Your pirate ship got lost?
What the hell — I think you're the one who got lost, right?
"I'm very sorry, I don't know where your ship is either." Noyer said with an awkward yet polite smile.
"Alright, I'll take you to shore first." Shanks sighed, then grabbed him with his single arm and jumped into the sea.
Damn! Even someone as strong as you has to swim?
But he clearly underestimated Shanks. His hairy long legs tapped lightly on the water surface…
The water exploded into an enormous wave, propelling them forward with tremendous force. With each step, another wave formed behind them. Noyer watched the scene, so shocked his eyeballs nearly popped out!
So the fool is me? Am I just ignorant?
Even as his mind reeled, he didn't forget to use his talent inspection on Shanks.
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" Figarland Shanks "
" Talents:〔 Supreme King Constitution [Gold/1st Rank] 〕|〔 Pride of the Seas [Gold/1st Rank] 〕|〔 Legacy of Will [Red/2nd Rank] 〕|〔 Haki Swordsmanship [Purple/3rd Rank] 〕 "
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〔 Supreme King Constitution 〕
〔 Rank: Gold 〕
〔 Description: Born with natural Haki ability, he cultivates all three types at exceptional speed and is guaranteed to awaken Supreme King Haki at seventeen. After each victorious battle, one of the three Haki types randomly improves. 〕
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〔 Pride of the Seas 〕
〔 Rank: Gold 〕
〔 Description: The freest person on the seas with the broadest heart. When traveling, he has an extremely high chance of receiving heaven's assistance. His charisma is greatly increased, his dignity enhanced at critical moments to make the wisest decisions, his willpower strengthened during sea battles, and all three Haki types boosted by 10%. 〕
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〔 Legacy of Will 〕
〔 Rank: Red 〕
〔 Description: Having inherited the Pirate King's will, Shanks carries great responsibility. His resolve is unshakable — Haki consumption reduced by 60% in battle. After passing on this will, the effect changes to a 30% increase in total Haki capacity. 〕
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〔 Haki Swordsmanship 〕
〔 Rank: Purple 〕
〔 Description: Deepened mastery of the sword. His swordsmanship is enhanced by Haki, increasing his momentum and making his strikes more lethal. When training in swordsmanship, one random Haki type improves simultaneously. 〕
﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄﹄
Oh my goodness — a golden legend!
No wonder Shanks became one of the four strongest pirates in the New World at such a young age. Four talents total: two gold, one red, one purple. With stats like these, it would be strange if he weren't ridiculously strong.
Back on shore, an exhausted Noyer lay on the ground while Shanks gazed at the distant sea. They chatted casually.
"I'm Noyer. What's your name, big bro?"
"I'm Shanks, a pirate and captain of a pirate crew!"
Noyer asked curiously, "So how did you manage to lose your own pirate ship?"
At the mention of this, Shanks got angry and explained indignantly, "It's all because my crew is too stupid. I just took a nap on shore, and when I woke up, the pirate ship was gone. My crew members had disappeared too."
After hearing his tale, Noyer fell silent. Then he said pensively, "Say, is there a possibility — just a possibility — that your crew left you behind?"
Deathly silence…
Fist striking palm, Shanks made a gesture of sudden realization!
You really hadn't considered that possibility, had you…
Noyer silently complained in his heart.
"Don't be sad, your crew is definitely just teasing you. They'll probably be back to pick you up any moment now." He comforted the suddenly dejected man while mentally calculating how to copy talents.
He had no Red Copy Cards left (used on Nami), but he still had one Golden Copy Card and one Purple Copy Card — both could be used on Shanks.
However, the system didn't offer a better copying method. He had to make physical contact.
But who was he facing? Shanks, who had mastered all three types of Haki! Noyer feared that before he could slap the Copy Card onto him, Shanks could simply raise his hand and end him.
Noyer held the two cards in his hand, his brain spinning rapidly. A direct approach definitely wouldn't work. A subtle approach would need a reason, right?
There must be some way to succeed without drawing attention…
"Hey, what's this?"
Shanks seemed to have discovered a new world. He instantly noticed the cards hidden in Noyer's hand and curiously snatched them away. One gold and one purple card landed in his hands, then quickly melted and dissipated at an astonishing speed.
