Chapter 6: First Time Mission Completion

"I am a neutral force" Allen immediately explained the reason to Marko, "As long as I move to an island that is in your territory, it's the same as me being on your side. This is also what causes you to dominate this place or take advantage of other parties such as taking entry fees here or whatever it is like. Those kinds of things are things that I don't want to see. Anyone has the freedom to come to this place, whoever he is. Marines, Pirates, World Government, Revolutionary Army, Individuals, or Empires. As long as they wanted to come and become adventurers, they could come without paying a penny. I am not sure for them to pay because money in this world has no value in my eyes"

"…Then, it's different from the Paradise region where everyone has the opportunity to come to this ocean region. The New World Region does not allow that. Civilians or individuals might have a chance even if their strength is weak. They still have a way to go by following the road through Marijoa. What about Pirates? They are required to follow an underwater path or Fish-Man Island and even then they may not be able to safely arrive there. The Paradise region is the most suitable region for me to open this business. Everyone can have access to come to this place. It doesn't matter which ocean region he is from. The four seas region, they can pass through the rising waters of the Red Line, while for those from the New World where their strength has been recognized, of course, they can easily come to this ocean area by passing the underwater passage."

"…This place itself is just a starting place for me to open this business. As long as the number of people is filled or maybe let's say, this place is already difficult to accommodate several people, I will move from this place to a new place"

Marko, who listened to Allen's explanation, finally understood the reason behind the rejection given to him, "Have you determined the location of the new place that you will open in the future?"

"Not at the moment" Allen shook his head, "But, it's most likely located between the junction between Alabasta Island and Jaya Island. It was the midpoint of the Paradise Ocean region. I will look for an island that is located between the two islands to open up my place in the future"

"...Can you guarantee your future position?" Marko asked seriously.

This question alone represents all the power that comes from the pirate side. As long as Allen sided with one side, the other side would greatly benefit. For example, Allen sided with the Navy. So, the strength of the Navy will increase very significantly with the help provided by Allen.

Therefore, Marko wants to emphasize the position held by Allen right now.

"Don't worry, I will always be neutral and won't side with anyone." Allen waved his hand casually, "If anyone tries to force me to join their forces, they can try it…"

A grin appeared on Allen's face, "Whether they are capable of doing it or not…"

That smile was just an ordinary smile when seen by a normal person. But for Marko. It was no ordinary smile. That smile has meaning, Allen is confident in his abilities and can punish anyone who dares to do something to him.

"Anyone who dares to do something to you will have bad luck, Yoi~" Marko said casually, "They should also think twice about doing that. Let alone you, before you even make a move, the other party will move to restrain them from disturbing you."

"...By the way, Allen. Are you from this world?"

There is one question that is currently stuck in Marko's mind and he always wants to find an opportunity to ask about it. The question is related to Allen's background. What Allen brought right now was not something that this world should have. Additionally, Allen had previously mentioned that each floor in the dungeon was like another world.

"You can answer that question with your answer" Allen smiled a little, "There should be an answer regarding your question in every conversation we have. The rest of how you think about me"

"…He is not from this world"

Only one conclusion could be reached by Marko after analyzing all the conversations the two had.

"By the way, how long until your group gets here?" Allen immediately changed the subject between the two.

"Three days at the earliest and five days at the latest" Marko immediately answered, "As long as it's not required to do layering, my group can arrive within two days. However, we are required to follow the underwater route and still have to wait for our ship to be layered before we can move to this place."

"Hmmm ~ I see. I think you can make the most of this time. Three days, even though it's quite short but as long as you can use that time well, you can raise your strength to a certain level and make everyone in your group look up to you maybe even your father - Edward Newgate would be very proud to see you like this."

"Hehehe ~ That's what I would do too, You~" Marko smiled excitedly as if he was a child right now, then his smile stopped, and immediately asked, "Who knows about this place right now? Akagami…He should already know about this place, right?"

