Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

"Damn that stingy shopkeeper! He only gave me a 1,000J discount!" 

"Is that all my charm is worth? Just 1,000J?!" 

The blonde girl stormed out of the magic shop, grumbling in frustration. 

Walking down the street with a glum expression, she muttered under her breath. 

Her name was Lucy Heartfilia—a Celestial Mage who had run away from home. 

After her mother's death, Lucy had grown discontented with her father's harsh and controlling behavior. Resolutely, she left behind the luxurious villa filled with servants to carve out her own path in life. But that decision had led her here: struggling to make ends meet and worrying over every single Jewel(FT currency). 

The key she'd just purchased, however, was no ordinary trinket. 

It was a Celestial Spirit Key—a mystical item coveted by all Celestial Mages. These keys could open doors to the Astral Plane and allow the mage to forge contracts with specific Celestial Spirits.

Once the contract was formed, the key became a medium for summoning the spirit, and the spirits would serve as the mage's main source of strength. 

In essence, a Celestial Mage's power didn't come from their own abilities but rather from the spirits they summoned. 

This meant that even a mediocre magician could become incredibly strong by contracting with a powerful Celestial Spirit. 

And this was why Lucy tirelessly traveled from town to town, hunting for Celestial Spirit Keys. 

Unfortunately... 

The strongest and rarest keys were either exorbitantly expensive or already in the hands of other powerful mages. 

For someone like Lucy—alone, without a guild, and determined not to rely on her family's wealth—finding a high-tier key seemed like an impossible dream. 

"Sigh, if only I could join a powerful guild!" she sighed wistfully. 

Guilds were central to the lives of magicians in this world. Beyond the state-run organizations, every mage dreamed of joining a prestigious guild where they could find camaraderie and support. 

In Lucy's heart, there was one guild she yearned to join more than any other. 

Fairy Tail. 

Renowned throughout the land, Fairy Tail was considered one of the strongest guilds, famous for its powerful members and legendary adventures. 

But... 

"Why would Fairy Tail ever want someone like me?" Lucy muttered, her shoulders slumping. 

She was just a no-name Celestial Mage with no achievements to her name. 

Lost in her gloomy thoughts, Lucy heaved another sigh and began heading toward the station to catch a train to the next town. 

However... 

Just as she reached the station, a commotion broke out from the direction of the nearby park. 

"Wow! It's Master Fire Dragon!" 

"He's so handsome! So cool!" 

"Master Fire Dragon, look this way! Over here!" 

The high-pitched screams and squeals of a crowd filled the air. 

Lucy froze, startled by the noise. 

"Master Fire Dragon? Could it be..." 

Her mind raced as she recalled an article she'd read in 'Mage Magazine.' 

Before she could take another step to investigate, a red blur whizzed past her like a whirlwind, the gust of wind nearly knocking her off balance. 

"Fire Dragon!? Fire Dragon!! Where is he?!" 

An impatient, booming voice echoed in her ears, full of agitation. 

A moment later, a blue, flying cat zipped through the air and landed beside Lucy, followed closely by a boy with horns. 

Before Lucy could fall, the boy reached out and steadied her, preventing her from face-planting onto the pavement. 

"Sorry about that. Natsu gets way too impatient sometimes. I hope you're not hurt!" the blue cat said apologetically, flapping his small wings as he hovered in front of her. 

The cat then nodded quickly and flew off to rejoin his companions. 

The boy who'd caught Lucy released her and gave a brief, hurried apology. "Sorry about that." 

Without waiting for a response, he dashed off toward the growing crowd in the park. 

It was clear now who they were. 

This trio—two people and one cat—was none other than Kaido's group. They'd just gotten off the train when they overheard shouts about a "Fire Dragon" and immediately followed the commotion to investigate. 

However... 

Kaido, who had already activated his Observation Haki, couldn't help but frown. 

Based on his perception, the so-called "Fire Dragon" surrounded by the crowd didn't emit any powerful aura. 

At best...he was on par with the weakest mage in the Fairy Tail guild. 

"That's... odd," Kaido muttered to himself. 

Ignoring Lucy, who stood frozen in confusion nearby, he quickly followed Natsu toward the commotion. 

"..." 

Lucy blinked in disbelief, still processing what had just happened. 

It wasn't until five seconds later that it dawned on her— 

She'd just been bumped into! 

"Unbelievable!" she exclaimed. 

