Chapter 35

The bear bent down and spread its enormous paw in front of Luo En, on which lay a few pieces of candy.

Luo En was startled. "Is it for us?"

The bear nodded.

Truly a gentle person...

Luo En couldn't help but think.

But then he recalled what would happen to him in the future, and fell silent once more.

After taking the candy from its paw and offering his thanks, Luo En led Kuina into the forested mountains along the coast.

The bear raised its paw and waved at them.

Ivankov watched this scene, hands on hips, and laughed. "That guy Bear really is the same as always, loves getting close to kids."

Inside the forested mountains.

"Where are we headed now?"

Kuina asked Luo En.

"The Goa Kingdom."

Goa Kingdom.

The instant Luo En stepped into this country, the long-absent chime of the System rang out in his mind.

【Detected host location — Goa Kingdom. Sign-in conditions met. Sign in?】

"Sign in."

【Sign-in complete. Sign-in reward obtained: Qi and Blood +10.】

Luo En waited a long while, but heard no further prompt from the System.

His little face immediately darkened.

"That's it?"

"What's wrong?"

Kuina, who was eating a skewer of roasted meat, turned her head to look at him.

"Nothing."

Luo En forced a smile onto his face.

"Is that so? Then that's good."

Kuina didn't think much of it. Gazing at the houses and streets around her, she said enviously, "It's really beautiful here. The streets are spotless, and the air seems to be filled with the scent of flowers. It's completely different from Frost Moon Town."

"Just a facade."

Luo En said flatly.

"Eh?"

Kuina was startled.

"You'll understand in a while."

No need to wait a while.

When Kuina stopped a dignified-looking, seemingly very proper and kindly old man to ask for directions, and he asked her identity — upon learning Kuina was not local nobility — his face immediately darkened, and he coldly summoned the street guards to come drive her away.

Kuina instantly understood the meaning behind Luo En's words.

A place that looked bright and beautiful on the surface actually reeked at every turn with the unbearable stench of nobility.

"Still think this place is better than Frost Moon Town?"

As Luo En and Kuina were being chased by a group of heavily armored guards, he asked Kuina with a smile.

"Not at all!"

Kuina shouted loudly,

"Frost Moon Town is absolutely a hundred times better than this place!"

While passing through a street.

Luo En happened to glance to one side of the road and saw a blond boy in a formal suit and a cap with goggles, looking anxious, hurriedly running off in one direction.

Luo En recognized him at a glance.

One of Monkey D. Luffy's two older brothers.

Sabo, born into a noble family.

But just then, several noble-house guards who had appeared on the street both behind and ahead of Sabo suddenly grabbed him, pinned him to the ground, and he struggled desperately.

"Let me go! I have to get there! I have to go save those two!"

Sabo struggled desperately.

But those guards held him down mercilessly.

Luo En watched this scene, his eyes narrowing slightly, and then his feet came to a halt.

"Kuina, wait for me outside the city first."

"Ah... eh?"

Kuina hadn't even reacted yet.

She only saw the city guards who had been chasing them reach out to grab Luo En.

But they grabbed nothing but air.

The next second.

A fist carrying tremendous force slammed into one's abdomen, instantly making his eyes roll back into his head as he collapsed unconscious.

"I'll come find you later."

Luo En glanced at Kuina and said.

Kuina nodded: "I understand."

Though she didn't know what Luo En was about to do, she chose to trust him unconditionally.

After Kuina left.

"How dare they lay a hand on the boss… damn brat!"

Those few city guards picked up their weapons and struck at Luo En before them.

Luo En's figure flickered.

For a moment, fists rained down without pause.

A few seconds later.

Those tall, burly city guards all collapsed to the ground unconscious, their eyes rolled back into Byakugan.

…………

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27, Permanent Buff — The True Meaning of Tempered a Thousand Times (1/5)

The other side of the street.

A middle-aged noble, surrounded by his servants, walked up to the pinned-down Sabo and looked down at him struggling desperately as he said:

"Come back with me."

"No! I have to go save Luffy and Ace!"

Sabo shouted.

"Foolish. How could I have such a foolish son — to actually treat two commoners as friends. You're staining the noble blood in your veins."

Sabo's father, Outeluke III, glared at him and said angrily.

"Starting today, those commoners, and that garbage-strewn, filthy slum will cease to exist."

As his words fell, flames gradually rose on the other side of the city.

"No, no, no, no!!!"

His pupils contracting sharply, tears streaming down his face, Sabo struggled desperately, but was held firmly in place.

"Take him back for me."

Outeluke III leaned on his cane, turned around, and adjusted the brim of his hat as he said.

Bang!

Bang!