The Real Me Isn't a Kidnapper, I Swear!

"So, little Mercer, where's your family? Your parents?"

Makino asked.

Noticing how friendly the woman seemed with him despite the seafood smell clinging to her, Mercer asked, "Were you gathering seafood here?"

Makino blinked, then caught on and covered her mouth with a laugh.

"That's right! Big sis came here to collect some seafood while the tide was out.

"But how did you know?

"You've been standing here spacing out the whole time. I didn't think you'd noticed me."

"The smell." Mercer wrinkled his nose. "You smell fishy, like a rotten dead fish."

Makino raised a delicate brow, the corners of her mouth lifting. "Not bad.

"Your nose is sharp. It is the smell of a dead fish.

"I accidentally stepped on one just now. I washed it off, but the smell hasn't gone away yet."

"Mm. So, can you tell me now?" Makino asked. "It's already noon, lunchtime. Where's your family?"

"They're not here. I'm on my own."

Mercer lied without missing a beat.

Makino blinked. "They're not here?"

"You're all alone? How do you get food? Doesn't anyone look after you?"

Mercer lifted his fishing rod and reeled in the line.

"Do I need someone to look after me?"

"I don't. I won't starve just because I'm alone. I can hunt, cook, identify Herbs, and dig them up. I won't starve."

Mercer turned to Makino. "So tell me: if I can survive on my own, why should I need someone to look after me?"

The next second,

Mercer saw pity in Makino's eyes.

His mouth twitched. Mercer was at a loss.

"What's with that look?"

"Little Mercer, don't delude yourself," Makino said sympathetically. "You can't even catch a single fish. How are you supposed to feed yourself?"

"Never mind. I'm in a good mood today, and you kept me company, so lunch is on me. Come to my place."

"You really aren't a kidnapper?" Mercer squinted at her. "You're this nice to a complete stranger?"

Makino beamed and reached for Mercer's arm.

"I'm not a kidnapper, little one. Besides, you're not a stranger. Didn't we just introduce ourselves?"

Her bright smile was a little dazzling. This time, Mercer didn't dodge her grasp.

She took Mercer by the left arm, let out a cute little "Heave-ho," and pulled him to his feet.

"That's more like it. Big sis isn't a bad person."

"Come on. I was going home to make lunch anyway, and I've got a big haul today."

Makino led Mercer aside and picked up a creel from a spot about ten yards away.

As Mercer gathered his fishing rod, he saw plenty of palm-sized sea fish inside, along with shellfish, sea urchins, sea snails, and other seafood.

They walked along the beach toward the village, passed through several streets and alleys, and arrived at the back door of a two-story house.

Makino released Mercer and took a key from her pocket.

Click!

The door opened.

A spacious courtyard lay beyond it.

"Come on, let's go in."

They entered the courtyard, and Makino led Mercer inside.

She opened the window.

The place was laid out like a bar, with a counter, shelves of liquor, and rows of tables and chairs. The chairs had been turned upside down and placed on the tables.

Clearly, it wasn't open for business.

The interior was very tidy.

Makino poured Mercer a glass of water behind the bar and said with a smile,

"Sit tight, little Mercer. I'll go cook. We'll have a delicious seafood rice dish in a bit."

Watching her head from behind the bar to the kitchen, Mercer stared at his glass, bored.

With a thought, a panel appeared in his vision.

Soul Crystals: [F*268]

The balance in the Soul Crystal column represented the 268 F-rank Soul Crystals Mercer had accumulated over the years from hunting outside.

"If Soul Crystals can be fused and split apart, how many F-rank ones does it take to make an E-rank Soul Crystal?"

"250."

A few seconds later, Mercer looked at the remaining balance in the Soul Crystal column.

Soul Crystals: [E*1, F*18]

Mercer studied the attribute column. One E-rank Soul Crystal could only raise one attribute to E-rank.

Each attribute was essential, so he could only choose the one most suited to his current needs.

He looked over the six attributes.

[Body]: Strength: E- Endurance: E- Agility: E-

[Soul]: Will: E- Perception: E- Spirit: E-

Finally, he used his mind to activate it. The tiny, grain-sized E-rank Soul Crystal turned into an invisible wisp of mist and flowed into Mercer's limbs and bones.

His body underwent subtle adjustments.

A faint ache arose.

A few minutes later,

Mercer stood up and did a few little jumps. His body felt much more nimble, and even his soft, pudgy frame seemed a little slimmer.

[Agility: E-→E]

A higher level of Observation Haki would also improve Agility, Perception, and Mystic Attribute.

Now, only Mystic Attribute remained below the other two related attributes.

With that,

Mercer clearly felt his coordination had become much more natural.

That was the allure of getting stronger.

He strode briskly around the little bar, carefully noting the subtle changes in his body.

