In terms of time, it had been a month since him and Luffy had parted ways.
By this point, Luffy should have already defeated Morgan Axe-Hand and Buggy the Clown; those two "small fry" were missed opportunities. Luffy should currently be in Syrup Village.
And his opponent there would be Kuro, the Captain of the Black Cat Pirates. What was his bounty again?
**[16,000,000 Berries]**
Kuro, Captain of the Black Cat Pirates in Syrup Village—a character with extremely high intelligence, known as "Kuro of the Hundred Plans"—was definitely an excellent target for Shadow extraction.
However, this incredibly cunning and sly individual was about to be gravely injured by the irrational Luffy.
Tsukasa Yuu's lips curved into a cold smile. He didn't need to waste effort; he simply had to "pick up the crumbs."
...
The marine mist broke into silvery threads under the Shadow's keel. Tsukasa Yuu's fingers rested on the bronze helm.
"Captain, the marine map indicates a group of reefs ahead."
Kuina's Shadow leaped from the mast, condensing into a translucent form on the deck.
Wado Ichimonji's Shadow hanging from her waist shone with a faint blue light, and a corner of the bandage wrapped around its handle fluttered in the sea breeze.
"No matter, accelerate and cross them!"
The Shadow's hull was not originally fragile, and with the reinforcement of the Sea King, dealing with these reefs would pose no problem.
Tapping the helm with his finger, the entire ship suddenly roared like that of an abyssal leviathan.
Shadow vines sprouted from the cracks in the keel, instantly wrapping around the three main masts.
The sails, initially billowed, suddenly collapsed into a vortex resembling a black hole, sucking in all the sea breeze within a hundred meters, then propelling it forward to accelerate!
The Shadow sliced through the waves like an arrow released from a bowstring!
Kuina's ghost wavered amidst the violent tremors: "This speed will expose us..."
"We want the Marines to see us."
Tsukasa Yuu licked his lips, moist with sea salt.
"When they pursue the lingering Shadow image and arrive, Captain Kuro's corpse will make a perfect welcoming gift."
The coast rapidly widened in his field of vision.
Through the lingering smoke, he could see claw marks covering the dock—ten-meter-long gashes left by Kuro's cat claw gloves.
Tsukasa Yuu squinted. His Shadow Vision pierced through the fine mist, clearly capturing the retreating silhouettes of the Straw Hat crew three hundred meters away.
"So, this is Syrup Village..."
"Luffy is still the same."
He chuckled, jumping off the side of the ship, Shadows condensing into a glider under his boots, "He doesn't even know how to finish someone off."
Kuro lay face up in the deep crater he had created, his golden-framed glasses broken in two, and his carefully combed back hair covered in mud.
He lightly tapped the ship's helm in front of him with his finger. Several Shadow nets slipped from his fingers, flowed down the mast to the sails, and silently propelled the ship closer to the shore.
His steps awakened Kuro, barely conscious, who barely opened his eyes to see a Shadow looming over him.
Under the Shadow, that stern face resembled a reaper.
Kuro struggled to speak: "You... who are you?!"
His hoarse voice carried unmistakable terror; it was as if a lord had just left and another living demon king had arrived!
Looking at Kuro, too beaten to even stand, Tsukasa Yuu's mouth stretched to his ears.
Tsukasa Yuu did not reply.
He slowly crouched down, tapping the ground with his fingers. The black Shadows twisted as if they were alive.
... Gradually emerging from Kuro's Shadow, they tightly enveloped his half-dead body.
"Captain Kuro..." Tsukasa Yuu's voice was low and playful, "You are an intelligent man; you should very well know what the outcome will be today."
Kuro's face froze, fear from the depths of his soul almost crushing him.
He used his last ounce of strength to roar: "Don't kill me! I am Kuro, Captain of the Black Cat Pirates! You only need to hand me over to the Marines to get 16,000,000 Berries..."
However, before his words were finished, the Shadows had already silently condensed into a sharp black tip, pointing directly at his chest.
"Too bad... I don't need money right now..."
"No need for money? Then what do you want?"
"Goodnight, Kuro."
Tsukasa Yuu casually uttered a few words, as if passing a final judgment.
"CHUA—!"
