Chapter 65: Taking Nami, Nojiko, and Bell-mère to Join the Guild!

So much rubbish!

Leno glanced at the system logs. He had just defeated a group of fish-men, and the system prompts flooded his vision. But most of the talents were mediocre, mostly C and D levels. Aside from a few fish-men officers, there were no talents worth mentioning.

This was the norm for most people Leno encountered. Either they had the potential to become great or were already famous and powerful. But in a sea filled with mediocrity, many people lacked talent altogether and were content with being stagnant.

Of course, without flair, some could still make their way, but what's wrong is when people who don't recognize their own limits drag others down.

Leno took a sip of his drink, suppressing his irritation.

"[Please choose a talent, Host!]"

After some filtering, Leno picked three talents: Fish-Man Karate (B level), Fish-man Muscle (D level), and Shipwright (D level). The rest were discarded. Training weak talents wasn't worth his time.

Currently, Leno focused on honing his existing abilities. His D-level Fish-man Muscle talent merged with his A-level version, enhancing it slightly, though not enough to reach the S level.

Maintaining his calm demeanor, Leno opened his system panel.

[Host Name: Leno]

[Real Age: 18]

[Existing Talents: Armament Haki (SSS level), Music (SSS level), Wind's Blessing (SS level), Freezing (SS level), Swinging Fortune (SS level), Pianist (SS level), Gluttony King (S level), Conqueror's Haki (S level), Sword Heart (S level), Observation Haki (S level), Infection (S level), One Heart Sword (A level), Shark Muscle (A level), Photographic Memory (B level), Life Return (B level), Mink Bloodline (B level), Fish-Man Karate (B level), Cat's Strength (C level), Cat's Speed (C level), Gambling (D level), Shipwright (D level)]

[Strength Evaluation: A top contender for Vice Admiral rank with unparalleled Armament Haki, a demon king's aura, mastery of swordsmanship, and boundless potential. However, true strength requires the tempering of blood and fire. Evolve, young one, the unyielding wind and winter's chill bless your path.]

Scanning the panel, Leno noticed his latest SS-level talent, Pianist, acquired from Elegia's king, Gordon. In addition, his Observation Haki had broken through from A to S rank during his time in Elegia.

Leno was steadily addressing his weaknesses. His Life Return talent had now reached B level, enhancing his control over his body, even allowing for minor transformations. This was proving to be particularly useful.

Leno put down his bottle and glanced at Nami and Nojiko, who were curiously watching him.

"What's up? Something wrong?" Leno asked.

Nami, always the braver of the two, blinked and asked, "Uncle, are you really Leno?"

"Uncle?" Leno rubbed his chin. "Am I that old?"

Nojiko rolled her eyes. "Brother!"

Nami quickly chimed in, "Leno Brother!"

"Do you know me?" Leno asked curiously.

Nojiko pulled out a newspaper. "Bell-mère keeps a collection of Hunter Guild newspapers."

The photos showed Leno, Kuina, and the others when they docked at the acrobat island, detailing Leno's solo defeat of the Scarlet Fleet.

Of course, the media exaggerated. In reality, Leno barely lifted a finger during that battle, but the credit all went to him. It was almost as if he had single-handedly chased down the entire Scarlet Fleet.

"Leno Brother, how can I become as strong as you?" Nami asked, her big eyes filled with curiosity.

Leno smiled, picking up Nami and Nojiko and setting them on the bar stools. It was tiring to keep bending down.

He asked the bartender for two glasses of juice for them. "Why do you want to become strong?"

Nami clenched her fists. "I want to protect Bell-mère, Nojiko, and everyone!"

"I want to, too!" Nojiko added, raising her juice high.

Seeing Bell-mère injured had deeply affected them. But Leno's effortless victory over the fish-men, who had terrorized the village, left both girls in awe.

"If you want to get stronger, you need to work hard. Can you handle it?" Leno asked.

"How hard?" Nami questioned innocently.

"Very hard."

"Harder than growing oranges?"

"Much harder. A hundred times harder."

Nami sipped her juice, her cheeks puffed up in determination. It would be hard, but she wasn't afraid if it meant protecting her loved ones.

"You can't just endure hardships," Leno continued. "Bell-mère also needs to agree."

"Why?" Nojiko asked.

"Because training means going to a new place, away from Bell-mère."

Leno hinted at Shimotsuki Village, thinking of Koushirou's dojo. Nami and Nojiko didn't necessarily have to train in swordsmanship, but the disciplined environment would be beneficial.

However, the thought of separating from Bell-mère made them hesitate.

Meanwhile, near Town's coast, several panicked fish-men found themselves cornered, their ship ablaze and sinking.

Bell-mère and the villagers were on the attack, driving the fish-men back into the sea. She realized then that Leno had orchestrated everything, even giving them a fighting chance against weaker fish-men to build their courage and spirit.

