karina's friend, so you're my friend. It's my duty to help a friend."

Uta nodded and said, "Alright, someone I don't want to see has come outside. Help me drive him away."

Robert wouldn't let such a good opportunity to get closer to her slip away. Uta still harbors resentment towards Shanks for leaving her here, even though she now knows that she was the one who caused the destruction of Eregia, and she's still sulking with Shanks.

Considering her question just now, it's likely that the person she doesn't want to see is someone sent by the redhead to protect her.

The scenery changed in an instant, and Robert woke up. In the short time it took to exchange a few words with Uta in the illusion, the pirate ship following behind them had been riddled with holes.

A giant over three meters tall was standing on the deck looking at him. In Robert's perception, there were only two living people left on the ship: himself and the giant.

“Robert D. Neru, why are you here? I need an explanation.”

Robert boarded Shanks' ship twice but never saw this man, so he probably wasn't in the group that he couldn't beat.

"You know me?"

Robert had been using a disguised form while sailing at sea, a form quite different from his previous self, but he never expected that this burly man would recognize him at a glance.

“I recognized your Devil Fruit ability. I know you’re not dead. I was there when we went to Marineford to meet you. I’m Gob, a combatant in the Red-Haired Pirates.”

Robert had no recollection of this marginal figure in the Red-Haired Pirates. He nodded and said, "I'm here with a friend. What, is the East Blue also under the jurisdiction of the Four Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks? Do I need to explain this to you?"

Although Gobu was a big, burly man, he was not a brainless brute: "The East China Sea is so big, we have no objection to you going to other places, but you can't mess with Uta, she is our companion."

Robert glanced at the huge headphones he was wearing: "Since you're a comrade, why don't you dare take them off? Your comrade just said he didn't want to see you and asked me to drive you away. By the way, how are you hearing me while wearing headphones?"

Gob ignored Robert's pointless question: "You're a dangerous person. If you insist on bringing danger to Uta as well, then I'll have no choice but to kill you."

Robert squinted; in all his plans, there had never been an option of cooperating with Red Hair.

Shanks is hiding his true identity too well. Yesterday he was an apprentice on the Pirate King's ship, and today, with just a flashback, he's been given the identity of a Celestial Dragon.

Who knows what earth-shattering reversals will unfold in the future? Even if someone tells Robert that the one who actually stayed in the Knights of God is Shanks, and that the current Four Emperors of the Sea are Shanks in disguise, he wouldn't be surprised.

Since he had no intention of currying favor with Shanks, in order to win over a top-tier fighter like Uta, he had to stand on the opposite side.

"Young man, you're getting a bit too confident."

Without the slightest hesitation, Gob opened his mouth wide, and a sonic wave hurtled towards Robert.

Robert appeared in front of Gob at near the speed of light and delivered a powerful kick to his chest and abdomen, imbued with Armament Haki.

"Finally, I can use this move without taking any damage!"

Do you believe in light?

"Cosmic Battle Beast Gob!"

Chapter 19 I know better than anyone how to coax a teenager.

Gob is an important member of the Red-Haired Pirates and a veteran who joined the ship more than a decade ago. When he faced off against the Blackbeard Pirates at Marineford, he was matched up against the tyrannical King Pizarro.

Even a master of this caliber was sent flying backward by Robert's kick, crashing through two masts before finally regaining his footing.

The first combat skill Robert learned from Redfield was that you should never give your opponent a chance to breathe until the outcome is completely decided.

Before Gob could even get up, Robert had already arrived on horseback, and a powerful electric shock of millions of volts struck him hard.

Even this seasoned seafarer, with countless experiences in combat, was stunned by Robert's furious and relentless attacks.

He had never encountered an opponent like Robert before. Robert was so fast that he couldn't react at all, so strong that he couldn't resist him at all, and could also unleash devastating lightning attacks.

Gob only lasted a few seconds before losing consciousness to Robert's combined physical and magical attack. Before losing consciousness, his only thought was: "If you have the strength, why didn't you just fight the Navy head-on? Why go through all that trouble and fake your death?"

Robert was also a little confused. He had been intentionally reducing his use of his Devil Fruit powers in order to train his physical skills and Haki.

The main reason is that since leaving Redfield, he hasn't encountered any opponents he needs to take seriously. They've all been insignificant little guys that he could easily defeat even with just physical skills.

This was the first time Robert had encountered an opponent of the level of a core member of a Yonko crew since he had completed his studies. Fearing that he could not defeat his opponent, Robert really went all out. In addition to taking out his weapon and going for the kill, he used almost all of his most powerful attacks. Unexpectedly, this Gob was so easy to beat.

For a moment, Robert was in a daze, until he realized that Uta had pulled him into the illusion again.

"I only asked you to chase them away, why did you hit them so hard!"

