05
At daybreak, Jack turns to Reed and suggests, "We should split up."
Reed raises an eyebrow and asks, "Why do you want to split up?"
Jack replies casually, "I have something I want to try."
Reed hesitates for a moment, feeling like Jack might be up to something questionable, but eventually shrugs it off and heads toward the village.
As he walks, Reed contemplates his next steps. "I should probably find a way to get some money," he mutters to himself, his thoughts wandering to potential schemes or opportunities in the village.
Jack POV
I watch Reed head off toward Foosha Village, his figure growing smaller with every step. Once he's out of sight, I take a deep breath, steadying my thoughts.
"Alright, time to get moving," I mutter under my breath.
After a moment, I start walking in the same direction Reed went, my mind running through the things I plan to try once I reach the village.
When I arrive at Foosha Village, I avoid the obvious main entrance. Instead, I take a detour to the side, where fewer people seem to gather.
The quieter area offers better cover, making it easier for me to move unnoticed. I scan my surroundings, noting the lack of activity here compared to the main street. "This should do," I mutter, feeling more comfortable in the relative seclusion.
"I don't have to do this," I mutter under my breath, the words feeling heavier with each step. Still, my feet carry me toward a house near the edge of the village.
The place looks quiet, with no signs of anyone nearby. I hesitate for a moment, glancing around to make sure no one is watching. My hands clench into fists as doubt flickers in my mind.
"Just check... that's all," I whisper, trying to convince myself as I inch closer to the house.
"That's right, I'm just testing a theory," I repeat quietly, trying to steady the unease bubbling inside me.
My steps slow as I near the house. The closer I get, the louder my thoughts become.
I keep my eyes darting around, scanning for any movement or sign of someone nearby. Testing a theory. That's all it is. Nothing more.
I arrive at the front door, standing there for a moment as my heart pounds in my chest.
Taking a deep breath, I raise my hand and knock firmly, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet surroundings.
My mind races, but I remind myself again, just a theory. Now, all I can do is wait for a response.
I hear the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from behind the door. A moment later, it creaks open, revealing a young woman, likely in her early twenties, with a cautious yet curious look on her face.
"Hello? Can I help you?" she asks, her eyes quickly scanning me up and down.
I swallow hard, trying to maintain my composure. This is just a test. Stick to the plan.
After a brief moment of silence, she asks, "Hello?"
Snapping out of my thoughts, I manage to respond, "Oh, sorry about that. I was just wondering if you might have some water to spare. I've been traveling for a while and... didn't really plan ahead too well."
Her expression softens slightly, though there's still a trace of caution in her eyes. "Water? Sure, just a moment," she says before stepping back inside, leaving the door partially open.
I take another deep breath, pushing aside any lingering doubts, and step inside, closing the door softly behind me.
She returns with a glass of water, her confusion evident as she notices I've closed the door. "Uh, why'd you come in and shut the door?" she asks, eyeing me warily.
I remain silent, my focus on her as I slowly step forward. Her eyes widen in surprise, and she begins to take slow, cautious steps backward.
The tension in the room thickens as she seems unsure of what I'm doing.
I quietly activate my second move, [Sticky Grain Trap], on a small scale.
The rice grains quickly spread around her feet, sticking her in place.
She stumbles, trying to pull her legs free, but the sticky rice holds firm, trapping her in place.
Her confusion turns to panic as she struggles against it.
I move closer to her as she starts to panic, her mouth opening to scream.
Before she can, I quickly shove a rice ball into her mouth, silencing her. Her eyes widen in shock and fear as she tries to pull the rice ball out, but it's too late.
The situation feels suffocating, both for her and me.
I mutter to myself, "A test, this is merely a test..." as I prepare my [Rice Fist]. The air feels thick with tension, and her struggles only increase, but I stay focused. I need to see if my theory holds.
