Although Mark had never learned Soru, he had seen someone use the technique before.
Unfortunately, he was not familiar with that person, so there had been no way to learn it.
Soru was extremely fast, but its attack path was linear. Whenever the enemy changed direction, the user of Soru had to stop and adjust their attack direction again.
Shakushi, however, was like an advanced version of Soru. He could maintain ultra-high speed whether moving in straight lines or turning.
With that kind of creativity, if placed in the New World, after learning both Observation Haki and Armament Haki, Kuro's strength could definitely become formidable.
At that time, if Mark wanted to learn the technique Silent Step, he would never have been able to do so merely by watching Kuro use it unless Kuro taught him personally.
Perhaps he could create a reputation for extreme speed in the New World through physical skills alone.
"What a pity 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 killing 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 was left speechless. He had thought Mark had come looking for trouble and that learning Silent Step had merely been an excuse. Had he known, he could have simply taught him Silent Step and spared himself a vicious beating.
"Oh, right, Kuro... since you taught me Silent Step, let me give you a piece of advice..."
Mark walked farther and farther away, but his voice still reached Kuro's ears clearly:
"If you truly want to retire, then draw a clear line between yourself and pirates. Become an ordinary person for real, instead of relying on pirate methods to obtain the happiness you want."
Kuro fell into deep thought at those words.
Draw a clear line between himself and pirates... not 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 vanished beneath the Dark-Dark Fruit's absorption ability, leaving only scratches on his clothes.
The reason he did not kill Kuro was simple: he did not want to.
The man had been minding his own business when Mark came to cause trouble, learned Silent Step from him, and then was supposed to kill him too.
That was no way to be a pirate.
Besides, he did not need Kuro's meager life energy to evolve his body.
If it was for Kaya's parents, then 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 clear that Usopp liked his pirate ship very much.
"Mark's back!" Daisy said.
"Yeah..." Mark nodded.
"Usopp looks like he's 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 men use on the sea!"
"As long as 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 out.
Chiu Chiu puffed out his chest. "Of course! The boss's cooking is absolutely the best on these seas!"
"Awesome!!!"
Mark did not refute Chiu Chiu's words. His cooking might not be there yet, but a man 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 nautical charts. During her free time, she was almost always holding one.
The food Mark made this time was exceptionally delicious.
The reason his cooking was so good was not solely because Aunt Dong and Aunt Ma had taught him.
The main reason was his former profession: fitness coach...
While being self-sufficient, he had also developed an excessive pursuit of fine food, and this life was no exception.
There was minced meat with a sour and spicy flavor, fresh and fragrant Sea King meatballs, medium-rare ribs, fresh seaweed seasoned with salt and pepper, and a creamy vegetable salad.
To make sure there was enough to eat, Mark had specially roasted several of his treasured yellow cattle legs.
The table was filled with tempting food, bright in appearance and rich in flavor.
After the meal, everyone ate happily.
"Usopp, is there anything you want me to tell Yasopp?" Mark asked Usopp when it was time to part.
"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." Usopp said.
It was as though two little stars shone in his eyes. It was clear that he looked forward to seeing Yasopp.
Mark smiled faintly. "Then we'll be leaving!"
"Goodbye, Mark..." Usopp looked reluctant to part with him.
"Goodbye!"
After bidding Usopp farewell, the Moss set sail and soon moved far away from Syrup Village.
On the deck, Daisy asked in confusion, "Mark, why didn't you invite Usopp aboard?"
Mark looked at Syrup Village fading into the distance and said calmly, "Usopp isn't suited for our pirate ship!"
There was a joking saying: when all hope was lost, look to Usopp. 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.
Only...
His strength had not yet reached that level. For now, it was merely wishful thinking.
"Not suited..." Daisy nodded silently.
"A new wanted poster is 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 some rookie."
"Six million? Is something wrong with your eyes? Look carefully at how many zeroes there are..."
"..."
"W-what is this? A sixty-million-Beli bounty? Is he from our East Blue?"
"What? Sixty million?" A huge crowd gathered to look.
"From Moss Town in the East Blue. He really is from the East Blue. His age..."
"Sixteen!!! Did the Marines make a mistake?!"
"My god, he actually wiped out the Arlong Pirates! Those powerful fish-men were all killed... how brutal!"
"And this too—the White Ghost Pirates were also his doing. He even destroyed a Marine branch... he's so powerful..."
For a time... the East Blue was thrown into waves of turmoil by the new wanted poster.
Krieg stared at the wanted poster in his hand, his expression filled with rage.
"Damn Marines! They gave a sixteen-year-old brat a bounty of sixty million Beli. Are they looking down on me, 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 wanted poster and placed it before Shanks.
"Hmm... 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 drunk.
"Not surprising, right, Captain?" Lucky Roux said. "You should know some things about Mark too..."
Shanks looked at the information on the wanted poster and remained silent for a long time.
"Whew~ Then congratulations to him!"
"Come on, for Mark, for the Moss Pirates... let's have a party... boys!"
"But we're already having a party... Captain!!!"
"Ah... hahahaha!" Shanks scratched his head awkwardly.