Chapter 4: The First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates - Marko

"Ring!..."

The ringing of the hanging doorbell immediately echoed within the Guild building.

"Oh? Is that the entrance you said before?"

The two who entered were Rayleigh and Shakuyaku. Both of them seem to have prepared themselves very well. Rayleigh now carries his sword where the sword has increased his strength by +15. Meanwhile, Shakuyaku currently carries a bow along with a large number of arrows.

"Yeah, that's the entrance" Rayleigh then immediately turned his attention to Allen who was already looking at him intently, "I came back and brought someone. At the same time before that, I invited quite a lot of people to come to this place. Are there no prizes to be given to me?"

"I didn't ask you to market my place. It was just your own initiative"

"Does that mean no gifts will be accepted by me? What a shame~"

Allen didn't pay much attention to Rayleigh and his gaze immediately glanced at Shakuyaku, "You should be Shakuyaku, right?"

"You seem to know me?" Shakuyaku smiled a little in response.

"I have some information about you." Allen did not hide it and continued, "You seem to have decided to become an adventurer. Do you want to leave your current peaceful life?"

"There are interesting things that are in front of my eyes at this time. How can I let it go?" Shakuyaku then walked forward and leaned towards Allen, "Time cloth…It's supposed to be real, right?"

"Ah ~ Sure" Allen nodded and knew the reason behind his move Shakuyaku, "As long as you can find the whereabouts of the item. You can get your youth back. It's just that, keep in mind that these items are not items that are easy to obtain. Usually only on the top floor of the dungeon"

"I know, I've considered it." Shakuyaku nodded and asked back, "By the way, can I open a shop in the dungeon? Even though I do intend to become an adventurer, I still have the desire to open a bar or a shop like that."

"As long as you can get a certificate, you can do it." Allen said casually, "As long as you don't have a certificate, even if your skills are good. It's impossible for you to open a business in the dungeon."

"Meaning that anything related to the business in the dungeons is required to have the certificate?"

"Well,"

"Then I just need to find him," Shakuyaku said "I want to register"

Allen nodded and immediately took out a crystal ball. Shakuyaku had listened to Rayleigh's previous explanation and immediately placed her hand right on top of the crystal ball.

"Buzz!..."

The crystal ball immediately emitted a very bright beam of light followed by Shakuyaku being able to feel something that was currently still inside her body. Shakuyaku didn't resist and let it merge with her body until slowly the light of the crystal ball started to disappear replaced by a holographic panel that appeared right in front of Shakuyaku.

"Is this my status panel?"

Status Panel

Name: Shakuyaku

Title : -

Fellowship : -

Level : 1 [0/3,000]

Status

Strength : 5 [+15]

Speed : 5

Defense : 5

Stamina : 5

Free Points : 0

Ability :

Armament Haki [S]

Observation Haki [A]

Arrow Ability [C]

Equipment :

Bow [Normal] [Level 1] [+15]

Skills :

Friend :

Animal :

"Hmm? I didn't expect that your Observation Haki ability is still at a lower level compared to Ray-san" Allen commented quickly, "Has he never trained you to use that ability?"

"I retired long ago and wasn't too interested in increasing my strength before. My previous abilities were enough for me to take care of myself."

"Hmm, alright" Allen nodded and continued, "There shouldn't be a need for me to explain this matter to you. You can ask Ray-san about things you don't know about the status panel. His knowledge is more than enough to help you understand that."

"Um,"

Shakuyaku nodded and immediately received further guidance from Rayleigh. Previously, she had seen and gained some basic knowledge related to the status panel from Rayleigh and now she was getting further guidance.

It didn't take long for him to understand everything and soon the two of them immediately added friends one by one followed by forming a team. The small status panel between the two immediately appeared at the top right of their vision.

"You guys can go to the dungeon now to take quests or hunt," Allen said casually, "If you guys want to go take quests, just one person coming here to confirm the others isn't necessary. My advice is also to pay attention to the missions you take, even though you are strong in the outside world, you are currently weak inside there. You can easily be killed by monsters whose level of strength is far compared to yours."

