Chapter 14 - Kure Clan

{Twelfth Year of the Great Age of Pirates}

Confused and cautious, the blonde fellow didn't answer the question but instead questioned Enzo in return.

"Why the fuck do you want to know?"

Unbothered by this setback, Enzo simply smiled as he sat down on the concrete right in front of him.

This startled the teen, causing him to put up his guard as they stared at each other in a standstill. Despite sitting on the ground, Enzo was still taller than him.

"Well, I have an offer for you. It would definitely benefit you if you're interested in becoming powerful. I know you can tell you're no match for me. You're not even close. How about it?"

The teen was irritated. He knew the middle-aged man was right—he could sense just how much weaker he was. But what unsettled him the most was the dangerous aura emanating from Enzo. It was far more menacing than even his grandfather's, which didn't bode well.

"I don't fucking mind personally—on the condition that you fight me with everything you've got. But you need to know that my clan has to approve of me leaving. So that's that."

The kid grinned ear to ear, his bloodlust evident.

Unfazed by either the bloodlust or the challenge, Enzo caught onto the word "clan." If this kid came from a powerful family, then they weren't simple. If he was this strong at his age, his relatives were likely just as dangerous.

"What is your clan's profession?" Enzo asked, a curious expression on his face.

"So you haven't been here for long then," the teen scoffed. "My clan controls almost everything here—restaurants, shops, slaves, and the likes. It's mainly an assassin clan, though."

The teen took his hands out of his pockets, rolled his wrists, and started bouncing on his feet as if warming up for a big match. A large grin stretched across his face, his aura surging outward menacingly.

"Oh, interesting," Enzo mused. "You've awakened [Conqueror's Haki] at this age. Just what did you experience to awaken it?"

He raised his hand forward, still sitting lazily on the ground.

With a mere flicker of power, a yellow aura leaked out of Enzo, enveloping the blonde and pushing him back a few feet.

"You sure you want to test me, brat?" The amusement in Enzo's voice was thick.

What surprised him, though, was the fact that the kid managed to withstand his aura—even when he wasn't trying to hold back. More surprisingly, the teen laughed.

His entire body trembled, purple veins bulging across his frame as a sinister purple hue leaked from his skin. His sclera turned pitch black, and a wide, almost manic smile spread across his face.

To a normal person, he would have looked like a demon.

[Removal]

In an instant, the teen flashed in front of Enzo, attempting to grab his head and smash it into his knee.

However, Enzo stopped the knee with one hand and effortlessly pushed him away using just his forearm.

Enzo frowned. He had wanted to display overwhelming strength, but he had gotten lazy while sitting.

Berating himself, he quickly stood up, his eyes locked onto the teen.

'He doesn't fight like an assassin. He fights like a warrior instead.'

Then, without warning—

—Enzo disappeared.

The sudden vanishing act made the teen panic, his gaze darting around wildly.

"Don't you fucking disappear!" the blonde shouted, leaping into the sky to get a better view.

When he still couldn't locate Enzo, he landed, his aura erupting outward. The sheer force of it shattered the area around him, a clear display of his rage.

Enzo was honestly impressed.

The kid had guts. Despite knowing he was at a disadvantage, he refused to back down.

Suddenly, a strange urge to relax and go home crept into Enzo's mind. But pushing that thought aside, he flashed behind the kid.

The teen reacted instantly, throwing pebbles at Enzo's eyes as a distraction before launching an uppercut.

Enzo dodged with ease.

Then, without much effort, he smacked the boy across the cheek with the back of his hand.

The force sent him flying into a tree, where he crashed and slumped over, unconscious.

'He should be alright, right?' Enzo thought, worried that he might have overdone it.

But then, as he got closer, he noticed something amusing—even in unconsciousness, the kid was still grinning.

Chuckling in relief, Enzo scooped him up and threw him over his shoulder before heading toward the city.

———————————

{ An hour later }

Laughter echoed through the outskirts of the city as two individuals walked side by side.

"You could have killed me, old man!" the blonde said, laughing, completely unbothered by the fact that he had been knocked out.

"You're a madman," Enzo replied, shaking his head. "I don't think my son will like you. But I won't lie—you're very strong. Even compared to my son."

The teen tilted his head. "Your son, huh? Who do you think is stronger—me or him?"

Enzo could tell what he was thinking.

He probably assumed that Enzo's son was weaker than him.

Unfortunately for him, that wasn't true.

"I haven't seen my boy in over five months. I imagine he's improved massively. The last time we fought, he managed to injure me. You haven't. So there you have it."

Taken aback, the teen had no words to retort.

It was true. He hadn't managed to injure Enzo at all.

Excitement gleamed in his eyes, and an almost murderous vibe emanated from him.

Sensing his emotions, Enzo smirked in amusement. He realized he had forgotten to ask something important.

"What's your name, kid? And your clan?"

"Kure D. Raian."

Kure Clan.

And the initial D.

Enzo frowned, deep in thought. That mysterious initial… It bugged him.

As they entered the city, Enzo remained lost in contemplation while Raian absentmindedly walked ahead, hands in his pockets, the usual grin on his face.

——————

The main villa of the Kure Clan was massive in scale.

It wasn't just the land it occupied—it was the sheer number of villas, watchtowers, office buildings, mansions, and various other establishments. They stretched as far as the eye could see.

At the heart of the city stood the compound they were walking toward, overlooked by the main family.

A colossal mansion loomed in the center, its black towers nearly breaching the clouds. It was a stark contrast to the otherwise beautiful scenery—like a shadow that swallowed the light.

One villa stood out. It appeared archaic, its architectural style out of place among the modern buildings. Yet its majesty was undeniable. Those who gazed upon it felt a strange mix of awe and respect.

As they stepped into the outer section of the main villa, Enzo snapped out of his thoughts, noticing the mass of people staring at him.

Some were curious. Others were wary. A few were indifferent.

But Enzo was used to such reactions.

His towering height, combined with the fact that they were assassins, meant they could probably tell he wasn't someone to be taken lightly.

Upon entering the main villa, at least two hundred people were gathered.

More than half were servants, all bowing toward Raian.

The rest were family.

Then—

—from the shadows, a figure emerged.

A suffocating pressure filled the air, forcing nearly everyone to bow.

Everyone except Raian, Enzo, and his family.

"Greetings to the Patriarch," the servants exclaimed.

The man acknowledged them with a nod, then shifted his gaze to Enzo. Finally, he looked at Raian.

"Who is this guest?"

Raian grinned, pointing at Enzo.

"This guy wants to train me and make me fight his son. Apparently, his son is stronger than me, which I don't fucking believe. But I wouldn't know unless you gave me permission to leave, old man."

The relatives shot Raian annoyed glares.

The patriarch's voice cut through the tension.

"Everyone except Raian and the guest—leave."