"You are very observant, could it be because of the presence of Rayleigh?"

"Well, Rayleigh should have told him about this place."

"You are not wrong. Rayleigh has indeed informed Akagami about this and he should have started moving to this place by now." Allen replied, "Besides, there is also a possibility that Boa Hancock and his group of Kuja Pirates have headed here."

"Kuja pirate group?" Marko frowned, "How did they---Wait, could it be the woman who was with Rayleigh who told them about this?"

"As expected of you, Ship Doctor of the Whitebeard Pirates" Allen was slightly amazed by Marko's analysis, "That woman is called Shakuyaku. She was the Former Queen of Amazon Lily Island two generations earlier than the current Hancock."

"What?!"

Marko who heard the identity of Shakuyaku immediately exclaimed in a tone full of surprise.

"Even though the current Shakuyaku has no ties to Amazon Lily Island, she was the former Empress there. In addition, there is the island where he was born and also raised. As long as it brings something good overall to the island, Shakuyaku will certainly help her. She knew the future conditions with appearances from me. As long as her side moved swiftly, there was a possibility that it could become a group that would stand in a high position among the other factions. Meanwhile, as long as her side moved slowly, there was the possibility of her side becoming a group standing in a lowly position. Currently, only a few people know about this place and it is possible…In about one or two weeks, this place will be known by many people. As long as information regarding this place spreads, all parties would forget what they were after right now and focus on this place. The group that made their first exploration inside the dungeon was the most favored. Because apart from their strength being above others, they also have an understanding regarding geographical conditions and others."

Marko's gaze immediately became serious listening to Allen's words.

"…The distance between this Island and Amazon Lily Island is quite far but not as far as the location that belongs to your group. Moreover, Amazon Lily Island was in the Paradise region. There is a possibility that it will only take them a day to get here." Allen said casually, "But…"

"But?"

"That's just my analysis"

"Analysis? What do you mean by that?" Marko asked confusedly.

"I'm also not sure whether Shakuyaku has passed on this information to Hancock and the others. This is just my analysis since Rayleigh himself had given this news to Shanks and I was thinking that there is a possibility that Shakuyaku also passed the information on this place to Hancock and the others." Allen said, "However, there is also a possibility that she did not share this information. The percentage that I can get is 75% of her telling them the reasons mentioned by me before and there is a 25% chance of her not telling them about this place. Well, we just have to wait until tomorrow. As long as Shakuyaku tells them about this place, they should come to this place tomorrow."

*******

Dungeon, Monster Zone.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations to Adventurer Silver Rayleigh and Shakuyaku for completing the mission of exterminating the Goblin camp that is two kilometers west of the Imperium Empire. Please come back and report the success of this mission to Commander Suzaku]

Rayleigh and Shakuyaku who were currently sitting on the ground due to having just had an intense battle with several Goblins immediately heard the notification sound that entered their heads followed by a holographic screen that appeared in front of them with the words they heard before.

"Ray-san, did you get any information and a holographic screen appeared in front of you right now?" Shakuyaku asked while slowly regaining her breath.

"Did you get one too?" Rayleigh asked as he also rearranged his breath, "It seems the Goblin monsters we fought before were the targets of the mission we currently have. I didn't expect that they would attack us first."

"Well, this is quite different from what I originally thought," Shakuyaku said calmly, "This should be the uncertainty factor that Allen told you about earlier. A lot of uncertain things can happen here."

"Uhm," Rayleigh nodded then immediately removed the holographic screen that was currently appearing before his eyes then his gaze glanced towards a blue stone and several bronze coins that fell after he managed to kill the Goblin Captain.

"What's this?"

Rayleigh immediately took the blue stone and when he got the stone, a blue holographic screen that recorded information about the stone immediately appeared right in front of him.

