"Destroyed another town, how awesome! Captain!"
On the calm sea, a rude voice came from a ship with a skull flag.
"Hahahaha! I've added another highlight to my glorious record!"
On the ship, a bearded man wearing a red cloak and a fur hat shouted with great pride.
"The captain is mighty, the captain is mighty!" A group of crew members fawned over him.
The captain's nickname was Pointy Beard. He wasn't very strong, but he was extremely cunning. His ability to survive was due to his shamelessness.
"Captain, I have something to say." A pirate crew member approached flatteringly.
"Speak up!" Pointy Beard waved his hand, looking pleased and generous.
"Captain, we were taught a lesson by that pirate hunter a few days ago. You promised not to do things that would damage towns again. If you break your promise so soon, won't he come after us again?"
The crew member said worriedly.
They had encountered a pirate hunter with a swift blade while robbing houses. His sword was so fast that they felt a cold wind and their belts were cut off before they realized it.
In the end, they had to kneel and beg for mercy. Although the pirate hunter was skilled, he was surprisingly kind-hearted and let them go after they promised to change their ways.
"Hahahaha! What are you afraid of? If he even dares to believe a pirate's plea for mercy, then he's just a fool, hahahaha!"
Pointy Beard laughed triumphantly.
"Indeed, he was so kind to us. I've been a bad guy for years, and I felt embarrassed for the first time."
The crew member scratched his head shyly.
"Hahahaha! Listen, our Pointy Beard Pirates always bully the weak.
When facing the strong, we hide and evade.
If we can't avoid it, we grovel to the weak.
Beg for mercy, kowtow a few times, call me grandpa, and trade for a life—nothing else is worth it in this world!"
Pointy Beard began to instill his twisted values into his subordinates.
"Hahahaha!" The pirates listened seriously, as if they were learning something valuable.
"Don't just laugh.
I'm telling you this to make you smarter.
Sooner or later, our Pointy Beard Pirates will grow stronger and become a powerful force like Whitebeard.
When more people join us, and we have tens of thousands, maybe one of you will be the one standing here giving these speeches."
Pointy Beard enthusiastically painted a grand future for his crew.
To outsiders, these words were ridiculous, but the pirates believed them and considered them wise, eager to remember them.
"So..." Pointy Beard was about to continue his speech when he was interrupted by sudden laughter.
"Ah ha ha ha ha..."
Laughter erupted from among the pirate crew.
"Huh? Who is this idiot laughing while I'm talking?"
Pointy Beard glared at his crew.
"Hahahahaha..." The laughter continued unabated.
Everyone saw who was laughing.
"It's you, you fool. You're laughing so happily. Do you have something to say?"
Pointy Beard's voice deepened, filled with murderous intent, his smile turning into a serious and ruthless expression.
The crew was shocked. Pointy Beard used that tone only when he intended to kill.
"Hey! Stop laughing, you fool. Aren't you happy to see the captain?"
The pirates urged the laughing man to stop.
But he only laughed harder.
"Very well. When there are too many people, it's hard to manage. Sometimes, you have to set an example to quell rebellious hearts. As a captain, I understand this."
Pointy Beard took out a pistol and aimed at the laughing man.
Bang!
With the gunshot, all the pirates ducked, holding their heads.
"Ah ha ha ha ha..."
To everyone's surprise, the laughter continued, and the man was unharmed.
The pirates looked at the laughing man, then at the bullet hole on the deck behind him.
Did he miss? It seemed impossible at such close range, especially since Pointy Beard had good aim.
There was only one possibility: Pointy Beard was playing a joke on them.
But no one had a birthday today! Was such an elaborate joke necessary?
Everyone looked at Pointy Beard in confusion.
Pointy Beard was also bewildered. He looked at his pistol, then at the laughing crew member, and then at the others.
Damn it!
Bang! Bang!
Pointy Beard fired two more shots, but nothing changed. The laughter only grew louder.
"Shut up! Who brought you on board? Why haven't I seen you before?"
Pointy Beard was anxious, tossing his pistol aside and shouting at the man.
The man just sat there laughing, saying nothing.
"Hey! What's his name? Tell me who brought him on board, or I'll kill you!"
Pointy Beard asked a nearby pirate frantically.
"Captain, I don't know! This guy looks strange. I've never seen him before."
The crew member responded, distressed.
Pointy Beard asked another crew member, but they also didn't know the laughing man's identity.
In the end, a huge question mark appeared above all the pirates' heads.
Who is this guy? He wasn't part of the Pointy Beard Pirates at all!
All the pirates looked at the man.
Under everyone's gaze, the man finally stopped laughing.
When he did, his refined features were revealed.
Yes, this guy is Kaizen.