Nami Sneaks Aboard / The Skillful Grade Qingxing Blade

Pointing at them and showing off was really difficult...

Chapter 19: Nami Sneaks Aboard

After spending a little time, Noil dealt with the nameless pirate extras and, with considerable honesty, moved all the money on their ship onto his own.

Under the moved gazes of the pirates, the ship carrying the master and his two disciples gradually sailed away.

Noil sat cross-legged on the deck, his eyes closed.

He was comprehending the Observation Haki awakened for him by the system.

Normally, something like Haki required systematic study and training to master. However, Noil possessed the Sovereign's Gift and the Way of the Haki Sword, two cultivation bonuses, so he could learn even without anyone teaching him.

That was how he had improved his Armament Haki earlier, and Observation Haki was naturally no exception.

Newly mastered Observation Haki was highly uncontrollable, but it still granted Noil a very impressive perception ability.

The wind, temperature, and auras—these sensations grew increasingly clear. Even more amazingly, there seemed to be a voice in his heart, similar to a sixth sense, informing him of everything around him.

This feeling had nothing to do with hearing, sight, or instinct. It was as if he had been born knowing these things.

So far, Noil's Observation Haki could not passively sense his surroundings, but as long as he focused and calmed his mind, it could still vaguely transmit quite a bit of information to him.

For example, aboard this large ship, Noil's Observation Haki quickly outlined four figures in the dark world of his mind.

One was himself, two were the sisters Niwan and Niman, and the other was... was...

Huh?

Who the hell was that?!

A tiny figure flickered in and out of Noil's Observation Haki. He hurriedly opened his eyes in alarm.

Could it be...

Noil quickly stood up and rushed into the ship. Niwan and Niman hurriedly followed when they saw him.

Noil charged into the cluttered storeroom. It was filled with all kinds of boxes containing food, drinks, and daily necessities, all loaded by the villagers before their departure.

At that moment, a wine barrel caught Noil's attention.

The barrel was wobbling slightly. Someone had clearly crawled inside it just moments ago.

"Stop hiding! If you don't come out, I'm going to cut this barrel open!" Noil stared at the barrel, his face darkening.

The person inside seemed to hesitate. After a while, the lid was gently lifted, revealing an innocent, radiant little smile.

It really was Nami!

Noil stared dumbfoundedly at Nami, who reeked of wine, and asked bitterly, "Why didn't you stay home? What did you follow me here for?"

Nami climbed out of the barrel, her eyes shining with excitement. "Big Brother is going to make money, right?! I want to go too!"

Noil angrily pinched Nami's little cheek and scolded her, "I'm going to fight pirates! Nami can't come along!"

Nami's cheek turned red from the pinch, but she was not angry at all. Instead, she said even more happily, "Steal the pirates' money? I want to go even more!"

"What do you mean, steal?! Can you call it stealing when it's done by a Pirate Hunter?" Noil flew into an embarrassed rage, held little Nami by the head, and gave her a fierce scalp massage with his fist.

However, Nami, who was being disciplined, did not realize the seriousness of the situation at all. She simply grinned and joked around with Noil.

Noil let out a long sigh. The ship was already almost at its destination, so there was no way he could send the little rascal back.

But what else could he do? He couldn't throw Nami into the sea, could he?

The large ship continued sailing. Noil went back to lying on his deck chair and lazing around, while Nami pitifully stood in the back holding a bucket as punishment.

Noil sent Niwan and Niman to supervise Nami.

And so, Niwan and Niman kept their eyes wide open and stared at Nami all the way to their destination without blinking once.

Nami was stared at by the two simpletons for the entire journey and was practically speechless.

Which honest-person training camp did Big Brother find these two oddballs in?

Don't their eyes hurt?

The shore of Tandel Village.

Noil's large ship slowly docked. Niwan and Niman finally withdrew their gazes, and Nami could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Being watched without a break by two people for so long had nearly shattered her little heart.

Noil glanced at Niwan and Niman and was startled. Why were their eyes so red?

Had they contracted rabies?

Niwan and Niman, however, reported with bright and energetic expressions, "Master! Nami didn't slack off! The two of us watched her together!"

Noil wore a Nick Young-style look of confusion and asked, "Couldn't you take turns supervising her?"

Niwan and Niman cried out in alarm, "You can do that?! Master, you're so smart!"

I'm smart, your mother...

Noil forcibly held back the profanity.

He felt that staying with these two sisters might cause his intelligence to become infected and decline!

Noil worked hard to calm himself. As he walked toward the shore, he instructed them, "You don't need to follow me. Just keep an eye on Nami."

"Uh... you don't have to stare at her the whole time, either. Just don't let her run around."

Nami puffed out her cheeks when she heard this. "Why won't you let me come along? I can help Big Brother!"

Noil waved at Nami and said with a smile, "Next time, Nami. Big Brother is going to rob some money... I mean, subdue some pirates! Hahaha!"

Amid his arrogant laughter, Noil gradually disappeared from Nami's sight.

Nami unwillingly pursed her little lips and stomped her feet angrily. However, she seemed to remember something very quickly. Turning toward the two foolishly grinning sisters, a sly smile gradually appeared on her little face.

Hehehe (?ω?)?