[Goblin Crystal Core

Description: One of the main materials for making equipment "Goblin Set"

Quality: Step

Selling Price: 25 bronze coins]

"Oh? Is this an item that can be used to manufacture equipment?" Rayleigh who read the information about the item immediately showed interest and said, "Shakky, is there a blue stone where the two goblins you killed before were there?"

"A blue stone?" Shakuyaku immediately turned his attention to the two blue stones in front of him, "Sure."

"It is an item that belongs to this dungeon and is one of the materials that can be used to manufacture Goblin set equipment."

"Goblin set equipment manufacturing materials"

Shakuyaku's interest was immediately raised in this. She immediately picked up the two blue stones then suddenly the same holographic screen as the one currently in front of Rayleigh appeared in front of her.

[Goblin Crystal Core

Description: One of the main materials for making equipment "Goblin Set"

Quality: Normal

Selling Price: 15 bronze coins]

"It says the same as you said….The stone you have…What quality is there?"

"Quality?" Rayleigh looked back at the rock he was holding, "Step. What about the current one?"

"Normal Quality"

"Normal?" Rayleigh raised his eyebrows and said, "The higher the power a monster should have, the better the quality of the items obtained. The goblins that were killed by me before are also currently taking out several bronze coins and they are slightly more than the ones killed by you."

"Should be"

The stamina of the two of them had slowly returned and in a moment their stamina had recovered. Rayleigh and Shakuyaku started moving by collecting items dropped by the Goblins they managed to kill where these items are currently stored in the robe used by Rayleigh previously where the robe has been converted into a bag.

"I guess we should take a bag with us on our next exploration," Rayleigh said as he tied his robes into a bag, "It's inconvenient to carry something like this"

"Ara~ I think it suits you"

Rayleigh rolled his eyes at this.

"Could it be that in this place there is an item that allows us to store items inside?"

"…There should be such an item" Rayleigh nodded then his expression turned bitter, "But, with the situation we are in, it's impossible for you to obtain the item."

"...A black-hearted merchant"

Rayleigh sighed hearing this, "Let's go back and immediately report about the mission we completed. We can ask Allen if it's possible to get that storage item other than how to buy it."

"Well,"

The two of them began to move quickly back to the Imperium Empire to report on the mission they had just completed.

******

Guilds.

"I want to do this mission"

Marko, who had just returned from the dungeon, brought a mission sheet that he wanted to complete. After talking about a few things with Allen earlier, Marko immediately moved toward the dungeon. He spent some time there looking around the place and finally found some differences from Rayleigh's before.

Marko then went straight to the mission board and took the mission he wanted to complete.

[It takes Adventurers or Guilds to be able to gather ten kilograms of Meat from the Red-Horned Ox. The mission reward is 250 Exp as well as one silver coin. This mission was issued by the Axis Restaurant]

"Oh? Collection mission? I didn't expect that you would take on this mission. Previously I thought you would be impulsive by taking on missions that specifically do battle with monsters of moderate strength."

"I know my strength can't win against a monster whose strength is far above mine. I am not impulsive and dare to do something without winning at all"

"Hmm~ Hey, I guess you should take care of someone from your group then" Allen chuckled, "He shouldn't be thinking the kind of things you're thinking right now and might impulsively take on a high-level mission because of the pride and arrogance that he has."

"..."

Marko's expression immediately changed upon hearing that. Marko scratched his head quickly, "I know, I will do it. Let's hope he doesn't do anything stupid when he gets here."

Allen smiled upon seeing this and immediately confirmed the mission that Marko wanted to do.

[Ding!]

The city mission notification finally appeared in front of Marko at this time.

"I have confirmed the mission. You only need to go to the person issuing the mission to notify your willingness to carry out the mission as well, you can ask for information about the location of the red-horned cow which is the target of this mission. They will surely help to inform about the information."

"Yes, then, I will go first"

Allen nodded and watched Marko slowly walk into the dungeon casually.

******

Some time passed.

"Hmm~"

"Hey, Allen. we are back"

Allen who heard the sound immediately got up and found Rayleigh and Shakuyaku had finally returned to the Guild.

