[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-paradise-of-reincarnation":3,"chapter-paradise-of-reincarnation-paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-18":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Paradise of Reincarnation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273876,4446,"Chapter 18: Pirates","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-18",18,"\u003Cp>Heavy footsteps approached as a large group of guards rushed toward the office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to their numbers, the guards crowded tightly at the office entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen up—this is our new boss, Lord Baiye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hank stood beside Su Xiao, making his allegiance clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding guards looked confused, but when Su Xiao raised the appointment letter, they understood at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings, Boss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, I’m Kaba.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, from now on, we all follow you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compliments poured in, but Su Xiao merely nodded, his gaze fixed on Oka’s two trusted men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These two have colluded with pirates, aiming to disrupt the capital’s order…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Su Xiao finished speaking, the two of Oka’s men suddenly drew weapons and pointed them at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brothers, don’t listen to him—Oka is our real boss!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao froze, surprised. Could these two really be that stupid?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that they were foolish—they were terrified by Su Xiao’s current position and his earlier words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao had just said he’d make them stay here forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Attack! These two have colluded with pirates and are now exposed—they’re openly rebelling!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hank reacted instantly, grasping the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pathetic… idiots.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao sat behind the desk, motionless—he no longer needed to act himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flood of guards surged forward; in that moment, Oka’s two men were utterly doomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, we only meant to…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they could explain, the guards slashed wildly with their blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clashing weapons, gunshots, and the sound of flesh being torn echoed through the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirty seconds later, two mangled corpses lay on the floor; every guard was splattered with blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stench of blood filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed absurd—but it wasn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the pirate world, the rules were brutally simple: the strong controlled everything; the weak only waited to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this blood-smeared office, the royal messenger swallowed hard. Su Xiao’s ruthlessness chilled him; his original plan to extract favors vanished entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clean this up. You’re dismissed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, only three remained: Su Xiao, Hank, and the messenger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hank didn’t leave—he stood rigidly beside Su Xiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao glanced at Hank once, then ignored him. He knew too little about the Guard Headquarters—he needed someone like Hank, a seasoned veteran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clever, ambitious assistant—he needed one badly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Baiye, please have your subordinate step out—I have urgent news to convey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. He’s my ‘trusted man.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Su Xiao’s words, Hank smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well. This is it: you’ve heard of the ‘operation’ tonight, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The messenger’s “operation” referred to the burning of the Scrap Terminal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Here’s the order: three pirate crews are suitable for this task. We’ve made preliminary contact with all three. Now, you must meet them and choose one to carry out tonight’s ‘operation.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?” Su Xiao turned to the messenger, his eyes gleaming with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I get to decide who does it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. We’ve only heard rumors about these pirates—we need to meet them firsthand before deciding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a clear answer, Su Xiao was elated—he had chosen correctly. His current status was proving vital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. I’ll contact the three crews shortly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The messenger smiled at Su Xiao, then turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way—one more thing: although there are three crews, only one may carry out tomorrow’s plan. All details are in the documents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The messenger departed under Hank’s respectful escort. Su Xiao picked up the documents on the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They contained the detailed plan for burning the Scrap Terminal:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Choose one pirate crew, supply them with explosives, and use the explosives to ignite the Scrap Terminal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three pirate crews were available for selection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first was the Bursam Pirates, a native force of the Goa Kingdom—the same crew that fought young Luffy and Ace in the original story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second was the Krieg Pirates, who had recently sailed into nearby waters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this crew’s information, Su Xiao was surprised—they were another crew he recognized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Krieg Pirates were a well-known crew from the East Blue. In the original story, they were annihilated by Mihawk, fled to the Baratie, fought Luffy’s crew, and were ultimately defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this was ten years before the original timeline, the Krieg Pirates were still powerful, with roughly six hundred men across their fleet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third crew, the Skullbone Pirates, were weak—Su Xiao dismissed them immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the original story, the Bursam Pirates were mediocre—they were defeated by young Luffy, Ace, and a band of bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Krieg Pirates—he had high hopes for them. He needed to meet them first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hank, contact the Krieg Pirates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hank smiled awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, Boss…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hank’s reaction made Su Xiao understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Handle it. You must meet them today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Hank could reach the Krieg Pirates. What their relationship was—Su Xiao didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Government officials colluding with pirates was common in the pirate world—many financial dealings existed between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hank didn’t disappoint. Within two hours, he arranged a meeting location with the Krieg Pirates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The location was, of course, inside the capital—no one trusted pirates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a filthy alley of the civilian district, several men in loose black robes and hooded cloaks stood alert, scanning the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss Krieg, this is it. The old warehouse ahead is the meeting point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thin pirate, a sailor’s knife at his waist, stood nervously behind a tall man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man wore the same loose black robe and hood, but gaps in his clothing revealed a golden battle armor beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. Wait here. Akin, come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krieg’s voice was low; each step rang with the clink of armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Boss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akin dressed the same, weapons hidden in his sleeves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, they say the new Guard Chief is extremely ruthless. We should be cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krieg turned his head toward Akin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Do you think I can’t handle a Guard Chief? If not for the advantages a noble title brings, I wouldn’t lift a finger for the Goa Kingdom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrogance was a common flaw among pirates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akin said nothing. The two walked toward the warehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>",987,"2026-06-19T23:49:42.795Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c85c1ce49cb871dfd12478163be1d158751249ed9bda889787801cb81db72ccf","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-19","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-17",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fparadise-of-reincarnation-cover.jpg"]