Inside the cabin of the Going Merry, the afternoon sun streamed through the circular portholes, casting golden pools of light across the floor.
Viktor sat with his hands laced behind his head, leaning back into a comfortable wooden chair. To an observer, he looked like he was simply resting his eyes, but his consciousness was submerged deep within his mind.
[Current Shinobi Points: 500]
Looking at this "fortune," Viktor's mind began to churn. I didn't expect that taming this stupid bird would actually grant me points... Now, what should I buy?
He skillfully scrolled through the translucent panels of the System Shop in his mind, his gaze passing over icons that made his mouth water.
Currently, his Genjutsu, Fire Style, Taijutsu, and Sharingan were all starting to take shape. However, when facing truly elite powerhouses, he still lacked a definitive "one-hit-kill" technique.
In the end, I'm still missing a powerful single-target piercing jutsu...
Finally, his gaze locked onto an icon crackling with lightning:
[Lightning Style: Chidori (A-Rank) — Price: 2,000 Points]
It was one of his favorite techniques from the Naruto world, and the ultimate move to pair with the Sharingan.
Tch, still 1,500 points short.
Viktor sighed helplessly and closed the shop interface, slowly opening his eyes. The sight that met him made him raise an eyebrow.
On the dining table, Kray the crow was standing tall, chest puffed out. Nami was leaning over the table, holding a piece of fragrant roasted meat, tempting him with a mischievous smile.
"Hey, little crow, do you want this?" Nami waved the meat. "Call me 'Master,' and it's all yours."
Gulp.
Kray stared at the glistening, fatty meat and swallowed hard. During his short time on the ship, he had been utterly conquered by human cuisine.
As a wild bird who used to eat raw meat and forest berries, he had never tasted anything this good. It was like a door to a new world had been opened.
But... the dignity of the "Ruler of the Skies" couldn't be traded so easily! Calling a woman "Master" just for food was an insult to his noble lineage. Nami's "petting" attitude annoyed him to no end.
How dare you mock the great Kray-sama... A glint of cunning flashed in Kray's beady eyes.
"MINE!!"
Whoosh!
Taking advantage of Nami's momentary lapse in focus, Kray's black form blurred with incredible speed. In an instant, he snatched the meat right out of her hand.
"Caw-caw-caw!"
With a powerful flap of his wings, he ascended to the top of the cabin, circling the ceiling while looking down at the fuming Nami.
Watching her stomp her feet in rage made Kray feel invigorated. He felt as though he had reclaimed his dignity as the king of the island.
Hmph, foolish human woman.
He tossed the meat high into the air, tilted his head back, and closed his eyes, opening his beak wide to catch the falling prize.
One second. Two seconds.
Eh? Where's the meat?
The expected taste of savory fat didn't arrive. Kray opened his eyes in confusion, but before he could react, a large hand reached out and grabbed him by the neck, dragging him unceremoniously back down.
"Caw?!"
Kray turned his head in terror, meeting Viktor's half-smiling face. Meanwhile, the meat that was supposed to be his was being slowly tossed into Viktor's mouth. Viktor chewed twice and swallowed.
"Not bad," Viktor commented.
"GA-GA-CAW!! MASTER!!" Kray's feathers stood on end as he shrieked in desperation. "I was wrong! I shouldn't have bullied your woman! Have mercy!!"
The air in the room instantly froze.
Viktor's expression went blank as he reached out and pinched the bird's beak shut. "Mmph... mmmph..."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING HIS WOMAN?!!!"
A roar of pure fury erupted.
BAM!!
Nami's iron fist, seemingly wreathed in flames of rage, slammed into Kray's head without mercy.
"Koo..." Kray saw stars. The world began to spin as his head lolled to the side, swaying like a drunkard.
Viktor shook the crow to wake it up. "Alright, stop playing dead. Let's talk business." He set the bird on the table and stared into its eyes. "Since you ate a Devil Fruit, what exactly are your abilities?"
Kray shook his dizzy head. At the mention of his powers, he perked up instantly, puffing his chest out. He switched to a fawning tone toward Viktor:
"Master, Kray can do a lot! I can talk to all the creatures in the sea, whether they're fish or beasts! And then..." He took a deep breath. "I can unleash the roar of the 'Sky Ruler'! That terrifying sound wave can make any enemy pee themselves!"
"You can talk to all creatures?" Nami, still angry, looked surprised. "Doesn't that make him the ultimate translator?"
Kray nodded proudly.
Viktor rubbed his chin. "Since you can emit sound waves, can you use them to scout? Like echolocation?"
Kray paused, blinked his beady eyes, and said with total confidence: "I don't know! What's that?"
Smack!
Viktor's face went dark as he slapped the bird's head. "Then why were you nodding?"
"Waaa... Master... I can learn..." Kray clutched his head piteously. "Just give me time. Kray-sama is a genius."
Nami watched the annoying crow, resting her chin on her hand with a thoughtful smile. The Beli symbols flickered in her eyes again. "Interesting. A rare creature like this... we could probably sell it for a lot on the black market, right?"
"GA-GA-CAW!! KRAY-SAMA IS NOT MERCHANDISE!!" The bird scrambled behind Viktor, peeking out to scream at Nami. "You money-grubbing orange! I am Master's loyal subordinate! Not for sale!"
"Hah?!" Nami's eyes turned cold.
BOOM—!!
Suddenly, a massive cannon blast rocked the ship from outside, successfully diverting their attention. Zoro, who had been dozing on the sofa, was jolted awake.
"Yawn..." Zoro rubbed his eyes and let out a massive yawn, looking confused. "What is Luffy doing now? Tearing the ship apart?"
"AGH!! Dammit! Missed by a bit!" Luffy's frustrated voice drifted in from the deck.
"Ah! Move over! Let the Great Sniper King Usopp-sama show you how it's done!" followed by Usopp's excited shouting.
BOOM!!
Another explosion thundered outside, followed by the sound of splashing seawater. Viktor tilted his head, listening, and smiled. "Sounds like they're playing with the new cannons. Target practice."
"They're certainly energetic..." Zoro muttered, rolling over and going back to sleep. "As long as they don't sink the ship."
Nami sighed at her troublesome crewmates. Then, her gaze swept across the well-equipped but empty kitchen on the other side of the cabin.
"Hey, don't we need a cook, Vice-Captain?" Nami asked with a hint of worry. "We have supplies now, but I only know basic home cooking. Luffy just knows how to eat, and as for you two..." She glanced at Viktor, who only knew how to roast meat, and Zoro, who only knew how to sleep.
Viktor didn't answer immediately. He looked at the sea chart and the area they were approaching, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "A cook, huh... it's about time we put that on the schedule."
The next member would be the curly-browed Sanji. And besides... Viktor looked at the snoring Zoro, a playful glint in his eyes. At the floating restaurant Baratie, there wasn't just a cook. There was that man—the World's Greatest Swordsman, Dracule Mihawk.
The ultimate goal of Zoro's life, and one of the ceilings of power in this world.
"Caw-caw! Cook! I want a cook too! I want delicious food!" Kray flew onto Nami's shoulder, completely forgetting their previous feud, and raised a wing in agreement.
Just then:
"HEY!! YOU PIRATES OVER THERE!! PREPARE TO DIE!!"
A loud, chuunibyou-filled roar erupted from the deck. It was followed by Luffy's curious and excited shouting: "Whoa! What's this? Someone's looking for a fight?!"
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/Master_Studios677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.