Leaving the Nest

"Are they all white traits?"

It had been a long time since he had gained new traits, but Jogo did not look particularly surprised.

Just white ones.

"White, blue, silver, gold..."

"White traits are the weakest. The further along they go, the rarer and more powerful their effects become."

"Unfortunately, they also become harder to obtain."

The good news was that most traits could be upgraded.

"For example, 'Fishing Master.'"

Jogo "looked" toward the trait pool, at the trait that had improved the most over the past three years.

"It was originally just a white trait, but because I kept fishing, it has already upgraded to silver."

"Its effect has also changed from its original [Make Conqueror's Haki give off the aura of a fisherman],"

"To its current form: [Make Conqueror's Haki give off the aura of a fisherman, enhance the power of Conqueror's Haki against marine creatures, and give intimidated marine creatures a low chance of submitting]."

"Fishmonger (Blue)" was another similar case.

It was a trait he had obtained from selling fish.

Its original effect had only been [Make Conqueror's Haki give off the aura of a fishmonger].

As his income from selling fish grew, the trait upgraded from white to blue, gaining the additional effect [Make people affected by Haki want to buy fish more].

Of course,

not every trait needed to start at low quality and be upgraded.

That depended on how it was acquired.

Through three years of practice, Jogo had summarized three methods for acquiring traits.

The first and simplest was—killing!

As long as he killed an intelligent creature, there was a chance that some of its characteristics would turn into traits.

"Unfortunately, the probability is terrifyingly low."

Jogo looked at the Haki panel and thought to himself.

"Other than getting 'Blood Scent' from that shark when I saved Robin, which lets my Conqueror's Haki carry a bloody smell, I killed so many fish over the past three years and didn't get a second one!"

"Otherwise, it would be a good way to acquire high-quality traits."

The second method was increasing favorability.

As long as he continually raised someone's favorability toward him, there was a chance he could directly obtain a trait formed from that person's characteristics.

"The best example is 'Flower-Flower Fruit.'" Jogo looked at the only gold trait he had obtained so far.

This trait had almost changed the way he used his Conqueror's Haki.

Little Robin, who trusted him completely, had given it to him.

The downside was that it required a certain degree of social skill, took a long time, and not everyone possessed high-quality traits.

The last method, and the one he used most often, was obtaining traits through "events."

"So far, this is the type of trait I have the most of."

"This method is simple enough, but most of them are too low-level. They usually start out white and have limited uses."

"The good thing is that most of them have growth potential."

Jogo's gaze fell on the two traits he had just obtained, his attention focused.

Gradually, the traits began to change.

"Pirate Hunter (White) - 3%" "Leaving the Nest (White)"

"'Pirate Hunter' should be what I got for defeating the Chest Hair Pirates. It can grow, and its effect... judging by the name alone, it probably enhances my power against pirates."

"'Leaving the Nest'... Does it refer to me leaving Ohara?"

"Wait, it doesn't have growth potential?" Jogo froze for a moment.

So far, he had only obtained three traits without growth potential.

Two of them had already been equipped, while the other was the largely useless "Blood Scent."

In his view, these non-growable traits might vary in strength, but they were definitely all special!

"Let's see what it does."

Jogo unequipped "Flower-Flower Fruit."

The [Haki Panel] immediately changed.

[...

Conqueror's Haki (Awakened)

Equipped Traits: "Otherworldly Soul (Silver)" "Leaving the Nest (White)"

Trait Pool: ...

As he focused his attention, the trait effect appeared after "Leaving the Nest."

[Trait Effect: For every enemy defeated, Conqueror's Haki can be slightly increased]

!!!

Jogo shot upright from the ram.

Increase Conqueror's Haki?!!

"I didn't read that wrong, did I?!" He confirmed it three times over in his mind.

As everyone knew, Conqueror's Haki could not be learned after birth, nor could it be improved through training.

For many possessors of Conqueror's Haki, unless they underwent a transformation in spirit and resolve, the stuff was practically fixed from the moment they were born!

And now,

you were telling him it could steadily increase!

Even if it was only "slightly increased," it was still an increase!

And if the only requirement was "defeating an enemy"...

Supporting himself with one hand, Jogo leaped down from the ram, scanned the deck, and casually grabbed a bewildered pirate.

He placed a hand on the pirate's shoulder and said solemnly,

"Are you ready?"

"Now, you are my enemy!"

The pirate shuddered. The mop in his hand clattered to the ground, and his face showed thirty percent terror, seventy percent grievance, and the remaining ninety percent utter confusion.

"C-Could I... not be?"

What have I ever done to deserve becoming your enemy?!

"No!" Jogo mercilessly refused.

The next second, invisible Conqueror's Haki enveloped the pirate.

The pirate collapsed and fell asleep.

Jogo stood where he was, carefully sensing the changes in his Haki.

A moment later, a hint of delight appeared on his face.

"It really got stronger!"

Although it was only an imperceptible trace, it had indeed become stronger!

"So that's it. 'Leaving the Nest' means leaving one's shelter, facing challenges, and growing through them?" Jogo understood the meaning of the trait.

It seemed perfectly normal.

But who counted as an "enemy," and what counted as a "challenge," depended entirely on his subjective judgment!

In other words, if he wanted, the entire sea could be his enemy!

If quality was lacking, he could make up for it with quantity!

"More testing is needed!"

"For example, is the increase permanent, or does it only work while the trait is equipped?"

"And can the same person be recognized as an enemy repeatedly?"

"Or even... if it works on people, what about fish, which outnumber people?" Once his mind opened up, ideas poured endlessly into Jogo's head.

He immediately got to work.

He hurried to the stern to find the pirates who were fishing to cultivate themselves, and began his tests.

After a bout of chaos, by sunset that afternoon, Jogo had his answer.

"It actually doesn't work on fish..."

Under the setting sun, the waves glittered.

Jogo held an arm-length red-tailed tuna in one hand, stroking his chin with a thoughtful expression.

The tuna rolled its eyes in his grip, unable to rest in peace.

The ground was littered with fish, shrimp, and crabs of all kinds and sizes.

"Why?"

"Does it think fish aren't qualified to be my enemies?"

"Next time, I should find a stronger fish to test... No, that would actually be less efficient than finding people."

"Sigh... Why can one person only be an enemy once?"

As he pondered, Jogo carried several unconscious pirates into the cabin and laid them down in a few hammocks.

Orange sunlight shone through the cabin door and fell across his face.

There was no disappointment in those dark eyes. Instead, they held a touch of excitement.

"Although the fish failed, one thing is certain... the increase to Conqueror's Haki is permanent!"

"Even after removing 'Leaving the Nest,' the increase to my Conqueror's Haki remains!"

"What a shame, what a shame. 'Leaving the Nest' is only a white-quality trait."

He sighed inwardly.

"And it can't be upgraded..."

"I wonder whether there are other unconventional methods to improve it... Or perhaps when my physique improves next time, I'll gain a way to upgrade traits?"

The last time his "Physique" improved, he gained the ability to view trait upgrade progress.

What would happen this time?

Jogo looked at the 73% progress behind "Physique," his heart filling with anticipation.

"For the next few days, I'll spend my time training!"

Just as he was thinking that, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Want a drink?"

The captain of the Acne Pirates stood in the doorway, a bottle of rum swaying in his bandage-wrapped hand.