Deal for this week: For every 100 PS, I will release 1 extra chapter. And if we reach 1500 PS by the end of this week, 10 extra chapters will be mass-released.
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Ron's advice to Nojiko was straightforward. "You can change all the videos on your account to focus on oranges. That way, the big data algorithm will push them more effectively."
"Also, don't just record the ripe fruit. Show the whole process—how you plant, care for, and harvest the oranges."
"Let people see that your family's oranges are fresh, safe, all-natural, pesticide-free, and additive-free. That will make more people want to buy them."
Nojiko listened attentively, nodding the whole time. Ron's words clearly opened a whole new world to her. "Mm-hmm! Thank you, thank you, Developer Sir!"
Ron felt a bit emotional. These folks were too honest. Things that were standard marketing tactics back on Earth were practically revolutionary here in the pirate world.
"Oranges have a lot of uses. The ones that don't sell can still be squeezed into juice, or made into jam, and so on," Ron added casually.
"Oh wow! Why didn't I think of that?" Nojiko stared at him in amazement.
She had never considered any of this before. That oranges could even be turned into jam?!
"Um… Developer Sir, what is jam?" she asked curiously.
Ron paused. This world didn't even have jam?
But after considering how wildly tech levels varied between islands, he wasn't too surprised. Some places were basically still living in the Stone Age.
"Miss Nojiko, fruit jam is a way to preserve fruit like oranges for a long time in small containers. You should try it. I'm sure you'll figure it out," Ron explained patiently.
"Mm-hmm, I understand. Thank you so much, Developer Sir." Nojiko's eyes curved as she smiled. She had gained so much today, and she knew the villagers would be thrilled to hear that their orange-selling crisis had been solved.
"Alright, Miss Nojiko, if you have no further questions, we'll disconnect now and move on to the next viewer," Ron said gently.
"Mm-hmm, no more questions. Thank you again," Nojiko replied, grateful as she ended the call.
Right after, Ron began scrolling randomly to select the next user. The livestream chat instantly lit up with excitement.
Everyone was hoping to get picked.
The bullet comments erupted, with one hot topic dominating the discussion: the importance of followers.
You needed 1,000 followers to unlock the Shopping Cart feature. Not a huge number, but not easy either—especially for newbies.
But now, it was a different story.
Anyone who got selected for a video call could skyrocket their follower count in seconds. Unlocking a Shopping Cart would be a piece of cake.
Ron casually slid his finger across the screen. He stopped in surprise.
The next chosen user… was Luffy?
Yup. Monkey D. Luffy.
Ron chuckled. "Guess it's fate. Alright then."
"Next viewer selected: Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy!"
As soon as Ron announced it, the video call connected instantly.
And then, the first thing viewers saw was Luffy's face, staring at the screen in total confusion.
"Huh? Why is my face on the phone? Did I get sucked into it?"
That one brain-cell comment froze the entire stream.
Everyone in the chat stared, speechless.
Is this guy for real? Is he okay?
He didn't even know what a livestream was after answering a video call!
Yup, it was definitely Luffy.
Ron smiled, now certain there was no way this could be faked.
"Captain Luffy, you've successfully connected. If you have questions about filming videos or using TikTok, feel free to ask. I'll help however I can."
"Huh? You talkin' to me? Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Nami—look! There's a tiny guy on the screen saying my name!" Luffy shouted, pointing excitedly.
"..." Nami had seen enough.
WHAM!
She smacked Luffy so hard the floor cracked beneath him.
The chat room exploded.
> "Holy crap, what a savage woman!"
Then Nami smiled sweetly and leaned into frame.
"Sorry everyone, our captain just likes to joke around."
She shifted the phone away from herself, then spun around and hissed in a devil voice, "Luffy! This is a livestream! The whole world can see you! Try acting like a captain!"
"NANI?! The whole world?!" Luffy snapped back to his senses, visibly shaken.
He grabbed the phone, stood up straight, looked Ron dead in the eye through the screen, and declared in a booming voice, "HELLO EVERYONE! I'M MONKEY D. LUFFY—THE MAN WHO'S GONNA BECOME KING OF THE PIRATES!"
Ron smiled. Classic Luffy intro.
But the stream chat? Not impressed.
Whether they were Marines, pirates, merchants, or ordinary civilians, the reactions were immediate:
> "You still wear diapers, kid? You wanna be Pirate King? Ask my fists first!"
> "Idiot! I'm the one who's gonna be Pirate King!"
> "Tch. Pirates are all the same. Doesn't matter how old—they're all targets!"
> "Exactly. Pirates are enemies of justice. Capture on sight."
This one was from Helmeppo. Koby was next to him, completely fired up. He hadn't expected to reconnect with his senior, Luffy, like this.
Vice Admiral Onigumo was frowning. Luffy's name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
He turned to the two soldiers standing at attention in front of him. They were being punished for hiding a fun little phone app from him.
Onigumo had confiscated their devices for "public use."
"Does this kid's name sound familiar to either of you?" Onigumo asked.
The two soldiers froze. Their brains had been in full TikTok-strategy mode, thinking about how to make viral videos.
One Marine hesitated. "Uhh… kinda? Feels like I've heard it before…"
The other one's eyes lit up. "Wait! Isn't Vice Admiral Garp's last name also Monkey…?"
Onigumo's face twitched.
"That's enough. Don't think about irrelevant things. Get out. Leave the phones here. Go reflect."
The two Marines instantly understood.
Their phones were gone for good.
They felt genuine heartbreak over the accounts they'd spent weeks curating, full of long-legged, busty babes.
If you love phones so much, why don't you just buy one yourself, Vice Admiral? They're only a hundred Berries…
But they didn't dare say it out loud.
They put on fake grins and bowed deeply. "Yes, sir! Thank you, Vice Admiral Onigumo. We'll reflect immediately!"
"We don't need those phones back. We'll repent sincerely. Keeping them would only tempt us again. Please hold on to them."
Onigumo, seeing their "remorse," softened slightly.
"Good. Go."
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
As they scurried off, Onigumo stared at the screen.
The more he looked at Luffy, the more that face reminded him of someone.
He narrowed his eyes.
Could it be… they're actually related…?
(To be continued.)
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