Slave-Catching Ship

Ryan was in his room, looking over his status panel.

Status Panel

Host: Portgas D. Ryan

Current Attribute Points: 40000

Host: Portgas D. Ryan

Physique: 51242/100000 Advanced

Martial Arts: 31024/100000 Advanced

Swordsmanship: 76687/100000 Swordmaster

Conqueror's Haki: 20500/100000 Advanced

Armament Haki: 25100/100000 Advanced

Observation Haki: 53290/100000 Advanced

Devil Fruit Ability: None

Skills: Kamusari, One Sword Style: Iai

Weapon: Supreme Grade Sword Ace

Mission: Reach a bounty of 500 million Beli [Incomplete]

Seeing his status panel, Ryan nodded in satisfaction. After training in the Calm Belt for two years, his progress had undoubtedly been tremendous.

There were also some hidden combat systems that were not displayed on the panel, such as the Breathing Technique. Ryan had already gotten started with it, and the boost it brought to his combat strength was enormous.

So Ryan's true strength was not merely what the system displayed. Through two years of constant battles with Ferocious Beast and Sea Kings, he had already gained complete control over his power.

On the deserted island, Ryan had hunted the Ferocious Beast there and the Sea Kings near the Calm Belt, earning nearly 150,000 attribute points.

If Rayleigh had not said that excessive killing would prevent normal Breathing Technique training, Ryan could have gained even more Attribute Points.

Training the Breathing Technique required the practitioner to enter a Kong state of mind. Excessive killing would make it difficult for Ryan to enter that state. Besides, he did not want to become someone who only knew how to kill.

Killing once in a while was fine, but if he did it every day, Ryan would probably go insane. By then, he might have become a killing machine.

Ryan still had 40,000 Attribute Points on hand. He planned to add 20,000 to his swordsmanship. Combined with the more than 70,000 Attribute Points he already had, that would put him above 90,000, only a little short of breaking through the Swordmaster level.

For the final stretch from Swordmaster to Great Swordmaster, Ryan wanted to walk that path himself rather than rely on the system.

Rayleigh had said that when breaking through to Great Swordmaster, one would enter a profound state. In that state, a person's comprehension would increase a hundredfold for half an hour.

At that time, one could consolidate and fuse the swordsmanship one had already practiced, thereby forming one's own path of the sword. If there was Kong time, it could even be used to train the Breathing Technique.

After all, Ryan did not know whether using the system to complete that final stretch of training would prevent him from entering that state.

Ryan did not want to gamble on that possibility, nor was there any need to.

Ryan was very confident in his talent for swordsmanship. After all, even without the system's support, he had become a Swordmaster through his own training.

Becoming a Swordmaster after practicing swordsmanship for three years was nothing short of astonishing talent in the way of the sword.

After hearing Rayleigh explain it, Ryan finally solved one mystery from Pirate King.

Why did Hawkeye, the future world's greatest swordsman, travel everywhere to spar with swordsmen weaker than himself?

Ryan had not understood before, but now he did. Hawkeye was observing other people's swordsmanship, absorbing their strengths to perfect his own path of the sword.

After becoming Great Swordmasters, everyone would embark on their own path of the sword.

Ryan had been puzzled at the time, and Rayleigh had given him the answer.

Ryan had asked Rayleigh whether anyone could draw upon the essence of other people's swordsmanship through battle. Rayleigh answered that only a once-in-several-centuries swordsmanship genius could take that path. It was a road leading to the world's greatest swordsman.

That explained why people like Roger, Rayleigh, and Golden Lion, all Great Swordmasters, did not enrich themselves by absorbing the essence of other people's swordsmanship as Hawkeye did.

Ryan wanted to take that path as well, and firmly believed his swordsmanship talent was no weaker than Hawkeye's—perhaps even stronger. Could Hawkeye become a Swordmaster in three years?

Ryan silently encouraged himself. I, Ryan, will never be inferior to anyone!

Once he decided, he acted.

"System, add 20,000 attribute points to swordsmanship."

Ding. The host's swordsmanship is nearing a breakthrough. Special notice: after breaking through to Great Swordmaster and embarking on your own path of the sword, the system will grant a special reward.

"Special reward?"