"Do they think I'm some kind of pushover?!" 

Fuming, Lucy stomped off, determined to follow Natsu and the others. 

However... 

When she arrived at the open space in the park, what she saw stopped her in her tracks. 

The boy who had almost knocked her over earlier was now shoving his way through the crowd with surprising determination. 

"Fire Dragon! Fire Dragon! Fire..." 

Natsu pushed through the throng of people, his voice full of urgency as he eagerly searched for the adoptive father he'd been seeking for so long—Fire Dragon Igneel. 

But, alas... 

his hope was destined to be crushed. 

"Huh?!" 

Natsu froze, staring blankly at the man in front of him. 

The fiery passion in his eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by bewildered disappointment. 

Standing before him wasn't Igneel, the adoptive father he'd yearned for. 

Instead, it was a flamboyant, suspicious-looking man with a sleazy grin—a man whose very appearance screamed criminal. 

"Who the hell are you?!" 

Natsu's tone turned sharp, his disillusionment evident. 

Happy, who had just caught up, landed beside him, shaking his head with a resigned sigh. 

"Oh, looks like we got it wrong again..." 

Though initially hopeful, Happy's demeanor showed he'd grown used to these disappointments. He had clearly experienced this kind of letdown far too many times to be surprised anymore. 

Meanwhile, on the other side... 

The flamboyant man perked up at Natsu's question. 

Striking an exaggerated pose, he snapped his fingers dramatically and declared, "I am the legendary Fire Dragon!" 

"You've heard of me, right?!" 

His face lit up with anticipation, eager for recognition. 

But... 

Natsu brushed past him without a second glance, utterly disinterested. He muttered "Fake" under his breath as he headed toward a nearby alley, ignoring the man's pompous introduction entirely. 

"Eh?!" 

The self-proclaimed "Fire Dragon" froze, stunned. His moment of glory shattered before it had even begun. 

The surrounding crowd, however, reacted very differently. 

A group of young women who had been fawning over the man moments ago suddenly turned into a mob of enraged harpies. 

In an instant, they swarmed Natsu, tackling him to the ground. 

"Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?!" 

Caught off guard, Natsu didn't fight back. He could tell these girls were just ordinary people with no magic, so he refrained from using his strength. 

Instead, he could only endure their punches, kicks, and hair-pulling without retaliation. 

But his restraint didn't earn him any sympathy. 

The girls continued their assault, shouting furiously: 

"How dare you disrespect Lord Fire Dragon?! You're so rude!" 

"Lord Fire Dragon is an incredible mage!" 

"You jerk! Get on your knees and apologize to him!" 

"..." 

"..." 

The mob's devotion to their "Lord Fire Dragon" bordered on fanatical madness. 

Until... 

An invisible wave of energy swept through the park like a sudden hurricane, silencing the chaos in an instant. 

Suddenly! 

The girls lying on Natsu's body blinked once, then collapsed into unconsciousness, falling to the ground. 

"It's no fun being bested by a bunch of ordinary people," Kaido remarked coolly. 

As he strolled over, his Conqueror aura still palpable in the air, he glanced at the unconscious girls sprawled across Natsu. His face remained impassive, but his lips curled slightly as he teased: 

"Or could it be..." 

"You actually enjoy being smothered by these women?" 

Natsu flushed. 

Although these girls weren't the most breathtaking beauties, they were all around 17 or 18 years old—young, attractive, and certainly above average in appearance. 

And their figures? Undeniably alluring. 

Being pinned down by such a group could hardly be considered unpleasant. 

Hearing Kaido's teasing, Natsu froze momentarily. When he finally registered the implication, his face turned crimson. Stammering, he wriggled free from the unconscious girls. 

"I didn't!" Natsu protested. 

Kaido chuckled heartily, giving Natsu a hearty pat on the back. 

He knew full well that Natsu, innocent as he was, wouldn't have entertained such a thought. 

Turning his attention away, Kaido set his gaze on the wretched man nearby. 

"...Hmm." 

The man visibly tensed under Kaido's beast-like glare. His face darkened, and a flicker of fear passed through his eyes. 

Kaido's intimidating aura had swept across everyone earlier—not just the girls. Even the wretched man, though still conscious, had been unnerved, leaving the clearing eerily silent. 

Kaido stepped forward until he stood directly in front of him. 

The oppressive aura returned, suffocating the man and forcing him to stagger back a step. 