I shoot the [Rice Fist] towards her, watching as her eyes widen before she collapses, just shy of unconsciousness. I feel a pang of guilt, but I mutter softly, "Sorry..." I turn away, shaking off the weight of the moment. This was necessary—just a test. But the unease lingers.
After taking a few more deep breaths, I turn back to her and unleash several more [Rice Fist] attacks, hoping she succumbs more quickly.
After a few seconds of silence, I hear a faint ding. I quickly check my money and confirm that my theory was correct.
(Jack) [1200 » 1500]
"That should've also helped my progress with the Fruit," I mutter, quickly leaving the house.
No POV
As Jack grapples with the weight of taking someone's life, he finds himself near the ocean, staring at the waves as they slowly creep up the beach.
"I just tested a theory..." he mutters to himself, his voice barely audible. "I did what I had to do," he adds quietly, as if trying to convince himself. After a pause, he sighs, shaking his head. "Did I have to do that? I didn't have to do that..."
He chuckles softly to himself, a dark humor lacing his words. "I think I've gone crazy... I ended someone's life." With a heavy sigh, he closes his eyes, trying to block out the thoughts. Slowly, he lays back on the sand, his gaze lifting toward the vast blue sky above. The endless expanse feels both calming and suffocating as he stares into it, lost in his thoughts.
...
Reed, feeling the rush of his success, thinks to himself, "I just pulled off the heist of a lifetime," as he quickly makes his way back to the ship.
Reed arrives at the ship, stashing the stolen money safely onboard. He looks around, searching for Jack, wondering where he might be.
Not spotting Jack anywhere, Reed decides to wait, taking a moment to reflect on everything that had happened.
...
Upon arriving at Foosha Village, Reed quickly locates the world famous bar, [Partys Bar]. As he enters, he immediately feels the gaze of the patrons on him.
The crowd's curious stares make Reed feel self-conscious, especially since his clothes are still in tatters from their time on the island. Embarrassed, he shifts uncomfortably, unsure of how to handle the sudden attention.
Makino, the bartender, notices Reed standing awkwardly and asks if he needs anything. Reed freezes for a moment, then remembers with a sinking feeling that he doesn't have any money. He hesitates, unsure of how to respond.
After a few moments of standing there, Reed decides to leave the bar. He quickly exits and heads towards the dock, his mind racing as he tries to figure out what to do next.
As Reed walks toward the dock, he suddenly remembers his earlier promise to Jack.
He was supposed to be the one to steal money for both of them.
Reed pauses for a moment, his heart starts racing, but he shakes off the thoughts and focuses.
As he reaches the dock, he scans the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of Luffy.
Then, it hits him—if he were going to spot Luffy anywhere, it would most likely be at the bar.
Reed sighs, muttering to himself, "I don't even know if this world has a calendar." He tries to recall the details of One Piece.
"Ah," Reed mutters to himself as a thought crosses his mind. He quickly turns to a nearby man and asks, "Is the 'Lord of the Coast' still around?"
Reed listens intently as Gyoru excitedly recalls how Luffy defeated the Lord of the Coast.
When Reed asks, "When did this happen?" Gyoru responds, "Around a week ago."
Reed thanks Gyoru before nodding in understanding, unaware that this is the same man who sold fish to Luffy during his time in Foosha Village.
Finally alone, Reed begins to gather his thoughts. "So, Luffy probably has Zoro on his crew by now," he muses.
After a few moments of contemplation, he comes to a decision: it's time to get some money.
Reed quickly spots a shop, making sure it isn't one of the recognizable places from the show.
He takes a moment to think through his plan, considering how he can get the money without drawing attention or raising suspicion.
After struggling to come up with a plan, Reed decides to leave the area around the shop.
He then spots a house on the edge of the village and reasons, "Since it's midday, no one should be home," before making his way over.
Reed reaches the door and tries the handle, only to find it locked. Anticipating this, he uses his basic attack to shoot at the hinges, breaking the door open effortlessly.
Reed quietly moves through the house, searching for money, unaware that a woman has been following him from a distance.
