Chapter 9: This Is What Pirates Should Do!

Everything is in your hands.

Watching the two Marines walk further and further away toward the Marine base, Kyle couldn't help but grin.

The plan was going so smoothly that he even began to doubt himself.

"Is it that the Marines in Loguetown are too easy to fool..."

"Or am I just naturally cut out for this kind of thing!?"

Although Tashigi wasn't exactly a big shot, the fact that she could be lured out so easily by a stranger showed a serious lack of vigilance.

It seemed...

While the powerful Smoker had brought long-term peace and stability to Loguetown, he had also caused the lower-ranking Marines to lose their sense of danger and alertness.

"Hmm... I should probably include this in my report. Later, I'll bring it up with Fleet Admiral Sengoku and suggest that Smoker improve the vigilance of the lower-ranking Marines."

"Consider this my contribution to the Marines!"

Even while scheming, Kyle didn't forget his identity as a Marine spy.

After receiving so many benefits from the Marines, if he didn't do something practical for them...

Even someone like Kyle would feel a pang of guilt.

Perfect timing.

He was about to ask Fleet Admiral Sengoku for a favor.

This could serve as the perfect excuse!

...

Time passed slowly.

As he waited, Kyle sat on a plush sofa, sipping on a cup of coffee lovingly made by a beautiful waitress.

At that moment, a figure hurried over from the distant street.

It was a short-haired girl wearing a plaid shirt and tight jeans.

Though her outfit was simple, like a country girl who had just arrived in the city...

Her capable demeanor and slightly chubby face created a unique kind of charm that made people want to take a second look.

This spirited girl was none other than Kyle's long-awaited target—Tashigi!

For a sword enthusiast like her, a Skillful Grade sword was like a dream come true.

Upon hearing that someone was selling a Skillful Grade sword, she had even left the Marines who brought her the news behind and rushed over at top speed.

She pushed open the café door.

The chime of the bell created a pleasant sound that didn't disrupt the quiet atmosphere but instead made it feel even cozier.

"Welcome."

The waitress, hearing the bell, immediately looked up with a smile.

But when she saw who it was, she froze for a moment before letting out a surprised exclamation.

"Oh~ Chief Petty Officer Tashigi!"

"Hello."

Though her eyes were filled with urgency, Tashigi didn't forget her manners.

"I'm here to meet someone!"

She first explained to the waitress, waving her hand to indicate that she didn't need to be served.

Then she quickly scanned the café and raised her voice.

"I heard someone here is selling a Skillful Grade sword. Who is it?"

"That would be me!"

From a corner of the café, Kyle calmly raised his hand, a faint smirk on his lips.

The fish has taken the bait!

He immediately called out to Tashigi:

"Over here~ over here~!"

"I never expected that the sword expert the Marines mentioned would be you, Miss Tashigi."

"Huh? You know me!?"

Tashigi looked over curiously.

When she saw Frost on Kyle's back, her clear eyes instantly lit up with excitement.

She hurried over, stumbling slightly.

"Can I take a look at the sword on your back?"

As if unable to believe it, the girl asked in a soft voice.

At the same time, she began to examine the young man in front of her more closely.

Black, tousled hair, a face with sharp features.

The open collar of his white shirt, paired with a beige jacket, perfectly accentuated his muscular build while giving off an air of refinement.

But what puzzled Tashigi was...

Despite his scholarly appearance, there was something strange about him.

It was as if he had some ulterior motive.

Maybe it's just my imagination.

Tashigi thought to herself.

Facing her request, Kyle smiled and replied:

"Of course."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked someone to bring you here."

As he spoke, he also took the sword from his waist and placed it on the table.

In an instant!

Tashigi's gaze shifted from Kyle to the sword, her eyes glued to the blade.

Her large eyes sparkled with the light of fulfilled desire.

Coincidentally...

Just as Tashigi's gaze shifted away, Kyle's eyes also lit up with a brilliance no less intense than hers!

During his time in Loguetown, Kyle had discovered a very user-friendly feature of his system...

Even if someone wasn't his crewmate, he could still see the compatibility between a character card and that person.

After discovering this feature, he had tested Rukia's compatibility with many people.

This also led him to discover another system mechanic related to character cards.

Even data-based character cards had genders.

For example, the Rukia character card Kyle currently possessed...

Its compatibility with all males was 0.

And even among those of the same gender, it was extremely rare to find high compatibility.

So far, the highest compatibility Kyle had encountered with Rukia was only 20%.

This made Kyle feel slightly uneasy, worried that the compatibility standards weren't as easy as he had thought.

So the moment Tashigi approached, he opened the system in his mind and tested her compatibility.

Fortunately...

The test results left Kyle very satisfied.

The weight in his heart finally lifted.

[Compatibility: 80%]

"Eighty!!!"

Seeing the test result in his vision, Kyle's eyes lit up wildly.