"I have received information regarding the success of the mission you two carried out" Allen smiled and continued, "This is quite fast. Did something happen during the mission?"

"Well, compared to us having to come to where the headquarters of the Goblins are, they came to us first and we ended up having a pretty fierce battle with them"

"Hmm, what a fierce battle but you guys still managed to finish very well," Allen said then his gaze glanced at Rayleigh, "Is that your harvest? You guys got a pretty good harvest in this mission."

"We got several items and one of them is a blue stone. Based on the information we got directly, it is the main material for making equipment."

"Well, the stone is indeed one of the main materials in making equipment such as swords or other tools." Allen nodded and continued, "Some of the monsters will have drop items that can be used as materials for making equipment sets while some monsters don't drop them."

"...What are you two going to do with those items? Keep it or sell it?"

"Is the price that will be given to us still high as long as we use the materials we find ourselves to make equipment?" Rayleigh asked immediately.

"Prices will remain the same. Ten times the normal price given by the place where the weapons are made to civilians"

"Don't they profit too much from the business?" Shakuyaku's face immediately darkened at this.

"Aren't you the same?" Allen asked while raising his eyebrows, "You also extort your customers, right?"

"I did but the amount taken by me wasn't as terrible as they did"

"This material…Can't it be cultivated in the outside world?" Rayleigh immediately asked back with great interest.

"No, it can't be" Allen shook his head, "There are some items that can be used in the outside world but items for equipment-making materials such as monster cores wouldn't be possible to cultivate in the outside world for now."

"At the moment?"

"The technique of ordering equipment manufacture in dungeons and this world is completely different. When swordsmiths make weapons in this world, they only need to turn a piece of metal into a strong and sharp sword. However, it was different from the dungeon. Making weapons there, especially swords, does not only use one material, but several other materials. The Goblin Core that you currently possess is just one of those materials and as long as you try to get a smith from this world to forge a sword using it, that Goblin Core will disintegrate and become just trash that has no use value at all. "

"...You still remember my discussion regarding certificates, right?"

"Of course"

Rayleigh and Shakuyaku nodded.

"As long as you have a certificate, you can open a business within the dungeon. Whatever business you want to do, you can do it. Apart from its function to help you build a business, the certificate will also help you to be able to follow or study from someone in the basement."

"Studying? You mean one can learn how to forge weapons or other occupations as long as one has a certificate?"

"Well," Allen nodded and continued, "As long as you find a teacher or someone who works in that profession who wants to accept you as a student, sure, you can become a student and start studying. It's just that, you need a certificate and acknowledgment from that person. However, there are also other alternatives like you guys following a school that is in a dungeon."

"School?" Shakuyaku's interest rises at this.

"There are schools on every floor in the dungeon. Unlike the school you know, the school in the dungeon specifically teaches someone to become an ironsmith, alchemist or medicine potion maker, chef, and various other professions. The conditions for you to enter there are required to have a certificate and pay school fees with a value determined by the school. This is also the difference between you having a teacher directly or entering a school"

"...As long as there is someone to accept you, you only need to have a certificate and there is no need to pay for school. Meanwhile, as long as you enter school, you are required to pay the entrance fee which depends on the class level you take. The higher the class of the school, the more expensive the school fees you have to bear every month. In addition, the higher the class you take, the higher the quality of your certificate. The certificate is part of the item and the quality of the item is the same as the quality of a weapon. I think this has already been explained by me to you before."

"Yeah," Rayleigh nodded.

"...As long as one has graduated from that school, one is expected to have some knowledge of making or forging items befitting the grade level one is taking. Like someone who enters a blacksmith school and then takes normal-level classes. During school, he will be taught how to forge various kinds of weapons with normal level quality. By the time he finishes his education at the school, he is expected to be able to make a normal-level weapon and this can also be used as capital for him to build a business in the dungeon."