Mastered

Although Mark had never learned Soru, he had seen someone use the technique before.

Unfortunately, he had not been familiar with that person, so there had been no way for him to learn it.

Soru was incredibly fast, but its attack path was linear. When the enemy changed direction, the user of Soru had to stop and adjust their own direction before attacking again.

Shakushi, on the other hand, was like an upgraded version of Soru. He could maintain extreme speed whether moving in a straight line or turning.

With that kind of creativity, if Kuro were in the New World and mastered both Observation Haki and Armament Haki, his strength could definitely become formidable.

At the time, if Mark wanted to learn the technique of Silent Step, he would never have been able to master it just by watching Kuro use it unless Kuro taught him personally.

Perhaps in the New World, Kuro could earn a reputation for unmatched speed through physical techniques alone.

"What a shame you were born in a place like the East Blue."

Mark turned and left. Since he had learned Silent Step, it was time to leave this place.

"You're not going to kill me?" Kuro asked in confusion.

"Why would I kill you?" Mark countered. "I only came to learn Silent Step from you. Now that I've learned it, why would I kill you?"

Kuro had no response. He had thought Mark had come looking for trouble and that learning Silent Step was merely an excuse. If he had known, he could have just taught it to him instead of taking such a brutal beating.

"Oh, right, Kuro... Since you taught me Silent Step, let me give you a piece of advice..."

Mark walked farther and farther away, yet his voice still reached Kuro clearly:

"If you truly want to retire, then draw a line between yourself and piracy. Truly become an ordinary person, instead of relying on pirate methods to obtain the happiness you want."

Kuro fell into deep thought upon hearing that.

Draw a line between himself and piracy... Don't rely on pirate methods to seek happiness...

He looked at the Ten-Blade Cat Claws on his hands and sank into thought.

Mark returned to the pirate ship, and all the injuries on his body disappeared beneath the Dark-Dark Fruit's devouring power, leaving behind only scratches on his clothes.

The reason he had not killed Kuro was simple: he did not want to.

Kuro had been minding his own business when Mark came to cause trouble, learned Silent Step from him, and then would have killed him afterward.

That was no way to be a pirate.

Besides, he did not need Kuro's tiny amount of life energy to evolve his body.

If it was supposedly for Kaya's parents, heh... what did that have to do with Mark?

He had come only to learn Silent Step, not to punish evil and uphold justice. Kuro had no grudge against him.

If anything, he owed Kuro a favor.

When he arrived aboard the Moss, Mark saw Usopp and Chiu Chiu having a great time. It was obvious that Usopp liked his pirate ship very much.

"Mark's back!" Daisy said.

"Mm..." Mark nodded.

"Usopp, you look like you're having fun. Do you like my pirate ship?"

Usopp, who had been playing with Chiu Chiu, said excitedly, "Mark, your pirate ship is huge! And those cannons—those are the weapons real men use on the seas!"

"I'm glad you like it!" Mark laughed, then headed into the kitchen. "Wait here. I'll make you something delicious."

"That's amazing... Mark, you can cook too?" Usopp cried.

Chiu Chiu puffed out his chest. "Of course! The boss's cooking is absolutely number one on these seas!"

"Amazing!!!"

Mark did not refute Chiu Chiu's words. His cooking might not have reached that level yet, but a man always had to strive for first place. Sooner or later, he would get there.

And so, Chiu Chiu and Usopp had nothing to do aboard the pirate ship.

After officially becoming the pirate ship's navigator, Daisy became even more devoted to studying charts. During practically every spare moment, she held a chartbook in her hands.

The food Mark made this time was exceptionally delicious.

The reason his cooking tasted so good was not solely because Aunt Dong and Aunt Ma had taught him.

The more important reason was his original profession: fitness coach...

While being self-sufficient, he had also developed an excessive pursuit of good food, and this life was no exception.

There was spicy-and-sour minced meat, fragrant Sea King meatballs, medium-rare ribs, fresh seaweed seasoned with pepper and salt, and a creamy vegetable salad.

To make sure there would be enough food, Mark specially roasted several of the beef legs he had been saving.

The huge table of food was irresistibly tempting, bright in appearance and rich in flavor.

After the meal, everyone ate happily.

"Usopp, is there anything you want me to pass along to Yasopp?" Mark asked Usopp when it was time to part ways.

"Thank you, Mark... I don't have anything I want to say to my dad. I just hope he can return safely to the village someday," Usopp said.

It was as if two little stars shone in his eyes. Clearly, he was looking forward to seeing Yasopp.

Mark smiled faintly. "In that case, we'll be leaving!"

"Goodbye, Mark..." Usopp looked reluctant to see him go.

"Goodbye!"

After bidding Usopp farewell, the Moss set off and quickly sailed away from Syrup Village.

On the deck, Daisy asked curiously, "Mark, why didn't you invite Usopp aboard?"

Mark looked at Syrup Village growing more distant and said calmly, "Usopp isn't suited to our pirate ship!"

There was a joke that said Usopp was the one to rely on in desperate situations, but for a captain with Mark's personality, Usopp truly was not suited to his ship.

In Mark's view, he would rather invite people like Crocodile and Moria aboard his ship.

It was just that...

His current strength had not reached that level yet. For now, it was only wishful thinking.

"Not suited..." Daisy nodded silently.

"The new bounty posters are out!"

"Who's this?"

"Never seen him before..."

"A bounty of six million Beli. Looks like a small fry!"

"Six million? Then there's nothing to talk about. Probably just some rookie."

"Six million? Is something wrong with your eyes? Look carefully at how many zeroes there are..."

"..."

"W-What's going on? A bounty of sixty million Beli? Is he from our East Blue?"

"What? Sixty million?" A large crowd gathered to look.

"From Moss Town in the East Blue, he really is an East Blue native. His age..."

"Sixteen years old!!! The Marines didn't make a mistake, did they?!"

"My god, he wiped out the Arlong Pirates! Not one of those powerful fish-men was left behind... How vicious!"

"And here! The White Ghost Pirates were also his work, and he even destroyed a Marine branch... He's so powerful..."

For a time... the new bounty poster stirred wave after wave of commotion throughout the East Blue.

Krieg stared at the bounty poster in his hand, his expression exceptionally furious.

"Damn Marines! They gave a sixteen-year-old brat a bounty of sixty million Beli. Are they looking down on Krieg?"

"Gin!!!"

"Chief Krieg!" Gin answered.

"Come with me and destroy a Marine branch!"

"Yes..."

East Blue... Windmill Village!

"Hey! Shanks... Look who this is..."

Benn Beckman picked up a bounty poster and placed it in front of Shanks.

"Mm..., it's Mark... I didn't expect him to accomplish something this big as soon as he set sail, destroying a Marine branch..." Shanks looked thoroughly drunk.

"Not surprising, is it, Captain?" Lucky Roux said. "You should know a thing or two about Mark..."

Shanks stared at the information on the bounty poster for a long time without speaking.

"Whew~ Then congratulations to him!"

"Come on, for Mark, for the Moss Pirates... Let's throw a party... boys!"

"We're already throwing a party... Captain!!!"

"Ah... Hahaha!" Shanks scratched his head sheepishly.