Meanwhile, Noil passed through a stretch of woods in the outskirts and soon saw a village in the distance.

However, the people coming and going in the village did not seem to be villagers. They looked more like sailors who had spent years sailing the seas.

This must be the place.

Noil confirmed his target, then rose and walked toward the village.

At that moment, a group of burly men in sailor uniforms was carrying heavy wooden crates that way, two men to a crate.

But near the end, one broad and burly pirate was left without a partner. He stared at the crate in distress and happened to see Noil walking toward the village. His eyes lit up, and he hurriedly called, "Hey, kid! Could you give me a hand?"

Noil froze when he was called, then immediately answered, "Oh, sure."

Noil walked over and lightly lifted the crate from behind. The burly pirate's burden instantly eased considerably, and he laughed. "Hahaha! Thanks, kid!"

"No problem."

The two followed the group. When they reached the village entrance, Noil was surprised to discover that there were actually two more pirates checking people.

However, as Noil chatted casually with the burly pirate while following the group, the two pirates guarding the entrance looked at him suspiciously. Even so, they said nothing and let him pass.

Afterward, one pirate looked at the other and asked,

"Do you know that kid?"

"No. I thought you knew him."

After entering the village, Noil's burly pirate companion patted him on the shoulder gratefully, then left arm in arm with his other companions.

As he was leaving, Noil heard a few words of their conversation.

"Hey, who was that kid?"

"I don't know either. But he helped me carry things, so he's probably a trainee."

"Oh, oh..."

Chapter 20: The Skillful Grade Qingxing Blade

After entering the village, Noil looked around. As a pirate captain, this pirate named Yuke clearly had some brains.

Several groups of pirates with vicious-looking faces patrolled the village from time to time. The villagers were gone from every household, most likely driven out by these pirates.

This small village had clearly become the pirates' base.

Yet Noil, the Pirate Hunter, stood in the village like a transparent man. Not a single person paid him any attention.

Noil shook his head indifferently, then caught up with a group of pirates that had just passed by. In a calm voice, he asked, "Big Brother, could you tell me where Yuke lives?"

The pirates froze when asked, then answered, "Boss Yuke's house is in the center of the village. Keep going and you'll see it."

"Thanks!"

Noil nodded and strode forward.

The pirate who had been asked looked bewildered and turned to his companion. "When did our pirate crew get such a young trainee?"

His companion wore a puzzled expression and hesitated. "Couldn't he be... an intruder?"

The man immediately rejected the idea. "Impossible. Who would ask pirates for directions while invading their territory?"

"That's true..."

Noil's side proceeded smoothly for no apparent reason. Nami's side, on the other hand, ran into quite a few problems.

Nami smiled sweetly at her Big Brother's two foolish disciples and diligently poured each of them a drink.

Niwan and Niman were served so comfortably by the little girl that Nami decided the time was right. "Sisters, can we go ashore and play?"

Niman immediately put on a stern expression. "No! Master told us to keep an eye on you."

Nami instantly smiled ingratiatingly. "That's easy! You can keep an eye on me by coming along to play with me."

Niman's brain failed to process that properly. "Is that what Master meant?"

Niwan was also a little dazed. She hesitated before saying, "Maybe?"

Nami struck while the iron was hot. "Don't you want to sneak inside and take all the treasure and everything else?"

"Imagine it. When Big Brother comes back and sees a ship full of Beli, he'll definitely praise you."

Nami's tone at that moment was exactly like that of a pyramid-scheme leader from Noil's previous life. Her words seemed to possess a bewitching power, leaving Niwan and Niman utterly dazed.

Seeing the two of them tempted, Nami smiled. "Then... shall we go?"

Niwan and Niman exchanged a glance and shouted excitedly, "Let's go!"

The great deceiver Nami led her two followers toward the village in secret.

At that moment, the pirate Yuke had no idea that he had already been targeted by a family of delinquents. He was sitting in a large house, holding up a wineglass and boasting energetically to his many underlings seated below.

"Congratulations, Boss! You found another excellent weapon on the Black Market!"

"That's right. That weapon came from the fearsome Grand Line. It's absolutely worthy of Boss Yuke's strength!"

"Boss, everyone's so happy. Hurry and take out that blade so the brothers can see it!"

Listening to his subordinates' flattery, Yuke laughed smugly. "All right, all right. Since you all say so, I'll show it to you."

As he spoke, Yuke pulled a long object covered in black cloth from beside his seat.

He gently removed the black cloth, revealing the shape of a long blade. Its scabbard was exquisite and ornate. The hilt guard was shaped like a white cross, while the grip was wrapped in gray, indented cloth that looked comfortable to hold.

"One of the 50 Skillful Grade Swords—the Famous Sword Qingxing! It's a renowned treasure even on the Grand Line, and now it's in my hands!"

Yuke held the Qingxing Blade and laughed proudly.

"That powerful? Can you give the blade to me?"

"Hahahaha, of course..."

An unfamiliar voice rang out. In his moment of smugness, Yuke absentmindedly gave the blade away.

But Yuke quickly realized what he had said and angrily cursed, "Nonsense! Who's being so insolent?!"

The pirates' gazes converged on a certain seat, where a little boy was stuffing his face.