"Hahaha ~" Rayleigh immediately laughed excitedly, "It's been a long time since I felt this kind of weak feeling"

"If someone else had said this, I would probably have taken this as a joke. But, remember this is coming from you. I will definitely remember it well. Let's go, Ray-san"

Shakuyaku can't wait to enter the world of dungeons where it can be seen that her steps are very fast walking towards the portal. Rayleigh quickly followed him in from behind and soon the two of them entered the dungeon.

"Ring!..."

Right at the same time, Rayleigh and Shakuyaku entered the dungeon. Suddenly the doorbell rang,

"Hmm?"

Allen was a little surprised to hear the sound and immediately looked towards the entrance to find a figure he was quite familiar with, "Marco?"

*******

Marko finally decided to enter the building where Rayleigh and Shakuyaku were. When he entered the building, he was immediately surprised by two objects that he did not recognize behind the building where the two objects showed a picture of a luxurious and modern city.

"What's that? Devil fruit ability?"

The first thought Marko had the first time he arrived was the same as Rayleigh's. He immediately associated the object in front of him with his devil fruit ability.

"Is this some kind of displacement ability? Does that mean the image contained within that object is a kingdom located in a certain place?"

"Welcome to the Guild"

Allen's voice immediately woke Marko up. Marko immediately glanced in the direction of the voice and found a man looking at him with a smile. Marko then suddenly realized that at this time Rayleigh and the woman he had seen earlier were not in the room.

"Son, earlier I saw two old men and a woman coming to this place. Where are the two of them?" Marko asked casually without showing any hostility. He was quite interested in this place since Rayleigh came here looking as though he was going to fight against something together with a woman which Marko knew was not a weakling.

"Oh? You mean Ray-san and Shakuyaku?" Allen asked back, "The two of them have gone into the dungeon"

"Dungeon?" Marko immediately showed a look of confusion.

"You just came here, come here. I will help to explain related to this place. I'm sure you will be very interested when you know bout this place"

"Is this place really that interesting?"

Marko nodded and felt there was nothing wrong with spending a little time in this place especially Rayleigh coming here. He was also quite interested in the two strange objects at the back of this room as well as the dungeon Allen mentioned earlier.

"Previously my name was, Allen Migard. You can call me Allen. You should be Marko - the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, correct?"

"You know me?"

As long as that person was in the New World, Marko wouldn't be surprised that they knew him. However, he was currently in a region of Paradise where few people would recognize him. The only people who knew him were people with big names or people who came from a big power like the Marines and the like. Besides, it was difficult for a civilian or someone of a moderately high level of strength to recognize him.

"I know a few things about you" Allen nodded and continued, "Okay, I guess—Hmm?"

Allen's gaze immediately glanced towards the dungeon exit and found Rayleigh walking out alone carrying a mission paper.

"Oh? Isn't this Marco?"

Marko who heard the sound immediately glanced towards the source of the sound and found Rayleigh who had just come out of the portal, "Rayleigh"

"Hahaha, it really is you" Rayleigh laughed excitedly while walking towards Marko and Allen, "How did you find this place?"

"I happen to be in the area and saw you enter this place," Marko said with a smile, "I was quite interested in this place and chose to come have a look. I didn't expect that this place would actually be such an interesting thing, Yoi~"

"Hahaha, of course, it is very interesting. You should just come here and not know any information about this place, right?"

"Well, Allen will just help explain it to me." Marko nodded.

"I see" Rayleigh nodded and said, "My advice, listen carefully to his explanation and you have to believe everything he says. Everything he said was real and there was not a single lie in those words."

"Hmm?"

Marko was a little surprised to hear Rayleigh's words.

"As long as you listen and make the best decisions going forward, your group will surely stand in a new era"

"New era?"

Marko frowned at this.

Rayleigh did not give much explanation about this and immediately looked at Allen then gave the mission paper he had taken, "I want to do this mission"

Allen took the mission paper and looked at it.

[There needs to be an adventurer or group that can help exterminate the goblin camp that is two kilometers west of the Imperial Empire. Mission rewards of three silver coins and fifty bronze coins and 1,000 Exp. This mission was issued by the Holy Knights Headquarters of the Imperium Empire]

"Oh? Isn't this the mission you noticed before?"

"Should be coupled with Shakky, I can complete this mission, right?" Rayleigh asked with a small smile.

"Mission?" Marko was confused by this.

