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CHAPTER 50

It took them three weeks of the journey to reach the closest island with a village. If they didn't reach an uninhabited island and managed to resupply themselves with fruits and some wild game, many people would have starved before they arrived here.

After a week of good rest, our duo was ready to go into the open seas again. Kreegan looked at his coat again and thought it was an unexpected windfall. The coat was not strong right now, but the system said it was a growth-type artifact.

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-Coat of The Seven Seas (Growth-type)-

Level 1

AC: 5

Air Bubble: Creates a transparent bubble around the user's head and provides air for 10 minutes; 6 hours cooldown time.

System notes: Growth-type items level-ups with the user.

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Kreegan thought about the fights he had in the naval, and he didn't level up this time, despite having two close calls. Until now, he leveled up after a deadly fight, but this time was different. Kreegan had a hypothesis why he didn't have an exp bar.

He thought because this wasn't a game, and after realizing the level numbers were power level and not game level. He thought the system only bestowed him more power when his body and soul were ready. Every fight made him more experienced in the sword; every close call strengthened his soul. He could feel he was getting close, but it was not like a game bar. It was more like a six sense.

Kreegan was actually more grateful for his fights at the Ocean’s naval. He knew he had cracked the door of Observation Haki open in the battle against the Lobster and Captain Joke. His Observation Haki didn't truly awaken, but with every close call, he was getting better instincts. One of those days, it was going to happen for sure. Lex came onto the deck with huge sacks and shouted at Kreegan.

"Hey, Kree. I am not going to carry all that coal. Get off your ass and help me."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Why are you acting touchy? Okay, I will help?"

There was at least 1 ton of coal.

"Do we really need that much?"

"We burned through our fuel while using the engine. Do you want to die? Next time we need it, and it doesn't work. What are we going to do?"

"Okay, I am helping."

...

After finishing their resupply, our duo left the natives in this village and left the island. After securing the helm, Lex came up to Kreegan and, holding his hands like guns,

"This is a robbery; fork out 50 million bellies."

"It really is a robbery; why?"

"We… nope, I need to fix and redesign the wing system."

"Why? It is working perfectly."

"It does not. I designed it to be used in case I would need to glide from a waterfall or something, like for 10- or 20-meters tops. But we basically used it for flight, and it is all bent and breaking down. I need to use better and more durable material, and it is going to cost us."

"Wait a minute; you don't have 50 million. From the bounties, you have 30 million tops."

"Yes, that is why I am going to give 30 million."

"Why am I giving more? You keep telling me I am not the captain."

"Yes, you are not."

"Why do you always listen to my orders?"

"That is... That is because even though I am a far superior intellect. I have to accept that you have more creativity in battle; that is why. Not because you are the captain."

"If I am not the captain, I will not pay more. I will pay 30 million too."

"I am not asking, telling you. You are the reason we fell into that place, and you are the reason we had to leave there in a hurry."

"Why am I the reason for falling in there?"

"Are you not the navigator?"

"Yee?"

"We fell because of your route. Fork out the money."

While grumbling, Kreegan pulled 50 million belles from his item box and handed them to Lex.

"Every time I see that I am fascinated by it, I want one too."

"Do you think we can kill a sea king?"

"No!"

"Then you can't have it; I told you before I need sea king leather to make one."

"Is the devil fruit in there too?"

"Yes."

"What are you going to do with it? Are you going to eat it?"

"No, I want to give this to someone that needs it."

"Why? You could get more powerful."

"I am already getting powerful without it; she needs this more than me."

"Who is she?"

"Someone close to me like a sister. She has great talent as a swordswoman, but her body is weak, and it is not getting any better. She is trying to hide it, but I think she is depressed. I am afraid she is going to do something bad."

After what Kreegan said, Lex didn't oppose giving it to her.

...

After three months of journey, Kreegan could see the Shimotsuki village again. The reason it took them three months to get here was because Lex insisted on repairing and redesigning the wing system. It took them six weeks to rebuild it.

When they reached the pier, everyone in the village was trying to figure out who this ship belonged to. At that moment, Kreegan hung down from the ship and shouted,

"You country bumpkins, have you never seen a big ship!"

"What the hell did that bastard call us? Did he call us country bumpkins!"

"Wait a minute, doesn't he look familiar?"

At that moment, the fishermen started to get out of the tavern, and Tsura, one of the fishermen that pulled Kreegan out of the sea, looked at the guy. At first, he couldn't make him, but after a few seconds, he realized and, with a burst of loud laughter, he said,

"Hahah! Yes, country bumpkins like us wouldn't ever dream about seeing such a ship."

"Tsura, why are you..."

"Kreegan! My boy, I almost couldn't recognize you. You have grown so much; It has been two years since you left."

"Did he say Kreegan?"

"Kreegan is back!"

Tsura was exaggerating, of course, but Kreegan had indeed grown. When he started his journey, he had not even grown a beard, but now his face was covered with an auburn stubble. His intense exercises had made his already athletic body more muscular, and one of the most significant differences was that he was now close to two meters tall.