Chapter 254: Players Logging Out

"Five days until the version update, and I'm still surfing on the sea without a care in the world."

"I was happily doing quests... then saw the forum announcement about the upcoming update. Time's running out... now I'm rushing through quests."

"Just ten seconds ago, I joined a pirate crew... By the way, can you leave a crew? I don't need a refund! Captain, please don't—"

"I think my situation is worse. I'm not a pirate, but I just got drafted at a Marine base. Can they accept a recruit with an indefinite absence?"

The player forum was buzzing with activity. As the new version loomed, players shared their quirky experiences.

Among them, the most unfortunate were those who had just joined new factions. They had worked hard to earn their new roles, only to be hit hard by the impending update before they could prove themselves and build trust.

Even more pitiful were the players still drifting at sea, unable to find a safe place to log out.

Logging off on a ship... let's hope nothing bad happens.

The forum was lively, but in the game, players who received the update notification were racing to their predetermined logout locations.

This behavior naturally caught the attention of the natives of the vast sea.

Throughout the game's open beta, the existence of these "immortal drifters" had been a significant shock to the sea's inhabitants.

Anyone would feel wary of this peculiar group of seemingly immortal beings who had suddenly appeared.

Unsurprisingly, the sea's natives had mixed feelings about these "immortal drifters."

On one hand, these drifters loved helping out with tasks (quests), often for minimal rewards, which greatly boosted the locals' productivity.

On the other hand, the natives felt a certain distance from the drifters and rarely initiated contact with them.

In the eyes of some particularly cautious natives, players were seen as strange, risky beings, often avoiding them altogether.

However, with the impending update, players had to abandon their current tasks and return to the islands, prompting noticeable action that certain factions could not ignore.

...

West Blue, Razor Gang Headquarters, Otefi Island

The Razor Gang had always welcomed these "immortal drifters." For a gang, "strength" was the most critical aspect, and the players significantly boosted their combat power.

Due to their immortal nature, players were fearless in battle, making them ideal "gang members."

As the leader of the Razor Gang, Tommy couldn't understand why they were so popular among these drifters. The Razor Gang had more drifters than any other gang in the West Blue.

Privately, Tommy suspected that the existence of these drifters might be influenced by their Lord Adrian, or perhaps they were summoned directly from the underworld by the Ghostly Lord.

Due to Adrian's secret influence and the need for suitable cannon fodder, Tommy accepted all drifters into the Razor Gang.

Recently, however, a large number of drifter members were returning to Otefi Island from across the West Blue, rejoining the gang.

This unexplained behavior raised Tommy's suspicions.

"Have you figured out the reason?"

In the top-floor conference room of the Razor Gang's central building, Tommy asked his subordinates. Despite recognizing the drifters' strength and bravery, he doubted their loyalty.

Tommy's trusted subordinates were all carefully selected original gang members, with no players among them.

"No, Boss. We still haven't found the reason for the mass return of the drifters. They only spout incoherent nonsense when questioned (system auto-censored). There are nearly 2000 drifters on Otefi Island now, and their numbers keep growing."

Out of respect for Adrian, Tommy always used the title "Boss" instead of "Godfather."

Tommy pondered for a moment.

"So, most of the drifters in the Razor Gang have returned to the island?"

"Yes, Boss! This isn't a good sign. Although most drifters are great cannon fodder and very loyal, there are always troublemakers. Every so often, a drifter causes a disturbance, threatening the island's safety."

"Two thousand drifters are almost as many as some small kingdoms' armies! Each one is as strong as an elite gang member. If not handled properly, they could seriously impact our gang."

The subordinate expressed his concerns. He had no idea that the players were returning to Otefi Island due to the upcoming version update, seeking a safe logout location.

In "One Piece," unlike other games, there were no "main cities" or "absolute safe zones." Players had to find the safest possible spot to ensure their accounts' security during the update.

As the Razor Gang's base, Otefi Island was naturally trusted by the gang's players.

"Boss, we need to be cautious..."

"I understand your concern," Tommy said seriously. "From now on, no drifters are allowed to enter or leave Otefi Island. In two days, we'll redistribute them to nearby islands to handle security there."

As one of the top gangs in the West Blue, the Razor Gang controlled a significant territory, including several islands in the surrounding sea.

However, before Tommy could issue the order, the players on Otefi Island, after exchanging jokes and farewells, logged off.

Soon, the island was devoid of drifters.

This scene played out on every island in the Four Seas where players were present. Thousands of drifters vanished just as quickly as they had appeared.

Far away on Fish-Man Island, Adrian paused, holding two warm, soft autumn milk teas, and opened the interface.

New notifications appeared.

[Version 1.0 Update Initiated]

[Data Saving... Complete]

[Forum Closed]

[Version 2.0 Update Time Unknown, Please Be Patient]

Adrian tried logging into the official forum, but the login option was grayed out, just like during the initial closed beta.

"Unknown update time, huh? Let's see what changes next time."

"Those were good times, reaping rewards with ease..."