"Can you reveal a little in advance?"

After watching the system fail to squeeze out so much as a fart for half the day, Ryan said bitterly, "Sure enough, this damn system can't talk."

System: "You're the damn dog."

Ryan: "Holy shit! I never thought I'd get cursed by a system in my lifetime."

"If you can talk, why don't you?"

System: "The host's authority is insufficient, and the system has not yet been upgraded. Intelligent services are therefore unavailable."

Ryan asked again, "Then what counts as having enough authority?"

...Another breeze passed by.

"Damn system, talk."

Seeing that, Ryan understood that he would have to unlock it himself. He now understood this damn system's habits too. It liked being mysterious and never explained many things clearly.

For now, he would take things one step at a time. Even without the system's prompts, Ryan believed he could unlock the authority and upgrade the system. From that moment on, he also had a small expectation for the upgraded system.

"Ryan, everything that needed preparing has been prepared. When are we leaving?" Beli's voice interrupted Ryan's thoughts.

Ryan thought for a moment. "We leave tomorrow."

Seeing the two talk, Gaban could not help saying, "Aren't you going to tell that old man Carter?"

Ryan and Beli looked at each other in silence. In the end, Ryan spoke first.

"Do you think Uncle Carter will beat us to death if he finds out we're going to become pirates?"

Beli said uncertainly, "Probably not?"

The two looked at each other and fell silent again.

Seeing them like this, Gaban's anger flared. Were these really disciples he had taught? They were so spineless. A real man should face things head-on. It seemed these two young disciples needed some ideological education. Come on, he thought to himself.

Half an hour later, Ryan and Beli walked out the door looking utterly lifeless. They slowly headed toward Mero Town, as if each carried a thousand pounds on his back.

What should have been a one-hour journey took Ryan and Beli more than three hours. By the time they reached Mero Town, the sun had already set.

They skillfully opened the door and walked inside.

Carter was preparing dinner when he saw Ryan and Beli, whom he had not seen in two years.

Carter hurriedly invited them to sit down and wait to have dinner together.

Before long, the meal was ready. However, the atmosphere during dinner was a little strange. Ryan and Beli ate in silence, answering only when Carter asked them something.

Carter also noticed that the two were acting strangely today, watching them hesitate as if they wanted to say something but could not bring themselves to do so.

Carter said, "If you two have something to say, just say it. Stop beating around the bush."

Ryan hesitated slightly before saying, "Uncle Carter, Beli and I plan to go to sea."

"Go to sea?"

"Yes, go to sea and become pirates to adventure." The moment Ryan said it, he felt relieved.

"Beli and I have made plans. We have money and strength now, so we want to go out and see the world." As he spoke, Ryan watched Carter's changing expression.

Sure enough, Uncle Carter's face turned from red to black. His calm expression was like the surface of a still sea concealing a massive tsunami beneath.

Carter said angrily, "Why do you want to become pirates? There are many ways to go to sea. Why must you go as pirates?"

Sure enough, what had to come had come. Avoidance could not solve the problem. The best way to overcome difficulty was Ori... damn it. It was facing the problem head-on and solving it.

But Ryan had not expected the usually silent Beli to say, "Uncle Carter, we have our own dreams. There are things we can't accomplish as Marines, like avenging Ryan's parents."

Hearing that, Carter looked deeply at Ryan. "I didn't expect you to still remember. You were only three when your father sent you here. I thought you had forgotten."

"Go. I have no reason to stop you." After saying that, the elderly man seemed to have been drained of all his strength by Kong. He sat there weakly, unable to move.

Seeing that, Ryan and Beli's eyes reddened. Carter had raised them both with his own hands. The feelings between them were beyond what outsiders could understand.

Just as they were about to walk out the door, Ryan turned back and called out to Carter, "Uncle Carter, don't worry. We'll uphold the justice in our hearts. Even if we become pirates, we'll be good pirates."

"After we fulfill our dreams, Uncle Carter, we'll come back to see you. We'll always remember you." With that, Ryan led Beli away with firm steps.

After the two had gone far away, Carter came out and looked in the direction they had disappeared into the night.

Carter spoke in a voice only he could hear.

"Please come back safely."

The next day, at Yunlai Town's harbor.

