Ainz stood at the edge of the island, gazing at the endless sea that stretched out before him. The names he had overheard—Navy, pirate, Straw Hat—echoed in his mind, stirring something from his past life, before he had become the powerful undead overlord he was now.
"Navy... pirates... Straw Hat," Ainz muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Those words... they seem so familiar." He searched his memory, recalling the days when he was still human, playing video games, reading web novels, and watching anime. And then, it clicked.
One Piece.
Ainz's eyes flared with a sudden realization. "Could it be? This world… is it the world of that old anime?" He felt a strange mixture of excitement and curiosity. If it was indeed the same world, there would be powerful figures like Luffy, Zoro, Shanks, and Blackbeard—characters from one of the most legendary stories of his previous life.
"Or could this world merely share a few similarities? Perhaps it's just a coincidence..." Ainz considered the possibility. "Still, I cannot afford to overlook the potential of this world."
With that, Ainz made up his mind. He had to learn more, to confirm whether this world was indeed the one from the anime he had watched so long ago. If it was, his knowledge from his previous life might provide him with a significant advantage.
---
Exploring and Gathering Information
Ainz began moving through the island, using his summoning abilities to call upon several low-level undead scouts. Their task was simple: find any sources of information and return to him. He remained hidden in the shadows, ensuring that none of the locals would notice him just yet.
Within a few hours, the scouts returned with what Ainz needed: a small group of ragged pirates, unconscious and bound by his minions.
"Perfect," Ainz said softly as he approached the captives. The pirates groaned in their bindings, slowly waking up, but their eyes widened in terror when they saw the skeletal figure looming over them.
"W-What is that?!" one of the pirates stammered, trembling as he tried to squirm away. "A monster!"
Ainz knelt down, his glowing eyes fixating on the pirate who had spoken. "Tell me... what is this place? Who rules these seas?"
The pirate swallowed hard, his face pale with fear. "This... this is the New World! We're just trying to make a living here. We ain't important, I swear!"
Ainz remained silent, but his aura of power made it impossible for the pirate to stay composed.
"The Navy... they're the ones who hunt pirates like us," another pirate managed to say, trembling as he spoke. "They protect the seas. And then... there are the pirates—powerful ones."
Ainz's eyes narrowed. "Pirates? Tell me more."
"Th-The strongest pirates rule different parts of the world," the pirate explained. "Like the Yonkou—Shanks, Kaido, Big Mom... And there's a new guy, Straw Hat Luffy. He just made it to the New World not long ago."
The name Straw Hat confirmed it. This was indeed the world of One Piece. Ainz couldn't help but smile behind his skeletal visage. His suspicions were correct—he had entered a world he knew all too well from his past life.
Straw Hat Luffy. Ainz knew that Luffy was destined for greatness, but if the pirate had only just entered the New World, that meant Ainz was far ahead of him in terms of power.
"Tell me," Ainz said, his voice calm but commanding. "Where is this Straw Hat Luffy now?"
"We... we don't know exactly," the pirate stammered. "He was last seen near Dressrosa, but he's always on the move."
"Dressrosa," Ainz repeated, recalling the arc from the anime. That meant the world was still in a relatively early stage, at least in terms of Luffy's journey. Ainz felt a wave of excitement ripple through him. If Luffy is still early in his New World journey, that means I have more time to manipulate events in my favor.
Satisfied with the information, Ainz nodded to himself. "You've been useful," he said coldly. The pirates, realizing what was coming, began to beg for mercy.
"N-No, please! We told you everything! Don't—"
Before they could finish, Ainz raised his hand, and the pirates fell silent, their souls torn from their bodies in an instant. He let their lifeless forms collapse to the ground, their spirits absorbed into his magic.
---
Returning to Nazarick
Ainz returned to his dimension, retreating to the safety of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Once there, he immediately summoned Albedo and Demiurge. As always, his most loyal servants stood before him, ready to serve.
"My lord," Albedo said, bowing deeply. "What is your will?"
Ainz paused for a moment, carefully considering his next move. "I've found myself in a new world," he began. "A world filled with pirates, marines, and powerful forces. It seems to operate on a different set of rules than our own, but one thing remains the same—power is everything."
Demiurge's eyes glinted with interest. "A new world, my lord? How fascinating. I'm sure there are countless opportunities for us to exploit."
Ainz nodded. "Indeed. However, I've learned that the strongest pirates are already consolidating their power in this world. One of them is a man named Straw Hat Luffy. He is still relatively unknown in this part of the world, but I believe he will rise to prominence."
"A mere pirate, my lord?" Albedo said with a frown. "Surely he is no match for your greatness."
"For now, no," Ainz said, agreeing with Albedo. "But this world operates on strange and unpredictable rules. I will not underestimate anyone, especially not those who can affect the balance of power."
Albedo and Demiurge both nodded in agreement.
"I will need to gather more information about the power structures here," Ainz continued. "And more importantly, I need to learn if there are any others like me—otherworldly beings."
"Shall I take charge of that task, Lord Ainz?" Demiurge asked eagerly.
"No," Ainz said firmly. "I will handle this myself. In the meantime, continue to manage Nazarick. There are some projects I am working on that must remain undisturbed."
"As you wish, my lord," they both replied in unison.
---
Contemplation and Strategy
Back in his private chambers, Ainz sat alone, contemplating his next move. He now knew where he was—the world of One Piece. He also knew that while this world was powerful in its own right, it was far weaker in terms of magic and mana compared to the world he had come from. That gave him a distinct advantage.
But there was another advantage: his knowledge of the story. He knew how events were likely to unfold, which pirates and marines would rise to power, and who would fall. This knowledge made him more dangerous than anyone in this world could possibly imagine.
"If I play my cards right," Ainz thought, "I can control this world from the shadows, using the chaos of pirate and marine battles to my advantage."
But first, he needed to test the waters. He needed to confirm just how much he could manipulate events in this world, and if the balance of power could be shifted in his favor.
Ainz stood up, his eyes glowing with ambition. "The game has just begun."