Chapter 1337 - 48: Against the World

Chapter 1337: Chapter 48: Against the World

Su Xiao stood on a giant rock by the coast, the setting sun sank in the west, and the sea water slapped against the rock, splashing high.

After Katakuri’s retreat, Su Xiao met the requirements for the third ring of his promotion/main task, successfully activating the fourth ring, which is the final stage of the promotion/main task. Once this task is completed, he can advance to a fourth-tier Hunter.

Advancing in tier does not directly increase strength, but allows him to experience higher-tier worlds. The more difficult the world, the richer the rewards, and this is where fourth-tier Contractors differ from third-tier Contractors.

Normally, after advancing to the fourth tier, Contractors can easily overpower third-tier Contractors after experiencing just two or three Derivative Worlds. However, there are exceptions. For instance, Su Xiao is currently the strongest in the third tier. Those Contractors, even after advancing to the fourth tier, might still be beaten by Su Xiao despite experiencing five or six worlds. This is a difference accumulated over time.

Su Xiao is definitely not afraid of moderately strong fourth-tier Contractors. If they are upper-middle level in the fourth tier, it becomes somewhat tricky to deal with. As for those at the very top of the fourth tier, Su Xiao is not yet up to the task.

Because of this, Su Xiao never considered engaging in direct conflict with Kudu and other fifth-tier Contractors. Moreover, one thing puzzled him—according to his estimation, fifth-tier Contractors should not fear Big Mom, Kaido, etc. Why did they not seize the opportunity to kill Big Mom and others?

If Kudu and the others had killed Big Mom earlier, the Pirate Reputation they gained would directly disqualify Su Xiao from competition.

There are only two possibilities for this: One, Kudu and the others are relatively weak within the fifth tier, which is somewhat implausible. It is precisely due to the presence of Kudu and the others that Big Mom backed off and abandoned attacking Dressrosa.

The only remaining possibility is that Kudu and others are above their current region’s tier. Just like Su Xiao was not teleported to Punk Hazard, Kudu and the others likely used special means to enter this world. As a price, they cannot, or dare not, kill characters like Big Mom, as it would destabilize the New World order.

In Su Xiao’s personal view, he feels the latter is more reliable. Judging from the rise in Pirate Reputation, Kudu and Shallow Dream are more than 80% likely to be members of the same Adventure group.

Coincidentally, Su Xiao has traded with Shallow Dream before, so he knows Shallow Dream and Man Shi are members of the same Adventure group.

Among the six fifth-tier Contractors, three are in the same Adventure group. Is this a coincidence? Highly unlikely. If Su Xiao’s guess is correct, Kudu, Shallow Dream, Man Shi, and the others are all members of the Parasol Tree Adventure Team.

Su Xiao’s thoughts gradually became clear. Kudu is likely the leader of the Parasol Tree Adventure Team. They used special means to enter the Pirate World. While suppressing the plot characters’ power, they were also restricted themselves, such as being unable to leave certain regions and not being able to kill key plot characters.

Su Xiao finally understood why Kudu and others only contended with him in terms of Pirate Reputation, rather than coming to Dressrosa to eliminate him at the root.

"Although not one hundred percent sure, this guess seems more reliable."

Su Xiao murmured softly, while Bubu Wang beside him tilted its head, giving a silly and adorable ’head tilt look.’

"Let’s go."

Su Xiao leaped down from the boulder, needing to prepare for the promotion/main task, which has half a month’s preparation time left.

[Promotion/Main Task: Enemy of the World (Final Stage).]

Difficulty Level: Lv.26～Lv.45

Task Overview: Kill Saint Charlos and Saint Rozward by any means and survive for 12 hours.

Task Information: Saint Charlos will appear at the Shapodi Archipelago in 15 days, and Saint Rozward will appear at the Shapodi Auction House in 15 days.

Task Deadline: 16 natural days.

Task Reward: Fourth-tier Contractor Authority.

Task Penalty: Forced execution.

...

Su Xiao’s fourth ring task is shockingly to kill two Celestial Dragons!

In the Pirate World, there’s a saying: If you dare to attack a Celestial Dragon, the Navy will definitely send an Admiral for reinforcement. The meaning of ’attack’ here includes injuring, kidnapping, etc.

Celestial Dragons are World Nobles, descendants of the twenty kings who, 800 years ago, formed the World Government.

Thus, you can imagine the status of Celestial Dragons. Among them is someone who holds the greatest authority in the Pirate World and can even directly command the Five Elders.

On the surface, the World Government is governed by the Five Elders, but in truth, that is not the case. The real ruler of the World Government is a Celestial Dragon named Imu, or rather, he governs both the Celestial Dragons and the Five Elders.

The hierarchy of authority in the World Government is pyramid-shaped, with Imu at the top, residing in the deepest part of Mary Goya among the Flowers.

Beneath Imu are the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons.

The Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons do not govern each other; they comprise two entirely different systems of authority.

The Five Elders take orders from Imu. Most of the time, they manage the World Government’s military forces, such as the very active Navy at sea.

The majority of Celestial Dragons hold no significant power. Their daily routine consists of indulging in food, drink, and play, feeling uneasy if they don’t squander in a day.

Nevertheless, Celestial Dragons are also an essential part of the World Government. They can attract enemy fire and ensure the continuation of the twenty kings’ bloodlines.

To the supreme ruler Imu, ordinary Celestial Dragons only need to stay alive. In times of crisis, they can even be put to wasteful use.

Beneath the Five Elders is All Army Commander Kong, then Navy Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and under Sengoku are the three Admirals. As for the CP Department, they are special forces directly under the Five Elders.

In hierarchical order, it is: Imu ＞ Five Elders ＞ All Army Commander Kong ＞ Sengoku the Buddha ＞ Three Admirals.

Celestial Dragons (independent system, governed by Imu, protected by all World Government departments).

CP Department (governed by the Five Elders, governed by Imu, half lackey of Celestial Dragons).

What Su Xiao has to do is kill the Celestial Dragons in the World Government’s power structure. Once he succeeds, he is essentially opposing the entire World Government system.

From the task difficulty, it is clear that killing a Celestial Dragon isn’t the hard part; surviving 12 hours afterward is.

Once a Celestial Dragon is killed, the World Government won’t just send Admirals. Who knows what kind of people will come to hunt down Su Xiao.

The good news is that Su Xiao still has over ten days to prepare. An even better piece of news is that the location where Rozward and his son will appear happens to be under the control of the Donquixote Family’s auction house, and Su Xiao holds a significant position within the Donquixote family.

The recently beleaguered Doflamingo has no idea that a huge plot is about to be pinned on him.

Su Xiao leaped down from the boulder, slowly making his way towards the King’s Highland. Doflamingo still owed him a Great Broadsword.

Recently, Su Xiao collected several Great Broadswords; he is just waiting for the Great Broadsword promised by Doflamingo to attempt upgrading the quality of Dragon Slash.