Chapter 58: 058. Spirit-Flesh Convergence!

"Gaa~ Give Crow another bite."

Crow Dabao stood on Kuzan's shoulder, craning his head downward.

Kuzan looked exasperated. "Isn't Moses right beside you? Why ask me? And you're Moses' bird—why are you standing on my shoulder?"

"Me short. Stand uncomfortable. Food bought with Plum Blossom Coins. You freeloader."

Crow Dabao turned his head to stare at Kuzan with sharp avian eyes. Kuzan sighed in defeat:

"Fine, fine, here you go."

He handed over one of his grilled kidney skewers.

Crow Dabao gripped the wooden stick with his left claw, tearing off chunks with his sharp beak.

Moses chuckled at the scene. That's my bird—always looking out for me.

"Moses, grilled kidneys taste awful. So gamey. How can he eat that?"

Perona walked beside Moses while enjoying her delicious Five-Layer Five-Color Ice Cream Cone, wincing from the brain freeze yet thoroughly entertained.

Mouth full of grilled rice cakes, Moses mumbled, "Maybe he's deficient in something. Could be kidney deficiency."

Cough cough!

Kuzan overheard and shot Moses an exasperated look:

"Don't spout nonsense, kid. You saying you'll never eat these?"

Moses grinned. "At least I don't need that kind of supplement right now."

"By the way, there sure are a lot of pirates here. You really not arresting any? Just tagging along with us, eating and strolling around?"

Moses glanced at him again.

"Then again, you're not in uniform. Guess it doesn't matter whether you nab them or not."

Kuzan laughed it off, biting into a kidney with a crunch. "On vacation. They're not killing people in broad daylight—too much hassle."

"Besides, there's a Marine base on this island. Pirates here usually know better than to act up. At least they pay for what they buy."

A mocking smirk curled at Kuzan's lips, his expression suddenly world-weary.

It was unclear exactly who he was ridiculing.

"Look at you, all 'I've got stories to tell.' Seriously."

Moses smirked. "There aren't any mature ladies around—who're you trying to impress?"

Kuzan's face stiffened before he shook his head with a wry smile. "You're really not cute at all. What a waste of that baby face."

"Oh, thanks. I know I'm good-looking—no need to point it out."

"Hahahaha! Moses, you shameless! Not even as cute as me. Aren't you embarrassed saying that?"

"True. The adorable little lady makes a fair point—you are a bit narcissistic, Moses."

Kuzan nodded in agreement.

Perona puffed her cheeks and glared at Kuzan. "I know I'm cute, but you don't have to say it, you weird old man."

Pfft!

Moses' lips quirked upward as he burst out laughing.

"That's what you get for brownnosing and hitting the wrong target."

"Ara ara, you two are ganging up on me. This is so unfair."

"Moses, Moses! They have hot cocoa over there! I want some!"

Following Perona's pointing finger, Moses spotted a milk tea shop with a long line outside.

Seeing the longing in Perona's eyes, he nodded.

"Alright, let's go."

They walked over and joined the end of the queue, where about seven or eight people waited ahead.

The air was filled with a sweet aroma mingled with the unique bittersweet fragrance of coffee.

Soon, it was the trio's turn.

While Moses and Kuzan were still pondering their choices, Perona spoke up directly:

"Hot Melted Chocolate with Sea Salt Chocolate Fresh Cream Hot Cocoa. Large size, please."

She rattled off her order without pausing for breath, clearly a true favorite.

Moses casually picked one: "I'll have a Lemongrass Lavender White Chocolate Hot Cocoa."

"Ara ara, then I'll go with a Nutella Hot Cocoa. Simple enough."

Moses gave Kuzan a strange look. "I heard this kind of simple hot cocoa is for lazy people?"

Kuzan's face darkened—he had just blurted it out without thinking. Immediately, he turned to the shopkeeper with a smile. "Never mind, I don't want that. Switch it to a Black Cherry Whiskey Hot Cocoa instead."

The beautiful shopkeeper inside covered her mouth, stifling a laugh as she nodded with a knowing smile.

Soon, three cups of hot cocoa were handed out one after another.

Perona happily took hers and began sipping it in small, delighted gulps.

Holding the cup with blissful contentment, her lips dusted with honey-colored cream, she beamed at Moses.

"It's so good! Moses, want a taste?"

"I think you just want to try mine, don't you? And steal the bear-shaped cookies from my cup too, right?"

