The corners of Kazu's mouth rose slightly. Everything was under control. As expected of me.
"My training is pretty tough, you know?"
"Are you sure you've made up your mind?"
Despite saying that, Kazu did indeed intend to bring Behrens aboard, but he still had to go through the formalities. He couldn't make it too obvious. An arrangement made by chasing after someone wouldn't last.
Behrens's gaze was firm. He had nothing left to lose except his life.
"I'm ready. Please teach me, Mr. Kazu."
With that, Behrens stood and bowed deeply to show his resolve.
"Then let's welcome our newest member, Behrens!"
"Hehehe, welcome aboard."
Kazu directly acknowledged Behrens as a crewmate, and Makino also smiled as she welcomed the new member.
For a moment, Behrens was actually at a loss.
"Yes, I'll work hard."
The three drank and chatted in the woods, getting to know one another better.
"So, Captain, what's your dream?"
"My dream?"
Kazu looked up and thought for a moment. "I don't have much desire for money or power. Having enough money to spend is fine. As for power, improving my strength offers better returns. As long as I'm strong enough, I can achieve freedom."
"I think true freedom isn't about living without worries. It's about having the absolute strength to say no when you're faced with something you don't want to do."
"I want to become strong so that the family and friends around me can live freely."
After saying that, Kazu wrapped an arm around Makino's waist and added, "Of course, if circumstances permit, I'd also like to give countless girls a warm home. I'm an only son, so my family's prosperity rests entirely on my shoulders."
Stomp!
Makino stamped on Kazu's foot. It didn't really hurt, but he still had to put on an act.
The pained expression on Kazu's face did indeed make Makino feel a little better.
Her man was wonderful in every way, except that he was a little too much of a womanizer.
More importantly, Kazu seemed to have rather high standards. He wouldn't take just any woman, which put quite a bit of pressure on her. What would she do if he stopped paying attention to her when she got older?
After all, other beautiful young girls would appear by his side in the future.
After letting her thoughts wander, Makino felt she should still improve her strength and cooking skills. Even if her looks faded with age, she could still hold a place in Kazu's heart through other means.
Kazu and Makino took Behrens aboard to pick out a room. The ship's sniper position was now filled.
Kazu didn't disturb Carlmand either. He had said three days, and he really did wait three days.
The town wasn't particularly large, but it couldn't be explored in a single day either, so Kazu and the others weren't bored.
At Kazu's suggestion, Behrens bought two pistols. The combination of hand-to-hand combat and gunplay opened his eyes.
Although he had previously had the beginnings of an idea in that direction, the traditional sniper approach had influenced him. He had always thought gunplay was gunplay, while physical training was only for better movement and stamina.
After all, the recoil of powerful guns couldn't be underestimated. Without a strong physique, you could forget about hitting an enemy accurately.
Kazu wasn't short on money and spent several million Beli with a wave of his hand. Behrens suddenly felt that life was so wonderful.
There was a reason they were expensive. The assembled pistols were excellent, both powerful and sturdy enough to use as bricks when necessary.
"I'm back!"
Carlmand was quite strong, yet after three days, his face had actually turned a little pale. Anyone with eyes could see it.
He had worn himself out a little.
"You're finally back, Carlmand."
Makino had already made a pot of soup and handed the newly returned Carlmand a bowl.
"This is..."
Carlmand's eyes lit up. Nourishment was what he needed most right now.
Without another word, he downed it.
"Where's Kazu?"
After finishing the soup, he smacked his lips a couple of times before realizing the captain wasn't there.
"Kazu? He's in the training room, helping our new crewmate practice hand-to-hand combat."
"A new member?"
Carlmand hadn't expected another companion to join while he was away having fun for just a few days.
"I'll go take a look!"
Carlmand headed straight for the training room. Sure enough, Kazu's instructions came from inside.
"You have to fully integrate hand-to-hand combat and gunplay. Imagine the pistols as part of your body, and the bullets as extensions of it."
"Again. Keep attacking me."
Behrens was very talented. Often, he would thoroughly grasp what Kazu had said shortly after hearing it.
Behrens fired three shots with his right hand, then seized the opening to rush forward, sending a flying kick straight at Kazu's chest.
Kazu easily dodged the three bullets, then blocked Behrens's flying kick with his left hand.
Seeing Kazu easily block his attack didn't surprise Behrens.
Still in midair, Behrens spun his body around, his left leg sweeping straight toward Kazu's head. Both hands pulled their triggers simultaneously, firing a barrage at his left and right sides.
"Very good. You've already gotten quite proficient."
Kazu turned into his elemental form in advance to evade the barrage, then punched Behrens's left leg, sending him flying.
"Hey, Kazu. Is this our new companion?"
Carlmand hadn't expected the new companion to be so skilled. Quite a few people combined hand-to-hand combat and gunplay, but not many were incredibly good at it.
"Oh, Carlmand. Seeing how worn out you look, I can tell you've had a good time these past few days."
Kazu's honeyed words left Carlmand speechless.
If you can't say anything nice, donate your mouth instead of upsetting people.
"This is Behrens, the newest crewmate of our Blond Hair Pirates."
"From now on, he'll be our ship's sniper."
"This is our navigator, Carlmand."
Kazu introduced Carlmand and Behrens to each other.
"Hello, I'm Behrens. I look forward to learning from you."
"Likewise. We're all brothers from now on."
"Next time-once we dock next time, I'll take you somewhere fun."
Carlmand came over to Behrens with a secretive air, like a child sharing his toys.
"Somewhere fun?"
"Hahaha, then I'll be counting on you."
Behrens could tell that Carlmand meant well. He had no reason to refuse.
Seeing Carlmand start looking for a partner in crime, Kazu didn't say anything more.
He couldn't very well stay aboard with his own woman while forbidding these bachelors from visiting brothels.
Wouldn't that leave them beside themselves with envy?
He was an open-minded captain. There was no need to stop something so trivial. Instead, he was thinking of taking the opportunity to join his crewmates and strengthen their brotherly bonds.