Chapter 23: Return

According to Whitebeard’s account, they had planned to celebrate for several days, but Su Lin was eager to return.

Im, seated on the Void Throne, may already be paying attention to this matter.

The entity behind this pirate world—Su Lin still thought it better to keep his distance.

“You said you wanted Devil Fruits, but these aren’t easy to come by right now—these are all we have in stock.” Whitebeard handed over three Devil Fruits with strange patterns, their colors green, red, and purple.

“If you’re willing to stay another one or two months, we can easily find you ten.” Marco added.

“More than enough, thank you.” Su Lin, still wearing the casual clothes he arrived in, took the fruits, glanced at them, and placed all three into his system space.

Staying longer might have yielded more, but Su Lin had only intended to keep a few as collectibles, not to consume them himself—so a handful was sufficient.

All three were fruits not listed in the catalog, so none of Whitebeard’s captains had considered eating them; if one granted a ridiculous ability, it wouldn’t enhance combat power but instead add a crippling weakness.

“Then we’ll take our leave, Uncle Whitebeard.” Luffy waved goodbye: “Ace, you’d better train hard~.”

“Shut up.”

“Please explain the full story to our selves in this era.” Jinbe said to Whitebeard.

Over these two days, Jinbe and Luffy felt deeply satisfied, filling the void in their hearts.

“Don’t worry.”

They didn’t know whether their selves in this era would remember these days, so they entrusted the aftermath to Whitebeard.

Shanks had already left in the morning, because Su Lin had mentioned to him last night the current state of a certain singer.

Upon hearing it, Shanks had darkened his face, gathered his crew, and departed immediately.

Probably went to rescue someone.

“Speaking of which, instead of leaving him to Rayleigh’s training, let me take him under my wing.” Whitebeard grumbled, digging in his ear.

One thing at a time: to thank Whitebeard’s crew for the Devil Fruits, Su Lin spent 100 points to exchange for a medicine that couldn’t restore Whitebeard’s youth but could heal his hidden injuries and illnesses.

So now Whitebeard had set his sights on the Straw Hat kid of this era.

“I can do the Kaido-style teaching method too.”

I can just use the flat side of the blade.

Jinbe had hurriedly Quanzu ed Whitebeard, and after much coaxing, convinced him to send the Straw Hat to the Country of Women instead, and to contact Rayleigh.

But his expression was clearly dismissive.

Su Lin watched from the side without exposing it—after all, things were already a mess at this point.

He could guess at least some of Whitebeard’s intentions.

“See you later.”

The three bid farewell to those in the cabin, then joined Kid and Law, who were waiting nearby, and all pressed their pocket watches.

It was just what the other two had done upon returning to this era.

Click—

The hands resumed rotating clockwise.

After the chaos.

Everyone returned to Wano, maintaining the same posture and attire as when they departed.

And in another parallel timeline.

Inside Whitebeard’s cabin, watching the dazed crew awaken, Whitebeard wore an “scheming” smile.

“Indeed, leaving him solely to Rayleigh was too much of a waste.”

“Dad...” Ace covered his face, silently mourning his brother’s impending fate.

“I haven’t broken my word—I simply won’t let Rayleigh teach him alone.”

Whitebeard grabbed the shouting Luffy by the scruff, opened the cabin door, and hurled him into the sky.

“Kid, training starts now!”

Back in Wano, Luffy stretched contentedly.

The [Zokot’s Linear Pocket Watch] in Su Lin’s hand had not vanished—only appeared damaged after being stored in the system space.

The item’s description had changed.

[Zokot’s Linear Pocket Watch (Damaged)]: The beauty created was never truly mine—just a dream, a dream that let me clutch my shattered past while stepping toward the future. A terrible present, an uncertain future. The past is always full of regret and incompleteness; the future is always endowed with expectations of wholeness and beauty. I have returned to my original path, struggling... stepping toward a future I dare not face... (Unusable)

Su Lin stared at the stopped pocket watch, lost in thought.

This pocket watch, in truth, held considerable hidden utility.

Whatever. I used it—I spent the system points, and this time I’ve reaped more than enough.

He snapped the watch shut, tucked it into his pocket as a keepsake.

Though marked as damaged, it still functioned as an ordinary pocket watch.

Before use, the hands were motionless; the first use reversed time, and now they rotated clockwise.

The past is done—just as the watch said, one must always face the future.

Using this watch to survive the beginner phase was worth it.

The system points earned—by Su Lin’s estimation—were a fine return.

Su Lin had planned to go home immediately, but thought it a rare chance—he might as well eat, drink, and enjoy himself before returning, since the enormous meats in the manga truly looked delicious.

But his appetite wasn’t nearly as large as Luffy’s; everyone in this world seemed to eat voraciously—he could barely finish a giant grilled squid larger than half his body, or meat from some unknown sea king.

One portion was enough to make him full.

Soon after, Luffy received word of his ascension to Emperor status amid Kid’s curses, but he paid it little mind, dragging Kid back to the feast.

Seeing the group chat quiet, Su Lin uploaded a photo.

Su Lin: [Image]

Under the night sky, a brightly lit town displayed all manner of fruits and foods, with many people celebrating wildly.

Ye Fan: “You came back from the past?”

Su Lin: “Back for two hours already. Felt like entering a special game Fuben .”

Xiao Yan and Ye Fan naturally understood what a game Fuben was.

Su Lin: “There’s a feast going on here—I’ve always been fascinated by the visual effects of these foods from the anime.”

Ye Fan: “True, but I’d rather eat home-cooked dishes.”

Since being sent to another star, he’d spent all day cultivating, eating only spiritual fruits, heavenly treasures, and strange beasts.

These foods gave far superior sensations to body and spirit than ordinary human food—but Ye Fan missed the feeling of home.

Especially Xiao Yan, who had lived two lives—he’d nearly forgotten Earth’s food and scenery.

Ye Fan: “I want hot pot and steamed buns @Su Lin.”

Xiao Yan: “Me too. @Su Lin”

Hmm... judging by these two...

Su Lin: “Delivery, or do you two come over?”