“Captain, it’s done. Eight bandits in total. None survived.”
When Bane stepped out of the abandoned residence, the two crew members who had accompanied Kuro instinctively shifted half a step away from him.
It wasn’t hard to understand why.
Bane was still covered in blood from the close-quarters fighting inside, some of it not even dry yet.
Combined with the blade in his hand and the eight corpses behind him, he looked far more dangerous than the rookie pirate they remembered.
Kuro’s lips curved slightly.
“Good work. Let’s head back.”
He was clearly satisfied with Bane’s performance.
Bane was just as pleased.
[Quest: A Small Demonstration of Skill — Completed]
[Bonus Condition Completed]
[Rewards Doubled]
[Attribute Points +2]
[Trust Value +6]
[Universal Skill EXP Orb (Small) ×2]
Without hesitation, Bane poured both Attribute Points into Physique.
[Physique +2]
[Current Physique: 11]
Eleven.
His Physique had finally broken into double digits.
That alone was worth celebrating.
Unfortunately, another number on his status panel was becoming much less pleasant to look at.
[Trust Value: 85]
Bane’s smile faded slightly.
Eighty-five.
The hundred-point danger line was getting far too close.
He couldn’t keep putting this off.
Within the next couple of days, he had to find some way to bring Kuro’s Trust Value back down before [Bane of Existence] entered its second stage.
There was one more reward to deal with.
[Universal Skill EXP Orb (Small)]
[Effect: Grants proficiency to any skill currently possessed by the Host.]
Simple enough.
Bane used the first one on Armament Haki.
The moment it activated, a flood of experience entered his mind.
It wasn’t merely information.
It felt like practice.
Countless details about controlling, maintaining, and applying Armament Haki settled into his memory with the familiarity of something he’d personally trained over and over again.
Bane immediately understood where he stood.
Armament Haki was now only a step away from LV3.
So he used the second orb as well.
[Universal Skill EXP Orb (Small) consumed.]
[Armament Haki has advanced to LV3!]
[Physique +2]
[Spirit +2]
Bane’s eyes widened.
The level-up had improved his attributes again.
But that wasn’t all.
[Derivative Ability Unlocked: Thorn Jade Hardening]
[Thorn Jade Hardening]
[Effect: Creates a defensive layer that shatters after blocking one attack.]
[Upon shattering, releases a shockwave with power equal to 10% of the blocked attack’s force × Armament Haki level.]
[Cooldown: 1 hour]
Bane stared at the description.
“…That’s ridiculous.”
He ran a hand over the muscles that had become noticeably more defined after the latest increase in Physique, an almost indecent grin creeping across his face.
First, he tested his ordinary Armament Haki.
Black Haki spread over both hands.
Bane concentrated.
The coating climbed along his arms, spread across his torso, and continued until his entire body was covered.
Full-body Armament Haki.
He maintained it for only a moment before immediately releasing it.
The drain was enormous.
Both his Haki and stamina were being consumed far too quickly.
In an actual fight, coating only the part of his body that needed protection was clearly much more efficient.
After resting for a while, Bane moved on to the newly unlocked ability.
[Thorn Jade Hardening activated.]
In an instant, his body was covered by a layer of pale purplish-red armor resembling translucent jade.
Bane looked down at himself.
It was certainly flashy.
More importantly, its effect was outrageous.
It could block one attack.
A sword slash.
A bullet.
A cannonball.
Even something as extreme as a laser, according to the wording of the ability.
As long as the jade armor remained intact, the first attack would be stopped.
Which meant that even if Kaido himself showed up and swung his club at Bane, he wouldn’t be able to kill him in a single hit.
He’d need at least two.
That thought alone nearly made Bane laugh.
Of course, [Thorn Jade Hardening] wasn’t perfect.
Once activated, Bane couldn’t choose which attack it blocked.
If an enemy understood how the ability worked, they could simply use a weaker strike to break the armor before following up with their real attack.
Still, that required them to know its weakness in advance.
For now, Bane was more than satisfied.
