You read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon and I've also activated a (date-to-date) subscription model on my Patreon https:///darkshadow6395

  In his druate, Roje loose, recklessly venting his emotions toward the vast sea.

  Over the past few days, too much had happehe death of his elder brother, being hunted by the Marines, parting ways with friends, and the sudden arrival of the Possessed System.

  From having nth at all, he had transformed into a powerhouse, capable of traversing the seas as a pirate hunter. Everything had ged so dramatically that even at sixteen, he couldn't have imagined any of this.

  It was all too bizarre, too unbelievable.

  Deep down, Rojen always felt a heavy burden— the uainty of the future, and doubts about his newfound power. For a long time, he didn't know what he was supposed to do, or ath he should take. It wasn't until retly that he began to gain some crity.

  That day, when he collected the bounty in front of the Marines, it was both a test and an adventure. He wao know if he could appear openly in front of those who were hunting him— if he could stop running and hiding, and instead face danger with ce.

  As he approached the Marine base, his heart remained calm. That was when he finally realized the strength of the Possessed System and uood that he himself had ged. His unwavering mi had given him the ability to fay peril head-on, unafraid of the raging tides.

  This revetiht him joy, a sense of wild etion. Not only because of the substantial bounty he had earned, but more importantly, because he had bee strong.

  He was truly happy— very happy.

  Alone on his ship, Rojen drank heavily, and before long, he fell into a deep sleep.

  [The Logan] drifted forward slowly, carried by the sea breeze, its destination unknown.

  The m, as the sun rose and its warm rays shone down on him, Rojen stirred groggily uhe bright light.

  "Ugh, my head hurts!"

  Rubbing his temples, he slowly recalled everything that had happehe previous day.

  After getting up, he drank several rge gulps of water and washed his face before fully waking up.

  "Still not enough money. I o save more!"

  "The ghosts I summoned before cost at most 10,000 Belly, and they were already incredibly powerful. If I summon ghosts using tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of belly, just how powerful would they be?"

  "I really want to see their power."

  Roje a surge of anticipation. From the price alone, he could tell there would be a signifit differeween them.

  If he mao summon one and fight a battle, could he perhaps gain the abilities of those powerful ghosts as well?

  This thought filled Rojen with longing.

  Soon after, he hoisted the sails and tinued navigating [The Logan] through the East Blue Sea region.

  …

  Time flew by, and in the blink of ahree months had passed.

  During these months, Rojen's reputation had grown even more widespread.

  His impressive strength enabled him to take down three pirate crews, each with bounties of around 5 Million Belly. Together, these bouotaled 15 Million. Meanwhile, weaker pirate crews, upon spotting him from afar, fled without hesitation.

  "irate crews don't even dare to face me. There's been no business for the past three months."

  Rojen shook his head helplessly. For the first time, he realized that being famous wasn't necessarily a good thing— it meant that h money had beuch harder.

  On this particur day, Rojen sailed toward the Marine base. The pirates he had killed i days o be exged for bounties.

  After sailing for three days straight, he finally arrived at the Marine base.

  In truth, after so much time on the sea, Rojen had practically explored every er of East Blue.

  Carrying a pitch-bck bundle, he walked into the Marine base, still wearing his monkey-faced mask. By now, the Mariationed across East Blue were well-acquainted with him.

  Rumors circuted within the Marines about this mysterious pirate hunter with the monkey-faced mask, whose swordsmanship was extraordinary and whose strength was unfathomable. He was sidered a formidable and fearsome figure.

  Familiar with the yout of Marine bases, Rojen made his way directly to the finance office. Most of the bases had identical youts, with only a few special ones designed differently acc to their terrain.

  "Bounty: 5.5 Million Belly for Slugh," He said coldly, pg the pitch-bck bundle oable.

  The bck cloth ulled away, revealing a grotesque face. The iion officer oher side carefully exami for a few moments before nodding in firmation.

  When Slugh died, his pirate crew disbanded immediately. Such a signifit event naturally spread quickly among the Mariherefore, the authenticity of this news was beyond doubt, and with the head's features perfectly matg the bounty poster, there was no way it could be fake.

  "It's him!"

  The iion officer firmed and handed Rojen 5.5 Million Belly.

  "Thank you for your efforts, pirate hunter, Ge Nie!"

  With a friendly smile, the officer added another remark.

  Rojen gave a slight nod without speaking and prepared to leave.

  "Please wait a moment. Our Lieutenant ander has taken an i in you. Would you mind joining him for a cup of tea and a brief chat?"

  Just as Rojen was about to leave, the iion officer spoke again, his tone brimming with politeness.

  Rojen frowned— he had no iion of getting too involved with the Marines.

  "Not ied."

  He shook his head and turo leave.

  However, just as he reached the doorway, two soldiers suddenly stepped forward, blog his path. Their right hands rested on their rifle stocks, a gesture subtly ced with threat. This caused Rojen's pupils to tract slightly.

  "What is the meaning of this?"

  "Please don't misuand. Lieutenant ander Xiros genuinely just wants to meet you. As a well-known Sword Saint of East Blue, he's very eager to see you in person," The iion officer said with a cheerful expression, though Rojen couldn't shake off the ominous feeling in his heart.

  Sure enough, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the finance office. With a loud and, the patrolling Marines gathered at the entraanding guard.

  It was both intimidation and a veiled threat.

  Rojen's eyes narrowed— he uood this clearly.

  Seeing Rojen pause without further argument, the iion officer smiled aured for him to follow.

  Rojen's right hand slowly moved toward his back but loosened halfway through.

  "Fine, I'll meet this Lieutenant ander, but I hope there won't be any ued surprises."

  His cold words carried an unmistakable chill.

  "Of course, don't worry. ander Xiros is known for being very hospitable," the officer said with an ingratiating smile, quickly signaling for the two soldiers at the door to stand dowhen led Rojen toward Xiros's location.

  Five mier, Rojen arrived in front of a door ohird floor at the ter of the Marine base.

  Knock, knock, knock.

  He knocked on the door, and a deep voice came from inside.

  "e in."

  Rojen's eyes narrowed slightly before he pushed the door open aered.

  Upon stepping inside, he saw that the room was simply furhere was a wooden desk, chairs, a bookshelf, and a few potted pnts, with nothing else in sight.

  "Sword Saint, Ge Nie?"

  At that moment, the middle-aged man in the room raised an eyebrow and looked at Rojen.

  (End Of The Chapter)