Ryan, Beli, and Gaban stood beside a ship.

"I never expected that last time, I was seeing off that brat Shanks. Now I'm seeing you two off."

"Brats must undergo the baptism of the sea before they can grow into men. I look forward to the day the names Ryan and Beli resound throughout the world. I believe in it too, because you two were taught by this old man."

"We're leaving, Teacher Gaban."

"Go. Don't look back. Walk boldly forward. The new era needs you."

With that, Ryan and Beli jumped onto the deck, raised the sails, and set off.

The two chuunibyou youths were officially going to sea for the first time, and they were incomparably excited.

"Beli, can you feel it? A new era is calling to us!"

"Hahaha!"

At the harbor, Gaban watched the two leave and felt that Ryan's whole vibe was different from usual. It was as though he had released a husky that had been sleeping for far too long.

Although Ryan had always behaved himself since arriving in the world of Pirate King, diligently training to grow stronger and never doing anything out of line, aside from being a little prone to cursing people.

At other times, he had seemed very mature, steady in his actions, and unflustered in dealing with matters.

But how could someone who had received nine years of compulsory education not be filled with curiosity about this pirate world?

Before transmigrating, Ryan had only been eighteen. His youthful nature was still there; it had merely been suppressed.

After all, he was surrounded by big shots, and he usually had to curry favor with them and beg them to teach him more.

But Gaban had not considered this: could someone who got along so well with Shanks possibly be normal?

After going to sea, Ryan could no longer suppress his curiosity about this world or his youthful nature. As the saying went, if you did not erupt in silence, you perished in silence.

Clearly, Ryan was the erupting type. At that moment, Beli was dutifully doing his job as helmsman. So what was Ryan doing?

Ryan was skinny-dipping in the sea. Sometimes he did the backstroke, sometimes the breaststroke, and whenever no one was paying attention, he dove underwater to catch fish. He was having the time of his life.

When Ryan had watched Pirate King in his previous life, he had occasionally wondered whether anyone would notice if he skinny-dipped in the ocean.

Today, Ryan proved through action that on the boundless sea, one could often go a very long time without encountering another living person. No one would pay attention to who was swimming down below.

Watching Ryan completely let himself go, Beli felt for the first time that following Ryan out to adventure might have been a mistake.

He might have that feeling many more times in the future.

As Beli stood on the deck observing the movement on the surrounding sea, a ship appeared in the distance. Judging by its flag, it seemed to be flying a pirate flag.

"Ryan, a ship has been spotted straight ahead. It appears to be a pirate crew."

As Beli spoke, Ryan swiftly leaped out of the sea and rushed into the cabin at lightning speed, putting on his trademark headband, white clothes, and white boots.

"Where? Let me see."

Ryan indeed saw a pirate ship. It seemed fairly large, at least several times bigger than their own vessel.

"Head over."

Beli steered their ship toward the pirate vessel in the distance.

On the pirate ship ahead.

"Captain, there's a pirate ship ahead. It's heading toward us," a pirate who looked like a complete lackey reported to another man.

"We'll head over too. There aren't many pirates in the South Blue who dare provoke our Pino Pirates like this."

"Interesting. How interesting."

This man was Dale Pino, captain of the Pino Pirates, with a bounty of 8 million Beli. Relying on his fierce reputation, he was considered someone important in the South Blue.

The two ships drew closer and closer. When less than thirty meters separated them, Ryan could wait no longer and directly leaped onto the other pirate ship.

Dressed in white, Ryan stood at the bow with his hands clasped behind his back, quietly watching Pino's group.

The Pino Pirates did not react at first. In the end, Pino was the first to recover. Drawing his blade and pointing it at Ryan, he said, "Boys, kill him."

Seeing the other side attack first, Ryan was delighted. He had originally planned to reason with them before resorting to force. After all, that was a traditional virtue of the Chinese people.

One Sword Style: Iai: Asura. With one slash, only Captain Pino remained standing on the deck. Pino stared at the scene before him in terror, then looked at Ryan in horror.

Ryan brushed the hair at his temples and said to Pino, "If you survive one strike from me, I'll spare your life."

With that, he thrust his sword at Pino. The blade pierced Pino's chest, and the expression on his face seemed not yet to have recovered from his terror.

