Cherreads

Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Manhunt

~Yuji Liberio~

I was quite surprised when I was slapped by yet another notification just as I got up from my restful sleep.

You have acquired 5 abilities! +1 Ability Slot

What an excellent way to wake up this is.

Is it every 5? That oughta be good then. This just massively amplified my battle power. Now I can use Cow Zoan with Ozone Baby to have the means to defend myself while I hit someone with a Wind Canon. Or use Cow Zoan and Strength to give them a raw beatdown. Impulse with Ozone Baby to massively increase my skill with it. Ozone Baby with Gale to show them how hard the sky hits.

The potential is almost endless. But I couldn't exactly test them both here. This ship was barely on its legs, it couldn't take me practising Ozone Baby on it. I can work out though. And even work out with my Zoan.

With a smile on my lips and a pep in my step, I walked out of the captain's quarters into the upper deck to see Nami watching the sea while scribbling on a piece of paper. She was now fully dressed in her blue striped shirt and orange skirt combo.

Seeing me in the corner of her eyes she turned to me with a questioning look.

"So, captain, since it's only just us here... where are we planning to go from here? Do we have a plan? Any goals?"

I walked next to Nami as she stiffened a little in caution but I didn't do anything but lean on the railings.

"Well, I'd like to go on the Grand Line and maybe find the One Piece but-"

"The Grand Line!?"

Nami looked at me shocked, interrupting me while I narrowed my brows at her.

"-Yes, the Grand Line. But unfortunately, this ship is barely surviving the East Blue as is and we don't have enough crewmates to not die out there. So my main goal is to gather a proper crew that can brave the Grand Line. So a Doctor and Chef are essential, and so is a Shipwright. But a better ship is the number one priority."

Nami nodded and gestured to herself.

"Whelp! You already have the best navigator with you so you don't need to worry about that! Hahaha!" Nami, my dear, you are trying a bit too hard. "So then, captain, where are we heading?"

At her words, I couldn't help but ponder on my plans.

Where do I go from here? Should I head to Syrup village to take Kuro's head? I'd like to have Going Merry as a ship since it's excellently made, better than this floating debris with a sail. But did I want to take the detour? I could take over another Pirate ship rather easily.

The main thing I needed right now was crewmates. Preferably female ones, I couldn't get those in Syrup Village. A Cook was a must. And although I wanted to taste his cooking, I don't think I can stand being in the same crew as Sanji.

...No offence to the guy, he was a good due, a swell guy even, but I cannot stand how he acts around women. And I wouldn't be able to handle him if he constantly flirts with the other women on the ship and gets jealous when I interact with them. I'd rather not be in the same crew as a hyper-feminist.

If possible I'd like my crew to be all women excluding me. It'd be easier to avoid drama that way. And I cannot deny my ambitions of having a harem crew.

As Teach said, a man's dream will never die. If I'm in this world I'm making the most of it. Sounding delusional or not.

Now that I think about it, can't I help cure Kaya? I mean, I don't remember her exact illness but if there is a diagnosis by a doctor I can reach into the pocket pharmacy. Or brew a health potion using Alchemillia.

I wish Alchemillia had a cure-all sickness potion but what it mostly had was antidotes to poisons instead. Did Kuro poison her?

Fuck, maybe I should have read One Piece again before coming to this world. I never really cared for the Syrup Village arc.

Regardless, now, my plan is obvious, go to Syrup Village, offer my services, beat up Kuro, get some tickets and either get Merry or take it. Having the tickets from beating him should also make my life easier.

Again, pirate. I am not above just taking the Going Merry by force. Not like they need it considering how freely it was given away.

I pulled the map of the East Blue out of my pocket and tried to spot where Syrup Village would be.

Ah, found it.

"I'm planning to hit up Syrup Village of the Gecko Islands."

Nami's expression twisted as she heard my words.

"Are you... planning to raid it?"

I gave her a look.

"What? Do I look poor enough to raid poor villagers for pocket change? Didn't I say I started sailing by repelling pirates from my hometown?"

Nami at least had the decency to be ashamed of her accusation and scratch her head.

"Right... but why Syrup Village specifically? I don't think there is anything of interest there."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I know some things there that will be plenty helpful is all that I'll say."

A vein popped up on Nami's forehead in irritation at my dismissive behaviour.

"Would it kill you to not be so cryptic?"

I smirked at her.

"Who knows? I am a man of many secrets."

Nami huffted out of nose irritation but relented.

"Fine then, keep your secrets. I'm going to adjust our route, could I borrow that map?"

Not thinking much of it I handed Nami the map and she furrowed her brows.

"What... what is this map? Only a chunk of the locations are marked yet it is of excellent quality, at least Syrup Village is marked... for some reason. Wha- how did you even get your hands on this incredibly specific map?"

Huh, now that I think about it, most of the locations on the map were locations in canon and it only mapped a portion of the East Blue. Would make sense that I wouldn't get a map of the full East Blue, a solid 20% of the planet in a world where maps are incredibly valuable.

I pursed my lips.

"I got that map from a friend, Guy Cha. Real strange peddler of items that Guy."

Nami hummed non-commitaly.

"Well, at least that makes our job easier. Let me adjust the sails."

I saw Nami go over to the sails and bend over, hiking her skirt up just enough for me to get a glimpse of her underwear.

As thanks for the sight, I started praying to the gacha, showing my gratitude for it blessing me with Lucky Pervert. But apparently, I was not very subtle as Nami turned around and glared at me while pulling her skirt down.

