"Choosing abilities after making a wish? I underestimated this cheat."
The sudden windfall surprised Zyhark, who, after a few seconds of contemplation, couldn't help but curse.
"Damn it! So, it was actually possible to return the product!"
"Shut up, damn it, you're disturbing the natural instinct of reproduction, be careful or I'll demolish your house!" came the angry scolding from next door again.
"Sorry, sorry!" Zyhark hastily apologized.
The neighbors relationship exuded a rather 'harmonious' atmosphere.
Calming down, Zyhark refocused his attention on the three options on the tablet.
[Incredible Explosive Magic: After a short charge, unleash an explosion so powerful it can blow away mountain tops, but leaves the user completely weak and unable to move for a day]
[Somewhat Perverted Holy Relic Theft: Gain the superpower to take objects from afar, and with some luck, even steal women's undergarments]
[Extremely Durable Defense: Thick health bar and high armor, capable of withstanding attacks far stronger than one's own physical condition]
Without giving it much thought, Zyhark immediately dismissed the first option.
However, choosing between the seemingly normal options of holy relic theft and defensive ability made him frown, presenting a dilemma.
"Between stealing 'holy relics' and defensive abilities, it's really hard to choose..."
Looking at the wood chips and debris yet to be cleaned, and considering the upcoming debt collection from bandits, after careful deliberation, Zyhark reluctantly gave up the somewhat perverted holy relic theft.
Setting aside the uncertain factor of luck, in the dangerous world of pirates, a life-saving defensive ability is of higher value.
The moment he made his choice, a faint luminescence lit up around him.
Zyhark then clearly felt his skin becoming firmer, his muscles and physique strengthened, and his strength as an ordinary villager slightly increased.
"Not a bad boost, although it's far from the defense of the strongest creature, Kaido, but facing Higuma's bandits, I should be less passive now."
Zyhark was quite satisfied with the changes in his body.
The painstakingly saved 3 million Berries were not wasted after all.
Watching the wishing well's tablet gradually fade away, Zyhark suddenly asked, "Can I send the person back and just keep the chosen ability?"
He still harbored concerns about Aqua's intelligence.
However, the wishing well, being just a tool, lacked consciousness and couldn't respond.
No response essentially meant one thing: no refunds or exchanges once the product leaves the counter.
Regrettably, Zyhark had to abandon his hopeful thought.
Just then, Aqua had finished cleaning the toilet and was walking towards him with a proud face.
"Hey! Zyhark, you can check the toilet now. I've proved myself efficiently and perfectly!"
Zyhark had no intention to check, merely offering a casual compliment, "Well done, Toilet Goddess."
Before Aqua could sternly correct the "Toilet Goddess" remark, Zyhark preemptively pointed to the debris on the ground.
"Now that you're done, how about cleaning up this mess too?"
"Damn! You're asking me to clean up trash? I am a goddess, the Goddess of Water!" Aqua fumed.
"Oh, is that so? So the Goddess of Water is such a useless being that can't even clean up trash."
Zyhark squinted mockingly and pretended to stand up towards the debris, muttering, "I really can't with you, guess I'll have to do it myself..."
Before he could finish, a blue figure flashed by him, whipping up a gust of wind.
"What a joke, cleaning up trash is a small matter that's completely not a challenge for me!"
Seeing Aqua so easily provoked and energetically cleaning the trash, Zyhark's regret diminished slightly.
Despite being prepared, the goddess's low intelligence still far exceeded his expectations.
Maybe he could indeed manipulate her into becoming a powerful force under his command!
However, the Toilet Goddess immediately shattered his overly confident expectations.
"Huhuhu!"
Snoring sounds, utterly unbefitting a cute girl, filled the air. In just a few seconds of distraction, Aqua had fallen asleep among the wood shavings.
Her delicate hand scratched her exposed belly, her rough sleeping posture completely unrelated to her goddess image.
The moonlight shining through the window illuminated the sleeping Aqua, revealing her flawless face and perfect figure, while Zyhark, a hidden lecher, looked on with pure admiration.
Aqua's beauty in person far surpassed that seen on a computer screen.
Yet, for some reason, he felt no desire, his thoughts as clean as purified water.
"Sigh..."
Thinking about adventuring with such a being, Zyhark, aspiring to be strong all his life, couldn't help but let out a helpless sigh.
He fetched a fluffy blanket from inside the restaurant and gently covered Aqua.
The night deepened, but Zyhark had no intention of sleeping, enduring the loud snoring and sitting down at the front desk.
After grabbing a bottle of chilled cola from the fridge and taking a sip, he began analyzing the current situation in the pirate world.
He had arrived in the year 1510 of the Sea Circle Calendar, ten years before the protagonist Luffy set sail.
This was the era when Hawk Eye was just named the world's greatest swordsman, and Red-Haired Shanks had not yet become one of the Emperors. It was the most chaotic and turbulent period in the pirate world.
The strength of Whitebeard had not yet decline, Big Mom and Kaido are rising in power after leaving the Rocks Pirates, there are also the Seven Warlords of the Sea...
The robust Marine hero Garp, and the yet-to-be Admirals Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru showing their prowess...
Compared to the "Worst Generation" formed by Luffy, Blackbeard, and the Supernovas, this era was even more dangerous, making it almost impossible to make a name for oneself!
Zyhark had planned to summon a strong (and intelligent) partner to kill the 8-million-Berry bounty bandit, Higuma, and take off in the so-called weakest East Blue to grow stronger through adventure.
After gathering enough crew, he would then head to the Grand Line and even the New World, making steady progress.
But Aqua's arrival disrupted all his plans, adding to his already scarce resources.
For now, he could only hope that the second summoned partner would be more promising.
Thinking this, Zyhark accessed the wishing well in his mind.
The floating tablet by the pool displayed the conditions for the next wish: [10 million Berries + a Buggy special bullet]
Neither 10 million Berries nor a Buggy bullet seemed attainable in Windmill Village.
Setting aside the Buggy bullet, his restaurant business could barely make 2 million Berries a year at most.
At this rate, wouldn't it take five years to save up 10 million?
Moreover, he now had Aqua, whose very presence screamed financial disaster!
After much thought, setting out to sea to capture low-level pirates for their bounties seemed like the best course of action.
"Still, before that, I really need to find a way to take down Bandit King Higuma..."
An 8-million-Berry bounty head might be worthless in the New World, but it was still very tempting for Zyhark.
If only he had the overwhelming power of the Red-Haired Pirates to simply overpower them.
Unfortunately, even with the wishing well's enhancement, his main strength was his durable defense, with no significant offensive capabilities.
Taking on a fully armed bandit group head-on was too risky and difficult.
Zyhark's gaze flickered as he pondered a foolproof plan.
(End of Chapter)