Chapter 292: The Healthy Cultivation of Golden Leeks

The next morning.

The long-awaited panel notification finally appeared.

[You have acquired a new profession—'Musician'. Your stamina has increased slightly, Charm +2, you have gained 2 free attribute points, and 1 skill point!]

"Is being a musician merely a side profession that increases charm?"

Looking at the details of the new side profession on the panel, Adrian felt a bit disappointed.

"I was hoping that musicians, like doctors or navigators, could increase my intelligence attribute…" {Is this satire!?}

After a moment of sighing, he stopped dwelling on it.

At the very least, obtaining a new side profession also provided extra free attribute points!

Glancing at the abundant experience points accumulated on the panel, Adrian instantly invested them into the 'Musician' profession, immediately upgrading it to the side profession limit.

[...]

[Your new profession 'Musician' has been upgraded to LV10 (MAX). Your stamina has increased slightly, Charm +18, you have gained 18 free attribute points, and 9 skill points!]

With the 5-point boost from the [Hero's Dagger], Adrian's charm attribute reached 90 points.

All 20 free attribute points obtained through acquiring and upgrading 'Musician' were invested into the intelligence attribute, raising it to 2044 points!

Additionally, his skill points increased to 80.

"Although I have enough skill points to max out a skill..."

Adrian opened his personal skill list, shaking his head slowly.

"But I still haven't found a suitable skill to upgrade! I don't think I want to increase Armament Haki or Observation Haki. Better save them for now!"

The 'Musician' didn't come with any new skills or specialties.

This might be because, in the panel's assessment, musicians are not of significant value.

Adrian didn't mind this.

"Hmm..."

The songstress groaned softly, waking from her sleep. {/OoO\}

"Adrian... stop it!"

"Wake up."

Adrian extended his right hand, gently pinching Elizabeth's nose, careful not to use too much force. He gently carassed her beautiful face to her plump lips. He leaned forward and lightly pecked on her lips and touched her forehead with his.

Seeing her on the verge of waking up, he backed away and waited.

Elizabeth's sleepy eyes blinked a few times, gradually regaining clarity.

Recalling her words upon waking, the songstress blushed, casting an angry yet embarrassed glance at Adrian.

"I just… this is all your fault, Adrian!"

Adrian raised an eyebrow, teasing, "Last night—no, from yesterday afternoon until late at night, it seemed like you couldn't wait to devour me whole, right?"

Reminded of this, Elizabeth's mind was flooded with memories of last night's madness and ecstasy, causing her entire body to blush. She clutched the bedsheet then slightly turned her body.

The silky bed sheet, instead of hiding, gave more allure, defining the shape of her curves, accentuating her incredibly feminine body.

Mumbling a few sounds, Elizabeth awkwardly changed the topic while covering her sensitive areas.

"Adrian, those songs from yesterday..."

"'Mariage d'Amour', and..."

Adrian deliberately dragged out his tone. After more than ten seconds, under Elizabeth's longing and resentful gaze, he finally named the next piece.

"'To Elizabeth'?"

"That's right!"

Even after an exhilarating night, Elizabeth still felt a thrill she couldn't contain.

"Is that piece really called that?"

"If you wish, you can also call it 'For Eliza' or 'To Elisa,'" Adrian replied without a hint of concern.

He was just a carefree transporter of music. Playing tunes to please a beautiful woman was enough for him. Being a musician was merely an inconsequential side benefit.

"Adrian, I..."

Adrian's casual and carefree attitude clearly stirred the singer's emotions once again. Elizabeth's eyes, brimming with emotion, gazed at him intently.

"Don't say anything more. If I keep teasing you, the river crabs from the deep sea will come looking for me." Adrian leaned forward, and pushed his lips against her, a small battle of tongues.

After being a bit dazed from the intense kissing. She loosened her hands on the sheets, then interlocked her fingers behind Adrianm and pulled him forward.

Leaning on his chest, she asked in a whisper. "Are you leaving again?"

Unable to say anything, Adrian hold her head, then her back.

"At end, I will forever be your and you'll be mine." Reaching her face, he held them with both his hands and pull in for a kiss.

"You can just-"

He kissed, stopping her words then pulled back. "Don't."

…

In the afternoon.

After leaving two piano scores behind, Adrian waved goodbye to the reluctant songstress.

At the port of the Kingdom of Reveland, on the deck of the Abyss.

Shanks leaned lazily against the ship's railing, holding an empty wine bottle, staring idly at the bustling crowd on the pier. Maybe, he could find a good singer for his own crew but first he had to leave this ship, didn't he?

"Doctor Moy, did Adrian leave any message about when he'll return?"

The bandaged Doctor Moy shook his head, "No."

"He clearly said we'd set off today! It's already afternoon!"

Shanks scratched his head in frustration. "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have spent all my spare change last night!"