Bell-mère and the others, carrying their defeated foes, returned to the village. Near the entrance, they found wooden stakes with bound captives and a flamboyant figure performing knife-throwing tricks.

"Buggy Throwing Knife!"

"Wow, Buggy is amazing!"

The children applauded, their cheers echoing in the air.

Amidst the excitement, Buggy soaked in the praise, grinning broadly.

"Just a little warm-up, nothing much!" he boasted.

"How about I up the difficulty? Blindfolded sword throwing! Who wants to see?"

Bell-mère stepped forward, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "What's going on?"

A few children hurriedly explained, recounting the events that had just unfolded.

"Yeah, and who are you, anyway? You're not from our Cocosia Village."

The villagers, their spirits still high from defeating the fish-men, showed no mercy to the cowardly onlookers.

Back in the village, cheers erupted when Bell-mère and the others returned, dragging the corpses of the fish-men behind them. The once-feared attackers were now lifeless, and the villagers felt a rush of relief and victory.

"Nami! Nojiko!" Bell-mère's daughters ran out of the tavern, throwing themselves into her arms, their joy uncontainable.

Inside the tavern, Leno kept his distance from the celebrations. He took out his Den Den Mushi and called Kuina. "How's the situation?"

"We found it," Kuina reported. "It's a large area, just as you suspected."

Kuina, Uta, and Cole stood atop a mountain, surveying the vast valley below. Leno had asked them to scout the area, partly to keep Uta away from the battle and partly to test Kuina's ability to handle things independently.

The mountain winds rustled the trees, and Kuina reconfirmed with the old man in a cowboy hat. "So, all of this land is included?"

"Yes," he nodded. "This entire hunting ground spans a radius of twenty miles."

Leno, listening closely, was intrigued. A vast, undeveloped land like this held incredible potential. "A twenty-kilometer radius, you say? That's plenty of space."

Leno's mind raced with possibilities. "Why not turn the hunting ground into a testing site for hunters? If twenty kilometers isn't enough, we could extend it over the sea and underwater."

He was already planning in his mind. "The Conomi Islands have plenty of uninhabited spaces. Finding suitable locations won't be an issue."

Bell-mère handed Leno a beer, clinking glasses with him. "Thanks."

"No problem," Leno replied. "By the way, I heard you have a history with the Scarlet Fleet."

Bell-mère nodded, recounting her past run-ins with the notorious group during her time in the Kingdom of Oiket.

"So that's where Nami and Nojiko are from," Leno said thoughtfully.

Bell-mère's expression shifted as Leno invited her to join the Hunter Guild. "But my strength isn't enough," she hesitated.

Leno smiled. "The Hunter Guild isn't just about combat. We'll have teams for medical support, logistics, and other roles."

Bell-mère's doubts faded as she listened to Leno's detailed plans. He even offered to arrange training for Nami and Nojiko at a dojo, ensuring they'd be in good hands.

Moved by Leno's consideration, Bell-mère agreed. "Alright, I'll join!"

Leno raised his glass. "Welcome to the Hunter Guild!"

Bell-mère signed the application form, cementing her place in the guild. Just then, Nami and Nojiko burst in, their eyes wide with excitement. "Mom, are you really joining the Hunter Guild?"

Bell-mère nodded, and Leno explained. "Being a hunter means pursuing your goals and dreams, whatever they may be."

Nami looked up at Leno, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What's your dream, Leno?"

"My dream? To make the Hunter Guild something that can truly change the world."

With the evil dragon gang defeated, Leno's journey in Cocosia Village was coming to an end. He, Buggy, Kuina, and Bell-mère gathered Nami and Nojiko, preparing to set sail once more from the Jumeta Islands.

Meanwhile, deep in the ocean, an octopus fish-man named Hatchan raced through the waters, dragging a massive sea cow behind him.

"Momoo, slow down! What's got you so scared?" Hatchan clung tightly as the panicked creature sped on, desperate to escape something unseen.

Elsewhere, at a secret World Government base, Spandam addressed the elite CP9 agents before him.

"Rob Lucci! Kaku! Kalifa! Your mission is to infiltrate East Blue and gather intelligence on the Hunter Guild."

Lucci's pigeon cocked its head. "What's the objective?"

"Collect all possible information about the Hunter Guild, its president Leno, and its members. This data will help the World Government assess the guild's threat level."

Far away, on a sunlit beach, Kuzan, the former Admiral, stretched leisurely, his vacation nearing its end.

"Looks like it's time to get back in the game."

He picked up his Den Den Mushi, dialing an old contact. "Hello, Morgans. Ready for an exclusive?"

The voice on the other end shouted in surprise. "Kuzan, you old rogue! I thought you were dead! Where are you?"

Kuzan smirked. "Let's just say, I've got a story you won't want to miss."

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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg

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