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"Oh? Is that so?" A faint smile curled at the corner of Crocodile's mouth.
"That guy, and you, you're both strange people!"
"Comrades, huh?" He murmured in his heart. Crocodile had to admit, he was beginning to enjoy this feeling, being trusted by others.
In the pirate crew he had previously founded, even he couldn't completely trust those subordinates whose strength was far inferior to his own.
The dangers of the sea, besides the sea itself, mostly came from humans! But this new group, in just two short days, had already shown him something different. Silently taking another step forward, Crocodile moved up to stand side-by-side with Jason.
"Watch closely. This kid… I don't have high hopes for him, looking like that." Puffing on his cigarette, Crocodile commented.
"You've studied him a lot?" Jason asked.
"When you've been through a lot and seen enough, you understand more," Crocodile replied.
"Heh," Jason responded with just a chuckle, then said no more.
About fifteen minutes later, they saw Trens approaching with a dejected face, eyes clouded with a dull gray.
"It's Trens!" Jason's eyes lit up and he was about to rush over and ask what happened, but Crocodile stopped him.
"Look at his face, something's not right." At that, Jason took a closer look and immediately noticed Trens' expression of disappointment.
Just as Trens stepped out of the blacksmith's shop, a mocking voice came from behind him.
"You, a broke nobody, think you can win over Lusha? Let me tell you, one month after you left, Lusha was already with me. You've got no money, no strength, where do you get the confidence to think Lusha would choose you?" A tall, skinny man with slicked-back blond hair walked to the doorway, his arm around a woman. He looked down on Trens with a condescending sneer.
"That necklace, you spent a whole year working to get that, didn't you? But I've given her hundreds of things like that."
"You're so annoying," The woman beside him giggled shyly, lightly tapping the man with a small hammer.
"Kid, you're broke, you're weak, and you look like a coward. I really pity you. The goddess in your heart? Under me, she was nothing more than a moaning plaything. I've had my fill of her. Truly pathetic!"
Letting go of the woman, the blond man strode up to Trens' ear and whispered: "Oh, and that necklace? It's still worth a bit. Sell it, buy yourself some decent clothes. Then maybe, just maybe, you'll have a shot with the ladies."
The already disheartened Trens exploded in fury at these final words. A nameless fire surged through his chest.
Suddenly, he lifted his head and roared: "What did you just say!?"
"Heed my words: you're a weakling! In this lifetime, you'll always be crushed underfoot by powerhouses like me!" The blond man blinked in surprise, then scoffed: "You know what? Guys like you, I've already crushed five of you this year alone!"
"Somu, don't stoop to his level. He's just a penniless loser," The woman standing at the doorway finally spoke.
"Lusha!" Hearing her voice, Trens clenched his fists tightly.
Just a moment ago, he was filled with immense hope, fantasizing about a beautiful future. Now, looking at the necklace in his hand, Trens felt nothing but bitter irony.
The pure, innocent, perfect goddess from his dreams... turned out to be like this.
The idealized image in his heart shattered in an instant. And with it, Trens' dream also cracked, "snap!"
The Lusha in his memories had a simple and pure appearance. She never wore makeup, never dressed in flashy gold- and silver-trimmed clothes, and never spoke with the rotten arrogance she showed now. She used to clearly stand against evildoers.
She was brave. She had a strong sense of justice.
But time, silently and gradually, had changed everything.
"I understand now!" Suddenly, Trens smiled. He extended his hand and held out the necklace to Lusha.
"This is something I wanted to give you a year ago. Unfortunately, I had no money back then. But after a year and three months of hard work, I finally made it happen."
"Although…"
Trens paused, then stepped forward to face Lusha directly.
"Although it's a bit late, this necklace still belongs in your hands!"
Grabbing her hand, Trens firmly pressed the necklace into her palm.
Then, he took two steps back.
"Now, I've accomplished my goal. And my dream… has ended!"
Time had changed everything, but not his determination. Trens was the type who would crawl on his knees if he had to in order to accomplish what he set out to do. No matter the outcome, he would face it head-on!
"Kid, are you pretending I don't exist?" The blond-haired man growled darkly.
"You just called me a weakling!"
Trens turned around and stared directly at him.
Caught off guard by Trens' calm and unwavering gaze, Somu froze. A strange, inexplicable sense of fear rose within him.
But it was quickly replaced by rage.
"This punk dares to look at me like that!?"
That look, like how he usually looked at the weak, was a challenge, an insult!
"You're dead. You're definitely dead! I swear, you won't live past today!" Somu spat the words through clenched teeth, furious beyond measure.
He vowed that as soon as he got back, he'd have someone finish this kid off.
But to his shock, Trens didn't even flinch at the threat. Not a single ripple passed across his face.
There was no fear in his eyes.
On the contrary, this boy, who was only about 170 cm tall and barely reached his chin, suddenly flicked his wrist. Out of nowhere, a long gun appeared in his hand.
Then, with a smooth motion, he rotated the weapon,
"Ka-cha!" , the click of the safety being released echoed.
A second later, a cold, deadly chill pressed against Somu's forehead. The moment he realized what it was, Somu's face went pale as a ghost.
"I disagree with you calling me a weakling. Because… you have no idea what I've been through in the past year and three months." Trens' voice was calm, but chilling to the bone.
Somu's back was drenched in sweat. His legs were trembling uncontrollably.
The infamous pampered son of Alubarna had been scared senseless. Facing this lone boy with a weapon, who showed zero concern for his threats, he was stunned and terrified.
"This gun is against your forehead. The safety's already off. If I pull the trigger…" Trens paused.
"Bang! Your head will burst open like a watermelon."
"Thud!"
Somu fell to his knees, utterly terrified.
Looking down at this man, who just moments ago was strutting like a proud swan, Trens showed neither contempt nor mockery. He simply asked one calm question:
"Now, tell me… who's the weakling?"
Crocodile said solemnly, seriously, respectfully, and with heartfelt gratitude.
(End Of The Chapter)