Four days had passed since Kazu set out from Mount Delka in the East Blue, and he had not encountered a single island.
The idle rewards over the past few days had only given him some fairly dispensable rewards each day.
"Today's idle reward: a slight increase in stamina." "Today's idle reward: a slight increase in Armament Haki." "Today's idle reward: a slight increase in stamina." "Today's idle reward: a slight increase in Observation Haki."
He had to admit, the system was honest. When it said slight, it really meant slight-only a tiny bit more than he gained from his own daily training.
Perhaps heaven had taken pity on him, but on the afternoon of the fourth day, a pirate ship appeared in Kazu's sight.
"Holy shit, a pirate ship!"
"I finally won't have to sleep on this crappy little boat anymore!"
"Zehahahaha! You bastards actually had the nerve to sail my ship right in front of me. Now I have no choice but to take it back."
Kazu rubbed his hands together, planning to go easy on them so he would not damage the ship. Otherwise, he would have to keep sailing in his little wooden boat.
Although he had built the little wooden boat himself and it held plenty of sentimental value, a big ship with rooms was more comfortable and offered better value.
"Boss, there's a little wooden boat up ahead, with just one man aboard."
After spotting Kazu through his telescope, the pirate in the ship's crow's nest hurriedly reported the situation to the captain.
"Just one man?"
"Then what are you waiting for? Bring him aboard and make him a slave."
"Gabahaha! We're pirates! Do I really have to teach you this?"
"Hahaha! You got it, Captain!"
Dozens of pirates hollered. Sailing the seas was boring, and with some entertainment suddenly appearing, these pirates, bored out of their minds, all wanted to stretch their muscles. It would come down to whoever acted fastest.
As the little wooden boat drew closer, the pirates waved their weapons, each swaggering about, eager to teach Kazu a lesson.
Kazu stood up, a glint of red flashing through his eyes. Conqueror's Haki swept across the entire ship. Not a single person aboard could withstand it, and they all promptly performed the trick of rolling their eyes back.
"Hmph. A bunch of trash."
"Space Swap!"
Kazu instantly appeared aboard the pirate ship. With a casual lift of his hand, he used the Space-Space Fruit's ability to toss all the dozens of unconscious pirates overboard.
The fish in the sea: thanks for nature's bounty!
Heading inside, Kazu chose the largest room. The dining room also had plenty of stored food and drink.
Kazu used the Space-Space Fruit's ability to envelop his little wooden boat and instantly swapped it onto the pirate ship's deck.
The little wooden boat did hold plenty of sentimental value. Keeping it would give him something to reminisce over.
"Let's have a good meal first."
Kazu had been eating canned food these past few days. Now that he had the means, of course he would whip up a few of his specialties.
Before long, over a dozen dishes were ready. He opened a jar of liquor, enjoying a bite of food and a sip of liquor in utter comfort.
"Now this is how a pirate ought to live."
"But I don't fucking know how to sail..."
Only after eating and drinking his fill did Kazu realize he should have kept a few pirates around. He neither knew the way nor knew how to sail.
Even if Kazu fished those pirates out now, it would already be far too late. The quicker ones might already have finished reincarnating.
"Whatever. I'll end up wherever I end up."
Kazu gave up trying, too. As long as the wind kept the ship moving, that was enough. When he happened upon a town, he could find somewhere to ask for directions and then find a few sailors who knew how to sail.
With food and drink no longer a concern, Kazu continued studying the Space-Space Fruit's abilities and training his Haki aboard the ship.
Another three days passed, and while training on deck, Kazu faintly made out the outline of an island.
"Look at that. I really am a genius. Didn't I find an island?"
Kazu could still manage to travel in a straight line, and before long, the ship reached the island's edge.
He found a few ropes and tied them to the ship. Taking the other ends ashore, Kazu snapped down three large trees, tied the ropes around them, and drove them straight into the ground.