Perona giggled. "I just wanted to help you check if it's tasty."

With that, she extended her spoon toward his cup. Moses made a face but didn't refuse.

And so, Perona got exactly what she wanted—a taste of Moses' hot cocoa and his bear-shaped cookies.

The whiskey-infused hot cocoa turned out to be unexpectedly delicious.

Kuzan's tense brow relaxed.

But then, his hand froze mid-motion.

"Hey, hey, did you hear? That Devil Child has been spotted around here. Word is she's got a 79 million Belly bounty on her head. A Dong, should we go after her?"

"But—I heard that woman's crazy strong. She smashed several warships when she was just eight! Do we stand a chance?"

"Tch, what's there to fear? She's just some teenage brat. Who knows if those rumors are even true? Maybe the Navy just made it up to make themselves look good. A girl that strong at eight? Yeah, right."

"True. I heard bounty hunters and even some pirates on the island are already heading there. They're not stupid. This is an unprecedented bounty feast for the island."

"So, let's go?"

"Let's go."

Two burly young men with swords at their waists walked past.

Moses curiously turned his head to watch them.

Once they were gone, he looked back—only to see Kuzan frozen in place. Moses narrowed his eyes slightly, intrigued.

"What's wrong? Hot cocoa not to your taste? Or can't handle the alcohol?"

Kuzan stared at the murky drink in his cup, then downed it in one go.

He exhaled a heavy sigh, laced with the scent of liquor.

Standing by the roadside, he spoke.

"Ara ara, seems I just remembered I've got something else to take care of. Moses, you two can handle shopping on your own, right?"

"Sure, go ahead. We'll manage."

Kuzan pressed a hand to Moses' head with a grin. "Alright, stay safe."

Moses pushed his hand away with an exasperated look. "If you've got something to say, say it. No need for the handsy stuff. Who even taught you that? I'm not some little girl—no need for head pats."

Kuzan's face stiffened as he muttered, "You're really not cute at all!"

Not a bit like that guy.

With that, he shrugged his shoulders and strode off in the direction where the other two had disappeared.

Crow Dabao fluttered his wings and landed on Moses' shoulder, glaring at Kuzan as he scolded:

"What kind of person is that? Didn't even say a word to Crow."

Moses reached out to pat its head in comfort.

At that moment, Perona leaned in close, and Moses subtly moved his hot cocoa aside.

The next second, their eyes met, and Moses saw Perona's face flush red.

Crunch! Her teeth gritted audibly.

"Who wants your hot cocoa? I was going to ask if you noticed Kuzan was lying!"

Moses looked surprised. "You noticed too?"

"Tch, I'm very sensitive to emotions emanating from Spirit Bodies. I could smell his insincerity just now."

"Are you a puppy? How can you 'smell' that? And is that even something you can sniff out?"

"Well, how to put it? It's just a feeling. I can detect the 'emotional scent' people give off."

Moses gave Perona a strange look and forced a laugh. "Emotional perception? That's quite a useful ability. Ahaha!"

Perona pouted. "Once you enter that state, I can't sense you at all. Useless against you. What a crappy ability."

Seeing Perona's dissatisfied expression, Moses chuckled wryly:

"You really are the well-fed who don't know how the starving suffer."

"Eek~ What kind of way is that to talk? I'm a beautiful girl, not some stinky man!"

"Enough of that. Let's go look for them too—those two mentioned the Devil Child, right? I want to see if she's really a demon."

"I wonder if demons look like ghosts?"

"Fine, let's go then."

"Alright, stinky bird, take me into the castle. I'll search with my Spirit Body."

Crow Dabao glanced at her, then turned to Moses.

"Sounds fun. Da Bao, listen to Pepe."

Ripples shimmered across Crow Dabao's body as Perona shrank and vanished.

Moses glanced at a few passersby who had noticed the scene and were staring in shock but paid them no mind.

Abilities were meant to be used. If he worried about others' gazes, what was the point?

A few seconds later, a palm-sized Spirit Body "doll" emerged from Crow Dabao and immediately dove into Moses' chest.

"Haraharahara~ Moses, I'm ready! Let's go?"

"Pepe, stop squirming. I'm sensitive there."

Moses' face twitched as he felt Perona's Spirit Body plop down right on his heart.

Through comprehending Perona's Spirit Body, his Effortless Breathing Technique had advanced. The breathing rhythm fluctuations of his Spirit Body and flesh body had successfully synchronized.

