Echo Crow

Inside the Going Merry's cabin, afternoon sunlight streamed through the round portholes and fell across the floor.

Victor sat with his hands clasped behind his head, leaning back in a comfortable wooden chair.

He looked as though he were resting with his eyes closed, but his consciousness had actually sunk deep into his mind.

[Current Ninja Way Points: 500]

Looking at this "fortune," Victor's mind began to race.

I didn't expect taming that stupid bird would earn Ninja Way Points too... What should I buy now?

He skillfully swiped through the translucent panels of the system shop in his mind, his gaze passing over one tempting icon after another.

By now, he had already laid the foundations for genjutsu, Fire Release, taijutsu, and the Sharingan.

But against truly powerful opponents, he still lacked a means of finishing them in a single blow.

Sure enough, I'm still missing a powerful single-target piercing ninjutsu...

In the end, his gaze settled on an icon flickering with lightning—

[Lightning Release: Chidori (A-rank) — Price: 2000 points]

It was one of his favorite ninjutsu from the Naruto World, and a supreme technique that paired perfectly with the Sharingan.

"Tch, still short by 1,500 points."

Victor sighed helplessly, regretfully closed the shop interface, and slowly opened his eyes.

The moment he did, the sight before him made him raise an eyebrow.

On the dining table, the black crow named Clay stood with its chest puffed out.

Nami leaned against the table, holding a fragrant piece of grilled meat as she smiled and tempted it.

"Hey, little crow, want some?"

Nami waved the meat in her hand. "Call me Master, and it's yours."

"Gulp."

Clay stared at the oily grilled meat and swallowed hard.

During its time aboard the ship, it had been completely conquered by human food.

As a wild bird that had once eaten only raw meat and fruit, it had never tasted anything this delicious. It was like a whole New World had opened before it.

But... how could the dignity of the "Sky Tyrant" allow it to casually call a woman Master?!

Nami's attitude, as though she were teasing a pet, made it very unhappy.

"How dare she toy with the great Lord Clay..."

A crafty gleam flashed through Clay's tiny bead-like eyes.

"I'll snatch it!!"

Whoosh!

While Nami was distracted, Clay's black form shot forward with astonishing speed, instantly snatching the meat from her hand in its beak.

"Caw caw caw!"

Then it beat its wings hard and flew straight up to the ceiling, circling as it looked down at Nami, who was flailing below.

Seeing Nami's furious expression, Clay felt incredibly pleased with itself.

It felt as though it had regained the dignity of Rare Beast Island's "Sky Tyrant."

"Hmph hmph, foolish human woman."

It smugly tossed the meat high into the air, then tilted back its head, closed its eyes, and opened its beak wide, ready to enjoy the delicacy falling from above.

One second.

Two seconds.

"Huh? Where's the meat?"

The expected delicious sensation never came.

Clay opened its eyes in confusion, but before it could react—

A large hand suddenly reached out, grabbed it by the neck, and rudely yanked it down.

"Caw?!"

Clay turned back in terror and met Victor's half-smiling face.

The meat that had originally belonged to it was now being leisurely tossed into Victor's mouth, where he chewed it twice before swallowing.

"Mmm, tastes good," Victor commented.

"Coo caw caw!! Boss!!"

Clay's feathers stood on end in fright as it hurriedly cried out in surrender, "I was wrong! I shouldn't have bullied your woman! Spare me!!"

The air instantly froze.

Victor expressionlessly reached out and pinched shut the bird's reckless beak.

"Coo... caw..."

"Who did you say was his woman?!"

An enraged roar rang out.

Bang!!

Nami's flaming iron fist smashed mercilessly into Clay's head.

"Coo..."

Clay saw stars as the whole world spun around it. Its head drooped weakly, swaying like a drunkard.

Victor shook the crow in his hand and woke it up.

"Alright, stop playing dead. Let's talk business."

Victor set it on the table and stared at it. "Since you ate a Devil Fruit, what abilities do you have?"

