[{"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-38":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},2340022,4574,"Chapter 38: Captain, Another Serving!","if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-38",38,"\u003Cp>When Akin awoke again, night had fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the porthole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A full moon had just risen above the sea, its gray-white light spilling across the waves, shimmering like shattered silver with each swell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akin struggled to sit up, only then realizing he was inside a ship’s cabin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath him lay warm, soft blankets, still dry despite being at sea; the bandages soaked from his daytime wounds had been replaced with fresh ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly sat up on the bed, his mind churning with memories of what had happened at the port days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Palu's warning, Krik's unquestioning abandonment, the questions and screams of his comrades before they died…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These things destroyed a man’s will far more than physical pain ever could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his reputation as the Demon Man, even with his cold-bloodedness toward enemies, he now felt a bone-deep chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though a fire burned in the room and the cabin window was tightly shut, blocking out any sea breeze, Akin instinctively pulled the quilt tighter around himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Loyalty and righteousness…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akin’s lips curled into a bitter smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In piracy, betrayal is the truth—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room’s door swung open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akin turned his head and saw Gao Wen entering, holding a plate of fried rice. “The cook was injured, so I made something myself. Try it—after all, you need to eat to have strength for other things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen placed the fried rice beside Akin’s bed and gestured to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akin blinked in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Gao Wen, Akin sensed an aura utterly unlike Krik’s—though Gao Wen possessed far greater power, his presence was profoundly calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stood in complete contrast to Krik’s savage, brutal energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never met such a person. Such a pirate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akin looked at the steaming fried rice, then back at Gao Wen:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akin glanced at the steaming fried rice at the bow, then turned to look at Gao Wen:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need men. Your character and strength are exactly what I require.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen looked at Akin, his admiration unhidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the day the cargo ship set sail, he had already scanned Akin with a probe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, in that battle, the one who awakened Observation Haki wasn’t just Keluo—Akin here was another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Akin’s potential remained Bronze, since awakening Observation Haki, he had become one of the closest to Silver among Bronze-tier fighters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With further spiritual breakthrough or consumption of a Devil Fruit, his potential would surely rise to Silver level—essentially a long-term experience source like Keluo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Akin possessed the rarest quality among pirates:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Akin possesses the rarest quality among pirates:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was evident from the battle at Raven Port.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after Krik abandoned him in the port and launched artillery fire, severely wounded Akin still risked his life to give Krik a chance to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that alone, Gao Wen had decided he would claim this man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Akin, do you remember what he said to you at the end?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akin’s gaze darkened:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. He said, ‘Don’t ever board my ship again in your next life.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’ve repaid your debt to him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re free now. You have the right to choose your own path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you wish, the position of battle captain on my ship still awaits you—before we dock.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the forlorn man before him, Gao Wen discarded the idea of forcing him to stay with the debt of a saved life—after all, if he did that, he’d be no different from Krik.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akin stared at the fried rice beside his bed, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Gao Wen sighed inwardly and rose to leave:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Gao Wen sighed inwardly and rose to leave the room:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak~!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen closed the door and turned to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and found Keluo standing in the cabin, watching him, a faint smile on his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gao Wen’s expressionless face, Keluo guessed what had happened inside, and his smile widened:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you got shut out, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That kind of stubborn bastard, once he commits to a captain, won’t hesitate to die for him—I understand that better than you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After all, I was the one who fought him…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keluo touched his chest, feeling the pain from his wounds, his smile fading as his gaze sharpened:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no wrong nickname—only wrong names.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Demon Man isn’t just cold-blooded toward enemies—he’s colder toward himself. To win, he won’t hesitate to gamble his own life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could such a man be swayed by mere kindness?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keluo adjusted his glasses, his entire aura turning sharp as a blade:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Need me to handle it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My wounds aren’t fully healed, but I’m not what I used to be—even you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though my wounds aren’t fully healed, I’m no longer the same as before—even you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen glanced at Keluo’s bandages:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re too injured to interest me. When you’re healed, come take my position as captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A wounded you holds no interest for me. Wait until you’re healed, then come take the captain’s seat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t cry if you lose, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The loser isn’t allowed to cry, okay~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keluo spread his hands helplessly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve always been like this—like nothing matters to you. That deeply hidden arrogance really grates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve always been like this—as if nothing matters to you. This deeply hidden arrogance really gets under my skin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two turned to leave side by side—when Akin’s voice rang out from the room:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain, another serving!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen paused, then slowly smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He really thinks I’m the cook.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you do that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keluo’s pupils shrank—what he saw exceeded his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I made him a plate of fried rice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keluo frowned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wen patted Keluo’s shoulder:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be a qualified captain, you need more than just strength.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah, when I set sail, you were still chasing princesses in the Kingdom of Goa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you not bring that up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then tell me honestly—what did you say to Akin? How could such a stubborn bastard give in so easily?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So tell me honestly, what exactly did you say to Akin? That stubborn bastard wouldn’t back down so easily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially seeing the faint, knowing smile on Gao Wen’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when seeing the faint, almost imperceptible smile on Gao Wen’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Some things can’t be judged by gain or loss. Hearts are made of flesh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even a Demon Man is no exception.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even a demon man is like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Parra Island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small port.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides a few small pirate ships moored at the harbor, wooden huts lined the shore, most showing signs of decay—clearly Keluo’s base here had existed for many years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the harbor’s center, a bonfire burned, surrounded by dozens of pirates, their faces lit by the flames, pale and drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zangao stared coldly at two pirates who had long been stationed on the island, demanding:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two female pirates stole all the treasure Keluo—no, the vice-captain—had stored here over the years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did two female thieves really steal all the treasure that Captain Keluo—no, Vice-Captain Keluo—had accumulated over the years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two pirates stationed at the port nodded vigorously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I remember what they looked like.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"About fifteen or sixteen years old—one had orange short hair, the other purple short hair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be honest, they're a bit young, but their builds are amazing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, the pirate gave a thumbs-up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zang Gao angrily slapped the pirate on the head, knocking him to the ground, and said grimly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The real question is, how do we explain this to the captain?! Even Captain Gao Wen might cut you in half with one sword!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1267,"2026-06-20T23:03:52.332Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3777bef08915f3452e9f648bffdc141a358fd8b996aff85e4dbc2c6c924555b2","if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-39","if-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-chapter-37",469,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fif-you-don-t-try-hard-how-can-i-become-pirate-ki-cover.jpg"]