Chapter 15

Finally, the wheel stopped on a figure enveloped in searing flames.

Black, messy hair; normal wheat-colored skin; a few freckles on his slightly handsome cheeks; a tattoo on his left arm reading 'ASCE', with an × over the S.

The figure wore an orange cowboy hat on his head and nothing above the waist, only shorts below.

【Congratulations, Host! You've drawn a Pirate Series: Second Division Captain of the Bai Huzi Pirates.】

【Ability: Mera Mera no Mi user, Portgas D. Ace.】

'Oh?'

'It's Ace?'

Lin Cheng smiled as he gazed at the figure burning with fierce flames appearing in his mind.

At the same time, the attributes of the puppet Ace also surfaced in Lin Cheng's mind.

【Portgas D. Ace】

【A-Rank Puppet】

【Star Rating: ☆】

【Pirate Series, Bai Huzi Pirates · Second Division Captain.】

【Ability: Mera Mera no Mi — Proficient, Martial Arts — Proficient.】

【Special Effect: Haoshoku Haki — Beginner (unlocked at ☆), Busoshoku Haki — Proficient (unlocked at ☆☆), Kenbunshoku Haki (unlocked at ☆☆), Mera Mera no Mi — Awakening (unlocked at ☆☆☆)】

【Puppet Charge: 100% (depleted charge recovers automatically, but requires time.)】

【Puppet Recall: Available (recall puppet regardless of distance; 24-hour cooldown.)】

Although Lin Cheng had long known Ace's power was formidable — if judged purely by direct destructive force, even surpassing Daiduosi Sect by an entire order of magnitude — he was still stunned upon seeing Ace's attribute panel.

Compared to Daiduosi Sect, another A-Rank Puppet, Ace's flair was clearly far superior.

'Since I drew Fire Fist Ace, many things just became simpler.'

Originally, Lin Cheng had planned to draw a B-Rank puppet for temporary use — that would've been fine.

But Lin Cheng hadn't expected his luck to be even better than anticipated; the guaranteed B-Rank puppet draw instead yielded an A-Rank Puppet. Now with two A-Rank Puppets, his personal safety was truly no longer an issue.

'Next then…'

Lin Cheng began to consider his next plan.

Over the past month, Lin Cheng had thought daily about how to upgrade each new puppet he drew.

Undoubtedly, Lin Cheng was severely lacking in emotion value.

To obtain new puppets, emotion value was required.

To level up puppets, emotion value was required.

Even to acquire skills exclusive to Summoners, emotion value was needed.

Lin Cheng truly needed emotion value desperately.

'Fairy Tail is the key.'

Sitting on the bed, Lin Cheng looked at the magazine placed on his desk nearby.

The topmost magazine was an interview feature on the recently prominent Magic Guild, Fairy Tail — specifically covering their completion of the S-Rank mission on the island of Galuna.

At this point, the plot had already passed the initial Fairy Tail arc, the mansion arc, the Iron Forest arc, and the Galuna Island arc — now arriving at Fairy Tail's first major scene.

The storyline where Fiore Kingdom's two strongest guilds, Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail, broke ties and launched full-scale war.

As the two strongest guilds in Fiore Kingdom, the inevitable clash between Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail would draw massive audience attention — symbolizing a torrent of emotion value.

Now that he had drawn A-Rank Puppet Fire Fist Ace, he could easily send Ace to ride this wave of hype, make a strong statement, and even deliberately leak some information.

'But this report is already three days old.'

'By now, the first round of war between Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail has probably already begun.'

'I hope I can still catch the last wave of hype.'

Lying on the bed, Lin Cheng turned off the light and slowly closed his eyes, beginning to rest.

A thousand meters away from Lin Cheng, in a secluded, empty corner, a ripple suddenly appeared in midair — then a man, bare-chested, wearing shorts, and donning an orange cowboy hat, materialized.

He glanced at the location of the tavern, then smiled faintly.

The man swiftly departed in another direction.

Magnolia, the city housing Fairy Tail, one of Fiore Kingdom's strongest guilds.

At this moment, Fairy Tail's normally bustling guild hall was shrouded in gloom; everyone sat slumped on the floor, their morale at an all-time low.