At the moment the Shadow Point pierced him, Kuro let out a final short breath. His pupils gradually lost focus as he stared at Tsukasa Yuu's cold expression.
Blood should have spurted from the wound, but it vanished into the void within the Shadows, completely consumed.
**[Kuro killed, gained 16,000 experience points]**
**[Shadow extracted: Kuro (Rank B / Intelligence Rank S)]
The system's voice arrived as promised, and Tsukasa Yuu raised his head, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
"It's harvest time!"
Tsukasa Yuu felt like a genius at that moment.
As for Kuro, Tsukasa Yuu didn't bother transforming him into a mere Shadow Soldier.
These Shadow Soldiers only knew how to obey orders; they had no thoughts of their own.
He allowed Kuro's Shadow to become independent directly, just like Kuina, so that he could offer advice and strategies when needed.
Although Kuro's combat strength was not high, and his potential was limited due to his age, his mind was excellent.
Such a strategist was exactly what he needed most at this moment.
"Kuro," Tsukasa Yuu said to the gradually solidifying Shadow, "From now on, you are my strategist."
Kuro's Shadow bowed slightly, a gleam passing through his nonexistent glasses: "Pleased to serve, Captain."
"Let's go. Judging by the time, the nearby stationed Marine should be arriving soon."
...
Shortly after, at the dock of Syrup Village.
With hurried footsteps, a group of people in Marine uniforms charged onto the dock.
At their head was a small, mustachioed Marine Colonel, his face pale, veins pulsing on his forehead.
The scene before him was unbearable: Kuro, the infamous Captain of the Black Cat Pirates, lay in a pool of blood, his death gruesome.
"Damn it! Kuro, Captain of the Black Cat Pirates, has been killed! Who is the culprit? Are there any clues?!"
Colonel Nezumi yelled, spitting saliva, frightening the Marine soldiers around him who trembled.
A Marine soldier cautiously handed over a sketch covered in Shadows: "Report, Colonel, we found this at the scene..."
Colonel Nezumi snatched the sketch, narrowing his eyes to decipher the blurry writing on it:
**Murderer: Tsukasa Yuu...**
**Captain of the Shadow Pirates... Bounty ?????? Berries ?!**
He slammed the sketch on the table, roaring: "What is this?! The bounty has question marks?! Is this a blatant provocation to the Marines?!"
"C-Colonel..." Another Marine soldier tremblingly pointed at the Shadows on the sketch, "This... this seems to be some kind of Devil Fruit ability..."
"A Devil Fruit?!" Colonel Nezumi's face changed, a slight sense of unease rising in him.
"It seems we're dealing with an extraordinary individual this time..." He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"Report this immediately to Marine Headquarters! Put a bounty on Tsukasa Yuu! Also, strengthen patrols in the nearby maritime areas; we must crush these Shadow Pirates in the bud!"
"Yes!" The Marine soldiers responded in unison, quickly dispersing to execute the orders.
After all, he didn't want his cooperation with the Arlong Pirates to collapse; he had already tasted many benefits from this collaboration.
Tsukasa Yuu stood at the bow of the Shadow, his black trench coat fluttering in the wind, with Kuro's Shadow respectfully standing with hands clasped behind him.
"By the way, Captain," Kuro's Shadow suddenly asked, "Why did you leave this sketch? Doesn't it just inform the Marines of our existence?"
Tsukasa Yuu laughed heartily: "Of course, it's to let them know that I exist! Only then will they put a bounty on me."
"I want the whole world to remember my name! My name is Tsukasa Yuu!"
...
"Kuro, what bounty do you think the Marines will put on me?" Tsukasa Yuu asked weakly, looking at the gradually receding shore.
Kuro pushed his nonexistent glasses, his tone calm: "Based on the strength the Captain has shown so far, plus the original bounty of the Black Cat Pirates, a preliminary estimate would be around 20,000,000 Berries."
"Twenty million? That's too little." Tsukasa Yuu sneered disdainfully, "This measly bounty only converts to 20,000 points, which is far from enough!?"
"The Captain's ambition is admirable," complimented Kuro without a trace of emotion, "However, the Marines are always cautious in evaluating bounties for newcomers. To quickly increase your bounty,... 'large-scale actions' are still necessary."