His heart pounded with excitement.

"My first crewmate is finally here!"

This was the first time Kyle had felt such desire for a woman.

The first step is always the hardest!

No matter how much this game system had mutated, Kyle believed its main function was still to collect characters and cultivate companions.

This was the eternal truth of card games!

While captain skills and the shipyard system were also sources of power, they definitely weren't the main focus.

In Kyle's view, companions recognized by the system would be his most important assets in the future!

And now, a Tashigi capable of loading the Rukia template was standing right in front of him...

Kyle's mind was filled with thoughts of abducting Tashigi!

However, considering Tashigi's combat prowess, which was no weaker than his and possibly even stronger...

Kyle resisted the urge to act impulsively and continued to play it cool, accompanying Tashigi as she admired the sword.

Clang~!

The sharp blade was swiftly drawn.

A cold light flashed, emitting a frosty aura.

Tashigi's gaze gradually became entranced, to the point of losing herself.

"What a beautiful sword~!"

She adorably adjusted her glasses, then pulled out a small notebook and quickly flipped through it.

This notebook contained all the information about famous swords she had recorded from the Marine base's library.

Soon, she found the page she was looking for.

"That's right, this texture, this craftsmanship... This is Frost, one of the 50 Skillful Grade swords!!!"

Tashigi exclaimed loudly, unable to contain her joy.

"You... Are you really planning to sell this sword!?"

She looked back at Kyle and asked.

Tashigi could hardly believe that the sword she had always dreamed of would appear so easily before her.

Facing the excited Tashigi, Kyle simply chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

"Miss Tashigi, I'm not a swordsman."

"No matter how good this sword is, I can't use it."

"Wouldn't it be better to sell it and use the money to buy equipment that suits me?"

"That's a shame."

Tashigi said this, but her expression grew even more delighted as she continued to caress the blade.

At this moment, seeing Tashigi's increasingly entranced state, Kyle realized...

The time had come!

He slowly pulled out the knockout drug he had bought earlier.

To maintain the disguise, he had even placed the drug in a beautifully crafted spray bottle.

Kyle held up the spray bottle.

"Miss Tashigi, I happen to have bought a sword polish that's said to better showcase the texture of famous swords."

"Why don't you come closer, and after I use this spray, you can take a closer look?"

"What? There's such a useful tool?"

The inexperienced Tashigi didn't suspect a thing, and with her attention fully focused on the sword...

She obediently leaned closer to the blade, ready to admire its brilliance up close.

But at that moment, the nozzle, which had been aimed at the sword, suddenly turned.

Pfft~!

A spray of unknown liquid hit Tashigi's face.

"Ah!"

Not yet realizing the danger, Tashigi let out a surprised cry and reached up to wipe the mist off her glasses.

But at that moment, a sudden wave of dizziness overwhelmed her.

"What... What's going on?"

In her daze, she reached for the small sword at her waist, but the next second, her body went limp, and she collapsed forward.

"Hehehe..."

Kyle caught the girl's slender waist, feeling how light she was, and let out a mischievous laugh.

Ignoring the frightened looks from the other customers, he quickly pulled out a prepared burlap sack.

In a few swift movements, he stuffed Tashigi into the sack.

Then he slung it over his shoulder.

After finishing, Kyle even waved Frost around and gave everyone in the café a cocky grin.

"What are you looking at!?"

"Never seen a kidnapping before!?"

"Keep staring, and I'll tie you all up and sell you to the mines!"

"Hmph~"

Kyle snorted.

Seeing that the townsfolk were completely intimidated...

He quickly ran out of the café with Tashigi slung over his shoulder, heading straight for the port.

Mission target: Tashigi, GET!!!

...

Some time later.

On the street.

The two Marines, panting heavily, returned to their patrol route and leaned against a wall to catch their breath.

"Whew!~ Whew!~"

"As expected of the vice captain chosen by Captain Smoker. Even though she's just a girl, she can run so fast!"

"Yeah."

The other Marine gasped in agreement.

After resting for a moment, they slowly straightened up, only to freeze.

"Huh?"

"Senior, isn't that the guy who wanted to sell the sword earlier?"

"Hey, it really is him!"

"Look at that huge bag of money. It seems he made a killing."

The senior Marine looked at the figure disappearing into the crowd and sighed with envy.

But the younger Marine scratched his head.

"That's strange. I don't remember Chief Petty Officer Tashigi bringing any money with her..."

"Could it be that someone else bought the sword?"

"Hahaha, how could that be?"

"Who in Loguetown would dare to take something Chief Petty Officer Tashigi wanted?"

"Let's go take a look."

"Maybe Chief Petty Officer Tashigi is admiring her new sword!"

The two Marines chatted as they walked toward the café.

However...

When they pushed open the café door and saw the waitress slumped on the floor, crying, their smiles instantly froze.

"What... happened here?"

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