The World's Strongest Backer

Awe-Inspiring was a powerful skill that forcibly smashed an opponent toward a certain location, while the user moved along with them.

According to Lynn's plan:

He would use Awe-Inspiring to smash Sham and Buchy onto the deck of The Sea King, then take the opportunity to untie the ropes connecting the pirate ship and the merchant vessel, allowing Granny Siya and the others to leave first.

That way, the battlefield would shift onto the pirate ship, while Granny Siya and the others would be out of danger and no longer threatened by Death Scatter.

After that, it would be Lynn's time. He could raise all the hell he wanted!

But plans never kept up with changes.

Just as Lynn was about to make his move, a voice stopped him.

"Oh, oh, my friend, don't be so hasty!"

The voice came from The Sea King. Lynn turned his head and saw that the speaker wore an exaggerated dance outfit, heart-shaped sunglasses, and seemed to have some kind of unidentified plant growing from his chin.

It was Jango, the hypnotist and First Mate of the Black Cat Pirates.

Lynn cautiously scanned Jango's surroundings and probed, "Where's your captain?"

"Captain Kuro isn't here. We're the only ones who put out to sea today."

Jango answered, "My friend, could you please let go of our crewmen?"

Lynn grinned. "Give me a reason."

"Because they broke the rules Captain Kuro set down, and Captain Kuro will personally punish them." Jango lowered the brim of his hat. "As compensation, we won't collect a toll this time. How about it?"

Lynn considered it, then got up and released Sham and Buchy.

He did not want Granny Siya and the sailors to be dragged into the fight. To them, that meant death and injury—it meant the tragedy Granny Siya had suffered in her youth happening all over again.

Once free, the Cat-type brothers staggered back several steps and assumed fighting stances against Lynn.

"You bastard, you dare lay hands on us? You wanna die?!"

"Cat-type brothers?" Jango said slowly from afar. "Do you intend to disobey the rules Captain Kuro set down?"

The moment Sham and Buchy heard that, their bodies jolted. Cold sweat poured down their faces, and they did not dare move.

Within the Black Cat Pirates, Captain Kuro's orders were absolute. Anyone who defied Captain Kuro had already been sliced into pieces by his terrifying Ten-Blade Cat Claws.

"I order you, as First Mate, to return to the ship!"

At Jango's command, the Cat-type brothers leaped back onto the pirate ship at top speed.

Immediately afterward, the Black Cat Pirates' crew untied the hooked cables connecting the two ships.

Before leaving, Jango even expressed his apologies to the people aboard the merchant vessel.

"Sorry. The rules Captain Kuro sets are absolute. Since you paid, you should have been allowed to pass. As for the Cat-type brothers, Captain Kuro will make sure they receive the punishment they deserve."

Granny Siya hurriedly thanked him, then watched the Black Cat Pirates' ship depart.

Meanwhile, Lynn silently watched from the side, a question rising in his heart.

Was Kuro, infamous for his cunning and treachery, really someone who insisted on following rules?

Besides, if that were truly the case, how had the Cat-type brothers dared demand extra benefits in the first place?

Something was off.

But with Granny Siya and the sailors present, directly clashing with the Black Cat Pirates was absolutely the worst option. If war could be avoided, then all the better.

As for what came later? Lynn truly wanted to compete with Kuro in speed and see whether Kuro's Silent Step was faster, or his own fists!

After the Black Cat Pirates had sailed far away, the merchant vessel's sailors finally breathed sighs of relief. Some marveled at Lynn's strength, while others went to prepare materials to repair the ship.

No matter what, they were safe at last.

Elsewhere.

Inside the captain's cabin of The Sea King, the Black Cat Pirates' ship.

The Cat-type brothers, Sham and Buchy, were kneeling before a man, trembling in fear.

His hair was slicked back. He wore a suit and glasses, and a pair of gloves on his hands, with ten sharp blades gleaming coldly at their ends.

This elegant-looking man was the captain of the Black Cat Pirates—Hundred Plans Kuro!

Contrary to what Jango had said, Kuro had not been absent from the ship that day.

On the contrary, Kuro had witnessed everything that had just happened through the captain's cabin window, including Lynn's attack!

