The Black Bear Pirates were finally annihilated, fulfilling Eust’s half-month-long “wish,” but it left him feeling unexpectedly hollow.
Don’t misunderstand—it wasn’t a sage mode after venting frustration. It was more like the low spirits that come after achieving a hard-fought goal, leaving a temporary void with no new objective. It’s a complex feeling only those who have experienced it can truly understand.
Eust had expected Captain Bill Bravan of the Black Bear Pirates to be somewhat formidable. He wanted to test his Iaijutsu in a duel, but to his surprise, Black Bear fell before he could exert himself.
Though this proved the power of Eust’s Iaijutsu, achieving his goal of defeating Black Bear Bravan left him feeling a bit empty.
As the island’s residents gradually calmed down, Eust could communicate with the representative of Field Island.
That representative turned out to be the elder who had organized the people earlier.
The elder introduced himself as Dave, the village chief. Eust found the name familiar but couldn’t place it immediately.
Eust introduced himself as pirate hunter Eust, explaining selectively to Dave why they had tracked the Black Bear Pirates to the island.
Chief Dave welcomed Eust warmly and thanked him for dealing with the Black Bear Pirates, acknowledging that without his intervention, the pirates would have caused more trouble.
Chief Dave inquired about the stolen goods, and Eust generously stated that any property taken from the residents could be reclaimed, but other pirate loot should remain untouched.
Dave assured Eust that the island’s residents were honest and wouldn’t touch his other spoils. He also mentioned that they would gather a thank-you gift for Eust, which Eust agreed to accept, hoping it would ease any lingering fears among the residents.
Although most islanders were grateful, Eust sensed some still feared him, proving his assumption about their reactions to him killing the pirates was somewhat off.
Eust left the cleanup to Chief Dave, trusting there would be no issues.
He hurried back to the shore to reunite with Lila and the Lilith ship. The battle hadn’t taken long, but traveling and talking with Dave had, so he wanted to reassure Lila and lift the danger alert from the Lilith ship.
Chief Dave had also invited them to a bonfire party that night, which Eust gladly accepted. After leaving Hertz Island and sailing for seven or eight days, a bonfire party sounded like a great way to rest.
It seemed that in the pirate world, parties were a common lifestyle, perhaps a way to enjoy the present moment.
When Eust returned to the shore, he found Lila not worried at all. Instead, she was “scavenging” the Black Bear Pirates’ loot, and looked anything but concerned.
“Lila, I’m so heartbroken. Didn’t you worry about me at all?”
“Come on, Eust. I wasn’t worried about you. With that smug smile, I knew you had no trouble with the Black Bear Pirates. Besides, we have our adorable Sunny.”
“Alright, I misjudged you, but you were right. Apart from letting Tom and Jerry go, I’ve wiped out the Black Bear Pirates. I’ve also coordinated the cleanup with the island residents.”
“Oh, tell me more.”
…
“Lila, what did we gain from the pirate ship?”
“Eust, don’t be fooled by the Black Bear Pirates’ small size. They’re quite wealthy. I roughly counted and found at least ten million Berries in cash and valuables. We need Sunny to tally it accurately, but it’s a significant haul.”
“Meow, I used to love appraising treasures, but I’ve seen so much that it’s not as exciting anymore. Still, since it’s our loot, I’ll check carefully for the sake of more delicious food.”
“Haha, Sunny, you’ve revealed your true motivation.”
“Meow, Eust always says that treasure equals Berries, and Berries can buy food. That’s why I think this way.”
“Yes, yes, it’s all the captain’s fault. The captain loves good food too. By the way, Chief Dave invited us to a bonfire party tonight, so we can try the local cuisine.”
“Meow, I’m in!”
“Sunny, when have we ever left you out?”
“Meow, I’m just excited.”
“Alright, Sunny and Lila, tally up the loot while I inspect the Black Bear Pirates’ ship to see if it can be used to evolve the Lilith ship.”
“Meow!”
“Okay!”
Speaking of ships, Eust’s first sailboat was a small craft suitable for 1-3 people, perfect for initial voyages.
Later, they met Lilith, who joined the crew after some persuasion. This upgraded their ship to an automated vessel.
Lilith’s ship fruit ability was indeed powerful, ideal for sea adventures. It also allowed for ship form evolution, adapting to more crew members.
Unfortunately, Eust’s crew currently consisted of only four members. The modified sailboat, designed by Merry, was enough for them.
Merry’s modified sailboat, suited for 2-10 people, became fully automated with Lilith’s “absorption.” It’s expected to be useful for a long time, and everyone loved the kitchen.
Considering the Black Bear Pirates’ ship was a precaution for future needs. While the current modified sailboat could hold ten crew members, it would be cramped beyond four.
Eust believed in having spacious accommodations for his crew. He aimed to secure a suitable ship to provide ample room and comfort.
Lilith revealed a new ability to alter the ship’s internal layout to some extent, allowing for “modifications” of existing forms.
This new capability made Eust more willing to use the Black Bear Pirates’ ship as material for Lilith’s evolution. With the ship’s internal structure adjustable over time, Eust, the fishing king, would ensure enough energy for this process.
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