In just a few moments, Toniel served a table full of food.
The roasted meat sizzled with a fatty sheen, the seafood soup was fragrant, and there were various desserts.
The mouth-watering aroma of the food wafted throughout the entire ship.
Carina couldn’t wait to pick up a piece of roasted meat with her fork and knife and pop it into her mouth.
Her eyes instantly narrowed into crescent moons as she exclaimed in satisfaction, “Wow, this is too delicious!
It’s a hundred times better than what Kuro makes!”
Kuro didn’t even have time to respond.
He was stuffing large chunks of roasted meat into his mouth with his right hand while holding a wine glass in his left, devouring everything with great joy.
He had been hungry to begin with, but was delayed by Toniel’s situation while cooking, so he was already famished.
Moreover, his appetite was several times larger than that of an ordinary person.
Most powerhouses on the sea were like this; being a big eater seemed to be a standard trait.
A powerful physique always required sufficient energy to support it.
Before long, the table of food was almost finished by the two of them.
Kuro let out a loud burp and finally stopped eating.
Both his and Carina’s stomachs were round and bulging like they had swallowed a small ball, looking quite comical.
Carina slumped in her chair and sighed with a face full of satisfaction, “Ah, I’m so full…
I’ve never eaten such delicious food in my life!
Toniel, your cooking skills are amazing!”
Kuro nodded repeatedly from the side and remarked sincerely, “It’s a good thing I pulled you into the crew.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had the luck to taste such delicious food.”
Toniel smiled and waved his hand, his eyes filled with warmth, “Being able to make food that satisfies my companions is the greatest affirmation for me, and also my honor.”
Carina rubbed her round belly and complained with a frown, “It’s delicious, but I’ve eaten too much.
My stomach is about to burst.”
Kuro laughed loudly and then took a deep breath.
His bulging stomach deflated at a speed visible to the naked eye, returning to its original shape.
“Who told you not to train your physique?
If you learn Life Return, such a small thing is simple, isn’t it?”
“You think everyone is a monster like you!
I could never learn that!” Carina glared at him and retorted crossly.
However, she still asked, “Hey, Kuro, are we still heading to the Grand Line first?”
They had previously agreed to go to the Grand Line first, but now that a new partner had joined, she still wanted to confirm with Kuro.
Kuro didn’t answer directly but looked at Toniel and asked, “Do you have anything to do?
If not, our subsequent plan is to head to the Grand Line first.”
Toniel shook his head and said, “No, I’ll listen to you, Captain.
It doesn’t matter where we go.”
“Mm, then if there’s nothing else, we’ll still go to the Grand Line first.
But there’s no rush; it doesn’t matter if we take it slow,” Kuro then made the arrangements.
The next day, the Voyager slowly docked at a port named the Mecha Islands.
This was a country formed by the connection of several small islands.
The port town where they docked was one of the most prosperous areas in this sea region.
The purpose of Kuro’s group coming here was simple.
They had been at sea for two days, and the ship’s supplies, such as food and fresh water, needed to be thoroughly replenished.
When sailing on the sea, one must always keep supplies sufficient to deal with various emergencies.
As soon as Kuro stepped onto the port steps, he habitually spread out his Observation Haki, casually sensing the movements around him.
It was originally just a routine observation, but he didn’t expect to actually make an unexpected discovery.
Not far away, two men who looked like sailors were whispering in low voices.
“Hey, have you heard?
That gang boss in town seems to have gotten hold of some secret treasure of the sea.”
“For real?
A secret treasure of the sea…
what is that?”
“How should I know?
I only heard it’s something powerful, probably a weapon.
I heard it from my cousin’s cousin’s younger brother; he’s an important figure in the gang!”
“Wow, that’s impressive…
I didn’t expect you to have that kind of connection.”
Hearing this, Kuro’s heart stirred.
A secret treasure of the sea?
Could it be a Devil Fruit?
If it really is that, it would be a waste for it to fall into the hands of a gang.
I might as well take it for myself.
He then said to Toniel and Carina, “You two go buy the supplies first.
I have something to take care of.
We’ll meet back at the port in a bit.”
After saying that, he walked straight towards the interior of the town.
He didn’t know the specific location of the gang, but for something like this, he could just find any local thug on the street and ask.
Soon, Kuro cornered a thug in an alleyway, grabbed the man’s neck with one hand, and asked indifferently, “Where is the base of the biggest gang here?”
“Who are you?
My brother is in the gang, you dare touch me…
Ah!
It hurts, let go!” The man still wanted to spout threats, but Kuro applied a little pressure with his fingers, and the man immediately screamed in pain.
With a cold face and an icy voice, Kuro said, “Don’t talk nonsense.
Answer me, or I’ll kill you right now.”
“It’s…
it’s on that street over there…
there’s a three-story circular building, the most luxurious one is it!” The thug was shaking all over and tremblingly pointed to the street on the right.
Kuro knocked him out directly, tossed him aside, and with a flash of his body, disappeared from the spot.
