Cheng Xiaoyu nonchalantly picked up a piece of paper, pulled out a quill pen, dipped the tip in ink, and slowly and intently began to sketch the scene before him.
This was the second time he had left his own sketch after a massacre; the first time was of his military Kuro.
After finishing the drawing, Cheng Xiaoyu gently nailed the paper onto a charred ship plank.
After doing all this, Cheng Xiaoyu's gaze swept over the weapon in Gin's hands, which consisted of two large iron balls connected by an iron rod.
"Hey, Gin. This thing in your hands—it looks exactly like a chef's spoon."
Gin suddenly looked up, his face full of protest: "It's my weapon! It has nothing to do with cooking!"
Cheng Xiaoyu acted as if he hadn't heard, "From today onwards, you are the chef of the Shadow."
"Wh-what?" Gin was startled, looking up at Cheng Xiaoyu, his face showing an expression that said, "You're joking, right?"
"I'm not joking. Don't you think it looks a lot like a chef's tool?" Cheng Xiaoyu said with a half-smile, "Coincidentally, our ship needs a chef, and that position is now yours."
"Chef!? But I can't cook at all!" Gin almost shouted, his face full of disbelief.
He, the great Demon Gin, once the main combat force under Krieg, was now being assigned to the kitchen to stir-fry?
Cheng Xiaoyu ignored his resistance, "Can't? Then learn. This isn't a discussion, it's an order."
Gin's body stiffened; it was an irresistible pressure, and he had nowhere to escape.
Finally, he lowered his head and muttered unwillingly, "Understood, Captain…"
Cheng Xiaoyu nodded in satisfaction: "Very good, then don't just stand there. Get up and get to work, I'm really hungry."
Gin reluctantly got up, his face stiff as he dragged those two "spoons" away.
As soon as he left, Kuro couldn't help but chuckle, "Chef Gin? Tsk tsk, and he's still a Demon, that sounds a bit comical."
"Don't laugh. Maybe this guy can actually make something."
Cheng Xiaoyu waved his hand lightly, turned around, and instructed, "Go to a nearby village and procure some fresh ingredients to fill the ship's reserves. And while you're at it, test out our new chef's skills."
Kuro nodded and turned to carry out the order.
… …
However, things developed somewhat unexpectedly.
A few hours later, a fragrant aroma wafted from the ship's cabin, stunning everyone.
"What is this?" Cheng Xiaoyu walked into the cabin, smelling the aroma in the air, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.
He saw several steaming dishes on the table, brightly colored and even somewhat exquisitely presented!
"Cough… I just made them casually while I was free…"
Gin stood expressionlessly to the side, but his slightly trembling eyelids betrayed his inner nervousness.
Cheng Xiaoyu picked up a piece of meat with a fork and put it into his mouth, tasted it, then slightly raised an eyebrow, revealing a satisfied expression.
After swallowing a bite, he said faintly, "Not bad! Delicious~~~"
Gin's steady hands and precise control allowed him to perfectly manage the heat, and every spoonful of seasoning was just right.
Isn't this a natural born chef's physique!
"I knew you could do it! It seems your potential as a chef might even be stronger than your potential as a combatant," Cheng Xiaoyu praised.
Gin's lips moved slightly, and he could only swallow all his emotions, nodding.
… …
After dinner, Cheng Xiaoyu returned to his room and lay down.
He casually waved his Shadow ability, condensing a Black Dagger from his palm, with black mist swirling around the blade, looking intimidatingly cold.
But as he held the dagger, his brows furrowed slightly, and he was still not entirely satisfied.
Although this thing was very convenient for sneak attacks, when facing strong enemies head-on, the shortcomings of the Shadow Dagger were completely exposed.
Not only did it lack weight and texture, but it was also very difficult to cover with Armament Haki.
Cheng Xiaoyu began to think, it was time to get himself a weapon.
His gaze swept across the weapon store, and several options had already appeared in his mind.
Swords? He didn't like these traditional weapons; although his swordsmanship had greatly improved at Isshin Dojo, Kuina was a genius swordswoman.
With her around, there was no need to duplicate.
Bare-handed? Still too dangerous.
Finally, Cheng Xiaoyu's gaze settled on a weapon deep within the interface.
It was a modern-looking sniper rifle, with dark patterns engraved on its black body, cold and full of murderous intent.
"Chief Qi's model?" Cheng Xiaoyu's lips curled into a slight, cold smile. He confirmed the purchase without hesitation.
[-5000 points, weapon 'Shadow Raid Sniper' purchased successfully!]
[Shadow Raid Sniper]
[Magazine Capacity: ∞ (Shadow Energy)]
[Special Ability: Bullets can be imbued with Armament Haki]
The next second, a dark, heavy sniper rifle appeared in his hand, the grip feeling cold and solid.
He raised the gun and looked through the scope at the dark sea outside the window. The scene seemed to merge with him, and the sniper rifle felt like an extension of darkness itself.
This "Shadow Raid Sniper" was even handier than he had imagined, and the infinite bullet setting saved him a lot of trouble.
Through the scope, his vision seemed to extend into endless darkness. The sea under the night sky was like a huge hunting ground in his eyes, waiting for prey to appear.
Suddenly, a black dot appeared at the edge of the scope, slowly approaching the Shadow.
It wasn't Hawkeye's iconic coffin boat, but an ordinary wooden boat, swaying in the waves, looking particularly small.
There was only a blurry figure on the boat, difficult to discern in the night.
As the small boat got closer, the figure on board gradually became clearer.
That tall and burly figure, that distinctive iron jaw, who else could it be but Axe-Hand Morgan?
[Former Marine Colonel, Morgan, bounty 5 million Berries.] The system also promptly provided the bounty amount at this moment.
"Heh, daring to go out to sea in a prison uniform. It looks like he's already escaped from Garp's custody after breaking out of prison? Quite bold."
Cheng Xiaoyu muttered to himself, a hint of mockery in his tone.
He opened the cabin window, and the sea breeze, mixed with a salty smell, blew in.
Even though the Shadow was still sailing, he steadily raised the sniper rifle and began to aim.
"How can I not accept food delivered to my doorstep?"
He held his breath and gently pulled the trigger.
"Bang!"
A deafening gunshot broke the silence of the night, and the powerful recoil made Cheng Xiaoyu pause slightly.
The flash of fire from the sniper rifle disappeared in the darkness, and then, a burst of blood mist exploded on the distant wooden boat.
Morgan, still in his prison uniform, hadn't even reacted to what happened before he was shot in the head, falling headfirst onto the boat deck.
Cheng Xiaoyu nodded in satisfaction, whispering, "From now on, this is my true fangs."
At this moment, a soft knock came from the door.
He didn't turn around, simply saying, "Come in."