『 Ding! 〔 Haki Swordsmanship 〕 has been Copied! 』
『 Multiple Gold Talents Detected in Target. Please Make a Selection, Host! 』
『 ① 〔 Supreme King Constitution 〕 』 『 ② 〔 Pride of the Seas 〕 』
Noyer: ???
Well, things might be simpler than expected…
Noyer explained the cards to Shanks.
He said they were a local specialty — basically toys, just trinkets for playing with and admiring.
Shanks didn't pay much attention. He didn't feel any discomfort anyway.
Noyer secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then began selecting among the Gold Talents. It didn't take long to make his choice.
Both 〔Supreme King Constitution〕 and 〔Pride of the Seas〕 were excellent Talents. The first would give him the aptitude for cultivating Haki — all three types — plus benefits for training Supreme King Haki.
The second would make him an excellent captain on the seas. And don't underestimate that 10% increase in Haki strength. How much is 10% of an Emperor's Haki?
Enough to turn the tide of battle, especially since it strengthens all three types of Haki.
But precisely because of this, Noyer was more willing to choose the first talent, 〔Supreme King Constitution〕.
Although he had shown strong talent so far, he didn't dare predict the future. With this talent, at least he wouldn't have to worry about Haki cultivation.
After all, Haki is one of the most important power systems in the pirate world. Master all three types, and you're a well-rounded warrior.
Moreover, in two years, Noyer's formidable enemy — the Arlong Pirates — would arrive. He urgently needed ways to greatly increase his strength.
In his view, the 10% boost from 〔Pride of the Seas〕 couldn't compare to what he'd achieve after two years of training with 〔Supreme King Constitution〕.
Decided! I choose you!
『 Ding! Host's Talent Slots are Full. Please Select an Existing Talent to Replace. 』
'Replace Energy Enhancement!' Noyer had long found this skill useless.
{T/N: He has a limit of 7 Talents each time.}
One Gold and one Purple Talent entered his body. Noyer quickly felt changes within himself.
First, swordsmanship — his mind filled with knowledge about sword techniques. Looking at the system display, his swordsmanship stat had jumped from 150 points to 206 points. A full increase of over fifty points.
He had trained hard for seven years to reach 150 points. Now, by gaining the talent in one go, it increased so much at once.
Second, Noyer felt a mysterious, ineffable power hovering just before him — yet he couldn't see it clearly or grasp it.
"Hey! Over here! I'm over here!"
A pirate ship approached from the distance. Noyer looked carefully and saw it was Shanks's crew.
Shanks happily patted his shoulder, "Thank you, Noyer! They really did come back to pick me up!"
Noyer almost couldn't control himself from rolling his eyes.
Thanks were completely unnecessary — his crew had definitely left him behind just to mess with him.
He recognized most of the people on the pirate ship: that big guy always holding a chicken leg, Lucky Roux; Usopp's father, Yasopp; and First Mate Benn Beckman, among others.
They and several other officers whose names he couldn't recall stood on the ship, shamelessly mocking Shanks.
"What happened, Captain?! Don't tell me you swam all the way here?"
"Captain, you're missing an arm — maybe tone down the recklessness!"
Listening to everyone's laughter, Noyer's face darkened. Shanks didn't seem bothered at all. Instead, he laughed carelessly right along with them.
He leaped onto the ship, and the vessel gradually pulled away from shore as Noyer waved goodbye.
Shanks's sunny smile always infected those around him. He waved to Noyer and called out, "Noyer, when you enter the Grand Line, come find me if you get the chance!"
Huh? How did he know I was going to enter the Grand Line?
Noyer recalled that during his battle with Kembla, he had mentioned it.
So Shanks was already there at that time? He hadn't noticed at all.
Looking at it this way, even if he hadn't intervened, Kembla's crew would have been dealt with by the passing Red-Hair before they could invade the village.
What a pitiful bunch…
Noyer smiled as he bid farewell to Shanks and his crew. Then the system notification suddenly rang out at an inopportune moment.
『 Ding! Host has Befriended the Important Figure Red-Haired Figarland Shanks! Rewards: Armament Haki Awakening Introduction ×1, Constitution +15! 』
Hm? Armament Haki?!