…
Not long afterward, Jango returned from purchasing supplies, while the Nyaban Brothers brought the newly recruited crew members back to the ship.
Kuro appeared briefly on deck and immediately ordered them to set sail.
The unexpected appearance of those bandits had clearly disrupted his original plans.
More importantly, it had given him a sense of urgency.
He had hesitated long enough.
Kuro finally decided to put the plan he’d been considering into motion ahead of schedule.
The Bezan Black changed course.
Their new destination was the waters surrounding a certain Marine branch.
Bane, still absorbed in the excitement of his latest improvements, had no idea what was coming.
The next day, the weather was nearly perfect.
Bright sunlight covered the sea, and not a single cloud interrupted the blue sky overhead.
Many of the Black Cat Pirates were sprawled lazily across the deck, enjoying the sun.
Then the lookout shouted.
“Captain! Marine warship ahead!”
Kuro slowly pushed his glasses up with the heel of his palm.
So it had finally come.
“Pass down my order.”
His voice was calm.
“Charge straight at them.”
The lookout froze.
“…Huh?”
Kuro turned his head.
“Did you not understand me?”
His gaze sharpened.
“Or would you rather take a swim?”
The man’s face went pale.
“No, Captain!”
He scrambled away to relay the order.
Kuro had no idea which Marine officer commanded the approaching warship.
Nor did he care.
He had absolute confidence in his own strength.
As far as Kuro was concerned, the Marines stationed throughout the East Blue were mediocre at best.
There was no reason to believe anyone aboard that ship could defeat him.
His plan was simple.
He would slaughter the Marines aboard the warship.
Then he would leave exactly one survivor.
That survivor would become the “fortunate” Marine responsible for capturing “Hundred Plans” Kuro.
Afterward, Jango would hypnotize the man and make the entire story convincing.
One lucky Marine would return with the achievement of supposedly capturing a pirate worth sixteen million Berries.
Kuro had no doubt that such an accomplishment would bring promotions, recognition, and fame.
And the Marine would never realize that his glorious achievement had been carefully arranged from beginning to end.
A mocking smile touched Kuro’s lips.
“Lads! Prepare for battle!”
The Marine warship was getting closer.
The Black Cat Pirates immediately began readying their weapons.
Most of them had no idea why their captain had suddenly decided to pick a fight with the Marines.
Nobody dared question him.
They could only prepare themselves for the battle ahead.
The newest recruits were in even worse shape.
Several were trembling so badly they could barely keep hold of their swords.
Once the fighting started, they would be little more than cannon fodder.
Bane watched Kuro from across the deck.
By now, he had a fairly good idea of what was happening.
So this was it.
Before he could dwell on the thought, the System appeared.
[Quest Triggered: A Clean Break]
[Description: Your Big Brother, Kuro, has completely grown tired of living as a pirate and intends to abandon his wanted identity and start over.]
[Objective: Help Kuro leave his pirate life behind.]
[Reward: 5 Attribute Points]
[Reward: Assassination Technique — Silent Step]
[Warning: Upon completion of this quest, Kuro will automatically lose his status as your Big Brother.]
[Please choose carefully, Host.]
Bane stared at the final warning.
His mind went blank.
It’s happening.
Kuro was really leaving.
The quest rewards were fantastic.
Five Attribute Points.
And Kuro’s Silent Step.
Bane wanted both.
Very badly.
But completing the quest meant losing his Big Brother.
And without a Big Brother, what was he supposed to do with the System?
Bane’s expression gradually changed.
Unless…
He found another one.
His eyes lit up.
That was right.
If Kuro no longer wanted the job, why couldn’t Bane simply choose someone else?
Maybe his next Big Brother would be even stronger.
And, conveniently, Kuro’s Trust Value was already getting dangerously close to one hundred.
Replacing him might solve two problems at once.
The more Bane thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
Then he paused.
Wait.
Wasn’t he basically planning to replace Kuro the moment Kuro stopped being useful?
Bane looked toward the sky with an expression of profound injustice.
This wasn’t betrayal.
He was being forced into it.
If anyone wanted to complain, they could blame the System.