"What... What do you want!?" the man stammered, his voice trembling. 

Meeting Kaido's piercing eyes, the man hastily added: 

"I... I am a mage from the Fairy Tail Guild! If you dare harm me, you'd better consider the wrath of our guild!" 

"Huh?" 

Kaido stopped short, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. 

Behind him, Natsu was brushing the dust off himself, Happy hovered mid-air, and Lucy stood on the sidelines, watching the scene unfold. 

The trio's expressions mirrored Kaido's surprise. 

Amusement flickered in Kaido's eyes. He leaned in, resting a heavy hand on the man's shoulder, causing him to flinch. 

"Fairy Tail, huh?" Kaido said with a sly grin. 

"Do you know the consequences of pretending to be a member of the Fairy Tail Guild?" 

"P-Pretending!?" the man spluttered, his fear momentarily giving way to indignation. 

"Who are you accusing of being fake!?" 

Desperation flared in his eyes as he wrenched free from Kaido's grip, retreating a step. His shoulder, already red and swollen, throbbed from the impact of Kaido's hand. 

Forcing himself to stand tall, the man sneered at Kaido, his hands starting to glow with magic power. 

How dare these strangers ruin his carefully laid plans! 

He had spent countless precious magic items convincing the women in this town he was part of Fairy Tail. He couldn't let his efforts be undone now. 

With fury in his eyes, he raised his arms. Magic surged between his hands, forming waves of searing flames that coiled and roared, aiming straight at Kaido!

"Kaido!" 

Natsu shouted anxiously, his voice filled with urgency. 

He had just witnessed Kaido use some mysterious magic to render ordinary people unconscious. 

But Natsu couldn't forget... 

Just six months ago, Kaido had been nearly burned alive by a single fireball from a Flame Rabbit. 

Recalling that moment, his legs instinctively tensed as he prepared to rush forward and save Kaido. 

However, at that very moment... 

Kaido, who had been monitoring Natsu's every move with his heightened perception, smirked slightly, a glint of confidence in his eyes. 

"Stay back, Natsu!" 

Kaido bellowed, his voice echoing, halting Natsu in his tracks. 

Then, with a booming laugh, Kaido stepped forward—directly into the roaring flames heading his way. 

At that instant, a wave of exhilaration surged through Kaido. 

For just now... 

He had finally figured out how to conduct his dimensional trades in this world. 

Initially, Kaido assumed that most magicians in this realm, especially those from the Fairy Tail guild, were formidable. 

He believed their unique power systems and unwavering faith in their magic made them almost untouchable—so powerful that they had no real drive to pursue further strength. 

In their eyes, becoming stronger was simply a natural part of life. 

They grew stronger without even realizing it, neglecting the potential of power outside their magical paths. 

But now... 

After observing the wretched man pretending to be a member of Fairy Tail, Kaido's thoughts crystallized. 

Suddenly, he understood. 

It wasn't the entire world that was exceptional... 

It was Fairy Tail itself! 

This revelation set his plans in motion. His trading ambitions had found their foundation. 

And then— 

Boom! 

The raging purple flames consumed Kaido in an instant. 

Lucy, watching from the sidelines, covered her eyes, unable to bear the thought of witnessing what she assumed would be a gruesome scene. 

Meanwhile, Natsu and Happy made no move to assist. 

Kaido's words had stopped them in their tracks. Instead, they stood with their arms crossed, observing Kaido amidst the blazing inferno, curiosity sparkling in their eyes. 

"It looks like Kaido's strength has finally returned," Natsu remarked, a grin tugging at his lips. 

"Aye~ A new dragon slayer magician. I wonder what kind of magic he'll show us?" Happy chimed in, floating beside him. 

The two chatted casually, their confidence in Kaido unwavering. 

Since Kaido joined Fairy Tail, everyone had been intrigued by his magic. 

But due to his amnesia and weakened body, Kaido had been unable to display his full abilities—until now. 

And now, with Kaido explicitly forbidding their interference... 

It could only mean one thing: 

Kaido was confident in his ability to handle the magic flames on his own. 

And as expected— 

The very next moment, an immense and ferocious aura erupted from Kaido's body. 

His muscles compressed and solidified, gleaming with a metallic sheen in the light of the fire. 

Kaido's voice boomed over the roaring flames: 

"Dragon-slaying magic..." 

"Golden Dragon Armor!" 

Tekai!