Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

After hearing Linlin's "kind words," Renji and Kira's expressions turned hesitant. 

Indeed, Asauchi were critical tools on their journey to becoming Shinigami. 

However, trading with a dimensional entity that could instantly elevate Rukia to the power of a god was clearly far superior to the step-by-step struggle of attaining Shinigami powers! 

Sensing their wavering resolve, Linlin pressed her advantage. Her tone softened, almost timid, as she continued: 

"Besides..." 

"If we just come up with an excuse and say that the Asauchi were stolen, the academy might still provide replacements." 

"After all, our contributions to the academy are undeniable." 

"This..." 

Renji and Kira exchanged glances, increasingly convinced by her logic. 

The idea of missing out on such a miraculous dimensional trade began to weigh on them. If they passed up this opportunity, the regret might haunt them for a long time. 

Determined, Renji and Kira swiftly unsheathed their swords, holding them up in front of themselves. 

"You're right, Linlin." 

"Master Dimensional Merchant, we'd like to trade using our Asauchi. Is that acceptable?" 

"Of course! Weapons that communicate with souls are incredibly rare, even across dimensions. They are truly exceptional items!" Hermes assured them. 

"Really?!" 

The lingering reluctance in Renji and Kira's hearts vanished, replaced with growing excitement at Hermes' words. 

Without hesitation, they prepared to speak and finalize the deal... 

But then— 'clatter'— 

Another Asauchi suddenly appeared in Renji's hands. 

Linlin's lips curled into a sly, almost manic smile as she turned to Renji and said, "Take it." 

"Huh?" Renji froze, bewildered. 

Linlin continued calmly: 

"You're worried about Rukia, aren't you?" 

"Even with her newfound strength, she's still forced to flee the Seireitei." 

"This means her enemies are far more powerful than we imagined—terrifyingly so!" 

"If we each trade separately, three Asauchi won't do us much good now." 

"It's better to pool all the resources into you, Renji, so you can grow stronger faster." 

"This is the best choice we have right now!" 

"But..." Renji stammered, trying to reject her overwhelming generosity. 

However... 

Before he could finish, Kira stepped forward decisively, placing his own Asauchi in Renji's hands. 

"Linlin is right!" 

"Renji, I entrust everything to you!" 

"..."

Renji stared at the two Asauchi in front of him, his throat tightening with emotion. 

Tears shimmered in his eyes, but he suppressed the words he wanted to say. Instead, he nodded firmly, his gaze resolute. 

"I understand." 

With those words, he accepted the Asauchi from Linlin and Kira, clutching them tightly. 

Then, with purposeful strides, he approached Hermes. 

'Crash'— 

The cold gleam of the three blades reflected the burning determination in Renji's eyes. 

"Master Dimensional Merchant, I want to proceed with a dimensional trade!" 

"As you wish," Hermes replied. 

In an instant, a magical trading interface materialized in Renji's mind. 

Already familiar with its workings, Renji selected the three Asauchi without hesitation and confirmed the trade. 

It wasn't that he didn't want to barter for other items— 

He was simply... penniless! 

Under the mysterious power of the trading system, the three Asauchi in Renji's hands disappeared in an instant. 

In their place, a peculiar object materialized before him. 

"Congratulations, Sir Renji," Hermes announced, his tone brimming with authority. 

"You have successfully upgraded to VIP Level 2 membership in the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce." 

"As a reward, please accept this gift from the Chamber: a Rotom Phone from the Pokémon world." 

"..."

Renji slowly opened his eyes. After confirming the disappearance of the Asauchi, he hesitantly reached for the Rotom Phone, unlocking its interface to reveal the information displayed. 

[Renji Abarai] 

[VIP Level: 2] 

[VIP Experience: 6000/10000] 

[Current Points: 6000] 

"Six thousand points?" Renji muttered in surprise. 

Behind him, Linlin caught a glimpse of the phone's screen, her expression flickering with a strange intensity. 

Three Asauchi had been exchanged for 6,000 points. This meant that, in the Chamber's valuation, each Asauchi was worth 2,000 points. 

With 2,000 points, one could learn basic Kidō spells, improve Shunpo techniques, and acquire rudimentary battle experience. 

