The Black Cat Pirates

Watching Nami in the cabin, Lu Zhuo stroked his chin, took a deep breath, and stood up.

He drew his sword in a flash and slashed toward the surface of the sea!

A silent, ten-meter-long fissure appeared on the water, only to be instantly swallowed by the rushing waves.

His strength had improved by more than just a little! Lu Zhuo smiled faintly.

Relying on the Nidai Kitetsu in his hand, combined with the life-and-death battles he had experienced, he already possessed the strength of a first-class swordsman.

Of course, this was all thanks to the Nidai Kitetsu. To truly elevate his own swordsmanship to that of a first-class swordsman, one thing was still missing—and as it happened, Lu Zhuo knew exactly what that was.

The gap between a second-class and a first-class swordsman was a massive watershed; once one truly stepped into the ranks of the first-class, there would be virtually no opponents left in these waters.

In the original story, Zoro relied on the Wazamono grade swords to barely stand on the threshold of a first-class swordsman. Even when severely wounded, he could still repeatedly cut down his opponents; while the protagonist's halo played a part, Zoro's own formidable strength was the fundamental reason.

As for the key to becoming a first-class swordsman, it was the power to cut through steel!

With the Nidai Kitetsu, one could naturally cut through steel. But only when one could cut through steel using an ordinary iron blade would they truly be considered a first-class swordsman.

In the original story, the method to possess the power to cut through steel was to perceive the "breath of all things."

With a direction in mind, he could naturally avoid countless detours.

Lu Zhuo gently placed his sword at his waist, closed his eyes, and breathed calmly.

After a while, Lu Zhuo heard movement, wore a puzzled expression, and turned around.

The next moment, he was stunned.

Nami was wearing a dance dress found from who knows where, and her fair, tender skin made Lu Zhuo's heart race.

"Boss, are you tired? Would you like me to give you a massage?" Nami smiled faintly, like a white lotus emerging from the water, stirring the heart.

Lu Zhuo nodded as if unconscious. A flash of imperceptible, sinister glee crossed Nami's face as she walked behind him.

Lu Zhuo felt two small hands resting on his shoulders, kneading gently. That sensation was not just physical relaxation, but a delight to the soul.

However, he did not let his guard down. This girl Nami was far from well-behaved; there had to be something fishy going on!

Thinking this, Lu Zhuo smiled slightly and leaned back, resting his head directly against Nami's chest. The softness nearly caused a nosebleed.

A flush of shame flashed across Nami's face, followed by immense fury. Her left hand suddenly reached into her wide dress, gripping a short dagger hidden inside.

The next moment, a large hand followed her arm inside, grabbed her wrist, and with a light flick, snatched the dagger away, while also brushing against her jade-like leg.

Tossing the dagger into the sea, Lu Zhuo said with a smile, "This thing is too dangerous, and I don't need a haircut. You may continue!"

"You damn bastard!" Nami's pretty face turned red to the roots of her ears, and she shoved Lu Zhuo away violently. She ran to her room in a fit of shame and anger, pounding her bed with her fists.

"Damn it, where did this bastard even come from! Bastard, bastard!"

At this moment, Nami looked utterly aggrieved; if one didn't know what she had done earlier, one would surely feel great pity for her.

Just then, a faint voice drifted in from outside the door.

"Tampering with the food three times, sneaking an attack in the middle of the night three times, and using a beauty trap once. If you like, you can continue..."

"Bastard!"

A pillow was thrown violently from the room, but it was sliced into two pieces before it even reached Lu Zhuo.

A smile played on Lu Zhuo's face. To him, Nami's little tricks were far too amateurish. That was why he never pointed them out, choosing instead to take advantage of the situation every time.

Besides, she brought it on herself; not only did he not lose out, but he even gained something...

Recalling the advantage he had just taken, Lu Zhuo brought his hand to his nose and took a light sniff, still able to catch the faint fragrance of the young girl.