"Perfect."
With his worries taken care of, Kazu headed straight into the island's interior. His Observation Haki had already located the town.
"Wow, it's pretty lively."
Aside from going into town to buy daily necessities back home, Kazu had never really visited towns elsewhere.
Wandering aimlessly like this was quite nice, too. At over three meters tall, Kazu stood out here.
Although those powerhouses were often several meters tall, most people in the pirate world were still relatively normal in height.
"Hey, big guy. First time in Druid Town?"
Three men who looked like small-time thugs approached him, all three baring their teeth in grins and looking at him as though he were prey.
"Yeah, that's right. This is my first time leaving home to make my way in the world. Do you guys have anywhere you'd recommend so I can broaden my horizons?"
Kazu gave them a guileless grin, deliberately pointing out how new he was to the world. He wanted to see what fun these obviously ill-intentioned fellows could bring him.
He had nothing else to do anyway, so he might as well make a little money on the side. There was no reason not to take money from trash like this.
With Kazu's current strength, never mind the East Blue-he could hold his own even in the New World.
With the Three Types of Haki, a powerful Logia Devil Fruit, and a sword saint's inheritance, Kazu felt he was at least a Shichibukai-level powerhouse now, and among the top Shichibukai at that.
Doflamingo, Crocodile, Moria, and the like could forget about putting themselves on his level. Kazu felt he could utterly crush ordinary Shichibukai like them now.
Among the Shichibukai, only Hawk Eyes and Hancock could make him get serious.
Of course, Hancock could threaten him because he knew perfectly well that he was a lecher.
"Hehehehe! Your first time away from home, huh? You've asked the right person. I'm a living map of Druid Town."
"Come with me, little brother. I'll take you somewhere every man loves."
The lead thug had not expected Kazu to be so cooperative. He had still been thinking about how to get his money.
To think this greenhorn would offer up his wallet for him to rob. There was no reason to let the opportunity slip by.
"Sure! You're such a good guy, big brother. Lead the way. I'll follow you."
The four wound through turn after turn and soon reached the center of town. It was even livelier here, and the passing crowds were noticeably more lavishly dressed. Clearly, this was where the rich came to spend their money.
"Come on, little brother."
"This is the biggest casino in Druid Town. Not only are there plenty of games inside, but there are plenty of beautiful women, too. Fine wine and good food-you name it, they've got it. You could call it a paradise for men."
"Let me wish you a winning start in advance."
When Kazu reached the casino entrance and saw the building's luxurious exterior and the enormous area it occupied, he had a good idea of what to expect.
This casino was not short on money. It looked like he could fleece quite a bit from it.
"Thanks for the good wishes, big brother. I'll head in and play a few rounds, then."
Watching Kazu enter the casino, the three thugs inwardly cursed him for being a fool.
It looked very classy outside, but inside it was even more resplendent.
There was no need to guess. This casino was definitely controlled by one of the leading nobles in the area. Otherwise, there was no way a business this profitable would have no one coveting it.
Then again, even if the top ten nobles in this place stood together, they would not be enough to withstand a single blast of Kazu's Conqueror's Haki.
"Sir, how many chips would you like to exchange for?"
The beauty at the front desk had a discerning eye. Although Kazu was dressed in ordinary clothes rather than anything luxurious, she still greeted him with a smile, showing no sign of looking down on him.
Kazu pretended to reach inside his clothes, then pulled out a large handful of Beli. He repeated this several times, taking out over a million Beli in total.
This outrageous maneuver left the beauty dumbfounded.
Was this guy a magician?
How had he stuffed so much Beli inside his clothes?
His clothes had looked quite smooth just now, nothing like he had been carrying so much money.
Of course, Kazu had not saved up this money himself. That group of pirates a few days ago had saved it for him.
Using the Space-Space Fruit's ability, he put some necessities directly into an independent space he had opened up.
That way, he could free up his hands completely.