Ling sat on the bed, still trying to adjust to this new life.
'What a day…'
'It's still early afternoon. Maybe I'll wander around later… after I sort out my thoughts.'
He let out a sigh.
'Even though I love One Piece… and I'm not afraid of dying anymore… that doesn't mean I want to be some background fodder.'
'If I'm going to live in this world, I'll live it to the fullest. I'll chase my dream of adventure—just like the characters I admired.'
He wasn't starting from zero. Far from it.
'I have a huge advantage. I know the timeline. That's over twelve years of foreknowledge.'
'I know how to unlock Armament Haki. Observation Haki too. But Conqueror's Haki… that's different. Only those born with it can wield it.'
Then a memory surfaced.
'There's a man in Grey Terminal… an old pirate named Naguri. He has all three types of Haki. He once fought Roger and survived. I'll visit him.'
'If he agrees to train me, I'll grow fast. If not, I'll follow Rayleigh's training plan—the same one he gave Luffy.'
'Luffy learned basic Haki in a year and a half. I have way more time than that.'
Training was the key. Power was everything.
'Devil Fruits are tempting. They boost strength, grant insane abilities—but the trade-offs are brutal. You lose the ability to swim, you're weak to seawater and Seastone.'
'And Devil Fruits are rare. Only 225 confirmed users in the series. Maybe I'll look for the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia someday…'
'But not now.'
'Right now, what matters most… is training.'
'Even without a Devil Fruit, if I master advanced Armament and Observation Haki, I can compete with the best.'
He paused, letting the thought settle.
'Today, I rest. Tomorrow, I train.'
He lay back against the pillow, closing his eyes briefly.
Kids in this world are monsters. Ace beat a hippo at my age. Sabo wasn't far behind.'
Even Bonney—part of the Worst Generation—was strong at twelve.
Kaido. Big Mom. Yamato. Oden. All prodigies.
'I need to start building my stamina and strength right away.'
'Weapons? No. I'll keep it simple. Hands and feet. Hand-to-hand combat will be my fighting style.'
He exhaled slowly.
'Let's see what tomorrow brings.'
'For now… I'll relax.'
After nearly two hours of quiet planning, Ling finally got up and stepped outside. The warm sun greeted him, the breeze brushing gently across his face.
His first destination?
Gaimon—the fisherman who saved him.
Walking through the village stirred a small commotion. Foosha Village was a quiet, close-knit community—by Ling's estimation, maybe a hundred people lived here at most.
Finding out where Gaimon lived was easy. The villagers were kind and welcoming, always ready to lend a hand. After asking around and wandering a bit, Ling eventually spotted the man.
Gaimon was tending his fish stall, selling fresh, dried, and smoked fish. When he saw Ling approaching, he waved enthusiastically.
"Thank you for saving me, Gaimon," Ling said, bowing deeply in gratitude.
"It's nothing, really. Here, take this," Gaimon replied, already packing up a few pieces of smoked and dried fish.
Ling shook his head politely. "No, I can't accept it. I already owe you so much."
"No can do. It's a celebration gift for waking up safe and sound," Gaimon said with a warm grin.
"Come on, kid. Just take it. Think of it as a present from an old man."
Ling couldn't refuse after that. He accepted the gift with a grateful smile.
They chatted for a few more minutes. Just as Ling was about to leave, Gaimon called out to him again.
"Oh, one more thing—I almost forgot! When I found you unconscious, there was a small chest nearby. I gave it to Makino yesterday."
Ling's eyes lit up slightly. He nodded, thanked Gaimon again, and made his way toward Party's Bar—Makino's place.
On the way, he bumped into the mayor.
"Oh, Ling! You're out and about. Feeling better?" Mayor Woop Slap asked with a smile.
"Yes, much better now, Mayor. I was just heading to Makino's bar," Ling replied politely.
"Good, good. Mind if I walk with you?"
They walked together through the lively village streets. Soon, they reached the bar—Party's Bar. The place was bustling with villagers laughing, drinking, and chatting away.