After a silly chuckle, Lu Zhuo calmed down again and sat on the deck.

Above a first-class swordsman was a Master Swordsman, and above that, a Great Master Swordsman. Each step could be described as a difference between heaven and earth.

Gently stroking the Nidai Kitetsu before him, a chilling, icy sensation surged into his body, but Lu Zhuo didn't care in the slightest.

As a swordsman, the connection between oneself and one's blade must never be severed. Lu Zhuo scoffed at the talk of curses or "demon blades."

Inside the body of the Nidai Kitetsu, there was indeed an eerie, cursed aura. Yet Lu Zhuo remained indifferent, sitting in meditation every day while stroking the blade, using his own body to endure that sinister chill.

His will as a swordsman seemed to gradually merge into the depths of the Kitetsu, dissolving that sinister curse.

In the original story, Zoro could make the Sandai Kitetsu submit; he, too, would certainly make this Nidai Kitetsu submit!

In Lu Zhuo's eyes, flashes of sword light flickered incessantly. His entire being seemed to transform into a sharp blade, merging into one with the Kitetsu.

Just then, the Kitetsu suddenly vibrated on its own, emitting a crisp, clear chime. The eerie, icy chill vanished along with it!

A smile finally appeared on Lu Zhuo's face. After three days, he had finally made this Nidai Kitetsu submit to him completely, making it truly the sword in his hand.

"From this day forward, I am your master." Looking at the Kitetsu, Lu Zhuo murmured, drawing it out and swinging it gently.

A feeling of flesh and blood connection made Lu Zhuo feel incredibly comfortable.

This was what a Wazamono grade sword should be! The broken blade he had used before was simply too inferior. How could a powerful swordsman be without a powerful sword?

Lu Zhuo smiled faintly, closed his eyes, and swung the Kitetsu softly. He felt as if everything between heaven and earth was breathing, and his sword seemed to be cutting through those very breaths.

The breath of all things—Lu Zhuo had finally gained some insight.

At this point, he faced no pressure dealing with pirates worth under thirty million Beli. However, for Lu Zhuo, this level of strength was still far from his goal.

Devil Fruits, Haki.

Thinking of these two terms, a glimmer of yearning appeared in Lu Zhuo's eyes. As a swordsman, while Devil Fruits were optional, those powerful ones—the Glint-Glint Fruit, the Quake-Quake Fruit—still stirred his heart.

And Haki was a power capable of grasping the physical forms of Logia users; Conqueror's Haki could even be called a formidable power capable of wiping out thousands with a single thought!

Yet, he possessed none of these things!

After shaking his head with a bitter smile, Lu Zhuo's eyes narrowed as he gazed at a black ship that had suddenly appeared in the distance.

That is... the Black Cat Pirates?

Looking at the appearance of that pirate ship, a faint sense of familiarity washed over Lu Zhuo. Seeing the skull flag, he confirmed his guess.

Finally encountered someone from the original story. Lu Zhuo was quite interested in that special silent movement technique.

So then...

"Nami, bring the ship alongside!"

"Nami?"

"Nami?"

After calling out several times, Lu Zhuo paused slightly and turned around. The entire ship was empty; where could Nami's shadow be?

Lu Zhuo's eyebrows arched, his gaze flickering as he scanned the sea surface. Finally, he spotted a petite figure carrying a large bundle, already beneath the Black Cat Pirates' ship.

That figure was naturally Nami, who had snuck away.

Seeming to hear his call, Nami turned back to make a face at him, adding a gesture of contempt for good measure.

Seeing this, Lu Zhuo rubbed his chin, chuckled, and whispered, "Truly mischievous. The idea is good, but reality is too cruel. Do you really think the Black Cat Pirates won't actively approach once they see a ship?"

Standing up with a smile, Lu Zhuo placed his sword at his waist and stood quietly on the deck.

