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Regardless of whether the direction indicated by the cat was correct, Rojen had no specific destination in mind, so he decided to follow where it pointed.
Two days later, he began to see the feline in a new light.
"You're not completely useless after all! You can actually navigate at sea."
Rojen was genuinely amazed. It was unheard of for a cat to possess such an ability.
"Meow!"
The cat crossed its front paws, gave Rojen a proud glance, and strutted away with an air of cold arrogance.
Standing on the deck, Rojen could now see an island roughly three kilometers ahead.
"Finally, we might find some clues."
His eyes gleamed, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Half an hour later, 'The Logan' docked.
"Hmm?"
As he stepped onto the shore, his gaze fell upon three or four ships moored nearby, each flying a skull-marked Jolly Roger.
"Pirates, huh?"
A glint flickered in his eyes. A pirate crew of this size would be considered a major force in the Four Seas, likely numbering over a hundred members.
"Meow."
Just as he was about to step forward, Rojen noticed the cat trembling. Its fur bristled as it stared at the flags, eyes filled with fear.
"What's wrong?"
Rojen crouched down, observing the cat closely. Though just an animal, he had spent enough time with it to recognize its almost human-like expressions. Unknowingly, he had already begun treating it as a companion.
"Meow!"
The cat lifted a paw, frantically pointing at the pirate ships, eyes filled with terror. Finally, it clung to Rojen's leg, as if urging him to leave.
"You want me to run? Are these pirates really that terrifying?" Rojen pondered aloud.
"Meow! Meow meow! Meow meow!"
The cat gestured anxiously, its cries becoming more frantic. Watching its erratic behavior, Rojen narrowed his eyes. Then, a cold light flashed within them.
"So these bastards were the ones who raided that merchant ship."
At the sight of these pirate flags, the cat had recognized them— the same crew that had slaughtered the people on the ship it once called home.
"I see."
Rojen placed a hand on the cat's head, his expression darkening.
Seeing the grief and lingering fear in the feline's eyes, he understood. This was personal.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."
Gently picking up the cat, Rojen turned his gaze toward the pirate vessels swaying with the tide. A chilling aura radiated from him.
"I'll avenge you."
His voice was steady, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by an unyielding resolve.
The cat hesitated before mustering its courage, climbing onto Rojen's shoulder. It nuzzled against his face, its small body trembling slightly.
"No need to be scared. They're the ones who should be afraid."
"After all, I'm strong."
Rojen whispered to his companion before stepping forward, leaping off 'The Logan', and heading straight for the anchored pirate ships.
---
A dozen breaths later, aboard one of the pirate ships.
Four or five pirates sat cross-legged on the deck, cursing and grumbling over a game of cards.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over them, prompting them to turn around.
"Who the hell are you, brat?"
"This ain't a playground. Scram before I get annoyed."
Standing before them was a young man with a peculiar-looking cat perched on his shoulder, its wary gaze locked onto them.
"I'm here to kill you."
Rojen's voice was eerily calm. Some of the pirates instinctively reached for their weapons.
His right hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword.
The moment they moved—
'Clang!'
A brilliant arc of steel flashed through the air. Before they could react, his blade had already returned to its sheath.
The pirates stiffened, eyes widening in terror. Their hands flew to their throats, desperately trying to stop the blood gushing from their fatal wounds. Within moments, their vision faded into darkness.
One strike. That was all it took.
Rojen stepped over their fallen bodies, his expression unchanging.
"Next ship."
He leaped off and boarded the remaining vessels.
---
Less than half an hour later, the once-rowdy pirate ships had fallen into utter silence.
Rojen now stood aboard the largest of them, surrounded by corpses.
"So this was the captain's ship."
Looking down at the fallen leader, his gaze sharpened.
The pirates here had been stronger than those on the other ships. Especially their captain— he had required three strikes to go down.
Most others had fallen with a single blow.
But in the end, it didn't matter. One strike or three— the result remained the same.
'Death.'
"Meow."
The soft cry of the cat snapped him out of his thoughts. The coldness in his expression melted slightly, and he gave the feline a small pat on the head.
Then, he strode toward the captain's quarters.
For pirates who pillaged and plundered, there was bound to be treasure hidden somewhere.
His search quickly led him to a concealed trapdoor beneath the captain's desk. Without hesitation, he sliced it open and dropped into the lower hold.
The moment his feet landed, golden light flooded his vision.
A slow grin spread across Rojen's face.
"Just as I thought."
Nothing compared to the feeling of stacking up wealth. To him, true satisfaction came from watching his coffers grow.
This haul— he estimated— was even greater than what he had found near Reverse Mountain in East Blue.
"Does this mean I'm close to reaching my first goal?"
His grin widened as he stepped forward.
Reaching out, he touched a particularly large pile of gold coins and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Time to cash in."
A few moments later, the treasure began to vanish, disappearing into a hidden vault only he could access.
Then, a voice echoed in his mind.
''Total estimated value: 75 Million berries. Would you like to store it?''
"Store 70 Million. Convert 5 Million into cash."
Almost instantly, a neat stack of banknotes materialized in his hands, while his hidden reserves climbed to 120 Million.
A fortune, unlike anything he had seen before.
At this rate, targeting pirates might just be the most profitable path forward.
Back in East Blue, when he worked as a bounty hunter, it had taken him ages to amass 70 Million.
Now, after just two raids, he had nearly doubled that.
"With the money secured..."
Rojen turned toward the island's interior, a glint of determination in his eyes.
"It's time to get back to business."
---
'(End of Chapter)'