She had noticed his suspicious behavior and decided to track him, hiding nearby as he continued his search.
The woman, her heart racing with fear, watches Reed create bamboo to break the hinges. She's stunned, never having witnessed such a strange ability before.
Terrified by what she might be dealing with, she quickly retreats, deciding that it's safer to leave.
Reed finds the money in the house, then moves on to break into another one, hoping to find more.
Having gathered over 10k beli, Reed quickly heads toward the direction of their ship.
...
Reed, finishing his thoughts, stands up, realizing he's hungry since he hasn't eaten all day.
Since Jack hasn't returned yet, Reed can't eat anything, so he starts walking around, hoping to spot Jack nearby.
Jack, however, only returns when the sun begins to set.
Reed, seeing Jack, quickly runs up to him and says, "Where the hell have you been? I was starving here!"
Jack, not in the mood to respond, simply hands Reed a few rice balls before heading into the ship.
Reed, noticing Jack's odd behavior and the exhaustion in his body, becomes worried. He approaches Jack and asks, "What happened?"
Jack shakes his head, attempting to push past Reed, but Reed steps in front of him, demanding, "Tell me. You brought me here for a reason, and this is technically my job here."
Jack remains silent, but Reed, noticing the hesitation, softens his tone and steps closer. "Come on, man," he says. "There's only the two of us against the world. I want to help you, just like you helped me in the past."
Reed sighs, the silence hanging between them. "When you're ready, come find me. I'll be out here waiting." Jack gives a slight nod
With that, Jack heads into the ship to sleep.
Reed watches him go and decides to share the details of his day with Jack tomorrow.
Finding a quiet spot near the ocean, Reed sits down and gazes up at the night sky, lost in thought.
The night passes in silence, void of the usual lively banter between the two companions. The stillness feels heavier than usual, a stark contrast to their typical dynamic.
After some time, Reed finally drifts off to sleep, the sound of gentle waves lulling him into a restless slumber.
As daybreak arrives, Reed awakens to find Jack sitting beside him by the ocean, his gaze fixed on the horizon, lost in thought.
After a moment of silence, Jack quietly says, "We shouldn't go into the village for now."
Reed opens his mouth to ask why but, after a brief moment of thought, decides against it, simply nodding in response.
A few minutes of silence pass before Jack finally speaks, his voice low, "Y'know... I killed someone yesterday."
Reed's eyes widen in shock. "What?" he blurts out, his tone a mix of disbelief and confusion. After a pause, he hesitantly adds, "Why?"
Jack lets out a heavy sigh, avoiding Reed's gaze. "In the game, you get EXP and money for killing NPCs," he explains, his voice tinged with regret. "So... I thought..."
Reed stares at Jack, completely speechless, his mind racing as he processes what he just heard.
Jack turns his head slightly, his expression unreadable as he studies Reed's reaction.
After a moment of tense silence, Reed finally manages to ask, his voice shaky, "S-so... did you...?"
Jack nods solemnly, his gaze fixed on the horizon. After a moment, he sighs deeply and suggests, "Let's not do anything today."
Reed agrees, his tone quieter than usual. "Yeah, let's take a break..." After a brief pause, he adds, "I, uh, stole some money yesterday, so we're fine for a while."
Jack glances at him, a faint, weary smile tugging at his lips. "Good. At least one of us was productive."
The two fall into a heavy silence, the sound of the waves the only thing filling the space between them.
The two eventually part ways, with Jack staying by the ocean while Reed decides to explore the surrounding area.
As Reed walks through the nearby forest, he mutters to himself, "Eating plain rice every day with no flavor is going to drive me crazy.
I need to find something to spice things up."
He begins scanning the area for berries, checking each bush carefully to ensure they're edible. Plucking a handful of vibrant red and purple berries, he inspects them closely. "These should do... hopefully, they're not poisonous."
With his small collection of berries, Reed heads back toward the ship, already imagining how he could make their meals slightly more tolerable.
End of chapter.