Robert didn't blame Uta for being fussy. Ever since the girl was left here by the Red-Haired Pirates, she hadn't had much contact with outsiders, and she was simple-minded and straightforward.

"He's a combatant in one of the Four Emperors' crews, and he just said he wanted to kill me. I didn't know he was so weak. If I had known, I would have only used half my strength."

The next second, Gob appeared next to Robert. After a moment's thought, Robert realized that Uta must have controlled his body to take off his headphones.

The physical damage suffered in the real world is also reflected in the soul of the song's illusion. When Gobu was pulled into the illusion, he was extremely weak and even unconscious.

Uta hummed a wordless tune, and Robert felt incredibly relaxed, as if he were bathed in holy light. Gob, who had been unconscious, gradually awoke.

Uta was initially anxious when he saw Gobu injured, but by the time Gobu woke up, Uta had already put on a cold expression.

Gobu only reacted for a moment before giving a wry smile, realizing that he had been affected by Uta's abilities.

But when he saw Robert observing him with curiosity, he instantly turned fierce and said, "Uta! This man is dangerous, you are not allowed to have any contact with him!"

Uta was adopted by the Red-Haired Pirates when she was two years old. These veteran crew members watched her grow up, so they naturally had the kind of care that parents have for their children.

However, teenagers are the most rebellious. If Gobu had been more tactful, he could have used his relationship with Uta to advise her to be careful of a stranger she had only just met that day.

But the first thing he said was to give a commanding lecture, and Uta, who already harbored resentment towards the Red-Haired Pirates for abandoning him back then, became even more angry.

"Didn't you abandon me and leave? Why are you still monitoring me? He's my friend, what right do you have to stop me from making friends!"

With a wave of her hand, Uta hung Gob's projection from the fantasy world onto the sheet music: "Never appear in front of me again, and never interfere in my life!"

Uta looked at Robert: "I'll wait for you on the island. Don't worry about him. It's none of their business who I make friends with!"

Robert's soul returned to his body, glanced at Gob lying unconscious on the ground, manipulated the electricity to burn away the wounds on his body and stop the bleeding, and then transformed into lightning and flew towards the island.

Karina had already stopped the boat and looked worriedly at the sea. When Robert fought, there was lightning and thunder, and the sound and light effects were full of power. Even if you were thousands of meters away, you could see it clearly. She was relieved when Robert landed next to her with a relaxed expression.

"Why did it take you so long to arrive? Was it really necessary to make such a big fuss just to deal with some weaklings from the East China Sea?"

Robert shrugged: "Those who followed us were all dead before I even had a chance to fight them. I fought the people who killed them."

Karina is ruthless and merciless when it comes to deceiving strangers, but she is extremely concerned about her friends. Fearing that someone powerful might harm Uta, she hurriedly inquired about the details.

Robert patted her shoulder: "Don't worry, your friend is no ordinary person. That man was sent by her father to protect her, but..."

“He is not my father. No father would abandon his daughter and leave for more than ten years.”

Uta approached from afar; this time, she wasn't in the fantasy world.

Robert already knew Uta was coming, but he didn't expect her to harbor such deep resentment towards Shanks. He shrank back and didn't say anything more.

Karina and Uta then engaged in another round of joyful and affectionate interaction, seemingly having endless things to talk about, completely leaving Robert aside.

Robert listened quietly, and the two didn't hold back in their conversation. He quickly figured out how the two had met.

Uta had never been anywhere on this island. In the early years, the Red-Haired Pirates patrolled the area and protected her from all dangers.

As Uta grew older and his Devil Fruit powers increased along with his singing skills, Gordon, who was Uta's teacher and caretaker, began to guide Uta in building a protective net around the island. The Red-Haired Pirates then went into hiding.

Uta has not had any contact with the outside world for more than a decade, and Gordon was afraid that she would become completely withdrawn, so he would constantly bring her newly released songs from all over the world, including Karina's works.

Karina wasn't lying; she really was Uta's idol, and it was Uta who took the initiative to contact her as a fan.

Later, Karina also grew fond of this younger sister whose singing talent far surpassed her own and who was also innocent-hearted. So she continued to help her with music. Even recently, Uta started releasing songs and making a name for herself around the world, all thanks to Karina's help.

After a long while, Karina seemed to remember Robert and quickly introduced him to Uta: "This is my...very good friend. You won't mind if I bring him to meet you without permission, will you?"

Uta looked intently at Robert: "Gob said you're a very dangerous person. What brings you here?"

Karina looked at Robert with some concern when she saw that Uta had asked such a direct question.

Robert showed no embarrassment: "I originally just heard about your musical talent and wanted to get to know this future superstar, but after witnessing your Devil Fruit ability, I actually have some things I'd like to ask you for help with."

Uta showed no displeasure at all that Robert wanted her help on their first meeting, and readily nodded, saying:

"What do you want me to do for you? You didn't refuse when you helped me earlier, so I'll help you."