Clay shook its dazed head. The moment its abilities were mentioned, it immediately perked up and proudly shook its head.

Then it put on a fawning expression and said to Victor,

"Boss, Clay can do lots of things! I can talk to every creature on the sea, whether fish or beasts! And then..."

It took a deep breath and puffed out its chest.

"I can also unleash the roar of the 'Sky Tyrant'! That terrifying sound wave can scare every enemy into pissing themselves!"

"You can talk to all living creatures?"

Nami, still angry, looked surprised when she heard that. "Wouldn't that make you the best translator?"

Clay proudly nodded its head.

Victor stroked his chin and continued, "Since you can produce sound waves, can you use them to scout ahead? Like echolocation?"

Clay froze for a moment, then proudly nodded before saying with complete confidence,

"No! What's that?"

Slap!

Victor's face darkened as he smacked it across the head.

"Why did you nod if you can't?!"

"Waaah... Boss... I can learn..."

Clay clutched its head and said aggrievedly, "Just give me some time. Lord Clay is a genius."

Nami looked at the shameless crow, rested her chin on her hand, and revealed a thoughtful smile. The Beli symbols flashed in her eyes again.

"This crow is really interesting."

"Such a rare beast should fetch a lot of money on the black market, right?"

"Coo caw caw!! Lord Clay is not merchandise!!"

Clay flew behind Victor, poked its head out, and shouted at Nami,

"You money-grubbing orange head! I'm Boss's loyal subordinate! I'm not for sale!"

"Hah?!" Nami's eyes turned cold.

Boom—!!

At that moment, a tremendous cannon blast suddenly came from outside, shaking the cabin and successfully drawing their attention away from each other.

Zoro, who had been napping on the sofa nearby, was also awakened by the noise.

"Yawn..."

Zoro rubbed his eyes, let out a huge yawn, and looked confused. "What's Luffy doing now? Blowing up the ship?"

"Ah!! Damn it! I was a little off!"

Luffy's annoyed voice came from the deck.

"Out of the way, out of the way! Let the great Sogeking take a shot!"

Usopp's excited shout followed immediately after.

Boom!!

Another loud blast sounded outside, accompanied by the sound of seawater exploding.

Victor listened for a moment, then said with a smile,

"Looks like they're playing with the new ship's cannons. They're practicing their aim."

"They sure have a lot of energy..."

Zoro muttered, yawned, rolled over, and went back to sleep. "As long as they don't blow up the ship."

Nami sighed as she looked at this troublesome bunch.

Then her gaze swept over the fully equipped yet empty kitchen on the other side of the cabin, as though she had remembered something.

"Hey, aren't we still missing a cook, First Mate?"

Nami looked troubled. "Even with supplies, I'm the only one who can make a few simple home-cooked meals. Luffy only knows how to eat, and as for you guys..."

She glanced at Victor, who could only grill meat, and Zoro, who could only sleep, then shook her head.

Victor did not answer immediately.

He glanced at the waters they were about to reach on the map and revealed a mysterious smile.

"A cook... It really is time to put that on the agenda."

The next crew member would be that curly-browed Sanji, wouldn't it?

And besides...

Victor turned to look at Zoro, who was snoring soundly, and a teasing smile flashed across his face.

Sea Restaurant Baratie was home to more than just cooks. That man was there too—the world's greatest swordsman, Hawk-Eye Mihawk.

He was Zoro's lifelong goal, and one of the ceilings of power in the pirate world.

The world's greatest swordsman...

"Coo caw caw! A cook! I want a cook too! I want delicious food!"

Clay flew onto Nami's shoulder, completely forgetting their earlier grudge as it raised a wing in agreement.

Just then—

"Hey!! You pirates over there!! Prepare to die!!"

A dramatic shout suddenly came from the deck.

Immediately afterward, Luffy's curious and excited voice rang out from above.

"Whoa, whoa! What is it? Is someone here looking for trouble?!"