Alvin currently had 15.3 million Bounty Points. However, what puzzled him was that on the system panel, only "Physical Strength" was available for upgrading.
He tried summoning the single edged sword from the system storage. After gripping the blade in his hand, he glanced at the "Swordsmanship" section on the panel. The word "None" beside it made him frown.
Why could Swordsmanship not be upgraded?
Moreover, he clearly knew how to use a firearm, yet there was not even a trace of "Marksmanship" or "Sniper Skills" listed in the system, much less an upgrade option.
Alvin pondered for a while but found no answer. The system offered no explanation.
Since the other options were temporarily locked, he decided to prioritize enhancing his Physical Strength. His current physique was still far too weak for this world.
"System, consume 15 million Bounty Points to upgrade Physical Strength," Alvin commanded silently.
"Ding."
"Upgrade complete."
The moment the upgrade finished, a powerful surge of energy flooded into his body.
He instantly felt his strength multiply several times over. His frame became sturdier, his muscles more defined and proportionate. His height remained the same, but the density and resilience of his body had clearly improved.
A low hum escaped his throat.
"No wonder people enjoy leveling up. The feeling of instant growth is incredible."
Alvin rose to his feet. A sense of unprecedented vitality coursed through him, and even his previous injuries had completely healed.
He checked the system panel again. Only 300,000 Bounty Points remained, but his Physical Strength had increased to the 16 million Berries tier. The rest of his attributes were unchanged.
Walking out of the cave, Alvin scanned the surroundings and soon spotted a massive boulder weighing several tons.
"Perfect for testing my current strength."
He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around the boulder, and lifted it with ease. After setting it back down, excitement filled his eyes.
Then his stomach growled loudly.
"So hungry…"
A sharp wave of hunger hit him almost immediately.
He quickly took out several loaves of bread from the system storage and swallowed them in a few bites. Yet the hunger did not subside. Instead, it intensified.
At that moment, only one thought remained in his mind.
Meat.
A roar suddenly echoed through the forest.
Alvin turned toward the source of the sound and saw a giant tiger nearly two meters tall emerge from between the trees. Yet when Alvin looked at it, all he saw was a walking slab of roasted meat. He swallowed unconsciously.
Strangely, the tiger seemed to sense something terrifying about him. It began to retreat slowly, its eyes filled with fear, as if the true predator stood before it.
"Meat."
"Don't run."
Alvin shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
The tiger turned and fled at full speed, desperation evident in its movements.
Alvin laughed as he accelerated, his speed astonishing. In a matter of seconds, he caught up.
With a loud shout, he drove his fist directly into the tiger's forehead, striking the spot marked by the "King" character in its fur.
The impact sounded like a hammer smashing into stone.
The tiger's head slammed violently into the ground, rebounded once, let out a faint whimper, and fell completely still.
Alvin looked at the corpse. His stomach growled again.
"Sorry, Brother Tiger. I'm starving. I have no choice. Don't worry, I won't waste any of you."
Without delay, Alvin cleaned and butchered the tiger, gathered firewood, and soon had a roaring fire going. Before long, the rich aroma of roasted meat spread through the forest.
"So fragrant."
Once it was cooked, he devoured the meat like a starving beast, eating until nothing remained. Only when the last bite was gone did the hunger finally fade. He even let out a satisfied burp.
He lay down comfortably on the ground. Beside him were gnawed bones and the intact tiger hide, casually tossed aside.
"It seems that as Physical Strength increases, the body's energy consumption also rises dramatically. Next time I upgrade, I'll need to prepare food in advance."
Just then, faint gunshots reached his ears.
His expression sharpened immediately.
Although his Physical Strength had improved significantly, he was not yet immune to blades or bullets. Ordinary firearms still posed a real threat.
After listening carefully, he confirmed the gunfire was coming from the slum district of the city.
"As expected of a country ruled by gangs. Gunfights can erupt anytime, anywhere."
This was hardly the moment for idle commentary. Some gang members carried bounties. If he played his cards right, he might profit from the chaos.
With that thought, Alvin quickly left the forest and headed toward the slums. Upon reaching the outskirts, he leapt several times and climbed onto the roof of a dilapidated house.
From that vantage point, the situation hundreds of meters away was clearly visible.
One group was being chased by another. Alvin saw several men protecting a central figure while retreating under heavy pressure.
"I wonder if any of them have bounties…" Alvin murmured, anticipation flickering in his eyes.
At that moment, he noticed something unexpected.
Nico Robin had taken action.
Hidden from sight, she was quietly eliminating members of the pursuing group using the powers of the Hana Hana no Mi.
She was assisting the gang that was being chased.
With Robin's covert support, members of the pursuing side collapsed one after another, their necks twisted unnaturally. Panic quickly spread among them.
"Her ability is terrifying for assassination. She can snap someone's neck without ever showing herself," Alvin muttered with genuine admiration.
Nico Robin was only twenty years old, yet her assassination methods were already precise and efficient. Those gangsters were no match for her. As long as her location remained undiscovered, she could harvest enemies from the shadows without fear of being surrounded.
With her assistance, the pursuing gang was either killed or forced to flee. The remaining survivors were quickly subdued by Robin's allies.
A sharp, grating laugh rang out.
"Nico Robin, I truly owe you this time. Without you, those bastards would have killed me," the protected man said, his eyes burning with undisguised fascination as he looked at her.
Robin gave him no warm response.
She stepped out from the shadows but maintained her distance, her posture guarded and her hands ready to activate her ability at any moment.
"You… you're Nico Robin. The Demon Child!"
"It really is her!"
"What is she doing here?"
The captured pursuers stared at her with terror and disbelief.
"Kaib! How dare you shelter the Demon Child? Aren't you afraid the Marines will slaughter all of you too?" shouted one of the pursuers, who appeared to be their leader.
Keibula sneered. "Save your threats, Steve. Once you're dead, this city will be mine. The King will grant me the title of Mayor. Even the Marines won't dare touch me."
He smirked coldly.
"The one who should worry about the Marines is you, Pirate Captain Steve."
"You… how do you know that name…" Steve's face changed instantly.
From his distant rooftop vantage point, Alvin's lips curved slightly.
Upon hearing the name Pirate Captain Steve, a trace of excitement appeared in his eyes.
...
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