On the other side of the room, Hancock sulked as she glared at the TV screen. Her first in-game victory had been snatched away by Yamato, who had gleefully taken the lead in defeating the boss. In her frustration, Hancock angrily slammed the sofa cushion and tossed her controller aside.
A few moments later, after cooling down slightly, Hancock noticed that Luffy had joined the game. Her mood shifted instantly. She rushed over, excitement lighting up her face as she offered to guide him through the basics.
"I'll teach you how to play!" she declared enthusiastically, eager to show off her expertise.
Luffy, intrigued but skeptical, glanced at the screen. "First of all," he began, frowning, "why are there no male characters to choose from? What's with this roster?"
His words were met with silence from Olivia, who remained blissfully asleep on the couch. Annoyed, Luffy shook her gently, but she didn't stir. With no other choice, he begrudgingly created a futanari character and launched into the game.
The game offered no tutorial, leaving Luffy to figure things out on his own. Fortunately, Hancock, a seasoned player, eagerly stepped in to help.
"First, pick a weapon," she instructed. "A sword and shield are the best for beginners. Once you've got your gear, you can head out of the Novice Village and start fighting."
Following her advice, Luffy armed himself and jogged out of the starting area. It wasn't long before he encountered his first challenge.
Or rather, a group of challenges.
Before him stood a mob of pint-sized adversaries—little girls clad in oversized leaves that barely covered their modesty. They wielded sticks and stones, chattering loudly as they charged at him.
"They're goblins!" Hancock exclaimed, her voice tinged with amusement. "Don't worry, they're weak. Just catch one and beat her up."
Luffy stared at the screen, his brow twitching. What kind of ridiculous game is this? Despite his reservations, he swung his sword, dispatching one of the goblins with a few quick strikes. The remaining goblins panicked and scattered, abandoning their fallen comrade.
"Now go tame her!" Hancock urged. "If you do, you'll gain experience points and rewards. But remember, you only get full rewards the first time. After that, you only get a third."
"I%@#@%," Luffy muttered under his breath. He already knew what "taming" meant in the context of this game. Having seen the antics of Hancock and the others earlier, he was now certain—this was no ordinary game. It was P### game.
Even so, Luffy couldn't deny the odd satisfaction of leveling up and defeating monsters. The mechanics were surprisingly well-designed, and the gameplay itself was addictive. However, the game's more "unique" features quickly sapped his enthusiasm.
"I've had enough of this nonsense," he said, pausing the game and setting the controller aside.
Hancock, noticing his disinterest, turned to him with a confused expression. "Why'd you stop? We were just getting to the fun part!"
Luffy shot her an exasperated look, then reached out to pinch her cheek. "You're the empress of an entire country," he said, shaking his head. "You could indulge in anything—books, art, real combat training—so why waste your time on this?"
Hancock's lips puckered into an "o" shape as she tried to defend herself, her words muffled by his grip. "It's not about the… uh… 'content.' I just like seeing my character get stronger and defeating tougher monsters."
Luffy sighed, releasing her. Despite her eccentric tastes, Hancock's sincerity was evident. She wasn't lying; her passion for the game stemmed from its mechanics, not its risqué features.
Yamato and Alpha, sitting nearby, shared similar sentiments. Both women loved the thrill of combat and strategy, viewing the "extra features" as mere accessories to the main gameplay. Still, Luffy couldn't shake the feeling that this whole setup was far too indulgent.
"Ah, you silly girls," Luffy muttered, running a hand through his hair. He glanced down at Olivia, still asleep, and let out a long, weary sigh. "Forget it. These games aren't illegal, and if this is what you enjoy, I won't stop you."
He turned to Alpha, his tone shifting to business. "By the way, how many gaming machines do we have here? And how much profit is this place pulling in?"
Alpha perked up, eager to share her knowledge. "Oh, I've got the numbers!" she said brightly. "In addition to the bar on the first floor, we have 120 gaming machines spread across the 21B floor. The larger machines can accommodate up to five players at a time, while the smaller ones are for one or two players. These smaller machines are installed in the guest rooms."
She paused, then added with a sly grin, "Most guests book rooms and invite companions—prostitutes, in most cases—to join them. They play games, drink, and, well, take breaks when they're tired."
Luffy's brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing, letting her continue.
"As of now, It has been open for two weeks. On average, the daily turnover is over 20 million Berries. Net profit comes out to around 5 to 6 million Berries per day."
...
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