Chapter 17: Did You Learn It Already?

A pale blue system interface reappeared before Gao Wen.

【Host—Gao Wen】

【Age—24】

【Title—Captain of the Gao Wen Pirates】

【Skills:

Swordsmanship—LV-5: 1021/1600 (Rapid)

Physique—LV-5: 280/1600 (Balanced)

Navigation—LV-1: 12/100

Shao Si—LV-1: 3/200

]

【Badges:

Captain’s Fury—Subordinates’ stamina recovery speed +20%

Rising Fame—View potential abilities

]

【Rating—Bronze: Across the seas and even in Paradise, you’re a notable figure, but in the New World, keep your head down.】

With the awakening of the Shao Si skill, Gao Wen’s personal rating finally advanced to Bronze.

“Finally shed the label of a nobody. Not easy.”

Gao Wen smiled faintly.

Instantly, countless fragments of experience regarding the Shao Si skill flooded into his mind.

His legs gradually grew warm.

With a tingling, itchy sensation, beneath the skin of his calves, it felt as if countless mice were scurrying, sending spasms of pain.

That was the Shao Si skill continuously reshaping the structure and muscles of his legs to reach optimal compatibility.

Minutes later.

Gao Wen’s bodily changes gradually ceased.

His legs became longer, radiating an extraordinary lightness.

He instinctively took a step—and instantly appeared several meters away.

“This technique needs time to master!”

Thinking this,

Gao Wen walked straight into the training room and began practicing the newly acquired Shao Si skill; one step and he vanished from the air.

The next instant…

Thud!

Gao Wen slammed into the wall in a starfish pose; even his enhanced body felt sharp pain, but fortunately, his constitution spared him injury.

Gao Wen landed face-first in dust, yet his expression showed no discouragement:

“Though Shao Si is only LV-1, my speed seems faster than Kelo’s—and far harder to control.”

“But.”

“My perception during high-speed movement isn’t impaired. It’s just that I’m still unfamiliar with the technique.”

“Train!”

Immediately, the familiar thuds echoed again in the training room.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

…

The continuous thuds matched exactly the noise Kelo had made during his training days ago.

In the infirmary,

the ship’s doctor Jia Ka, having just checked everyone’s injuries, heard the familiar sounds and frowned:

“Is the first mate at it again?”

“I’ve told him several times—tendons and bones take at least half a month to heal, yet he refuses to listen.”

“Sigh~”

“Only someone who doesn’t care if he dies can gain that kind of monstrous power, Yiso, don’t you think…?”

Jia Ka turned to speak to the nurse Yiso—but saw Kelo lying silent on the hospital bed.

He blinked, puzzled:

“Is the one training not the first mate? Then who is it?”

“I’d like to know too.”

Kelo’s face darkened, and Gao Wen’s face flashed unbidden in his mind.

“Could it really be him? This kind of thing… this kind of thing…”

“Regardless, learning a technique I spent years developing after merely watching a few times? That’s absurd!”

“Is it the Cat Brothers? Or Zan Gao?”

Kelo’s mind churned; ignoring his injuries, he limped toward the training room.

At that moment,

a crowd had gathered outside the training room. Kelo shoved aside the Cat Brothers blocking the door and stared, trembling, inside.

“Huh? Isn’t that the first mate? Who else could possibly master Shao Si?”

Zan Gao asked, puzzled.

He had seen Kelo use this technique countless times; even if he couldn’t perform it, he knew it intimately—and the person inside was clearly using Shao Si!

But if not Kelo, then who?

The Cat Brothers beside him also stared at Kelo in shock.

He was wrapped head to toe in bandages, barely able to walk—how could he possibly still fight?

“Then who’s inside…”

Sam and Bu Zhi of the Cat Brothers exchanged glances, then looked at Kelo, baffled.

“I’d like to know too…”

Kelo clenched his teeth.

Most of those who once followed him were gathered here.

Those not present were either injured or lacked the talent to learn Shao Si.

So the person inside couldn’t possibly be one of his old men—only someone from Gao Wen’s original crew… or…

Gao Wen himself!

“Learn my ultimate technique just by watching a few times? That’s too much of a joke!”

At that moment,

everyone’s gaze turned to the training room.

As time passed, the afterimages inside moved faster and faster, yet the number of collisions with the walls decreased steadily.

Half an hour later,

only a single flickering afterimage remained inside—clearly, the user’s control over Shao Si had grown more refined, even surpassing Kelo, its creator.

The afterimage inside the training room slowed and stopped; everyone finally saw the person’s face.

Tall but not bulky, with smooth muscle definition and a sharp, handsome face—none other than Captain Gao Wen.

Seeing the crowd gather, Gao Wen frowned slightly:

“What are you all doing here? Not training? Or do you need me to force you to?”

The crowd scattered immediately—only the four standing at the front stared blankly at Gao Wen.

“Captain, you’ve fully mastered Shao Si? And you don’t lose control like Kelo does?”

Zan Gao’s mouth hung open; even if he refused to believe it, the evidence was undeniable.

“And if I remember right, Captain, you’ve spent this entire time guiding our training—you barely had time to train yourself!”

Sam gasped, his expression no longer one of surprise but of dread.

He had mastered Kelo’s signature technique in such a short time—and surpassed Kelo’s proficiency.

Such talent was no longer human—it belonged to another dimension entirely.

Instantly, everyone’s gaze toward Kelo carried a trace of pity.

Kelo’s face turned deathly pale; his last illusion shattered.

Now he understood why Gao Wen had been willing to guide him.

Because Gao Wen had mastered the technique first—even without awakening Observation Haki!

By the time Kelo truly mastered it, how far would Gao Wen have advanced?

At that moment,

Kelo didn’t even notice his glasses slowly sliding down his nose:

“When did you learn it?”

“Just now.”

"You never learned it before?"

"No."

Kelo fell silent, his gaze going hollow.

Gao Wen patted his shoulder and turned away.

The Cat Brothers glanced at Kelo with faint pity, then walked side by side toward the deck.

Gao Wen’s rapid progress had placed immense pressure on them.

If they were left too far behind, they would lose all value to the Pirate Crew.

In the world of pirates, losing value often meant being discarded.

Kelo stood before the training room door, grinding his teeth until they nearly shattered.

A few minutes later.

His face dark, he pushed his glasses up with his palm and turned toward the infirmary.

"I don’t care how you do it—I’m starting training in three days!"

"That’s impossible!"

The ship’s doctor, Jia Ka, helplessly spread his hands.

But Kelo, consumed by rage, paid no heed—he only wanted to awaken that legendary Observation Haki as soon as possible.

"I don’t care!"

"You have three days. Otherwise, I’ll throw you overboard to feed the fish!"

(End of Chapter)