Moonlight Archipelago.
After one battle after another, the Black Cat Pirates were finally forced to stop and restock.
Their supplies were running low, but that wasn’t their only problem.
They were also running short on manpower.
At this point, there was a good chance fewer crew members had died to actual enemies than to Kuro himself.
Of course, nobody aboard the Bezan Black was stupid enough to say that out loud.
After docking, Vice Captain Jango took several men into town to purchase supplies.
The Nyaban Brothers were given another job.
Recruitment.
The Black Cat Pirates weren’t exactly selective.
Male?
Healthy enough to work?
Not too old?
Good enough.
They’d take almost anyone.
Even someone with a minor physical disability might still be accepted.
At worst, they could scrub the deck, haul supplies, or handle other menial jobs.
Whether a new recruit was actually worth keeping could be decided after he survived his first month.
Kuro, meanwhile, took several crew members with him to find a tavern and unwind.
Because Bane had performed exceptionally well in their recent battles, Kuro kept him close.
It was obvious that the captain had begun viewing him as potential officer material.
If Bane continued building a reputation and eventually earned his own bounty poster, he would more or less secure a proper place among the crew’s leadership.
Bane couldn’t have cared less.
What really mattered to him was his current training bonus.
With his efficiency boosted to roughly eight times normal, his Haki was improving at a ridiculous rate.
Observation Haki had already reached LV2.
Armament Haki was rapidly approaching LV3.
His Physique and Spirit had also increased by one point each.
[Physique: 9]
[Spirit: 5]
Considering how little time had passed, his progress was astonishing.
Bane had also started estimating Kuro’s own physical stats.
If he had to guess, Kuro’s overall Physique was somewhere in the twenties and almost certainly below thirty.
The important part, however, was that Kuro’s physical abilities were heavily skewed toward speed.
Suppose Kuro had thirty-five points in speed and twenty in strength.
His defense, stamina, and other physical attributes might only be somewhere in the low teens.
Taken together, his overall Physique might only average around twenty-four or twenty-five.
It wouldn’t simply become thirty-five because one category happened to be that high.
In other words, Kuro’s build was extremely specialized.
Fast and deadly, but far less impressive in other areas.
Bane was different.
Every point of Physique granted by the System improved his body across the board.
Strength.
Speed.
Defense.
Stamina.
Everything rose together.
No glaring weaknesses.
A Physique of nine meant his strength was effectively nine, his speed was nine, his defense was nine, and the same principle applied to the other physical categories.
Bane had only figured that out after assigning his previous Attribute Points.
Once they reached town, Kuro led the group straight toward the Cat Claw Tavern.
The reason was almost embarrassingly simple.
Kuro liked the place because its name also contained the word “Cat.”
Whenever the Black Cat Pirates visited the island, this was where he came to drink.
The tavern owner knew exactly who Kuro and his men were and always made sure they received good food and strong liquor.
Kuro, for his part, paid generously.
He might have chosen piracy, but that didn’t mean he wanted to behave like every worthless thug who sailed under a skull flag.
Especially the kind who ate and drank without paying.
Being lumped together with people like that was insulting enough.
Kuro took a drink before glancing toward the tavern owner.
“Anything interesting happen lately?”
Even while relaxing, he never neglected gathering information.
And after everything that had happened recently, his patience with the pirate life was wearing thinner by the day.
The tavern owner continued polishing a glass as he mentioned several recent incidents.
Kuro barely reacted.
None of them interested him.
After a moment, the owner glanced around, leaned closer, and lowered his voice.
“Actually… do you remember that wealthy family living in the mansion over at Syrup Village?”
Kuro’s eyes shifted toward him.
“A group of bandits has apparently taken an interest in them.”
The owner lowered his voice further.
“I heard it from one of the bandits while he was drunk. They’ve already scouted the place. That family’s fortune is supposed to be worth at least tens of millions of Berries.”
“If you’re interested in getting involved, you’d better move quickly.”
Kuro’s gaze changed.
For only a moment, something dangerous flickered behind his eyes.
“This information is worth paying for.”