"Depends," Allen said back, "The monster territory is a region full of possibilities. As long as you are not vigilant, the possibility that you will die there is very high."

"Dead?"

"As long as I'm not alert, right?" Rayleigh's smile bloomed quickly then he laughed, "Don't worry about me. Monsters of that level of power couldn't possibly kill me. How could they possibly kill me before my wish was accomplished. They can kill me as long as my wish is fulfilled"

"Who's worried about you" Allen rolled his eyes and immediately confirmed the mission that Rayleigh and Shakuyaku wanted to do.

The paper he was holding instantly caught fire followed by this moment a holographic image instantly appeared in front of Rayleigh.

"What's that?"

Marko who saw the appearance of the holographic display immediately increased his curiosity.

"The mission was confirmed by me and at this time another panel appeared in front of you. It's a mission panel. The mission panel can tell you whether the missions you have done alone or with your team have been completed. Just follow the guide that is there"

"Okay" Rayleigh nodded then looked directly at Marko, "We haven't seen each other for a long time and I want to talk to you about a few things. It's just that right now there are a few things I want to do. How about we talk for a bit tonight?"

"It doesn't matter. I also happen to be quite interested in what you are doing right now."

"Hahaha~ As long as you know the information about this place, you definitely won't come back and will choose to be here or ask Newgate and the others to come here."

"What do you mean?" Marko's expression became even more confused.

"You'll find out soon enough."

Rayleigh then immediately turned around leaving Marko and Allen to go back into the dungeon carrying out the mission he had just obtained.

"Now then, you must be wondering about Ray-Ban's earlier words followed by the hologram screen that appeared right before, right?"

"Well," Marko nodded, "What is it? How come Rayleigh could have such a thing? Is that your gift? Then, what is a dungeon—"

"Okay, okay, slowly" Allen immediately stopped the series of questions that Marko wanted to ask, "I will explain slowly, you listen carefully because I don't want to repeat what I said before"

"Um,"

*******

Dungeon, First Floor, Imperium Empire, Imperium Empire Holy Knight Headquarters, Room of One of the Territory Commanders.

Currently, in the room, there was a young man with brown hair while wearing clean and tidy clothes. There was also a sword currently right behind the young man's workbench.

That man was the Commander of the Western Region of the Imperium Empire - Suzaku.

"Knock!..."

"Knock!..."

"Knock!..."

Suzaku who was doing the job of reviewing documents suddenly stopped his work when he heard the knock on the door.

"Enter!"

"Door!..."

The door immediately opened showing a soldier clad in armor enter and immediately salute.

"Report Commander! There were two adventurers who came to us to confirm the mission they were about to undertake."

"They've come? Let them in to face me"

"Good!"

Not long ago Rayleigh and Shakuyaku immediately entered the room where the previous soldier immediately came out after paying respects while also locking the door of the room.

"You two adventurers who will be carrying out the mission to exterminate the goblin camp that is two kilometers west of the Imperium Empire?" Suzaku immediately asked politely while looking at the two with a smile.

Even though it looks like Rayleigh is not young anymore. Suzaku didn't mind that. Age is not a criterion for assessing the strength possessed by a person.

"Well, we will do it"

"Thank you for taking on this mission." Suzaki smiled in return and continued, "Recently, many citizens have been getting harassed by goblins, especially the owners of trade caravans. We always get complaints from them regarding their trade caravan being taken or even destroyed by that Goblin. I hope the two of you can solve this problem by annihilating the Goblin camp."

"Hahaha~ Don't worry, it's an easy matter for us. We will definitely solve it quickly"

"Good" Suzaku was pleased with the response and immediately confirmed the mission.

"I have confirmed the mission that you two did and now you can carry out this mission. I hope you guys can come back safely."

Rayleigh and Shakuyaku nodded and immediately both of them walked out of the room to carry out their first mission. While Suzaku began to continue completing the work that was being done by him at this time.

*******

Guilds.

"This…Is this all true?"

Marko was currently filled with confusion as well as full of surprises. He is eventually given information by Allen regarding the venue. As soon as he received all the information, his body trembled violently because the information he had just received was information so large that it could even change the pattern of the world.