Agility wasn't just about speed. It covered all sorts of aspects of the human body, such as reflexes, dexterity, coordination, and more.

The increase within the same rank hadn't brought about a dramatic change, but Mercer still took some time to get used to it.

Once he'd had enough time to adjust, Mercer sat on a barstool and took small sips of water.

Time passed slowly.

A faint aroma wafted out, and before long, Makino came out carrying two plates of seafood fried rice.

Both standard-sized plates were piled high.

She set one plate of fried rice in front of Mercer.

"Dig in. Try my cooking, and tell me what you think. Let me know if there's anything I should improve."

Makino grinned and handed him a spoon.

"Thanks. I will." Mercer didn't hold back. He took the spoon and scooped up a heaping mouthful.

He chewed carefully.

One bite, two bites, three.

The seasoning was just right—not too salty or too bland. The rice was fragrant, and the shrimp were fresh.

"It tastes good, just a little burnt. Though the burnt flavor does whet the appetite. I just can't tell whether you did that by accident or if you meant to give it that smoky flavor."

Makino laughed, her cheeks turning slightly red.

"Not bad—you could tell! I got held up scooping the rice just now, so the seafood got a little burnt."

"And I'm glad you like it. That gives me even more confidence about opening my bar someday."

Eating a big mouthful of fried rice, Mercer asked, "Someday? Your house is pretty big, and there's no one else here.

"Makino, are you on your own too?"

Mercer clearly saw Makino's hand pause as she ate, but it lasted only an instant. Then she continued eating.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

Mercer apologized.

Makino swallowed her food and smiled.

"It's nothing I can't talk about. I live here alone. We used to run a bar, but my parents were lost at sea a few years ago when they went out to buy supplies.

"But we had some savings, and the village chief has helped me out, so I get by.

"I'm planning to reopen the bar in a few years, once I'm a bit older.

"What about you, Mercer? Where's your family?"

Mercer swallowed a mouthful of rice and replied calmly, "More or less the same as yours."

Makino waited for him to elaborate, but Mercer simply kept eating. She blinked, then puffed out her cheeks and grumbled,

"Mercer, you're so mean. You only told me half the story. You know, if you talked like that to the storyteller who sometimes visits the village, you'd get beaten up."

Mercer glanced at Makino.

"You can't beat me. One punch from me and you'd cry for ages."

"And I'd cry too."

"Why?" Makino didn't quite believe the first part, but the second made her curious.

"I'd cry because I didn't want you to die."

"Cough, cough!" Makino started coughing violently, nearly choking on Mercer's words.

She shot him an exasperated look, then burst into laughter again.

"Mercer, you really are funny. I wish you could be my little brother.

"Then you'd make me laugh every day."

Mercer finished off the rest of his fried rice in a few bites, without leaving a single grain.

He downed the water in his glass at the bar.

"It's not even dark yet."

"Huh?" Makino asked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"..." Makino thought it over and finally got it. She laughed in disbelief.

"You're the one daydreaming."

She glanced at Mercer's plate and blinked. "Mercer, are you full?"

"Is there more?"

Makino scratched her head. "If you don't mind, you can have half of mine. I made these portions based on how much I eat.

"Sorry, I didn't realize you ate so much."

"You don't have to apologize. I came here to eat and drink for free, and I didn't pay you, so there's no need to apologize."

"How about I make you something else?" Makino tapped her chin. "Deep-fried little sea fish? Would that work?"

"Roast suckling pig?" Mercer politely declined. "Can you make that?"

"Probably not. I can't afford to buy one, and a whole pig is expensive."

"Oh!"

"Then never mind."

"Oh." Makino sighed. "Sorry about that."

"I'll get going. Come find me sometime." Mercer said. "The fried rice was delicious. I liked it."

"Eh?"

But before she could say anything, Mercer had already picked up his fishing rod and headed for the back door.

Makino put down her spoon and hurried after him, but when she reached the courtyard, Mercer was already gone.

She couldn't help puffing out her cheeks.

"How could he do that? He ate and ran! I really am not a kidnapper!"

Makino sighed helplessly.

Walking down the street,

with the fishing rod slung over his shoulder,

Mercer glanced at his stomach, then headed toward the warship at the dock.

A short while later, he boarded the warship, left the fishing rod in a random corner, and headed straight for the dining hall.

It was lunchtime.

As soon as he walked in, he saw Bogard waving him over.

"Mercer, over here!"

Mercer first went to the cook's window and filled a plate with big chunks of meat, along with a bowl of noodles topped with minced meat and an unknown kind of egg.

When he reached Bogard, Mercer immediately started eating.

Meat with one bite, noodles with the next. He was eating with gusto.

Bogard asked curiously, "Why aren't you with your Grandfather?"

"I went fishing, but didn't catch anything. Then I went to some stranger's place and mooched a bowl of food."

