Joining the Hunting Squad

At night, on the enormous tree roots at the edge of the first-floor plaza.

Uncle Kate and Uncle Witt each held a jug of wine. Faint moonlight passed through layer upon layer of Divine Tree roots, shining down on them.

"Gulp! Gulp!"

"Hahaha! Thirteen years had passed in the blink of an eye! Thinking back to those days when we first went to sea, I really miss them, Witt!" Kate wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth and laughed as he looked at Witt.

Witt said nothing. He shot Kate a glance, then raised the wine jug and poured it into his mouth, while memories flickered in his eyes.

"Haha!"

Seeing Witt lost in thought, Kate did not disturb him.

He, too, drifted into his memories.

Back then, after the three of them had been separated by a storm at sea, Kate had come to the Giant Village and lived among the giants ever since.

There had been some mistrust along the way, but in the end, Kate had become friends with the giants.

It was just a pity that he had never gotten to meet the two captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates!

"Heh heh!"

Thinking of his life in the Giant Village, Kate could not help but laugh aloud.

"Kate, I think Cole and Luo Han can be taken into the Hunting Squad!"

Uncle Witt set down his wine jug and looked at Uncle Kate with a grave, worried expression.

"I feel like a huge wave is about to rise across this sea! Cole and Luo Han need to grow stronger as soon as possible if they are to protect Ring Tree Island's peace."

Kate said, "Are you sure? We're starting now instead of waiting for the Scale Festival? It'll only be here in a year."

Kate did not quite understand what Uncle Witt meant. They should have enough time to hold out until the boys grew strong, right?

"These past few years, News Birds have passed Ring Tree Island several times! About eight times, I'd say!"

"You have to understand, no News Bird had ever reached this place before. That means the outside world is more active now than it was before.

"Who knows when someone might come to Ring Tree Island? We both know what kind of forces the pirates who survive in the latter half of the Grand Line possess."

"Besides, we're wanted criminals of the World Government. If Ring Tree Island is discovered, we'll drag the island's residents down with us!"

Witt looked at Kate solemnly.

After hearing that, Kate's expression also turned serious. This concerned the safety of their home. There was no such thing as being too careful.

"Fine! I'll start training them tomorrow. In the afternoon, I'll begin taking them out to hunt Sea Kings!"

Kate said.

The two raised their cups and drank together. Time passed, while the moonlight remained unchanged.

The next morning, Luo Han and Cole were dragged by Uncle Kate to the Hunting Squad's training grounds.

They were located opposite Green Cliff on the island. The Hunting Squad members had all arrived, each one brimming with energy. Only Cole and Luo Han looked half-asleep. Clearly, neither of them had fully woken up yet.

"Hey! Cole! Luo Han! Why did my uncle bring you two up here? Don't tell me you're joining the Hunting Squad already!"

When Brother Rhine saw Uncle Kate bring Luo Han and Cole to the training grounds, he made a guess and stepped forward to ask.

"No need to ask, Rhine! They were strong enough long ago! This is just happening earlier than planned."

"Hurry up and wake those two up. Training starts now!"

Seeing Luo Han and Cole still looking drowsy, Uncle Kate could not help getting annoyed. He told Rhine to make sure the two brats woke up.

By then, after standing atop the island and feeling the cold morning wind for a while, Luo Han had finally woken up.

"This is the top of the island? Why did Uncle Kate bring us here? It's so early! The sun isn't even up yet!"

Luo Han shivered. The morning wind was still a little chilly, so he quickly wrapped his entire body in Psychokinesis, instantly warming himself up.

Hehe! Psychokinesis could keep him warm too!

"That's right! You and Cole joined the Hunting Squad today, so from now on, you'll train with them."

Rhine looked at Luo Han speechlessly.

"Cole! Why are your eyes still closed? You're not in bed anymore. You're at the top of the island!" Rhine turned around and continued bothering Cole.

The Hunting Squad? Joining? It looked like yesterday's fight with Cole had caused this!

After all, I'm a man who went from having the strength of a Marine soldier to a Rear Admiral in a single morning! Haha! Luo Han secretly reveled in it.

At that moment, Cole finally woke up as well.

"Where am I? Huh! Brother Han, why are you at my house?"

Cole was still rather dazed!

"No, wait! I think Dad threw me out!"

"Don't overthink it! We're at the top of the island now! Uncle Kate dragged both of us here," Luo Han said.

"You and Luo Han have joined the Hunting Squad now. Get ready to train. Hurry up! Go find Uncle Kate first."

After urging Cole and Luo Han, Rhine went off to train.

Luo Han said, "Let's go, Cole. Let's see what Uncle Kate has to say."

Luo Han and Cole walked toward Uncle Kate, who stood by the cliff's edge on the island.

Along the way, the Hunting Squad members were each practicing "Military Fist" on their own. Their movements were slow, like tai chi, but the muscles all over their bodies seemed to be trembling.

They looked as though they were straining themselves.

Luo Han's heart stirred. Could "Military Fist" be some kind of secret manual?

When they reached Uncle Kate, he turned around.

"Luo Han! Cole! We originally planned to let you enter the Hunting Squad a year from now.

"But Witt and I both believe your bodies have long since reached the level needed to practice the enhanced version of this Nameless Fist Style.

"So we decided to let you join!"

This should be what the Hunting Squad members were practicing now, Luo Han thought.

"Ah! There's an enhanced version too? I want to learn it, Uncle Kate!" Cole had always been interested in martial arts and hurriedly asked.

"Haha! All right! Let me first tell you where this fist style came from."

Uncle Kate laughed at Cole and Luo Han, then began explaining slowly.

"The so-called enhanced version is the deeper method of practicing the Nameless Fist Style. Only those whose bodies have become strong enough after being transformed by Scale Fruit can practice it."

"Its most fundamental force is vibration—vibration of the flesh. The reason Scale Fruit can accelerate the transformation is because of the practice of this Nameless Fist Style."

As he spoke, Uncle Kate pointed at the Hunting Squad members practicing in the distance.

"Once the transformation is complete and the body has been strengthened, you can practice the enhanced version that the Hunting Squad members are using now."

"Although it is called an enhanced version, the movements have not changed. It simply adds an internal sensation. And if your body is not strong enough, it is very difficult to feel it."

Hearing this, Luo Han raised his hand with a wry smile.

"Uncle Kate, my body probably hasn't reached the standard. The reason I could fight Cole in close combat yesterday was only because I used my Fruit ability!"

"We know. That was the move you mentioned, where you fused that Psychokinesis into your body, right?"

Uh! You knew, and you still dragged me out of bed so early? Luo Han was a little speechless.

"Haha! Although little Luo Han, your body hasn't reached the standard, your strength has.

"From now on, you can practice alongside little Cole. That way, both of you can improve together."

I recently started working. As an interior design designer, overtime is unavoidable. My update schedule is unstable, but I guarantee one update every day, no matter how late it is! I just want to keep going and see where it leads.