Chapter 3 – Blades, Bonds, and the Calm Path Forward
The salty wind of Hachinosu carried with it the stench of alcohol, seaweed, and ambition. Pirates shouted from tavern to tavern, blades clashed over spilled drinks, and somewhere in the chaos, laughter turned into brawls. For most men, this island was either a paradise or a grave. For Ren D. Kaizokuya, it was a calculated step forward.
Sitting in the dim corner of a worn-down inn, Ren calmly observed the room with eyes that looked as though they stripped every secret from the world.
(So this is Hachinosu. The hive of scum, as they'll call it decades later. Every pirate who matters eventually steps foot here. Rocks… Whitebeard… Big Mom… Kaido. And one woman in particular—Shakuyaku. She's here, somewhere. But I need patience. The system will force these encounters, but if I rush it, I'll ruin everything.)
His hands rested on a sheathed blade, newly acquired from his last quest. The steel wasn't extraordinary, but it was sharp, balanced, and enough for now.
> [System Notification]
Quest Completed: Survive one year on Isolated Island "Naruga Atoll"
Rewards:
– Observation Haki (Level 1)
– Rokushiki Basics Unlocked: Soru (LV0), Geppo (LV0)
– Swordsmanship Mastery (LV1)
– Martial Arts Mastery (LV1)
– Stat Growth Doubled
Ren's lips curved into the faintest smirk. The system never lied, and its punishments were cruel. One mistake, one indulgence with anyone other than Shakuyaku, and he would lose everything—progress, strength, hope.
(A leash… but one I can accept. After all, in this world, she's more than worth it. And the fact I even know who she is… that's my advantage.)
He took a sip of the cheap ale, not for pleasure, but to blend in. Pirates rarely trusted men who drank water.
Suddenly, the door swung open with a crash. A group of loud men entered, laughing, their coats ragged but their eyes sharp. Ren recognized the aura immediately. They weren't just thugs. They were crew members of the Rocks Pirates.
He didn't move, but his heart quickened.
(So… it begins.)
---
The tallest of them, a mountain of muscle with scars across his chest, slammed a bag of coins on the counter. "Drinks! Enough to drown the sea!" he roared.
As mugs clattered, the noise drew eyes from every corner. Ren kept his expression calm, but his thoughts raced.
(Rocks' men… If I play this wrong, I'll be crushed. But if I catch the right attention… I'll have my opening.)
The group spread around the inn, boasting about raids and treasures. One of them, a wiry man with a thin blade, noticed Ren sitting alone. His smirk widened.
"You there. Too clean. Too calm. Don't tell me you're hiding treasure, eh?"
The room quieted slightly. Ren slowly placed his mug down, his gaze sharp but his tone composed.
"I hide nothing. But if you want to test me, I won't refuse."
The pirate laughed, drawing his blade. "Cocky brat!"
In that instant, Ren's body blurred. Soru (LV0) wasn't perfect, but it was fast enough. His movement left an afterimage as he appeared at the pirate's side, his own blade already at the man's throat.
The entire room froze.
(Observation Haki… trajectory calculated. Speed imperfect, but enough. One more inch and he's dead. No need, though. The display is the goal.)
The wiry pirate stiffened, then slowly raised his hands. "…Tch. Not bad."
From the bar, one of the larger Rocks men leaned forward, interest gleaming in his eyes. "A brat with skills, huh? Captain Rocks likes talent."
The words rippled through the tavern like thunder. Ren calmly withdrew his blade and sat back down, but his mind burned.
(Rocks himself will know of me soon. This is the path. But strength alone won't keep me alive among monsters. I need bonds. I need her. Shakuyaku… wait for me.)
---
Hours later, the inn quieted, but Ren slipped outside, the moonlight bathing the broken streets. Pirates snored against barrels, the sea lapped against rotting docks, and the island's lawlessness thrummed like a heartbeat.
He paused at a particular building, its lanterns soft, its doors polished despite the chaos around it. A bar—but not like the rest. Cleaner. Quieter.
And inside, polishing glasses with a sly smile on her lips, was Shakuyaku.
Ren froze. For all his preparation, for all his calm demeanor, seeing her in reality shook him. She was younger than the woman he remembered from Sabaody, but her elegance and sharp eyes were unmistakable.
(She's real. Alive. Not just panels in a manga. And she'll become the woman who runs this very bar decades later. But right now… she's the quest. My quest.)
The system chimed.
> [System Notification]
Special Quest Triggered: First Meeting – The Woman of Smoke
Objective: Hold a conversation with Shakuyaku for at least 10 minutes without revealing knowledge of the future.
Reward: Charm +3, Observation Haki Progress +20%
Failure: -50% Progress in Swordsmanship Mastery
Ren inhaled slowly, pushing down the excitement. He opened the door, the bell chiming softly.
Shakuyaku looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly at the sight of a young man who carried himself with unnatural calm.
"Well, well… another ambitious pirate, or just someone who got lost?"
Ren met her gaze and offered a faint smile. "Neither. Just a traveler who enjoys good company more than cheap rum."
For the first time in years, Shakuyaku actually chuckled.
(First impression, stable. Now, maintain pace. No arrogance. No desperation. Just composure.)
He took a seat, his mind a storm of calculations, but his expression as calm as the still sea.
The conversation began. And with it, the path of Ren D. Kaizokuya truly opened.