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Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: My Name Is Raymond — Kaya’s Distant Cousin and Her Betrothed Since Childhood!

Somewhere in the East Blue.

A standard-issue Marine warship, white with blue trim, was sailing on the sea. The number "16-PX06" was painted on its side, and the Marine flag with its blue seagull emblem fluttered noisily in the sea breeze.

Raymond leaned against the warship's railing, the sea wind lifting his deep blue Marine greatcoat. The pristine sheathed sword at his waist reflected a blinding, cold glint in the sunlight.

After getting Captain Nezumi's permission, he had used a special order under the pretext of searching for pirate clues to forcibly board the command rooms of five warships.

As expected, system prompts popped up one after another, and he received five body enhancement rewards in succession.

However, apart from the first two enhancements which had a noticeable effect, the subsequent three showed significantly diminished returns.

Raymond narrowed his eyes, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the hilt of his sword. He immediately analyzed two possible reasons.

First, the system had a "marginal effect" on rewards for completing the same objective.

For repetitive actions like [Conquer a standard Marine warship], the more times it was completed, the more severe the decline in benefits. It was like repeatedly grinding a low-level dungeon in a game; the experience points would get lower and lower.

Second, it was related to [Potential Breakthrough].

Everyone's potential is different, so the limits they can reach are naturally different. For example, the Giant Tribe is born with formidable physiques; even without training, their individual combat power can reach a level equivalent to a bounty of tens of millions after reaching adulthood.

Raymond had no special bloodline or monstrous physical constitution; he had the aptitude of an ordinary person in the world of One Piece.

Although he claimed his combat power was at a small-fry level, this was only because his standards were high, and he knew how vast the world of One Piece was.

At the 16th Branch, at least, he could make it as a commissioned officer. In terms of combat power, he was definitely in the elite class, capable of easily taking on several adult men in a fight. But this had also consumed a good deal of his original potential.

After receiving multiple system rewards, his potential was now about to reach its limit, which was why the system's enhancement effects were getting weaker.

In other words, his strength had currently hit a bottleneck for an ordinary person, making it difficult to advance even an inch!

"It seems just 'checking in' and 'backstabbing' won't work anymore. I need to find a 'crewmate' as soon as possible to unlock the [Potential Breakthrough] function!

...But will this even work? I'm not a pirate, so where would I get a crewmate?"

At that moment, a Marine soldier hurried over, snapped to attention, and saluted. "Reporting, Lieutenant! My family in Shells Town has sent intelligence!"

"Oh, let's hear it!" Raymond nodded.

This soldier happened to be from Shells Town. After understanding the situation, Raymond had immediately arranged for the soldier to contact his family and ask if anything new had happened in town recently.

"I heard Captain Morgan recently captured a pirate hunter and has had him tied up in the branch's courtyard, exposed to the sun without food or water for ten whole days..."

"It's already been ten days..." Raymond muttered to himself.

Luffy was set to appear right at the end of Zoro's third week of fasting, which meant he had eleven days until he could receive the "Captain's Gift Package."

During this time, he had to resolve his potential issue as quickly as possible. Otherwise, if the "Captain's Gift Package" yielded another [Physical Fitness Enhancement], the loss would outweigh the gain.

"What's the nearest island ahead?"

"Reporting, Lieutenant, ahead is Syrup Village, a small village focused on fishing and agriculture..."

"Full speed ahead! We're heading to Syrup Village for supplies!"

"Yes, Lieutenant!"

...

At that moment, Usopp was leading his "Usopp Pirates"—three children dragging wooden sticks as swords—on their "daily patrol" along the coastline.

"Listen up, my men!" Usopp's nose was held high in the air, his cape flapping comically in the sea breeze.

"Yesterday, my subordinate reported that the most vicious pirates in the entire East Blue, the Krieg Pirates, have set their sights on our village!

But don't be afraid! With Captain Usopp here, I will definitely protect our Syrup Village!"

"Wow!" The children's eyes sparkled. "What about the Marines? Captain Usopp, are you afraid of the Marines?"

"Hahaha!"

Usopp laughed and patted his chest. "Last time, a Marine Admiral came with tens of thousands of soldiers. The moment he saw my back, he was so scared he fled with his tail between his legs!"

"What's a Marine Admiral? Is he as strong as Major Leman who came to our village last time?" a little boy asked innocently, biting his finger.

"Major Leman? That guy doesn't even rank!" He waved his arms dramatically. "A Marine Admiral is a monster who can sink an island with one punch! But even a guy like that, upon seeing me, has to—"

His voice stopped abruptly.

Because at the end of the coastline, a white and blue Marine warship had suddenly appeared, the seagull flag on its mast especially glaring in the sunlight.

Usopp's long nose twitched violently, and the boast suddenly got stuck in his throat.

"Oh no! It's a Marine warship! Could they be here to capture our 'Usopp Pirates'? U... Captain Usopp, what should we do?"

The three children were already huddled together in fear, their wooden sticks clattering to the ground.

Usopp's throat bobbed, and cold sweat dripped down his long nose. He forced himself to stand straight, but his legs wouldn't stop trembling.

"D-don't be afraid! With Captain Usopp here, they won't dare do anything to you!"

He said this, but in his heart, he was silently praying that this group of Marines wasn't here for him.

Soon, the warship's gangplank slammed heavily onto the pier with a startling thud.

A squad of fully armed Marine soldiers disembarked in neat formation, the sound of their metal boots on the wooden planks like a death god's countdown.

Raymond walked slowly down the gangplank. He first scanned his surroundings, then led his subordinates forward with a deep voice.

When he reached Usopp, he suddenly stopped, his blade-sharp gaze immediately locking onto the long-nosed boy.

"Hey, long-nose. Are you Captain Usopp?"

As soon as he said this, Usopp could no longer hold it together. His face turned deathly pale, and he collapsed to the ground. The three children behind him also cried out and scattered like startled birds.

"Th-that... Mr. Marine, sir, my name is U... Usopp. N-no 'Captain,' I'm not a pirate!" He tried to get up and run, but his legs felt as if they were filled with lead, and he could only uselessly scrabble at the sand to scoot backward.

Seeing Usopp's pathetic state, Raymond didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

The main reason he had come to Syrup Village for "supplies" was that he remembered there was a potential "accomplice" here.

Of course, this candidate was definitely not the "'Lying Fruit' ability user" before him.

It was the former captain of the Black Cat Pirates, currently in hiding at Kaya's mansion—Kuro of a Hundred Plans.

Although Kuro's strength wasn't immense, he was still considered a notable figure in the East Blue.

Raymond was mainly interested in his non-combat abilities; if he could recruit him, he could help handle many troublesome affairs.

"Usopp, is it? Lead the way for me. You know how to get to Kaya's house, right?"

"K... Kaya's house?" Hearing his goddess's name, Usopp regained some of his senses.

He boldly said, "Mr. Marine, sir, what business do you have with Kaya... She's not well and never sees visitors!"

"Oh? You know her?" A hint of amusement appeared in Raymond's eyes.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Raymond. I'm Kaya's distant cousin, and we were betrothed before birth. I've come to visit... for the wedding, of course!"

"B-betrothed before birth!?" Usopp was struck as if by lightning, completely frozen on the spot.

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