:)Ch49

"Yeah...yeah...I really think I could go for it." He says, sounding as if he's trying to convince himself. "Thanks Jack!"

The friendly deckhand runs off and I smile thinly at his back. Poor sod. He's only Lv. 7 so that is one hell of a long road he just put himself on. I hope he doesn't get discouraged and give up.

Then again, take a look at Coby and see how much he progressed in just a couple of years. Anything's possible in 'One Piece'.

"Well. Time to get back at it."

'1, 2, 3, 4'

As you might imagine, there's a limited variety on the type of daily quests the [Game] can present to me. It stays sufficiently random for the most part, but you're eventually going to have repeats. The one I've encountered the most, on four separate occasions over the last three months in fact, was the quest to level up two [Skills] by the end of the day.

The easiest way to accomplish this -and more importantly get the associated Exp- was to spend two or three hours of my time working on some of the [Skills] I rarely use. Sometimes it was an enjoyable experience. Like when I leveled up [Carpentry] by building an end table. A rather shoddy end table admittedly, but technically functional, and that's the part that counts.

Other times...

The boats Chef, Ernest, watched me critically from over my shoulder.

"Are the onions finely chopped?"

"Yes Chef."

"Good. Now we add three egg yolks as a binding agent," Ernest spoke as he cracked them into the bowl. "And then mix it all together."

I looked at the ghastly amalgam of ground meat, diced vegetables, and different sauces. "With..my hands?" "Of course with your hands!" Chef Ernest said rather snootily. "You said you wanted to help in the kitchen? Chop chop! Get working!"

"...Isn't there a spoon or something I can use..."

"Mix Parker! Mix!"

My hands sink into the slimy mixture of raw meat, eggs, and...oh god it feels so gross. I don't like this texture.

'Ew ew, it's getting under my nails. Just think of the Exp Jack. One level in [Cooking] is all we need. Just one level.'

"Good good." Ernest said approvingly. "Make sure its thorough. Once that's complete, you will roll the meat into 2 ounce balls and place them here on the tray."

"Yes Chef."

25 minutes later, right around when I was peeling potatoes, the notification popped up saying [Cooking] had reached a new level. It was swiftly followed by the completion of the daily quest and then….

You have reached Lv.40! Congratulations! You have reached Lv. 40! Stat points awarded per Lv up increased!

(15) → (20)

You have 20 points to spend!

I toss the vegetable and its peeler aside and rub my hands together excitedly.

'Alright! Mission accomplished. At 20 points per level we're really going to be cooking with gas now.'

I know I told myself that I was aiming for INT to be my next [Perk] but the temptation of a 2nd tier DEX ability is just too great to ignore.

'Come on [Game]! Let's see what ya got!'

Points to spend (20) → (10) DEX (190) → (200)

…..

…..

...nothing?

Seriously?

"Parker! Why you stop working! Peel! Peel!" Ernest shouts at me.

I begrudgingly pick the potato back up as the resigned acceptance washes over me. A part of me was afraid this might happen. Unlocking a new [Perk] every 100 points would be easy. Too easy.

The [Game]...occasionally...throws me a bone but it would never be nice enough to hand out a golden ticket like that. Since my 'points to spend' keeps on rising I would eventually hit a point where I'm earning new [Perks] left and right every other level. Maybe If I'm lucky there will be one at 250. That's a clean number. Seems plausible enough. Hopefully I won't have to wait until 500 or god forbid a 1000. That last one would imply [Perks] are a logarithmic thing and please please please [Game] I beseech you...don't make this a logarithmic thing.

In the meantime though, guess there's nothing to do but go back to plan A.

Points to spend (10) → (0) INT (78) → (88) There we go. Only one more level until it's done. 'Hey [Game]. I don't suppose you have any more giant sea-monsters for me to kill? I could use another Exp infusion like that.'

…

'No? You sure?'

… 'Alright then. Just checking.'

"Parker! Turn the meat! It must brown evenly!"

"Yes Chef."

One night near the end of the month does stick in the memory.

I had stayed up late, working with Guilford on [Kami-e] after Yukimura had refused me, and I hadn't gone to bed until well past the midnight hour.

I suck in a deep breath as my eyes shoot open from the noise of something crashing. A minor headache quickly formed from the less than 3 hours of sleep and I rise to waist level in my rack. My bearings slowly come to me as I identify the source of the raucous as coming from the primary berthing below deck. I'm halfway prepared to grab a weapon and investigate the clamor when I realize that the crew isn't screaming...they're celebrating.

The door of my tiny cabin for one creaks open and I'm greeted by the sight of people popping open liquor bottles and boisterously laughing in full-blown guffaws. Even the usually silent and standoffish Cassian is pouring someone a drink. 'What the- why are we partying in the middle of the night...and how long has it been going on?'

"Jack!" A drunken Korka cheers as he pulls me through the doorway and swings his arm over my shoulder. "They've done it! News just came in an hour ago! We have the capital!" The tipsy Zoan user snatches a drink from a nearby table and shoves it into my hand. "All that's left is the northern province and the entire country is ours! Why aren't you drinking? Drink! Drink! The days of the nobles are numbered!" he shouts to the room.

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