"So you hadn't eaten enough." Bogard laughed. "Pfft, I guess that makes sense. What ordinary family could afford to feed you?"

"Uncle, if you can't say anything useful, then don't say anything."

He wolfed down the food, polishing off the meat and noodles in no time.

He carried the dishes back to the kitchen.

"I've got something to do, so I'm heading out," Mercer told Bogard. "If my grandpa comes back, tell him I went to Corvo Mountain."

"Sure. Be careful."

Mercer went to his room, grabbed his axe, and left the warship.

He followed the road uphill. Along the way, he passed a pasture and glanced at the plump cows inside.

"I'll go hunt something in a bit."

Once he entered the mountain, Mercer suddenly felt much more at ease.

His breathing quickened, and he picked up speed, swinging his arms as he ran.

Feeling the wind brush his cheeks, he spread out his Observation Haki and began searching for prey.

As he went,

tall trees appeared one after another, their roots covered in green moss. At one point, Mercer noticed numerous broken branches among some low bushes.

"There are scrape marks on the tree roots, too."

He began considering what kind of creature might have caused them, and how big it was.

Mercer followed the intermittent traces around him.

His Observation Haki continued to sense his surroundings.

He filtered out the irrelevant auras.

A moment later, Mercer crouched slightly and watched his prey in the distance.

A black wild bull, two meters long, with a muscular build and glossy coat. A pair of sturdy horns curved backward from its head.

Its tail swatted behind it to drive off insects as it nosed around in the grass, eating tender leaves from the shrubs.

"I need a way to kill it in one hit. Then... the neck's my only option."

Mercer adjusted his breathing and slowed his heartbeat as he crept closer.

When he was ten meters away, the wild bull finally noticed him.

"Moo!"

It raised its head and snorted loudly, stamping its right foreleg against the ground as it stared fixedly at Mercer.

The bull lowered its head. Mercer sensed its muscles swell, ready to spring into action.

He kept moving forward.

The next moment, the wild bull charged at Mercer with its head lowered.

The distance was less than ten meters. In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of him.

His Observation Haki let him anticipate its move, and Mercer leaped just in time. He flipped backward, head down and feet up, gripping his axe tightly in his right hand.

As he and the bull crossed paths,

Mercer swung his axe down.

Splurt!

A spray of blood filled the air, carrying a faint metallic tang.

In the blink of an eye, the bull ran past him on momentum. Mercer completed his flip and landed steadily.

Looking at the bull, he saw a long gash in the back of its neck, a good hand's breadth deep.

The bull had suffered a fatal wound and had already collapsed. Mercer stepped up and brought his axe down on its artery.

Splurt!

Another spray of blood flew through the air.

The wild bull finally stopped moving.

Next, an irregular crystalline object the size of a grain of rice, shimmering with a mysterious light, emerged from its corpse.

[Obtained 1 F+-rank Soul Crystal]

After dealing with the bull's blood, Mercer grabbed it by the horns and headed toward nearby Corvo Mountain.

After more than half an hour, Mercer dragged the bull to Dadan's Home. He immediately spotted Ace sitting cross-legged in the shade of a tree outside the house, breathing.

Every now and then, Ace let out a "cough, cough."

Mercer wasn't exactly quiet, and Ace noticed him right away.

"Mercer?" Ace looked stunned. "You took down a huge wild bull like this?"

Mercer tossed the bull down by the entrance.

He grinned.

"You saw it with your own eyes, didn't you?"

I was late with the update—I got caught up writing and lost track of the time. Sorry about that! New author, new book! Please follow along!

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PS: [Soul Crystals]: Soul Crystals of different grades can be obtained through killing. They can be used to enhance attributes and Gifted Abilities. (Soul Crystals are refined and forged from the spiritual essence that forms the foundation of life.)

＊Soul Crystals can be fused or broken down.

＊Every five crystals of the same grade can be combined to form one crystal of the next grade (for example, F- → F). Grades advance by factors of ten (for example, F+ → E-).

Five F-rank Soul Crystals can be combined to form one F+-rank Soul Crystal.

Ten F+-rank Soul Crystals can be combined to form one E-rank Soul Crystal.

For example, 10,000 F-rank Soul Crystals can only be combined to form 8 E-rank Soul Crystals.

One hundred million F-rank Soul Crystals can be combined to form approximately 1.2 C-rank Soul Crystals.

PS: 10,000 F-rank Soul Crystals are equivalent to the refined essence of 10,000 F-rank lives.

PS: Spiritual essence is the foundation or essence of a living being's existence. It represents the potential and possibilities within every creature or thing. Spiritual essence is the unique, latent core of every life-form or thing.

PS: The grade of a Soul Crystal obtained is directly proportional to the strength of the creature.

PS: After prey is killed, its Soul Crystal naturally emerges from its corpse.