This was Richard’s [Swordmaster Achievement System].
It was precisely through this system that he had once unleashed a massive sword radiance, repelling the invaders and forcing them to retreat in fear.
It left behind a seed of resentment…
a seed of vengeance that Richard always kept in his heart.
By completing various achievements, including hidden ones, he could reap countless benefits…
whether it be swordsmanship from this world, renowned blades, or powerful items and skills from myriad other worlds.
Richard’s Shintei, for example, came from the system’s [Swing Sword 40,000 Times Achievement].
It had taken him roughly two years to complete.
Whenever he had time, he’d swing a few more times; when he didn’t, he’d swing fewer.
In any case, his own abilities had gradually improved throughout the process.
Now, having completed yet another achievement, he had finally obtained a powerful Grandmaster-level skill.
Grandmaster Swordsman…
on the system panel, it was a yellow epic-quality affix.
It represented a high-tier ability, one capable of reaching the pinnacle of the world’s power pyramid.
There were still many more achievement rewards waiting for Richard to unlock.
And besides…
if he merely stayed tucked away in a corner of the One Piece World, that would seem like quite a waste.
A real man ought to go out and explore the world.
At that thought, Richard felt an unbridled surge of ambition in his chest.
He raised the gourd of liquor at his waist, aimed it at a red-haired maidservant nearby, and flashed a roguishly charming smile, calling out loudly: “Barkeep!!!
More wine!!!” “Wha?!
Young Master…
you’re calling me that again…” The maidservant, Rowling, thought to herself, blushing furiously…
she always believed that being called “Barkeep Number Two” meant she was his second favorite person.
So everyone often speculated about who Richard’s number one favorite person might be.
…
The banquet went on through the night.
The next morning, at the port of Kuraigana Island, a pirate ship appeared.
Over the years, Richard had trained a guard force of fewer than a hundred men, but since they had only been established recently, they didn’t yet possess overwhelming strength or equipment.
The captain of the guard immediately returned to the castle to report to Richard.
Matters such as these could only be handled by the lord himself.
Still, they were not panicked.
In recent years, such occurrences were common.
If the pirates who landed were courteous, they might even be treated to a banquet and make friends with Richard when he was in a good mood.
But if they came looking for trouble, they would typically be cut down in large numbers, with the survivors fleeing the island.
At first, it was Duke Richard who dealt with them.
Later, it was the young master Mihawk.
Both brothers were like godly warriors, utterly invincible.
“Hey!!!
Look at that…
a huge castle over there!
We’ll have a meal today, haha!!” A man with a mustache that curled up at both ends stepped off the ship, wearing a cheerful grin.
He was dressed in a reddish-brown robe and a captain’s hat, with a sword on his left hip and a flintlock pistol on his right, his eyes wide and bright.
He turned back and shouted at a large figure who was about to jump off the ship.
“Hey!
Bullet!
You stay on board!
We’re here to visit the lord of this place and ask for some fresh water and supplies, not to pick a fight!” “Rayleigh and I will handle this.” “Why me?!” Rayleigh, whose hair had already turned a pure silver, exuded a manly charm, but wore an expression of displeasure.
“I was in the middle of disciplining these two brats!!” As he poked his head out, Rayleigh had one hand firmly pressing down on the head of a red-haired boy, shoving him back down.
But on the other side, the red-nosed, clown-like kid kept popping back up, as if neither of them was willing to back down.
“Ow!!!
Rayleigh, that hurts!!!” “Hmph, if they like fighting so much, let them tear each other apart.
The Gold and Silver Brothers have to stand side by side!!!
Rayleigh, get over here and join me!!!” Rayleigh, known by the epithet “Dark King,” shook his head with a helpless expression, as if saying: “what can I do with you,” and leaped down from the ship.
This was an incredibly powerful pirate ship, carrying far too many famous warriors aboard.
They had just come out of a fight…
with the Marine Hero, Monkey D.
Garp.
Being pelted with countless cannonballs out on the open sea had not been a pleasant experience.
That was how they had stumbled into this area, finding their way through the sea routes into the gloomy Kuraigana Island.
At first, they had thought it was just an abandoned war-ravaged wasteland.
But now, it seemed to be an unexpectedly serene paradise.
“I wonder if the lord here is easy to get along with.
Looks like there’s been a big battle here.” Roger and Rayleigh walked along the island, surveying the crumbling ruins and the massive, varying-sized sword gashes that stretched across the ground like ravines for hundreds of meters.
“Looks like we’ve got a pretty formidable swordsman here.
Just look at those slashes…
that’s a rare sight out on the sea.” Rayleigh rubbed his chin, then suddenly smiled.
“Seems like we’re missing a swordsman on our crew.
What do you think about recruiting him?” “If he really is a worthy man, I’ll definitely ask for his help.” Roger grinned, looking at the well-ordered line of guards in the distance.
Their equipment was modest, but their spirits were high.
That gave him the feeling that the master of this castle was no ordinary man.
To establish a sense of “order” in times of chaos…
that was a sign of having the “qualities of a king.”