"A man like you should have gone to the Grand Line long ago."

With that, Pino breathed his last.

Ding. The host has killed Dale Pino and gained 1600 Attribute Points.

Ding. The host has killed...

Beli also boarded the ship at that moment. Ryan happily said to him, "Beli, did you hear that? He called me a man. I'm sick of being called brat, youth, and kid every day."

"That was the first time someone called me a man, right?"

"Hahaha."

"Come on, let's see what treasures are on this ship." Ryan pulled Beli inside.

To their surprise, they found a group of people locked in cages. Most were young girls and children, though there were also several adult men. There were more than a hundred of them.

"Who are you?" A girl around ten years old looked at Ryan and Beli and asked timidly.

Beli answered, "We're pirates."

Hearing that, the girl and everyone behind her retreated several steps in fright.

Seeing their reaction, Ryan hurriedly explained, "We're good people. Don't worry, I've already killed all those hateful pirates outside."

"Who are you?" Ryan asked in return. Although he had already guessed their identities, this was the first time he had encountered something like this, so it was better to ask clearly.

The same girl spoke again.

"We were all captured by the Pino Pirates. They planned to sell us to nobles as slaves."

Seeing that Ryan and Beli truly did not seem like bad people, the group began recounting their experiences.

"This ship isn't a pirate ship at all. It's a slave-catching ship. They fly pirate flags while capturing slaves across the South Blue, then trade them to the nobles of the Goth Kingdom."

"I was fishing at sea when they captured me," one of the men said.

"My mom's still at home waiting for me to come back for dinner," a child said.

After listening to everyone's accounts, Ryan finally understood what had happened.

After hearing about their ordeal, both Ryan and Beli were furious. For the sake of their own selfish interests, those people had shattered so many families, separating wives and children from their loved ones.

Ryan had originally thought only the Celestial Dragons would do such things. He hadn't expected the nobles of this kingdom to do it too—and even worse.

Ryan suppressed the anger in his heart and smiled at the crowd. "It's all right now. I killed them all. You can go home."

Seeing Ryan's pure smile and hearing the good news from him, the crowd began to cheer.

"Thank you, benefactor." The group knelt in perfect unison, expressing their gratitude to Ryan and Beli.

They knew that if they had been sold to the nobles, a life worse than death would have awaited them. Their families might have spent the rest of their lives drowning in grief.

They might not have had any great abilities, but they still had grateful hearts.

Suddenly, someone said, "No, there's still one person alive."

It turned out there had always been someone specifically assigned to watch them, prevent them from killing themselves, and bring them food.

After searching for a while, they finally found him in the restroom. The crowd was so enraged that they wanted to kill him, frightening the man into immediately dropping to his knees and begging for mercy.

"I was only responsible for bringing food! I never did anything bad!"

He cried so hard that snot started running from his nose.

Looking at the people before him, Ryan made a decision.

"Spare his life. I still have a use for him."

Since their benefactor had said so, no one brought the matter up again.

When the man heard that he would actually be allowed to live, he hurriedly crawled over on his hands and knees. Just as he tried to hug Ryan's leg, Ryan kicked him flying.

Seeing the snot and tears still hanging from the man's face, Ryan inwardly cried out in relief. If that guy had dirtied his white clothes, Ryan would have been depressed for the whole day.

Beli pulled Ryan aside and asked, "Why are you sparing his life?"

Seeing the curiosity in Beli's eyes, Ryan smiled. "Of course, to follow the trail and find the person behind all this. Then kill them together."

Although he didn't understand what "follow the trail" meant, Beli understood the rest.

He immediately gave Ryan a thumbs-up.

"...Fucking awesome."

Thinking of how Ryan had always used that phrase to praise others before, Beli felt that Ryan's current situation must be extremely fucking awesome.

Hearing that phrase pop out of the honest Beli's mouth, Ryan couldn't help but sigh at how easily the national essence spread.

"No, you're fucking awesome."

"You're fucking awesome!"

"You're still fucking awesome."

The joyful scene of the crowd celebrating their rescue beside them, contrasted with Ryan and Beli respectfully calling each other fucking awesome. It was an intensely incongruous sight, yet perhaps also the most genuine one.