However, attaining the qualifications to become a Shinigami required a minimum of 3,500 points—and even then, success was not guaranteed. 

If the cost of evolving an Asauchi into a Zanpakutō was factored in, the time and resource investment seemed staggering. 

Thinking of this, Linlin's face betrayed a hint of disappointment. 

Although the Shinigami power system had promising potential, its high cost and slow progression meant it was unlikely to lead to the Chamber's most coveted rewards. 

But even so, Linlin felt a sense of satisfaction. After all, being able to access such a power system in her first trading dimension was a promising start. 

Her disappointment quickly faded, replaced by a hopeful expression. 

"I wonder..." she mused silently, "how many points will the Chamber reward me with?" 

While Linlin pondered, Renji had already concluded his transaction with Hermes. 

Now standing with a determined look, he held something in his hands—a Poké Ball, which had appeared as if out of nowhere. 

The Poké Ball trembled slightly, as though familiarizing itself with its new owner. 

At the same time, a faint, mysterious light flowed between Renji and the Poké Ball, forming an intangible bond. 

This marked a pivotal moment— 

The second trader of Seireitei was born. 

With a deep breath, Renji steadied his excitement. He aimed the Poké Ball at a clean, open space before him and threw it decisively. 

"Come out, Silicobra!" 

A burst of red light shot out as the Poké Ball opened, revealing a small, khaki-colored snake with a peculiar pouch on its back. 

The creature flicked its tongue cautiously, gazing at Renji with a subdued yet inquisitive look. 

[Pokémon: Silicobra] 

[Type: Ground] 

[Ability: Sand Spit (Changes the weather to a sandstorm during battle)] 

[Level: 5] 

[Trade Value: 1,500 Points] 

Though the name "Silicobra" sounded unimpressive, and its appearance was far from intimidating... 

In truth, this Pokémon was highly alert and resourceful. 

Growing up in the harsh desert had shaped its cautious temperament, gifting it with a remarkable ability: burrowing to escape danger. 

The pouch on its back was more than a peculiar accessory—it served as a storage organ. The snake swallowed soil, processing some for sustenance while refining the rest into fine sand for use as a weapon in battle. 

Moreover, the pouch could carry more than just soil—it could store various other items, adding to its utility. 

Hermes had recommended this Pokémon to Renji for multiple reasons. Not only had the system suggested that Renji's personality suited snake and monkey Pokémon, but Silicobra's abilities were particularly aligned with his needs. 

After all, as a commoner from Rukongai who hadn't even graduated from the Shin'ō Academy, Renji had almost nothing to his name apart from three Asauchi. 

For him, the immediate priority wasn't spending 6,000 points to amass raw power. 

Instead, it was to exchange those points for opportunities that could secure his future. 

As the saying goes, 'teach a man to fish rather than give him a fish.' 

Thus, in addition to acquiring Silicobra and unlocking its evolutionary potential, Renji spent the remaining 3,000 points on a remarkable new ability... 

[Treasure Hunting Devil Fruit] 

[Introduction: A mysterious fruit from the pirate world, said to lift curses.] 

[Effect: Grants the ability to sense the presence of valuable items within a certain radius. The effective range depends on the user's mental strength.] 

[Price: 3,000 points] 

This unusual Devil Fruit was one of the many curious items Leo collected during his time in the pirate world. 

In the world of pirates, however, this fruit was nearly useless. 

Faced with the vast oceans, unless someone could awaken its awakening—an exceedingly rare feat—its ability to detect treasure would serve little purpose. Finding treasures buried under the sea was an improbable task, and locating valuable items on land was even more challenging. 

Without the strength to venture out or face hostile foes, users of this fruit would remain confined to peaceful islands. These islands, having been extensively explored, offered little in the way of undiscovered riches. 

As a result, despite its promising premise, the Treasure Hunting Fruit never earned any renown in the pirate world. 

However, what proves useless in one world might become indispensable in another. 

And Renji quickly realized this. 

The moment Hermes explained the devil fruit's abilities, Renji's eyes widened with understanding. Without hesitation, he redeemed it. 