Jango asked in confusion, "Captain, why did you suddenly call the Cat-type brothers back? Haven't we always turned a blind eye when they privately demanded a few extra benefits?"

Because of the ten blades, Kuro used his palm to push up his glasses and said quietly:

"Don't I always tell you to pay attention to news from the outside world? Don't you remember anything?"

The Cat-type brothers rapidly shook their heads.

"Two useless idiots!" Kuro cursed, then looked at Jango. "What about you?"

Jango thought for a long while. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he rushed aside to search through the recent newspapers.

"Found it!"

Holding a newspaper and a Bounty Poster, Jango walked over to Kuro.

"It can't be wrong. It's him!

"BOSS Lynn Barek, the central figure of the Sabaody Arena Riot Incident!"

Remembering the boy from earlier, Jango could not suppress his shock.

"They say he declared war on the Celestial Dragons in the Sabaody Archipelago, and his bounty is as high as 100 Million Beli!"

"100 Million Beli!"

Upon hearing that, the Cat-type brothers could not stop cold sweat from streaming down their bodies.

Captain Kuro was the strongest among them, yet his bounty was only Sixteen Million Berries.

What kind of terrifying monster had a bounty of 100 Million Beli?!

"C-Captain, should we run?" Sham said, trembling. "A monster with a 100 Million Beli bounty, we..."

Slash!

Before Sham could finish, a flash of steel swept past, carving a gash across his chest. Blood poured from the wound.

"Idiots should not speak carelessly. Do it again, and I'll cut out your tongue!"

Kuro flicked the blood from his Ten-Blade Cat Claws, then pushed up his glasses with his palm.

"The World Government sets bounties based on the level of threat one poses to the World Government. That brat declared war on the Celestial Dragons, so a bounty of 100 Million Beli isn't particularly high."

Jango asked in confusion, "Captain, are you saying his bounty is inflated, and we have a chance to kill him?"

"No."

Kuro shook his head.

"Even if it is inflated to a certain extent, the fact that he could stir up that Great Incident alone, then escape safely and make it to the East Blue, proves he has genuine ability. He is not someone we can handle. That is why I ordered you to retreat."

Jango still did not understand. "If that's the case, why didn't he attack us then?"

"He was protecting the people on that merchant ship," Kuro answered. "He was afraid I would use Death Scatter."

At that, the other three people present could not help swallowing.

They were afraid of that cruel, indiscriminate attack too!

Jango held his hat and said, "As expected of Captain. That brat isn't someone we can lay hands on."

To his surprise, Kuro sneered. "No. We are going to make a move."

"What?!"

Kuro then took out a list.

"This is the price offered on the black market for Lynn Barek's head. They say it was named by the Celestial Dragons."

Jango stepped forward to look and could not help drawing a sharp breath.

Such a generous reward was worth hundreds of times more than the entire wealth of the Black Cat Pirates!

"More importantly, this."

Kuro pointed at the list.

"A noble seat. Do you know what that means?"

Jango shook his head.

"It means we will never have to live the life of pirates, hiding here and there, ever again!"

Kuro said excitedly, "If we take Lynn Barek's head, we will become nobles recognized by the World Government. No one will dare refuse to acknowledge us!"

Jango froze. "Captain, you don't want to be a pirate anymore?"

"I've had enough of being a pirate!" Kuro pushed up his glasses. "So we will take Lynn Barek's head."

"Just us? That doesn't seem realistic." Jango was still worried by that astronomical 100 Million Beli bounty.

"Of course not just us." Kuro sneered. "There are many villains in the East Blue. Some of them will surely be interested in Lynn's head."

"Besides..."

Kuro continued, "You need to understand that after the Sabaody Arena Riot Incident, that brat has remained missing!"

"The Celestial Dragons must be desperate to kill him!"

"If we tell the World Government that we know Lynn Barek's whereabouts and are confident we can kill him, but merely need a little support, what do you think will happen?"

Kuro spread his arms and burst into exaggerated laughter. "Then the backer behind us will be the strongest in the world—the World Government! Hahahahaha!"

"..."

Listening to Kuro's plan, Jango lowered his hat brim and remained silent.

Should he say it was just like Hundred Plans Kuro? Or should he say that the man before him had already gone mad?

A pirate with a mere Sixteen Million Berries bounty was actually preparing to scheme against the World Government!