[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki":3,"chapter-if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-24":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","If You Don't Try Hard, How Can I Become Pirate King?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2340008,4574,"Chapter 24: The Right Way to Haggle","if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-24",24,"\u003Cp>Outside the harbor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Low shacks, stagnant sewage, and people wandering about—dressed sloppily, with menacing faces or barely clothed—formed a typical slum scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In stark contrast to the clean, orderly streets within the harbor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant assigned by Gasha stood at the entrance to the slum and, with a hint of apology, spoke to Gao Wen:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, arms deals mostly take place in the black market; it’s a den of all sorts. Even if the public… the lord himself wishes to intervene, he’s powerless to do so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, governing a harbor is far harder than it seems. Letting the big things slide while focusing on the essentials is the norm. So as long as no major chaos erupts, we generally turn a blind eye to this place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t accompany you inside. Please be careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant bowed to Gao Wen, then turned to leave—when Xiang Keluo suddenly asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this privilege only for us, or do they get it too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant paused, a strange smile appearing on his face:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please don’t misunderstand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The lord’s exact words were: compared to that group, you two look far more like real Marines.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the servant’s gaze lingered for an instant on both their faces, then he smiled faintly and turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s complimenting your looks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen’s lips curled into a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo’s face instantly flushed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been at sea for over a decade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he’d ever heard before was that he looked gloomy and terrifying—when had anyone ever praised him so directly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he muttered under his breath:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Gao Wen’s smile deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Food and medicine could be obtained through official channels within the city; though prices were somewhat high, the quality was reliable and delivery fast, so securing them took little time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hard part was firearms and ammunition—only Xiang Keluo’s contact, Habingjie, could supply them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Xiang Keluo’s memory of the route, the two soon entered a dim bar tucked in a corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strong alcohol fumes and an indescribable stench flooded Gao Wen’s nostrils, making him frown; he looked up to see Xiang Keluo striding straight into the corner—he followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the corner was a low door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At over two meters tall, the two had to bend down to enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo knocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a creak, a sly face peeked out—the man was Habingjie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t this Xiang Keluo? Heard you were retiring—so what, back in the game?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cut the crap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo’s face turned icy:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flintlock ammunition, three hundred sets. 100mm shells, five hundred rounds. How much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me calculate~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Habingjie flicked his fingers, glanced at Xiang Keluo, then at Gao Wen’s face, and named a price:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thirty million Beli!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you insane?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo’s face darkened, roaring:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last time, all this together was under ten million—tripled? Don’t you fear you’ll take the money but not live to spend it?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got to understand me~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Habingjie spread his hands, wearing a smug expression as if he’d already won:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I paid a huge price to get pulled out of Marine custody—I’m drowning in debt now. Besides, arms deals are deadly business. Would you haggle with a dead man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Habingjie spoke, the bar patrons instantly surrounded them; under the lights, blades glinted coldly—they’d clearly prepared for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo gritted his teeth; he didn’t want a fight here, and held up two fingers:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty million! No more than twenty million!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not enough~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Habingjie’s lips curled into a smile—he was about to speak when a cold voice cut in:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiang Keluo, that’s not how you haggle!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen scanned the room, slowly drew his longsword, and radiated lethal aura—his single presence held back nearly a hundred men, none daring to step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat poured down Habingjie’s forehead; he stared at Xiang Keluo in shock:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey hey hey~ Xiang Keluo, where the hell did you find this subordinate? His pressure is even stronger than yours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Subordinate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo looked at Habingjie, a cruel smile twisting his lips:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s my captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’d want to be the captain of someone like you? He’s asking for death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Habingjie shot back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah—he’s different. Stronger than a monster!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo didn’t back down; Gao Wen had lost patience. He stared coldly at Habingjie:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight million.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Habingjie’s back was soaked in sweat, yet he held firm, teeth clenched:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty million.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>silver sword flashes lit the bar—each flash brought a scream, and an ear fell from midair to the ground, severed from its owner’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen moved like Death itself, his longsword carving trails of blood through the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panic erupted; men gripped their weapons, yet felt no safety—only waiting for Death to claim them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight million!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen’s voice reached Habingjie again—this time, it made him tremble violently, muttering “crazy,” his earlier arrogance vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he not understand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen could casually sever these men’s ears—and just as easily take every life here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo hadn’t lied—he really was a monster!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, how can you go lower?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Six—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight million! Eight million!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Habingjie blurted out, voice shaking—cut any further and this deal would leave him bankrupt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said, six million!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen appeared, towering over Habingjie, voice absolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Habingjie opened his mouth—but saw only his men clutching their ears, trembling in pain, too terrified to scream. He shuddered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Six million! Six million it is!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just wanted to get rid of this plague!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he lost money, he didn’t care!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Gao Wen kept slashing, every last one of these men he’d painstakingly gathered would flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lone man here wouldn’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t try tricks—when the captain moves, I can’t stop him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo slapped Habingjie’s face; seeing the man dare not resist, his grin couldn’t be contained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen, meanwhile, stared at his battered longsword, brow furrowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This knight’s sword, his former body’s companion for years, was riddled with nicks—even the spine bore clear cracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of these wounds came from his earlier fight with Xiang Keluo—yet Xiang Keluo’s claw-blades remained gleaming, pristine—clearly, their quality was not on the same level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s time for a new weapon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several hours later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun sank beyond the horizon, staining the sky crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of Marines entered the slum, hauling away crates sealed in wax paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Keluo inspected a few at random, confirmed their quality, then nodded to Gao Wen:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No issues. All functional.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen replied, turning to look at the distant sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind was light, the waves gentle; a few seabirds skimmed across the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly felt a flicker of unease, then turned to Keluo and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take these supplies and arms aboard. I’ll warn that woman—if our guess is right, once Krik’s men attack, this port will be destroyed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keluo blinked in surprise:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it necessary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen’s lips curled into a faint smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone just complimented you on your looks this afternoon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1164,"2026-06-20T23:03:52.332Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1c23e17fa9f4344718ebf22b0389ffef5208dcc0467a763f30ab90db5962e08f","if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-25","if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-23",469,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fif-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-cover.jpg"]