[28] : [BONUS] - An Unexpected Haul!

~ 300 Powerstones Already? This is the Bonus Chapter~

<><><><><><><><>

~ I've added this fanfic to my Patreon — there are 18 Advanced chapters available! If you're interested, check it out below!

<><><><><><><><>

Kuro Traits: Cat Claws (Pale Purple), Stealth Foot (Pale Purple), Ultimate Technique - Shakushi (Pussyfoot Maneuver) (Deep Purple).

Cat Claws (Pale Purple): Powerful finger strength combined with the Ten-Blade Cat Claws weapon yields considerable destructive power.

Stealth Foot (Pale Purple): An assassination technique utilizing high-speed movement with cat-like footsteps.

Ultimate Technique - Shakushi (Pussyfoot Maneuver) (Deep Purple): Kuro's strongest ultimate technique. An indiscriminate attack using Stealth Foot (Pale Purple). Utilizes extreme high-speed movement and attacks with the Cat Claws (Pale Purple) to kill large numbers of enemies. The speed of this technique rivals the 'Shave' technique of the Six Powers. Its drawback is that the user loses awareness of who they are attacking while active.

————

An Ultimate Technique Trait?

This was the first time Rowen had encountered one.

After carefully reviewing the System's explanation, Rowen understood.

When a combination of abilities allowed the user's combat power to undergo a qualitative leap, a new 'Ultimate Technique' Trait could manifest.

For example, Kuro's Stealth Foot and Cat Claws were both Pale Purple tier. But when he unleashed his ultimate technique, Shakushi, his combat capability reached the Deep Purple level.

As for why Luffy and Zoro's so-called ultimate moves didn't show up as specific Traits yet?

It was because Luffy hadn't developed Gear Second or Third, and Zoro hadn't grasped how to cut steel ('ken-go') or even truly entered the realm of 'Swordsman' (as opposed to just a skilled fighter with swords).

At this stage, Luffy and Zoro's "ultimate moves" were merely them exerting 100% of their current power; they didn't represent a qualitative leap in their combat tier.

However, if Rowen were to plunder Kuro's Traits, taking the Ultimate Technique - Shakushi (Deep Purple) would automatically render the Stealth Foot (Pale Purple) and Cat Claws (Pale Purple) Traits unusable (or perhaps they wouldn't be plundered at all).

Because the Deep Purple ultimate technique Trait was born from the combination of those two Pale Purple Traits.

Meaning, from Kuro, Rowen would essentially gain only one Deep Purple combat Trait.

Still, that was a huge win! A Deep Purple Trait was a major tier above Pale Purple.

This outcome already exceeded Rowen's expectations.

"Who's this guy?" Luffy asked, looking at Kuro, who was pushing up his glasses with his palm in a peculiar manner.

"Klahadore, Miss Kaya's butler," Kuro replied calmly, his gaze then sharpening.

"Would you mind leaving? Or is there something you wish to say?" Kuro asked, walking towards Rowen and the others.

"Uh, yeah! We need a ship!" Luffy announced cheerfully.

"Absolutely not!" Kuro suddenly snapped.

"Usopp, I often hear about you. You're quite the topic in the village," Kuro said, looking towards the large tree where Usopp had instantly hidden upon Kuro's arrival.

"Really? Am I that famous?" Realizing he'd been spotted, Usopp sheepishly climbed out from behind the tree.

"I hear you often go on adventures, yes? Quite remarkable for someone so young," Kuro commented sarcastically.

"You can call me Captain Usopp too, you know," Usopp replied, sticking his nose in the air.

"Captain?" Hearing that word, Kuro pushed his glasses up with his palm again.

"I've also heard rumors about your father." Kuro's words made Usopp's face darken.

"That's enough, Klahadore," Kaya intervened, knowing about Usopp's background and trying to stop Kuro.

"You are nothing but the son of a filthy pirate! I wouldn't be surprised by anything you do, but please stay away from my mistress!" Kuro ignored Kaya completely, shouting harshly.

"..." Luffy's expression started to change.

"Y-You called him... filthy..." Usopp's face turned extremely pale and angry.

"Pfft. Hahaha." But just as tensions reached a boiling point, a sudden scoffing laugh broke the silence.

"Hm? What are you laughing at?" Kuro's gaze sharpened, fixing on Rowen.

Luffy and the others looked at Rowen, surprised by his sudden laughter, but trusting him, they simply watched as Rowen took a step forward.

"Aren't you taking your role a bit too seriously? Captain of the Black Cat Pirates, 'Hundred Plans' Kuro... with a bounty of 16 million Beri," Rowen stated mockingly, a smirk playing on his lips.

Kuro's expression instantly turned grim.

"What?! This guy's a pirate?! 16 million Beri bounty? Higher than Buggy's?!" Luffy stared at Kuro in shock.

"Kuro? I think I've heard that name... But wasn't he supposed to have been executed by the Marines long ago?" Usopp stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Even if you're Usopp's friend, that's going too far!" Kaya protested loudly, looking upset at Rowen.

"Indeed. I have no idea what you're talking about. That pirate Kuro was executed by the Marines years ago," Kuro stated flatly, pushing up his glasses with his palm.

"I'll provide proof," Rowen replied, offering Kaya a gentle smile.

He wasn't angered by the young lady's outburst.

Having been frail and ill since childhood, Kaya likely often vented her frustration through small fits of temper when feeling particularly unwell due to the pain and helplessness.

But Kaya herself was inherently kind. Once her health improved slightly, her gentle and kind nature would return.

Kaya had simply been deceived by Kuro.

Rowen then turned his gaze back to Kuro.

"Are you an idiot? You hide out and only bother changing your name? Not even your appearance?" Rowen casually produced Kuro's wanted poster.

He had obtained this poster back in Shells Town.

'Axe-Hand' Morgan had climbed the ranks to become the Captain of the Shells Town branch largely due to the 'merit' of supposedly capturing Kuro.

In reality, Kuro, tired of being pursued by the Marines, had his subordinate Jango hypnotize Morgan into thinking he had captured Kuro.

Then, a decoy was executed by the Marines, allowing the real Kuro to hide here as a butler, planning to peacefully inherit Kaya's family fortune.

However, the hypnotized Morgan always considered capturing Kuro his greatest achievement.

Given Morgan's obsession with his own merits (even wanting a statue erected in his honor), finding Kuro's wanted poster in Shells Town had been incredibly easy for Rowen with his System.

"They really look exactly alike," Nami commented, comparing the poster in Rowen's hand to Kuro.

"Klahadore..." Kaya murmured, looking at the poster, still finding it hard to believe.

"People resembling each other aren't uncommon on the seas," Kuro maintained, his face impassive.

"Is that so? I hope you can remain this calm in a moment," Rowen replied, looking at Kuro. A domineering curve touched his lips, and the crimson-black light in his eyes flared intensely.

BOOM!

A terrifying wave of pressure erupted from Rowen, sweeping over Kuro.

"Ngh?!" Kuro's pupils constricted violently, cold sweat instantly drenching his forehead.

The next second, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious.

Conqueror's Haki!

Even a supposed 'major pirate' with a 16 million Beri bounty—that was only major by East Blue standards.

Before Rowen's Conqueror's Haki, he was just... fodder.

"Klahadore!" Kaya cried out in alarm.

"Don't worry. He's just temporarily unconscious," Rowen stated calmly, then thought inwardly.

"Plunder!"

<><><><><><><><>

~ 18 Advanced Chapters Now Available on Patreon!

https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx

(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)

<><><><><><><><>

~# Keep the chapters coming — Support with Power Stones!

~# Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter