[U.T] Ch 33: Kaya's Night Visit!

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Luen, along with Zoro and Usopp, quickly tracked down the suspicious-looking Jango in Syrup Village.

Jango didn't even put up a fight—he was like a helpless chick in front of Luen. With his help, they located the Black Cat Pirates and took care of them completely.

Most of the Black Cat Pirates were just low-level grunts, nobodies without even a white-grade Trait.

At best, the duo Sham and Buchi had blue-grade Traits, but they were basically useless to Luen.

The only one who gave him anything remotely decent was Jango.

→Hypnosis (Light Purple): Can hypnotize others to awaken their hidden potential and boost their physical strength, but they lose rational control.

After converting the Hypnosis Trait, Luen got three light-purple-grade Traits he could use to enhance himself.

Luen was pretty satisfied—turning trash into treasure, after all.

He used those three light-purple Traits further to strengthen his Superhuman Physique (Deep Purple).

Even if it's just a small upgrade, it's still progress. Luen's Trait inched closer to becoming Super-purple grade.

Strengthening such a high-grade Trait, even with just three light-purple ones, made Luen a bit hungry again.

But since it was only a light enhancement, the hunger wasn't overwhelming—no need to eat right away.

After that, Luen told Zoro and Usopp to tie up the pirates and hand them over to the villagers in Syrup Village.

The village wasn't exactly rich. Turning in the pirates for bounty money would really help the villagers improve their lives.

That's also why Luen brought Zoro and Usopp to deal with the Black Cat Pirates—let them handle the grunt work.

[Usopp is deeply moved and admires you. Bond level increased. Trait loading progress improved.]

Luen had already started loading a special Trait from Usopp—Ballad of Courage (Special).

He was a bit concerned at first—what if loading the Trait made him as timid as Usopp? That would be a disaster.

But the Trait System clarified: Usopp's cowardice was in his genes, not part of the Trait itself. Loading it wouldn't have any negative side effects.

So Luen went ahead with it.

That Ballad of Courage (Special) might just come in handy when it really counts.

As for Slingshot Sniper (Light Purple) and Inventor (Light Purple), they weren't of much use to Luen, so he didn't bother with them.

Besides he could always load them later if needed.

Once everything was wrapped up, Luen sat down for a big meal—leaving Zoro, Usopp, and even Luffy stunned by how much he ate. He fully restored his energy.

Afterward, under Kaya's arrangement, each of them picked a room to rest for the night.

The Going Merry still needed a final inspection before setting off.

Usopp, meanwhile, went back home to pack his things—ready to set sail with Luen and the others.

— — —

Inside Luen's Room

"Inhale… Exhale…"

After a relaxing hot shower, Luen leaned against the bed and cracked the window open just a bit.

Letting the sea breeze drift in, he used the ocean's natural energy to boost his Conqueror's Haki, empowered by his Born for the Sea (Super Gold) Trait.

Even with this Trait making him comfortable at sea, lying in a soft bed with the wind gently blowing through felt next-level relaxing.

Not to mention, it kept strengthening his Haki—which made the corners of his lips curl into a grin.

Knock knock knock…

Just then, there was a light knock at the door.

"Hm?"

Luen opened his eyes. Who would come knocking at this hour?

Curious, he got up and walked to the door.

Click.

He opened it… and was a little surprised by who stood there.

"Miss Kaya?"

He looked at Kaya—and then noticed the food cart behind her. His expression twitched slightly.

"Mr. Luen, you don't need to be so formal—just call me Kaya," she said, cheeks flushing as she gave a little cough.

Her body was frail, and the sea breeze blowing in from Luen's room had already made her cough a bit.

"Then you can call me Luen too, Kaya," he replied, gently closing the door a bit to block the wind, then added, "It's late, and you're not in the best health. What brings you here?"

Though judging by the food cart, Luen had already guessed her reason.

"I was worried you might still be hungry, so…"

Kaya's face turned redder as she gestured to the cart.

Luen's appetite had shocked even Luffy—Kaya was downright stunned.

And since he ate so often, she thought he might get hungry again, so she had Merry help push the food cart here. Once they got to the door, she told Merry to rest and knocked by herself.

"You didn't have to go through all that, Kaya."

Luen smiled helplessly.

With his Superhuman Physique (Deep Purple), Luen could control his daily food intake.

Normally, he didn't need to eat that much unless he'd pushed his body hard in battle or used the Trait for enhancements—like earlier.

That's why he'd eaten so much today.

"Um… mind if I come in for a bit?" Kaya asked, not seeming like she planned to leave anytime soon.

Luen noticed her wavering slightly—standing too long was clearly taking a toll.

He subtly glanced down the hall and spotted a shadow hiding in the corner.

Merry.

Looks like he didn't quite trust Kaya to come alone, but since Kaya had insisted, she'd clearly come of her own intention.

"Not at all—please, come in."

Kaya hesitated a second, then nodded, face pink, and softly stepped into the room.

If she's not scared to come here alone, what reason did Luen have to be nervous?

He pulled the food cart inside and closed the window.

Once the sea breeze stopped blowing, Kaya quietly walked in and sat down on a chair inside the room.

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