"Huh? What's going on? Could it really be that I've encountered a ghost?" Near the Sabaody Archipelago in the world of One Piece, there was an ordinary yet prosperous town on a medium-sized island. Surrounding this town were forests and beaches. Today, however, an unexpected visitor had arrived at this beach where rarely anyone came.
A black-haired, black-eyed child who looked no older than four sat on the beach with a look of terror and disbelief as he stared at his hands and feet. "I've really become smaller. Could that voice really exist? Am I not dreaming? If all of this is true, does that mean I've left Earth and come to the world of One Piece?"
People often react differently when faced with sudden situations. Some may become extremely anxious and fearful, even doing terrible things, while others can remain eerily calm and analyze their situation. Liu Mang was one of those people. "If all of this is true and I am really in the world of One Piece, then am I not in great danger? There are no so-called laws or moral constraints in this world. No, what's most important now is to confirm if this is indeed the world of One Piece before I can decide on my future path."
Liu Mang truly lived up to his name. Having grown up alone from a young age, he did not lose his composure even in this situation but calmly analyzed what he should do. "Hmm? Are those footprints? It seems the owner of these footprints has been gone for some time. Following them might lead to some unexpected discoveries."
Jun Tianqi, desperately lacking information and eager to know where he was, immediately ran after the footprints with his now small body. While running, Liu Mang did not stop thinking. Various thoughts and assumptions raced through his mind. If he had really come to the world of One Piece, what should he do? Should he hide here and live like a beggar, or set sail to become a pirate, or perhaps join the marines?
These three different ideas constantly revolved in his mind, and he could not decide for a moment. After all, every man harbors a beast or an ambition deep within. On Earth, due to inherent conditions and legal and moral constraints, such ambitions could only remain buried deep inside. But in this world of survival of the fittest, where the strong rule over kingdoms and recline on the laps of beauties, waking up with a sword in hand, once this thought appeared, Liu Mang's ambition followed suit.
"This is strange. If what the voice said is correct, I have reverted to being four years old. Although I have maintained physical exercise for many years, how can my breathing still be so stable and my cardio-pulmonary function so powerful after running for so long with my current four-year-old body?"
When Liu Mang was unsure about what to choose, he suddenly noticed something he had overlooked earlier. Since starting from the beach, he had run for about ten minutes at the speed he used to run long distances. Yet, his four-year-old body had not shown any signs of fatigue. This change filled him with joy. "Is this the kind of 'cheat' that main characters in穿越 (time-travel/crossover) novels get? Some have powerful souls, others have strong bodies, and some carry summoning devices. Mine must be a significant increase in physical potential. Judging by my current physical abilities, I am stronger than when I was in my twenties. At least, I have a slight advantage over others, and if I train harder, I will have some self-defense capabilities."
Although Liu Mang was not yet certain that he was in the world of One Piece, he had already largely accepted this fact in his heart. Watching anime before, although it seemed so exciting, this world was actually very cruel. A single encounter with some insane pirates could lead to a gruesome death. Now, discovering that his body had become so much stronger, although compared to the people in this world he was still like an ant, it made Liu Mang extremely happy.
Two hours later, following the footprints, Liu Mang finally found a human settlement. He had also basically determined just how powerful his body was. Compared to his previous body, his current one was at least thirty percent stronger. However, two hours of long-distance running still left him red-faced and out of breath. If it weren't for the thought in his mind supporting him, he might have sat down to rest.
"This really is the world of One Piece. What should I do?" As soon as Liu Mang entered the town, the previously calm person instantly became dazed because he saw some naval personnel patrolling. Their uniforms were exactly the same as those in the world of One Piece. The bars, firearms, and everything else were the same too, clearly indicating that this was indeed the world of One Piece.
"Changkong, what are you standing there stupidly for? Come over here quickly." Just as Liu Mang was at a loss about what to do, a voice that was both youthful and melodious reached his ears, snapping him back to reality. Instinctively, he looked towards the source of the sound.
What he saw was a blonde little girl not much older than himself. Her features were exquisitely beautiful, combining into a lovely Barbie doll-like appearance. What surprised Liu Mang the most was that this girl, who looked no more than six years old, possessed a charm inappropriate for her age, and would undoubtedly grow up to be a stunning beauty capable of turning heads.
"Hey, are you really dumbstruck? Did catching fish make you forget everything? You're only coming back now. Don't you know how worried I've been?" Just as Liu Mang was wondering if the blonde little girl was calling him, she approached him with tiny steps, grabbed his hand, and led him toward a dilapidated-looking house in the distance. While scolding Liu Mang, her eyes revealed undeniable care and worry.
Faced with such pure and unadulterated concern, Liu Mang, who had come to this unfamiliar world, felt an unusual warmth in his heart. It was like someone offering unconditional help and care when they were most needed, and that's exactly how Liu Mang felt right now.
"I... Changkong, are you calling me? My name is Liu Mang!" Liu Mang felt warmth in his heart. Although he had attended a prestigious university on Earth, his status as an orphan and poor economic condition made many people look down on him. Those who could be his friends were mostly in similar situations. However, this little girl looked at him with the eyes of a sister looking at her younger brother, a situation that greatly pleased Liu Mang, whose parents had died in his previous life. Without pulling away from the little girl's hand, he asked about his confusion.
"Rogue? Are you really that dumbstruck? Have you forgotten who you are? Ah! Could you have forgotten your sister too? Don't scare me. You're the last family member I have in this world. If anything happens to you, how am I supposed to survive?" The blonde little girl immediately showed panic, fear, and asked anxiously with a trembling voice.