Nami had snuck onto the Black Cat Pirates' ship. Using her nimble footwork, she quickly hid in a deserted corner.

"Facing the Black Cat Pirates with a bounty of sixteen million Beli, that jerk is probably going to run for his life. But he doesn't know how to sail—is he going to use oars to row?"

At the thought of Lu Zhuo holding an oar and rowing desperately while the sailboat remained motionless, Nami almost laughed out loud. She quickly covered her mouth, terrified of being discovered by the pirates outside.

However, her imagination was just that—imagination. The current Lu Zhuo had already mastered many things, including her.

Although the Black Cat Pirates had lookouts, their attention was drawn by Lu Zhuo's ship, and they had no idea a little thief cat had snuck onto their vessel.

Still, upon seeing the ship approach, the lookout immediately ran into the captain's quarters to report to Captain Kuro.

"Captain Kuro, a pirate ship has been spotted ahead!"

"Oh?" Sitting in his chair, Kuro rose slowly, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes.

"Is that the Flower Blade Pirates with a bounty of seven million Beli?"

"Seven million Beli? Forget it, consider it a bit of amusement."

As a minor boss-level character in the early stages of the story, Kuro naturally possessed his own confidence and strength; he was, after all, one of the pirates who dominated the East Blue.

There was a slight disappointment in his eyes, but he still stood up with a bloodthirsty, evil grin.

Following his command, the crew members immediately rushed out. Hearing that the Flower Blade Pirates had come seeking a beating, they all displayed arrogant laughter and killing intent.

Would the boss slaughter an entire ship by himself again this time?

When the two ships drew near, Kuro stood on the deck with his hypnotist Jango and the Nyaban Brothers.

What greeted their eyes was not the crew of the Flower Blade Pirates, but a lone swordsman with a black sword at his waist, watching them coldly.

Looking at Lu Zhuo standing on the bow of the Flower Blade Pirates' ship, Kuro frowned slightly.

Before he could speak, a cold glint flashed in Lu Zhuo's eyes as he smiled and said, "Captain Kuro, I am very interested in your Pout-Step. Explain the principle to me."

Hearing this, Captain Kuro felt even more suspicious and uneasy. His expression shifted slightly as he said coldly, "How do you know about 'Pout-Step'? Everyone who has seen it should already be dead!"

Lu Zhuo stood in the sea breeze and sneered, "Don't blather. I might give you a quick death if you do, otherwise..."

"What kind of thing are you, daring to speak to the Captain like that? You're courting death!"

Before Kuro could speak, the Nyaban Brothers were instantly enraged. They leaped over with a group of pirates, surrounding Lu Zhuo.

Kuro did not stop them, instead frowning as he asked, "Who exactly are you? Navy?"

Seeing Lu Zhuo's appearance, which was vastly different from the Flower Blade Captain, combined with a temperament that didn't resemble a pirate's, Kuro felt a sense of astonishment.

The hypnotist Jango looked at Lu Zhuo in shock and said, "Captain Kuro, this guy seems to have wiped out the entire Flower Blade Pirates."

"Oh? Interesting!"

Kuro smiled slightly, a hint of excitement in his heart. He hadn't fought in half a month; whether you were Navy or pirate, once you fell into my hands, you would only die!

On the other side, watching the Nyaban Brothers and the pirates closing in, Lu Zhuo's expression suddenly turned cold.

"Boring. Draw-Sword Slash!"

It was still his most practiced Draw-Sword Slash, the most fundamental move for any swordsman.

Without a sound, the heads of those surrounding him all flew into the air, blood gushing out wildly. The claws of the Nyaban Brothers were severed by a cold glint, and they retreated in terror.

Lu Zhuo stepped forward and struck again.

Flesh and blood splattered; the fingers of the Nyaban Brothers were all severed, and a bloodstain appeared on their necks. Their eyes filled with horror, and unable to utter a single word, they clutched their throats desperately.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye, so fast that even Kuro hadn't reacted!