"Hey! Stop staring!"

My response was a mere smirk at her reddened face.

"No can do, I take my blessings where I can get them."

Her face reddened like a tomato and she glared at me with pursed lips as she pointed an accusing finger.

"Grrh, you perv."

I laughed.

"Hahaha! Guilty as charged."

Nami grumbled but returned to working on the sails while I sunbathed, more like relaxed, I was still feeling the drain from beating up the Buggster.

So a little nap would be nice.

With that, I decided to doze off on the deck, after making sure that Nue was looking out for Nami potentially pushing me to the sea.

﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏𓊝﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

~Yuji Liberio~

"-ke up!"

I felt annoyed from being roused out of my slumber by a pair of feminine hands shaking the soul out of me. I cracked my eye open in irritation but just before I could ask Nami shouted in my face.

"WAKE UP ALREADY THERE ARE MARINES HERE!!!"

Now that got my attention, I quickly jumped out of my position to Nami's surprise and looked to see a marine ship approaching us, with its teal-dyed hull and the word Marine written boldly in blue paint across the sails, their symbol just below the words painted in the same shade of blue. But the more concerning part was the fact that their canons were raised.

I mean, I know I was trying to raise my notoriety already but isn't this a bit too fast?

Disregarding that I shook my head, I needed to get my head in the game.

"Nami, go into my quarters. I'll take care of them real quick."

Nami gave me a brief look before nodding and heading into my quarters. No doubt praying for my downfall against the Marines.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

My eyes widened, no warning or demands of surrender? The hell? I saw the Canonballs flying toward us and raised my hand.

"High Pressure Zone!"

A large zone in front of my ship shimmered green before the cannonballs met the zone of high-pressure air, losing their speed due to the resistance and sinking, falling down and exploding on the water. I dispelled the zone and called Nue to me, jumping up and landing on its back as it swooped down towards me.

"Rush them down!"

Nue carried me towards the ship that wasn't too far away while I checked my abilities, I had Ozone Baby and Impulse slotted in. I used impulse as the world around me seemed to slow down, I could see the cannons rearing up for another volley of shots and the panicking marines pointing towards me on my flying mount.

Of course, I did not let them, I raised my hands toward them and pulled on my ability hard, creating a zone that swallowed the entire ship. Whoever was manning the canons couldn't do much as most of the troops I could see dropped to their knees and clutched their chests as their ship groaned from the increase in air pressure.

I kept this zone for only a few seconds before landing on the ship in the middle of all of the marines who looked shaken at my existence. Their holds on their guns trembled as I gave them a look over.

"P-pirate!"

Getting an idea to solve this situation "peacefully" I quickly swapped Impulse with Despair Aura II and unleashed it with full force. Making all Marines around me pale, I could even see a young guy holding a rifle tremble like a leaf in the storm as he pissed his pants.

"Well now Mr. Marines, shooting at me and my friends over there wasn't very nice now, was it?"

Wow, even my voice sounded eerie, like it was running through a filter. I couldn't blame them for being scared. The most important-looking man here pointed a shaking finger at me.

"Y-you! Were you the one who ravaged O-Orange town and defeated Buggy!?"

This actually seems like a great opportunity now that I think about it. I slotted in Cow Zoan and transformed into a hybrid, watching the fear in the seamen's eyes grow as my body grew a full half meter and horns grew out of my temple. I probably looked like satan himself in their eyes.

...The larger reason I turned Zoan was in case they actually started shooting. But the boost to the intimidation factor was welcome

I faced the marine, my vibrant yellow eyes glowing an intimidating light, contrasting my slightly tanned skin and my black hair. My horns curved around my head as I released a deep breath.

"Yep, it was very easy too. Now you see, Mr. Marine. I am feeling very magnanimous today, so I'll let you all off with a simple warning. Don't shoot at my ship and we will have no problems. I'd hate for blood to be spilt needlessly. Or do you want your men lost to the sea for no reason?"

I stared directly into the eyes of the head marine of this ship, the brunt of my Despair Aura on him as he gritted his teeth and balled up his fists. But his head hung low. He was going to say something but he simply nodded his head and gestured his men to stand down.

A smile wormed its way to my lips, no doubt looking eerie enough to make any of the men here doubt themselves. I walked over to the officer and patted his shoulder to really drive it in as his gaze did not leave the ground out of both fear and humiliation.

"Good choice Mr. Marine. Your men are worth more than needless bloodshed. Now, I'll take my leave. Nue."

I boarded Nue's back but shot a look back at all of the Marines just before we took flight.

"Oh, and for the record, I am Yuji Liberio, captain of the Liberio Pirates. I'd make a note of it if I were you."

With that, I flew off with Nue.

Hopefully, that's enough to get a bounty and to get them to not shoot at us.

Feat Achieved! Intimidate a Marine Officer's Ship into submission

+1x Gold Trait Gacha Ticket

I guess it was.

A/N: Yuji finally gets his second slot, things are about to get a lot stronger from here, but so are the opponents. While he doesn't have synergies he has a lot of abilities that work well together. He can fit the role of both a pugilist and an esper as he wants.

Yuji sped up the process of getting a bounty for a simple reason Bounty = Ticket. In the world of One Piece, every ticket is a necessity. And now our next route is revealed, Syrup Village, where we may meet familiar and unfamiliar faces. Did you guys like how Yuji handled the marines?

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