Chapter 27: Invitation, Map Unlocked
After standing guard for ten minutes and finally building a simple wooden shelter, Cheng Lang dismantled the protective blocks.
He blinked in surprise when he noticed Nami emerging with Kuya Mi.
"When did you get together with Mi?"
He hadn't even realized Nami was gone while he was building.
Nami spread her hands innocently.
"This is the self-protection ability of a weak, pitiful girl."
Cheng Lang waved her off and turned his attention back to the others.
He pulled Usopp and Kaya out from the shelter. Kaya still hadn't woken.
Usopp grinned weakly, though his back bore five shallow wounds. None were deep, but they looked painful.
Cheng Lang produced a steak.
"Eat this. It should help you recover."
Usopp chewed eagerly.
"Good… tasty."
"Eh?! Meat!" Luffy rushed over immediately.
With a sigh, Cheng Lang pulled out two more cuts of beef—spoils from slain Minecraft cows he had planned to enjoy himself.
Luffy devoured his portion with a grin.
"This beef is so tender! Delicious!"
Soon, both Luffy and Usopp's wounds began to heal before their eyes.
The restorative effect of Minecraft food—like chicken legs restoring health when full—was real here too.
Luffy flexed his arm, the scratches gone. His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"It's amazing! Eating heals injuries!"
He turned to Cheng Lang.
"Cheng Lang, do you want to be my partner?"
"Sure," Cheng Lang replied without hesitation. "But Alvida and Kuya Mi must join too."
Luffy looked at them both, then smiled and extended his hand.
"Would you like to join my crew?"
Alvida raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure? I mocked Coby's dream before."
Luffy's grin widened.
"But you're different now, aren't you?"
Alvida chuckled.
"Indeed. Then I'll gladly join, Captain Luffy."
Kuya Mi, however, looked at Cheng Lang curiously.
"I thought you were going to be a pirate captain, Brother Cheng Lang."
"Me?" Cheng Lang scratched his head. Truthfully, he had considered it. But after a lifetime in modern society, suddenly becoming a pirate captain felt unnatural. More importantly, his strength wasn't enough yet. Facing Kuro had shown him that clearly.
"I just decided to become a pirate. And these guys are good people—the heroes of Orange Town. It's fine to join them."
Kuya Mi thought of the bonfire in Orange Town, the laughter and joy. She smiled and nodded.
"Then I'll join too. But… is it really okay for me?" Her voice wavered with self-doubt.
Luffy didn't hesitate.
"Yo! We've got three new friends!"
Zoro and Nami shook their heads, amused but not objecting.
Usopp, however, sat gloomily on the ground.
"What do we do now? That guy's too fast—appearing and disappearing like a ghost. We can't just stay here forever."
Silence fell.
It was still night, with hours until dawn.
"You four can stay here," Cheng Lang said. "This little box is sturdy. If he tries to break in, you can fight back with the slingshot. I'll reinforce it."
He added another layer of blocks, leaving a gap between the walls so damage could be detected quickly.
"If he dares rush in, Usopp can fire headshots nonstop."
Then Cheng Lang turned to Luffy and the others.
"Shall we go out and draw him out?"
They nodded.
Cheng Lang dug an exit through the ceiling. Each of the four looked out in a different direction. The distant village lay silent under the night sky.
Cheng Lang dropped to the ground, heading toward the place Kuro had fled.
Ding.
An experience orb merged into him.
In an instant, Cheng Lang reached level ten.
"…What?"
He had gained experience. But from who? Not Luffy or the others—they were visible.
That left only one possibility.
Kuro.
But why? He hadn't been defeated. He had simply run. Unless… was retreat counted as defeat? Or surrender?
Cheng Lang didn't dwell on it. He was too curious about what level ten unlocked.
A map.
At first, he thought it was redundant. But then he saw it: a minimap in the corner, and a larger map he could expand. The world was blacked out, but portraits of Luffy and the others were marked.
Then he discovered another feature—enemy coordinates.
He activated it.
Immediately, Kuro's icon appeared.
Though it wasn't a full world map, it was powerful enough.
Cheng Lang narrowed his eyes. After taking Luffy's punch and Zoro's slash, Kuro was badly injured.
Should he tell the others?
He hesitated, then shook his head. With the map, the hunter and hunted had switched. He wanted to test his strength—and Kuro couldn't hurt him anyway.
The others saw Cheng Lang stride off confidently. They exchanged glances, then split in different directions.
Cheng Lang walked straight toward Kuro's hiding place.
No need for pretense.
He drew his iron sword and advanced.
Shrubs lined the mansion's front yard. The map showed Kuro was here.
"Come out and fight me head-on. If you win, I'll let you go."
No response.
"My ability can track you. Hiding is pointless. You're the former captain of the Black Cat Pirates, Kuro."
He wasn't surprised at the silence. If Kuro were so easily flushed out, he wouldn't be described in the original story as having an IQ rivaling Ben Beckman's.
Ding!
Metal clashed.
Cheng Lang touched his neck in shock. A white mark streaked across his skin.
"So fast…"
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