Doctor Moy was about to comfort Shanks but held back after hearing his latter remark. 'A patient cannot have alcohol.'

"Get ready to depart."

A familiar voice sounded beside them. At the same time, the sails on the mast began to unfurl on their own. Seeing this, Shanks and Doctor Moy immediately understood that 'captain' had returned.

The Abyss slowly left the port. Shanks glanced around and stealthily tossed the wine bottle into the sea.

Adrian's voice came again, "Shanks, come here!"

Shanks grimaced, "I haven't even done anything today!"

"Why are you feeling guilty?" Adrian appeared on the deck, "I've found you a swordsmanship instructor."

Walking towards him, Shanks asked, "Is the instructor you?"

"No, it's Golden Lion!"

Shanks instantly perked up, quickening his pace. "So, I wasn't dreaming that time?"

"What dream?" Adrian looked at Shanks, puzzled, and recalled the events from half a month ago.

"When you found the Float-Float Fruit."

Shanks explained, "I was injured back then, but I still saw the battle between you and Golden Lion. I even saw you… kill Shiki Golden Lion."

At this point, Shanks looked at Adrian in amazement. As a former member of the Roger Pirates who had fought in the Battle of Edd War, Shanks had a deep impression of Golden Lion's overwhelming power. He never imagined that such a formidable enemy in Captain Roger's eyes would be so easily dealt with by Adrian.

"When the Float-Float Fruit reappeared, I faintly remember seeing a ghostly white figure resembling Golden Lion just before I passed out... I always thought I was dreaming."

"The Golden Lion is indeed dead," Adrian explained casually.

"You didn't see a ghost that time; it was the ghost form of Golden Lion."

"Ghost form?!"

Shanks was startled.

"Do people really have souls?"

"What kind of nonsense is that?! Did you forget about my fruit?"

Ghost!

Shanks gave a sheepish smile.

With a ripple, Rumi used his power to transport them into a room within the fortified castle.

Landing on the floor, Shanks couldn't help but ask, "If Golden Lion has a spirit form, does Captain Roger also..."

"Stop daydreaming about things that can't happen!"

Adrian pointed to a corner of the room where two famous swords were placed.

"Go ahead and pick one, Oto or Kogarashi. I think you've heard of these names."

"The Golden Lion's swords!"

Shanks said with a touch of excitement. As a swordsman, how could he not be interested in legendary blades?

Previously, Shanks had always used the sailor's cutlass forged by the blacksmith uncle from Burefu Village.

Although that cutlass was much better than the ordinary swords that cost fifty thousand Beli, how could it compare to Golden Lion's swords?

Moreover, Shanks' cutlass had already been sliced into several pieces of scrap iron by Adrian's spirit pressure light sword in their previous battle!

With quick steps, Shanks rushed to the corner of the room. After a moment of observation and selection, he returned with one of the swords.

Adrian glanced casually and saw which sword Shanks had chosen.

Currently, this golden leek named Shanks was planted in his own field.

Without those solo adventures, Adrian needed to consider how to cultivate this promising seedling named Shanks.

After all, if nurtured well, it would be worth reaping later!

As for how to cultivate Shanks…

First, let's improve his swordsmanship skills!

Golden Lion has already been worn down for a while, and Shanks had fully recovered from his previous injuries, so now was the perfect time to start a new cultivation plan.

Adrian raised his head and looked towards the air, "Rumi, bring Golden Lion into this room."

"Oh, okay!"

A clear voice of Rumi came from the void.

Moments later.

The semi-transparent figure of Golden Lion, emitting a faint white glow, appeared in the corner of the room.

"It's really Golden Lion!"

Shanks' pupils slightly contracted, and his hand couldn't help but tighten around the hilt of his new sword.

"Jihahaha!"

Despite being imprisoned by Rumi for a while, Golden Lion's madness remained undiminished.

"Shut up!"

With a single command from Adrian, Golden Lion's wild laughter abruptly stopped under the domination of ghost control.

Shanks had a peculiar expression in his eyes.

This legend of the old era…

Even in death, it seems he can't find peace…

Adrian placed his hand on Shanks' shoulder, pushing him forward while withdrawing the suppression over Golden Lion.

"Golden Lion, I don't need to introduce this one, right?"

"Straw Hat! Roger's heir!"

The Golden Lion's spirit form suddenly lunged forward, nearly face-to-face with Shanks.

Shanks wore a stiff smile, subtly taking two steps back.

A small cluster of ghost energy gathered on Adrian's fingertip, instantly connecting into Golden Lion's body.

As the ghost energy flowed, Golden Lion's previously broken legs regenerated, and two ghost energy light swords identical to Oto and Kogarashi appeared in his hands. His body also looked more solid.

Shanks turned his head to look at Adrian.

"Adrian, what are you trying to do?"

"Just found you a good sparring partner."

Adrian stood silently to the side.

"Golden Lion, attack!"