Chapter 2: Chapter Two: Open and Honest

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan and Ye Fan were both modern people and understood what Su Lin meant by his words.

Though surprised, they quickly calmed down—after all, given their current experiences, nothing strange could truly shock them anymore.

They had already experienced cross-reality travel, cultivation, and chat groups; it wasn't unthinkable that they might appear in some work.

Su Lin: "Should I give you all a general overview of the relevant works? Starting with Dou Po Doupo Doupo Cangqiong."

……

The time is the third day after the fall of Kaido, the Four Emperors' beast king, in the New World, in the capital of Wano Country, Flower Capital.

A grand celebration banquet is being prepared.

As the great heroes who liberated Wano, the entire Straw Hat crew are currently recuperating and healing in the Shogun's residence.

The imperial chef, pushing a food cart, arrived at the hall with dish after dish of exquisite cuisine: "Today, I've put in even more effort than usual, preparing a Benzen cuisine worthy of the name of the 【Shogun】."

"Please enjoy!"

"......"

Jinbe raised his cup and laughed: "Hahaha, looks delicious—thank you."

"It must be very lively outside."

Only former Warlord Jinbe was present.

Since the banquet was to wait two hours, the Straw Hat crew couldn't bear their hunger any longer and rushed out onto the streets to gorge themselves.

"Stir-fried noodles—!"

"Grilled squid—! Candy apples—!"

"—!" Chopper stuffed it into his mouth, his face beaming with happiness as he said to Luffy, who was puffing out his cheeks beside him: "So much delicious food, Luffy, and so many fun activities!"

"——!" Chopper, mouth stuffed, grinned happily at Luffy, who was puffing his cheeks: "So much delicious food, Luffy, and so many fun activities too!"

"Wooah, mmm." (You're right, Chopper.) Luffy swallowed his food, eyes gleaming: "And everything's free today!"

"Hmm." Luffy glanced at the message notification at the edge of his vision: "Is this still here?"

What exactly is this thing?

Han Li: "If that's the case, then everyone here is from a different world. This thing is the tool we use to communicate, and the Cross-World Talisman can establish a passage to shuttle back and forth to other worlds."

Han Li: "So everyone here is from different worlds; this device is our means of communication, and the Cross-Dimensional Talisman can establish a passage to shuttle between other worlds."

Han Li: "Truly wondrous. It seems there are still many unexpected marvels in this world."

Han Li: "Truly miraculous—it seems this world holds many unexpected wonders."

Ye Fan: "@Su Lin, fellow from another world, what happens after Ye Zhetian? Could you tell me? I'm currently trapped underground with a giant black dog and a fat Daoist Priest."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Same with Dou Po Doupo Doupo Cangqiong! I'm about to ascend to Yun Yun Sect."

Su Lin: "Wait a moment—I'll check if I can upload the materials."

Han Li: "Please also help with Fan Ren Xiu Xian Zhuan; this favor I will never forget."

Su Lin chuckled—he was waiting for exactly that line from Han the Devil.

Everyone here isn't a fool. The charlatan act might work at the very beginning, but for one thing, maintaining it over a long time would be exhausting to perform. Su Lin wanted things to be more relaxed and harmonious. For another, judging from the descriptions in the work, these group members are all the Emotionally Deep sort—at the very least, they're the type who, if they owe you a favor, will repay it. There's no need to act that way just for a bit of short-term gain.

They weren't fools; the mystic-scholar act might work at first, but maintaining it long-term would exhaust him, and Su Lin wanted things relaxed and harmonious.

Besides, judging from the works' descriptions, these group members are all Emotionally Deep—they at least repay debts of gratitude; there's no need to deceive them for minor early gains.

Moreover, who knows if someone unknown—or another cross-reality traveler like himself—might join one day? Being exposed would be embarrassing.

Su Lin: "@Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, don't use Buddha's Anger Fire Lotus when going to Yun Yun Sect—it'll bring you trouble and endanger your Xiao family."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Received! Thanks, Brother Su!"

Outside an inn in the capital of Gamma Empire, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan pondered Su Lin's warning.

Trouble? Even endangering the Xiao family?

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan's eyes flickered with ruthlessness as he silently uttered the name Yun Yun Sect.

Had Mo Cheng's affair been exposed? But they had no evidence—why would they implicate my Xiao family?

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan grew even more curious about his future trials, eager to obtain plot details from Su Lin.

"Little Yanzi?"

Yao Lao sensed something off about Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan today—he'd been distracted, then suddenly excited and cheerful, and now he'd fallen silent again.

"I'm fine, Master."

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan shook his head. Right now, the most important thing was his three-year pact with Nanlan Yanran—but he could no longer use Buddha's Anger Fire Lotus.

Shouldering Mystic Weight, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan smiled carefree.

Even without Buddha's Anger Fire Lotus, he still had confidence he could defeat Nanlan Yanran.

But something could make him use Buddha's Anger Fire Lotus.

Nanlan Yanran, you truly are exceptional.

Su Lin hadn't expected that, though he couldn't directly scan memories, the chat group could directly copy information from a real-world computer—saving him considerable trouble.

And actually scanning memories would make Su Lin uneasy.

Uploads successful: One Piece, Fan Ren Xiu Xian Zhuan, Dou Po Doupo Doupo Cangqiong, Ye Zhetian, Fate Descends at Night.

Group member Su Lin uploaded book-type works: One Piece, Fan Ren Xiu Xian Zhuan, Dou Po Doupo Doupo Cangqiong, Ye Zhetian, Fate Descends at Night.

After uploading, they could be viewed as browseable files—this was more reasonable.

Han Li: "Thank you!"

Ye Fan: "Thanks—I owe you a favor!"

It was for the harmonious atmosphere within the group, and also for the administrator position later on.

Su Lin: "No problem, no problem."

For the group's harmony—and for his future administrator position.

【61】 A mystic-scholar protagonist would surely milk this for every advantage.

【62】 Better to be honest—steady and lasting. Once these people grow stronger, hehe.

This is called sustainable development.

Besides, once everyone gets familiar with it, there'll definitely be cultivation techniques and such. This is only the beginning, and he's already itching to complete the system mission and grind achievement points.

As for how to do it, cultivation is definitely out of the question for now — haven't you seen how these protagonists cultivate for years on end? Why take a detour when there's a shortcut right here?

Luffy: "King of the Pirates? The people drawn in these pictures look just like me."

The man himself has arrived.

The corner of Su Lin's mouth curved into a smile. Speaking of abilities, isn't the world of One Piece the obvious first choice?

Looking at the two items in his system backpack, Su Lin had already had a half-formed idea just now.

Who says one has to show off in front of people in their own world?

Su Lin: "@Luffy, do you want to save Ace once?"

Su Lin had already figured out his next direction on the road.

"Ace!? What are you talking about... Ace, he already..." Luffy, who had been eating while scrolling through the group chat, suddenly froze, his pupils trembling.

The giant grilled squid in his hand was set down along with it.

Chopper was still eating, Zoro and Sanji were arguing in the distance......

He swallowed hard, Luffy stared ahead in disbelief. In others' eyes, Luffy had suddenly gone blank, staring at the air.

"To make a long story short, I can send you back to two years ago, but after going back, none of your actions can change the present. If you save Ace, you'll only create a world where Ace is alive — that world will have another you." Su Lin replied.

After Su Lin finished speaking, he said nothing more, and no one in the group spoke either.

He figured that with Luffy's head, understanding this passage would take a moment.