A moment later, Kuro stood on the roof of a house, looking at the conspicuous three-story circular building ahead.
The building was grand and luxurious, standing out in this neighborhood; it was clearly the gang’s headquarters.
“This should be the place.”
As soon as he entered the third floor, he heard clear conversation coming from the innermost room.
“Boss, are you really going to take this Devil Fruit to the auction?” a slightly hesitant voice sounded.
“Otherwise?” another coarse voice said with impatience, “This thing can sell for a full 100 million Berries, enough for us to expand our manpower and buy equipment.
We’ll make a fortune!”
“But…
but Boss, legend says eating a Devil Fruit grants powerful strength!
Wouldn’t it be better if we kept it for ourselves?”
“Idiot!” The coarse voice scolded sharply, “We have so many men, our manpower is sufficient.
Do we lack the power of this one fruit?
Instead of gambling on whether its ability is useful, it’s better to exchange it for Berries, recruit more men, and expand our territory.
That’s what’s practical!”
Kuro had no interest in listening further.
Such characters simply didn’t understand the value of a Devil Fruit; it was a power that money could never measure.
Many people in the four seas, especially the East Blue, lacked knowledge, let alone anything else.
BANG!
With a loud crash, the door was kicked to pieces by him.
Kuro walked in with an arrogant stride, swaying like Doflamingo, looking extremely cocky.
“Stop arguing.
Hand over the Devil Fruit, I’m taking it.”
“Who are you?
You dare barge into my territory, do you have a death wish?” The gang boss stood up abruptly, his face so dark it could drip ink, as his hand quietly moved toward the gun at his waist.
“Wahahaha,” Kuro laughed heartily, his eyes full of disdain, “Small fries should have the self-awareness of small fries.
A good thing like a Devil Fruit isn’t something you can touch.”
“You…”
Before the gang boss could finish his threat, Kuro’s figure had already flashed in front of him.
Without waiting for the other to react, a whip kick slammed hard into his face.
BANG!
The gang boss was sent flying instantly, crashing heavily into the cabinet next to the table.
The cabinet cracked immediately, and he clutched his face in pain as blood flowed; two of his teeth could be seen missing.
The lackey next to him, who was still dazed, hurriedly tried to pull out the gun at his waist.
But just as he touched the grip, Kuro’s backhand punch slammed into his head, knocking him out on the spot.
Kuro walked over slowly and stepped on the gang boss’s chest, applying a little pressure with his toes as he said coldly, “Where is the Devil Fruit?”
“Ah, gently!
My chest is going to break!” The gang boss struggled, gasping for breath, no longer showing any of his previous arrogance.
He hurriedly pointed to the table next to him, his voice trembling, “In…
in the table drawer…
please let me go!”
The gang boss begged for mercy on the surface, but in his heart, he was gnashing his teeth and cursing.
Damn it!
Once I gather all my subordinates, I’ll definitely catch you and torture you severely!
Kuro didn’t care about his thoughts at all.
He pulled open the drawer and immediately saw the oddly shaped fruit covered in spiral patterns.
A smile instantly curled on his lips.
As expected, it’s a Devil Fruit.
Truly a good thing.
He casually tucked the fruit into his bosom, picked up a pen, and flicked it at the gang boss.
It hit him precisely between the eyebrows; the man didn’t even let out a grunt before he died on the spot.
Kuro wouldn’t be soft-hearted; to survive on the sea, one must kill when necessary.
“Who are you?!”
“Damn it!
The Boss was killed by him!”
The gang members downstairs heard the sounds of fighting in the room and swarmed up at this moment.
Holding knives and guns, they surrounded him with faces full of rage and questioned him.
Kuro glanced at them and said casually, “The person who killed him.
Why?
Is there a problem?”
“Damn it.”
“Kill him!
Avenge the Boss!”
Amidst the roars and bellows of the gang members, Kuro flipped and leaped straight out of the window.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Gunshots rang out almost simultaneously.
Bullets whistled and hit the walls, shattering the window glass into pieces, yet they didn’t even touch the hem of his clothes.
Meanwhile, Kuro had already jumped onto a roof ahead and drew the sword at his waist.
“One-Sword Style: Whirlwind Triple Strike!”
He swung his right hand, and a silver-white Flying Slash was instantly unleashed.
In mid-air, it suddenly split into three spiral-shaped slashes, booming toward the gang base.
RUMBLE!
A series of loud explosions were deafening.
The entire three-story circular building was sliced into several pieces by the slashes, the walls collapsed with a bang, and dust filled the air.
The gang members who had rushed up didn’t have time to dodge; most were buried under the ruins, and their screams quickly fell silent.
Kuro glanced down at the side of the ruins at a few gang members who had luckily survived and were shaking all over with fear.
A smile curled on his lips, “No need to thank me.
This is a parting gift.”
After saying that, his figure had already disappeared from the spot, leaving behind only a few survivors and the wreckage of the gang base.