He tossed a money pouch onto the counter.
The contents covered both the meal and the information.
The tavern owner opened it, checked the amount, and immediately smiled.
Then he gave Kuro the current location of the bandits.
Kuro stood.
“Let’s go.”
Bane wiped his hands and followed without hesitation.
At the same time, he silently offered the unfortunate bandits his condolences.
Of all the wealthy families they could have targeted, they had chosen one Kuro already had his eyes on.
Terrible luck.
Before long, the group arrived outside an abandoned residence.
Kuro had just begun preparing his Cat Claws when Bane stepped forward.
“They’re only third-rate bandits. There’s no need for you to handle them personally, Captain.”
Kuro looked at him.
Bane continued without hesitation.
“Leave them to me.”
There was, naturally, a reason for his enthusiasm.
[Quest Triggered: A Small Demonstration of Skill]
[Description: Kuro already considers the wealth of Kaya’s family his eventual prize. The appearance of these bandits has greatly irritated him.]
[Objective: Kill every bandit inside. Leave no survivors.]
[Bonus Condition: Complete the objective without Kuro participating in the battle.]
[Bonus Condition Reward: Quest rewards doubled.]
[Base Reward: 1 Attribute Point]
[Base Reward: Trust Value +3]
[Base Reward: Universal Skill EXP Orb (Small)]
If Kuro helped, Bane could complete the quest with almost no effort.
But the doubled reward was far more tempting.
Besides, Bane wanted to test himself.
The abandoned residence wasn’t large.
At most, seven or eight people could be hiding inside.
More importantly, Bane knew where they were.
They didn’t know he was coming.
With the advantage of surprise, his chances were excellent.
Kuro hadn’t expected Bane to volunteer so readily.
The kid was bolder than he’d thought.
Still, there was no reason to stop him.
If Bane died, then Kuro would simply accept that he’d overestimated him.
“Fine.”
Kuro adjusted his Cat Claws.
“Kill them all.”
Bane nodded and turned toward the building.
He reached behind his back and pulled down the firearm slung over his shoulder.
It was the same gun once carried by the bounty hunter who had tried to shoot him from behind.
Bane had killed the man and later claimed the weapon when Kuro allowed him to choose from the spoils.
Part of the reason was sentimental.
More importantly, Bane had lacked any reliable means of attacking at range.
The gun solved that problem.
After practicing with it for some time, he had even managed to acquire a new skill.
[Firearm Shooting LV1]
He couldn’t promise accurate shots at long range.
At this distance, however?
He’d have to be spectacularly unlucky to miss everyone.
Bane approached the door.
Then—
Bang!
He kicked it open.
The bandits inside jerked around in surprise.
Bane raised the gun.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The cramped room exploded into chaos.
The bandits were completely caught off guard.
The first man dropped.
Then the second.
By the time a third bandit collapsed in a pool of blood, the survivors finally recovered from their shock.
“Kill him!”
Weapons came out.
Bane no longer had time for a fourth shot.
He dropped the gun.
A bandit rushed him with a blade.
Bane shifted sideways.
The weapon sliced through empty air.
His own blade was already moving.
Slash!
The bandit grabbed his throat.
Blood poured between his fingers as he stumbled and fell.
Another attacker rushed in.
Then another.
The abandoned house was cramped, leaving little room for anyone to maneuver.
But for Bane, that worked just fine.
Observation Haki spread through his awareness.
At LV2, the bandits’ movements felt painfully obvious.
Their swings were sluggish.
Their attacks were easy to read.
Bane slipped around one strike and cut down its owner.
A second blade came toward him.
He twisted aside.
Another man charged from behind.
Bane sensed him before the attack even came.
And whenever he couldn’t evade cleanly, Armament Haki covered the necessary part of his body and absorbed the impact.
The fight didn’t last long.
Steel rang.
Bodies fell.
Then silence returned.
Three bandits had died to Bane’s opening gunfire.
The remaining five lay scattered across the room, cut down by his blade.
Eight bandits.
All dead.
Bane stood among the bodies, breathing steadily.
He had eliminated every last one of them by himself.