"You can judge for yourself" Allen shrugged his shoulders casually, "Whether or not it's true is all up to you. I have explained everything to you and it is up to you to believe the information I have just presented. Didn't Ray-san tell you before that you have to believe me? You have also seen for yourself that Ray-san is here and has done all kinds of things that were previously explained by me."

"..."

Marko was speechless listening to Allen's words.

"Now, do you intend to register to become an adventurer?" Allen asked urgently, "You can decide whether you want to register or not. As long as you register, you will have the same access as Ray-san to enter the dungeon and achieve your dreams even dreams that should be impossible to achieve in this world can be achieved there. Just like Ray-san who wanted to get a resurrection item to revive Roger and Shakuyaku who became an adventurer in order to get a time cloth item to be able to regain his teenage form."

Marko slowly digested the information he got back then his gaze glanced at Allen, "A cloth item of time…Can it bring back one's youth?"

"Well, it can indeed do it" Allen nodded and continued, "As long as you get it, it's not impossible to bring back the golden age of Whitebeard"

Marko's eyes immediately lit up at this.

"Now, can you specify? Want to register now or do you want to wait for your group?" Allen asked again, "My advice, is you can register now and after you've finished registering, you can immediately tell your group about this place. While waiting for your group to arrive, you can go explore dungeons to increase your power. Later when your group arrives, your strength will be far above them, maybe even far above Shirohige. Wouldn't that way you become the most reliable figure of your group?"

Marko was immediately excited to hear this. As a child especially as the oldest sibling in the group, Marko certainly wanted to be everyone's role model at the same time he wanted Whitebeard to be proud of him. Listening to Allen's advice is certainly not a bad thing but a good thing.

"I want to register!"

"Okay,"

Allen nodded and immediately took out the crystal ball again.

"Place one of your hands on this crystal ball and during the process. Don't fight. Let something that enters your body join your body."

"Um,"

Marko nodded and immediately placed his hand on the crystal ball.

"Buzz!..."

The crystal ball immediately gave off a very bright light and was followed by something that went straight into Marko's body. Marko could clearly feel it enter his body and followed Allen's earlier words. He didn't fight back. Slowly it began to merge with his body followed by slowly the light of the crystal ball began to dim and finally a holographic panel appeared in front of Marko.

Status Panel

Name: Marco

Title: -

Fellowship: -

Level: 1 [0/3,000]

Status

Strength: 5

Speed: 5

Defense: 5

Stamina: 5

Free Points : 0

Ability :

Tori-Tori No Mi Model: Phoenix [S]

Armament Haki [A]

Observation Haki [A]

Equipment:

Skills :

Friend :

Animal :

"This…My status panel?"

Marko immediately lowered his hand from the crystal ball while looking at his status panel.

"His Haki ability is only at A rank? Marko actually has great talent and it is not impossible that his talent is on par with the Admirals. As long as he's not lazy, it's not impossible that his Haki ability is at S level. It's just…This is Whitebeard's effect. Because Whitebeard overprotected them followed by a sense of security from Whitebeard, Marko and the others no longer tried to increase their strength, especially since Roger's death. There is no more competition and also… Whitebeard's name is so big that it even scares many people, his strength has stagnated here and hasn't increased anymore"

"…Almost like a spoiled child from a wealthy family. Because they are always protected or given something by their parents to the point that they forget to hone their own abilities which causes difficulties for them to live in the future."

Allen then started to help explain to Marko regarding information about the status panel as well as how to use it. Marko listened carefully and didn't dare leave any information out. As soon as he already knew, Marko without wasting much time immediately rushed out of the guild to tell this information to Whitebeard.

"Whitebeard and Shanks…The two of them will be moving to this place and it's not impossible that within a week's time, this place will become very crowded" Allen thought while sitting in his easy chair, "What about Hancock? Was it possible that Shakuyaku didn't tell her about this place? Even if Shakuyaku no longer had anything to do with Amazon Lily, Amazon Lily was still her birthplace, it was where she had been raised. There was no way Shakuyaku wouldn't share this information with Hancock and the others. As long as this information didn't arrive… There was a possibility that they would suffer some sort of very significant setback. The territory of the Amazon lily island is so difficult to reach that news updates only occur once a third of a day. This means that the news that got there was news from three days ago…Although three days is quite a short amount of time. But for the big powers, as long as they are given three days time, they should be able to clear a gap with the other forces…"