"Once I get this ship, I can cross Reverse Mountain and head into the Grand Line..."
Shanu's gaze fell steadily on the system panel.
He was done wasting time in the East Blue's small pond.
Including the grueling training before Arlong arrived, he had spent four years steadily developing in the East Blue. If not for wanting to spend more time with his family before adulthood, he would have ventured into the Grand Line long ago.
And now, his strength was far beyond what it had been back then.
[Name: Shanu]
[Age: 18]
[Height: 185/370 cm]
[Strength: 6.8]
[Agility: 6.6]
[Endurance: 6.4]
[Mental Strength: 5.2]
[Skills: Rokushiki (Mastered), Armament Haki (Advanced), Life Return (Advanced), Breathing Fist (Mastered), Ripple Fist (Advanced), Brain Seal Technique (Advanced), Flesh Forge (Advanced), Sealed Dust Absolute Mind Slash (Advanced), Fishing (Advanced), Mining (Advanced), Theft (Advanced)]
[Remaining Points: 29,000]
Three years ago, when most of his stats were still around 3–4, he had already been able to single-handedly crush the Arlong Pirates.
Now?
All his basic stats had skyrocketed to terrifying levels.
His body techniques, represented by Rokushiki, were near perfection thanks to his strengthened physique.
To put it bluntly:
If the version of himself that had defeated the Arlong Pirates were standing before him now, he wouldn't last more than a few seconds before being torn apart casually.
It wouldn't be much harder than slaughtering small fry like Kuroobi.
The East Blue was long behind his current version.
At this point, he had the confidence to carve out a path not only through the first half of the Grand Line, but even straight into the New World.
"I wonder, by my Marine standards, what level I'd be classified at now?"
Vice-Admiral? Or almost Admiral?
Shanu grinned, then turned his gaze toward his inventory.
Over the years he had purchased many items, including cultivation manuals and other gadgets of interest.
Points had flowed out like water, but with the continuous influx of high-quality "targets" like Luffy, points were constantly replenished, like a trickling stream filling in gaps.
Even now, compared to two years ago, he was short by less than ten thousand points.
Among the manuals he bought, the most expensive was Ripple Fist, worth 2,800 points, a higher-tier replacement for Breathing Fist.
It not only expanded Shanu's physical growth potential but allowed him to focus his power more efficiently into his fists.
The techniques were numerous and adaptable, able to be combined freely in battle. A single strike could create shockwaves strong enough to ripple the air.
Additionally, Sealed Dust Absolute Mind Slash had also been mastered.
Yes, he had successfully exploited a loophole to bypass the prerequisite swordmaster level.
With his skillful Life Return, he could transform his arms into razor-sharp blades capable of cutting steel effortlessly, like a hot knife through butter.
So, to be precise:
On the ship, aside from Kuina, he was also a standard swordmaster, a dual-sword wielder.
If anyone questioned that, he didn't care. After all, a hand chop could very well be considered a blade!
As for the items he bought, the most notable was the Devil Fruit Detection Radar, purchased directly from the system for 2,500 points.
It looked very similar to the Dragon Ball radar made by Bulma, about the same size.
It could be used ten times in total. No need to take it out, just keep it in the backpack. If a Devil Fruit entered within a hundred-kilometer radius, a green light would automatically turn on.
Within ten kilometers, a high-brightness yellow light would flash.
If multiple Devil Fruits were detected simultaneously, corresponding lights would appear on the radar screen, counting as a single use. No waste of charges.
Extremely practical and powerful.
After buying it last year, Shanu had carefully monitored its use, but unfortunately found nothing along the way.
Not surprising, the journey only took twenty days, and the route was fixed.
With constant adventures across the seas in the future, he was bound to find results.
…
Seven days later.
The new Gatt's speed was significantly faster than the old ship. On the afternoon of the eighth day, they arrived at Shelly Island.
From afar, the massive neon sign of Whale Shipbuilding Company at the dock was visible.
Golden and dazzling, it outshone all other shipyards combined, impossible to miss.
"Finally here?"
Kuina stretched and yawned as she disembarked. She, too, had been assigned the first-class luxury cabin alongside Shanu.
The bed was large and soft, perfect for sleeping; it was her first time experiencing such comfort on a ship.
Compared to Grandpa's soda-powered little boat… that was pure torture.
"Haha, don't worry! Your new ship will be far better than that old wreck!"
Old Gatt puffed on his pipe, smiling.
"How do you know? Did you see our ship beforehand?"
Nojiko asked curiously.
"No, but you can guess! With your brother's reputation, Whale Shipbuilding Company wouldn't dare slack off. They'd put their utmost effort into making this their proudest creation!"
Gatt looked at Shanu.
"Ask Shanu, when he called them, wasn't their attitude sincere and enthusiastic?"
"Sincere and enthusiastic?"
Shanu frowned, recalling. "Yeah… they were pretty enthusiastic. They even waived two million in leftover charges, but I didn't think much of it, figured it was standard for VIP clients…"
"That's not how it works!"
Gatt blew a smoke ring. "Other shipyards might, but Whale Shipbuilding Company has been around for over a hundred years. They're proud! Their master shipwrights take orders from all over the seas; they don't cater to just any client. Waiving millions? That's like the sun rising in the west!"
"Exactly," Zeff nodded in agreement. "My first ship was built by Whale Company, they were cold as ice."
"So how did the sun rise in the west for your brother?" Nojiko teased.
"Because the East Blue's top pirates are basically all gone thanks to your brother!"
Old Gatt laughed heartily. "Roger's hometown used to be full of pirates. Now? Weaklings all. Isn't that hilarious?"
"Trade convoys now travel much more smoothly, shipyards' days are safer… all thanks to your brother! Whale Shipbuilding Company is no exception!"
Shanu was speechless.
Indeed, over the past few years, nearly every East Blue pirate with a bounty over ten million Berries had died by his hand.
It was almost like sustainable overfishing, fish couldn't grow fast enough to replace the ones lost.
Now, the East Blue had barely any pirates left. Few even exceeded a five-million-Berry bounty.
"Time flies, huh," Gatt sighed. "When I first saw your brother, he was barely 1.6 meters tall. Who would've thought a few years later he'd be respected throughout the East Blue?"
Gatt's face glowed with pride. After all, the strongest swordsman of the East Blue had made his first long journey on his ship and even fought alongside Sea Kings.
Whenever he boasted about it to old colleagues, it earned him admiration and envy.