After days of training, his Spirit Body and flesh had undergone a series of changes—a kind of beneficial integration where each contained traces of the other.

The most direct manifestation was a new effect added to the Effortless Breathing Technique: Spirit-Flesh Convergence.

In other words, his flesh now carried some traits of a Spirit Body. And with Perona currently inside him, it truly felt like she was sitting directly on his heart.

It's common knowledge that Spirit Bodies can touch each other.

"Hahahaha, I know~ I figured it out~ So adorable, Moses~"

His body instantly shivered.

Moses scowled darkly. "Don't push your luck."

The Spirit Body Perona pressed both hands against Moses' heart, lying atop it while vigorously rubbing her face against it.

She even hooked a finger around one of the cardiac arteries and tugged playfully.

"Enough already. Cut it out, damn it."

Moses massaged his temples, gritting his teeth as he growled, "You asked for this."

Focusing his gaze, through the properties of Spirit-Flesh Convergence, strands of black-red Conqueror's Haki Infusion arced across the surface of his heart.

"Eek!!!"

"You jerk! Using Spirit Body (Conqueror's) lightning on me?! I'll bite you to death!"

Electrified into trembling spasms, Perona's legs stiffened straight as she darkly chomped down.

Moses' body convulsed violently.

The pain from the Spirit Body attack on his heart transmitted directly to his brain.

His vision momentarily blacked out.

Simultaneously, his heart gave a powerful thump—"Bzzzt!"—accompanied by a muffled thunderclap as black-red Conqueror's Haki lightning erupted across his skin.

Within a ten-meter radius, pedestrians collapsed with their eyes rolled back.

Knocked unconscious by the Conqueror's Haki shockwave.

At the same time, another Spirit Body was forcibly ejected from his chest.

Moses, face dark, clenched his palm around her, black-red arcs crackling between his fingers.

Seeing her dazed expression and the wispy white Spirit Mist escaping her mouth, his eyelid twitched.

"Serves you right."

He then glanced at Crow Dabao lying on the ground, legs twitching in unconsciousness, picking it up and tucking it under his arm.

Now glaring at the now-recovered Spirit Body Perona who was awkwardly avoiding his gaze.

Surveying the five unfortunate pedestrians and other bystanders starting to take notice, Moses frowned.

With a sigh, he placed the suddenly well-behaved Spirit Body Perona on his shoulder.

One by one, he dragged the unconscious pedestrians to rest against the street-side wall.

Luckily, he'd been standing roadside when it happened—the ten-meter radius had contained few people.

And thankfully, it had been Conqueror's Haki Infusion arcs rather than indiscriminate Conqueror's Haki shockwaves.

Much ado about nothing.

Soon.

Several marines in uniform were brought over by concerned citizens.

Moses' eyes lit up recognizing them as Garp's crewmembers—likely here on shore leave.

They stared at Moses in surprise.

"Hey little Moses! What're you doing here? And what happened to them?"

"Do me a favor? Watch over them—accidentally knocked them out."

"What? They giving you trouble?"

The lead marine frowned slightly.

Moses waved his hands, launching into lengthy explanations until they understood.

They eventually agreed to help.

Moses produced a stack of Belly bills—compensation for the five unlucky souls—then handed the marines several large notes as payment for their trouble.

They refused at first, but Moses insisted it was "for drinks," and after some back-and-forth, they accepted.

Moses exhaled in relief—this wasn't a personal favor owed.

Just standard employer-employee relations.

Seeing the matter resolved, Moses let out a sigh of relief and waved goodbye to them.

Watching Moses walk away, one of the marines smacked his lips and said, "Earning little Moses' favor isn't easy."

The lead marine took a drag from his cigarette and chuckled, "It was just a small favor, nothing major. Besides, the kid already paid us. Alright, let's get these civilians to the clinic. Once we finish up, we can go grab a drink."

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[A+ Rank Blessing: Effortless Breathing Technique] (Capable of natural growth)

[Blessing Effect: Qi Circulation Throughout the Body, Spirit-Flesh Convergence, Unity of Heaven and Man. Greatly enhances the application of one's Spirit Body and physical form. Significantly imp

roves comprehension of the natural world. Grants permanent accelerated growth for Physique and Soul attributes up to A+ rank quality.]

[Blessing Evaluation: Is this just a breathing technique? No, it's the foundation of a certain cultivation method. At this moment, you've already taken the most crucial step.]

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