004: The Strong Should Not Doubt
We move several years forward.
In a handmade wooden house on Mount Tehou, in the town of Tors.
Kazan was sitting on the floor.
The house was filled with rough tables and chairs, and around stood neat stacks of books, one on top of the other.
Kazan had just turned 13, with blond hair cascading down his back like a waterfall, and the golden sheen on his hair looked particularly proud. However, in appearance, Kazan was definitely a handsome boy, and there was a slight nobility in his facial features.
On the other hand, his younger brother Shiki was becoming taller and more slender, his bones developing in an unexpected way.
It was clear they were two brothers, yet the genetic difference was striking.
If it weren't for their explosively flowing blond hair, Kazan would have wondered if they were truly brothers.
Closing the book, a system sound resonated in his head.
"-Ding!"
"The master is reading 'The Tale of the Great King Rolando,' acquired +8000 experience points. Add entry?"
"Don't add the entry for now, open the panel!"
——
Master: Kazan
Swordsmanship: LV50 - 410/600000 (+).
Luck: 69
Experience Points: 430,000
"I didn't expect that I could also read comics from the North. It seems I'll need to visit the book market in the future and look for more books. New reading materials are very appealing to a scholar."
"However, even after five years, no new entries have appeared on the panel. It seems reading books can indeed increase experience, but the chance to add a term is extremely low."
"Are you planning to set out to sea on a whim?"
Since no new entries were being added, Kazan accumulated some experience points to prevent any unexpected appearances of subsequent entries.
But if you count it up, he already has more sword skills than Zoro did when he defeated Ryuma.
While Kazan was pondering this, a figure descended from the sky and sat next to Kazan, crossing his legs in an Arabesque style.
Perhaps under the influence of the sword teacher from the country of Wano, Shiki started dressing in a rather Japanese style. He also had long hair, thick like a lion's mane, and two unknown swords hanging at his waist, giving him a majestic appearance.
Shiki's talent for swordsmanship is high; he definitely belongs to the ranks of geniuses.
In the training hall where he practices, there is no teacher well-versed in the style of two swords, and his teacher is an ordinary sword master. But even without the guidance of a famous master, Shiki managed to lay a very strong foundation thanks to his understanding of swordsmanship.
He has also developed his own skill using two swords.
Throughout all these years, training with his brother Kazan, Shiki rapidly improved his skills.
Moreover, Shiki's fruit development has not stalled; he has learned to control large objects.
Tearing down a large tree, he could make a sailing ship spin.
It was an easy matter.
Kazan's situation is a little different, though.
His fruit development progress is worse than Shiki's, his physical form isn't as strong, and he's ten centimeters shorter.
Nonetheless, thanks to adding experience to his swordsmanship record, Kazan's skills are a bit better than Shiki's.
Besides this, Kazan prefers a versatile style.
Shiki's fruit, perhaps due to the system, does not bring any side effects.
"Ahahaha!"
Shiki seemingly recalled something joyful and said with a smile, "Brother, I told the teacher at the dojo I'd no longer be practicing swordsmanship when we leave. I can't wait to send Nevkso's fleet to the finale!"
"There are too many people in the mariner's branch, and firearms also pose a threat to us."
Kazan thought for a moment: "We need to be more careful and plan ahead."
"Pack your things and let's go!"
…
It's worth noting that the Naval Fleet is the largest coercive institution under the control of the World Government .
They have established branches worldwide, and their equipment and specifications are much higher than those of pirates and civilians.
However, Nevkso's naval fleet only protects the wealthy who pay for it.
This worried Kazan, which is why he wants to teach the fleet a lesson.
In fact, in the town of Nevkso, there are many wealthy merchants who donate a large amount of money annually to the 123rd fleet branch, and the merchants and residents regularly pay the local mafia for protection.
But ultimately, most of this money ends up in the pockets of the fleet.
Because of this, the town was slowly allowed to "exist."
Poor people simply didn't have the right to live in small towns.
Kazan and Shiki's family originally lived in this town; their parents were natives. But when the brothers turned five, their parents were taken by the sea when they got caught in a storm.
The sudden blow destroyed the family.
Soon, the brothers were left destitute, sold all their furniture, and their house was confiscated by the locals.
They were driven out of the town and forced to wander the wilderness.
The outskirts had long become lawless, teeming with pirates, and the dense forests had become filled with corpses.
One can only imagine how in those years, the two children, just to survive, went through so many hardships in hiding.
At noon.
The brothers sailed to the port where the 123rd branch of the naval fleet was located in the town of Nevkso.
Walking down the street, Kazan looked around.
Three warships were docked at the port, and a hundred meters away was the naval branch, which had fenced its territory and built tall buildings in the most prosperous area.
Inside the taverns on both sides of the street, pirates were everywhere.
Some were even raising toasts to the fleet soldiers.
It was as if the entire town had resigned itself to the presence of pirates.
Simply because anyone who could live here could afford to pay for protection.
"Moths everywhere!"
Kazan frowned, "Shiki, let's leave the best warship for our use!"
"Alright!" Shiki nodded, "Brother, I'll go place the floating marker!"
After spending several years together, Shiki also knows that his brother's character has completely changed. Beneath his polite exterior lies a cold and meticulous heart, but Shiki fully supports this and even admires his brother's cunning and schemes.
As Kazan always says:
"If you don't have strength, don't seek revenge and don't talk about the past.
But if you have strength, not seeking revenge is cowardice."
"The strong should have no doubts!"
A minute later.
Kazan felt three floating markers.
"Then enjoy the great show!"