'What a busy bar,' Ling thought, quietly slipping inside.
Makino was busy tending to the patrons—pouring drinks, wiping down tables, and chatting with the regulars. The bar was alive with laughter and clinking glasses.
Her eyes lit up the moment she saw Ling walk in. Relief softened her face. Just remembering the condition he'd been in when they found him made her heart ache.
Shaking away the thought, she called out cheerfully, "Hey, Ling! Good to see you up and about. Are you hungry? Come over here."
Ling walked over and sat at the counter, his feet dangling above the floor due to his current height. The mayor followed and took a seat beside him.
"Gaimon mentioned he found a small chest near me when he discovered me," Ling began, keeping his tone careful. "Do you have it? It's the only thing left from my parents…"
He let the words trail off, hoping to dig into any lingering memories—either his own or the original owner of this body.
Makino nodded. "Yes, he gave it to me yesterday. He was really worried—you gave us all quite the scare. Oh, and I also found a necklace on you. It had a small key. Maybe the two are connected?"
Ling nodded again, keeping his expression solemn as the mayor wandered off to join the other villagers for a drink.
A few minutes later, Makino returned with a small wooden chest and the necklace. She placed them gently on the counter in front of him.
Ling stared at the chest for a long moment. As soon as he touched it, a sharp pain flashed through his head.
He clutched his temples and groaned, making Makino rush forward, alarmed.
"Ling? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"You might still be tired," she added, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "Let's get you back to the mayor's house. You need to rest. I'll bring your dinner later, alright?"
Just then, the mayor noticed the commotion and came over.
Makino quickly explained what had happened, and the mayor nodded, stepping in to help.
Ling said nothing more, quietly carrying the small chest and the necklace as the mayor guided him back home.
As they walked, thoughts swirled in Ling's mind.
'The memories… I got some of them, not everything—but enough. I was right. This body belonged to a boy traveling with his parents to the Goa Kingdom. They were headed there to sell what's inside this box.'
'But then… a storm struck. It came out of nowhere and capsized their ship, drowning everyone—including the boy. That's how I ended up here.'
When they reached the mayor's house, the old man led Ling to a bed and handed him a glass of water.
"Thank you, Mayor," Ling said sincerely.
"No worries, Ling. Get some rest first. Don't push yourself—stay here until you're fully recovered," the mayor replied with a kind smile. He placed a glass of water on the bedside table, then quietly left, gently closing the door behind him.
Ling lay still for a few moments, staring at the ceiling. He waited, listening carefully until he was sure no one was nearby.
Then, he sat up, placing the small wooden chest on his lap. With steady hands, he retrieved the key from the necklace and inserted it into the lock.
Click.
The sound echoed in the quiet room. His heart pounded in his chest—racing with excitement, nervousness, and hope. He slowly lifted the lid.
Inside was a fruit.
A devil fruit.
His breath caught in his throat. A devil fruit was really inside!
He clenched his fists, trying to calm his rising excitement, and sat back down to take it all in.
Ever since he walked toward the mayor's house earlier, he had been holding back this anticipation. And now, it was real.
From the fragmented memories he had gained earlier, he learned more about the boy whose body he now inhabited. His name had been Thomas. His family had been on their way to the Goa Kingdom to meet the king.
His father planned to sell the devil fruit—hoping to exchange it not just for money, but for status. He wanted to become a noble of the Goa Kingdom. Sadly, that dream sank with their ship during the storm.
Ling picked up the fruit gently. Every detail of it deepened the weight of the moment.
The swirling patterns. The twisting stem. The unusual shape.
He froze.
He knew this fruit.
Hourglass-shaped. Deep violet skin with silver spirals curling across its surface. Ling's breath grew shallow as realization dawned.
This wasn't just any fruit.
"This is the… Toki Toki no Mi," he whispered.
His voice trembled.
The legendary Time-Time Fruit.
And now, it was in his hands.