After all, if there was any place in the Seireitei brimming with hidden treasures, it was the very ground beneath their feet. 

This area, home to noble families led by the Kuchiki clan, had been devastated during the battle between Rukia and Captain Yamamoto. The destruction had turned the once-grand district into a chaotic ruin, now loosely overseen by the Shinigami. 

The supervision was minimal, mostly due to Captain Yamamoto's injuries and the leadership vacuum that followed. Additionally, the area was largely regarded as a victim of circumstance, drawing little attention from others. 

As a result, countless valuables from noble families, collected over centuries or even millennia, lay buried beneath the rubble. 

While the most precious artifacts had likely already been scavenged, the sheer volume of remaining items was staggering. Even scraps from so many affluent families could amount to an immense fortune. 

Renji was certain that, with the combined abilities of Silicobra and the Treasure Hunting Fruit, he could uncover a significant number of these items and trade them for a massive haul of points. 

This strategy was also Hermes' best suggestion for Renji to quickly amass strength. 

Although the idea felt somewhat like looting, Renji couldn't afford to let his conscience hold him back. 

As long as it made him stronger and gave him the power to save Rukia, nothing else mattered. 

Besides, as a former resident of Rukongai, Renji had stolen plenty in his time. This was just a return to an old habit—one with much higher stakes!

After bonding with Silicobra for a while, Renji wasted no time in redeeming the Treasure Hunting Fruit. Without a word, he handed it to Silicobra. 

The little Pokémon blinked at him with wide, innocent eyes. After listening to Renji's explanation, its eyes lit up, and it eagerly swallowed the fruit in one gulp. 

Clearly, Silicobra liked its new ability. 

But the moment it swallowed the fruit, its expression twisted into one of sheer disgust. 

The infamous taste of Devil Fruits had taken its toll. 

Still, the fruit soon disappeared, transforming into a mysterious energy that flowed through Silicobra's body. 

Moments later, its eyes sparkled, as if it could suddenly see things no one else could. 

Renji, unable to hide his excitement, gently patted Silicobra on the head and said, "Go!" 

"Hissss~!" 

Silicobra happily flicked its tongue before lowering its head and digging into the ground. 

With sharp teeth, it swallowed large amounts of gravel and soil, which quickly disappeared into the unique pouch on its back. 

Using its natural advantages as a ground-type Pokémon, it burrowed rapidly, vanishing into the darkness. 

Renji, Kira, and Linlin exchanged hopeful glances before settling in to wait expectantly. 

Time ticked by slowly.

It wasn't until about half an hour later that movement stirred once more beneath the ground.

From the dark, narrow hole, an agile figure emerged—it was Silicobra, returning triumphantly.

Its backpack organ, previously deflated, was now bulging with its haul. 

The snake slithered up to Renji and, with a swift motion, regurgitated the contents of its backpack. 

Amidst the pile of sand and stones lay several pieces of jewelry, their spiritual energy faintly glowing under the moonlight. 

"Well done, Silicobra!" 

Renji couldn't help but exclaim in excitement. 

Even without inspecting the items closely, it was obvious from their appearance that these accessories would fetch a significant number of points. 

Turning to Hermes with hopeful eyes, Renji found the merchant smiling and nodding in approval. 

In an instant, the trading system's interface appeared in Renji's mind. 

Without hesitation, he selected all the newly acquired items and initiated the trade. 

On the screen of Rotom's phone, his points balance began to shift rapidly. 

In no time, the display changed from [0] to [800]! 

It wasn't an astronomical sum, but considering this was just the result of Silicobra's efforts in half an hour, Renji felt his heart surge with excitement. 

He knew that if Silicobra had been able to carry more items, the haul would have been even greater. 

After all, countless valuable treasures lay buried beneath these ruins! 

The realization made Renji's eyes gleam with determination. 

If half an hour yielded 800 points, then what about an hour? Two hours? A day? Two days? 

With Silicobra's natural abilities, it could continue treasure hunting even during the day. 

In other words… 

Renji still had plenty of time to search for treasures before Seireitei decided to clear out the ruins!

And if all these treasures could be converted into points, and then into new powers and abilities… 

Could he— …finally catch up to Rukia?