Noyer opened the system excitedly and saw a new entry below "Swordsmanship":
Armament Haki: 10 [Max: 99]
That mysterious, ineffable power from before — its key had suddenly been grasped. So this was the power of Haki!
This fishing trip had really netted him a haul. One Gold, one Purple, and one Blue Talent each, plus Armament Haki awakening — truly an enormous and delightful surprise.
Just as Noyer was gleefully tallying his rewards, the fishermen returned with a large group of villagers charging over to support him.
His mother, Bell-mère, was among them.
Bell-mère, her face full of worry, rushed over to support him. Looking at the shocking wounds covering his body, her expression grew grimmer.
Noyer quickly reassured her, "I'm fine, Bell-mère. It doesn't hurt anymore."
Bell-mère turned her head away and said stubbornly, "I don't care about you! In this short time, how did a perfectly fine kid turn into someone covered in blood? Do you know how worried I was when everyone came to find me?"
Listening to her nagging, Noyer just played dumb, grinning foolishly without talking back.
Seeing his expression, Bell-mère rolled her eyes and lightly tapped his head, "What about those pirates? You didn't lose the fight, did you?"
Noyer smiled ingratiatingly.
"How could I lose? I'm Bell-mère's kid!" He pointed toward the distant sea, "I dealt with them all. Even their pirate ship sank."
Bell-mère nodded, and the villagers nearby spoke excitedly.
"Noyer is really amazing — he defeated them so quickly!"
"Exactly! Those pirates looked absolutely vicious!"
"Stop the chatter and hurry up — let's get him back to the village to treat his injuries!"
◇◆◈◆◇
Surrounded by the villagers, Bell-mère helped Noyer back to the village. He ended up lying in the village clinic.
She stayed by his side, comforting him, "You'd better get well soon. With that huge Sea King you caught and defeating those pirates, the village is going to throw a feast!"
Wrapped up like a dumpling, Noyer weakly explained, "Actually, my injuries aren't that serious…"
He tried to sit up, but Bell-mère's glare sent him right back down.
"Onii-chan!"
A sweet voice called out. Lying in bed, Noyer knew exactly who had arrived without looking.
A little orange figure burst through the door and crashed into his chest like a cannonball.
"Ow!" Noyer yelped.
The impact tore his wounds open again…
Seven years had passed. Nami had transformed from a frail little girl into the lively, energetic bundle of energy she was now.
She lay in Noyer's arms and lifted her tear-streaked face. Her big brown eyes brimmed with tears, and her little nose was running.
She sobbed, "Onii-chan… don't… don't die!"
Noyer's face darkened. He peeled Nami off — she was clinging like an octopus — and tossed her aside, "I'm just injured. I'm not going to die!"
"Oh, is that so?"
Little Nami immediately brightened. She wiped the snot and tears across her face with her chubby hand, then cheerfully ran back outside to play.
"Genzō-san, I want to play with your pinwheel…"
Hearing his scatterbrained sister's laughter outside, Noyer wanted to bang his head against the wall.
At least he had two sisters.
Nojiko stood by the bed in her headband and blue sundress, looking worriedly at his injuries, "Onii-chan, are you alright?"
Noyer thought: Now this is what a gentle sister looks like.
As for that carefree little Nami… never mind.
Noyer ruffled her hair gently, "I'm fine. Those pirates weren't much."
Nojiko nodded admiringly, "I heard about it! Onii-chan, you're amazing — you sank an entire pirate ship!"
Noyer and Nojiko were around the same age, but since he'd always taken care of the two sisters, everyone assumed he was older.
And that was true. On the battlefield years ago, when Nojiko was holding Nami, Noyer found them and got them food. Nami was too young to remember, but Nojiko remembered everything.
From childhood on, he was the person she admired most. In her eyes, her big brother could do anything.
Even Bell-mère came in second!
In the Bell-mère household, Noyer's number one follower was Nojiko. As for Nami…
That little cat only clung to him when she wanted something.
Noyer chatted happily with Nojiko while Bell-mère watched her children with a sunny smile.
An excellent son, one mischievous daughter, and one gentle daughter — she was content. This was the life she wanted.
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want to enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations: MrBlackWing
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)