Chapter 9

"Hey… but I'm really hungry."

"Still, no exceptions—it's the rule."

The young woman said bluntly.

Beside her, a burly man with a beard sat on the ground, holding a wine flask; he saw this scene and burst into loud laughter.

"Mary, you're really strict, aren't you?"

The woman shot him a glare; the man immediately stopped laughing, raised a fist to his mouth, and coughed twice.

Then he sat cross-legged, arms folded, gazing at the children who had been eagerly waiting.

"Alright, everyone's here, then?"

"We're all here!"

The children, except Luo En, chorused together.

"Good. Then, line up in order and take your food. Everyone gets the same—no fighting over it!"

"Yes, Old Man."

Luo En took two loaves of bread and a small piece of meat from the middle-aged woman named Mary, thanked her, and retreated to sit under a nearby tree to eat.

The bread was hard and flavorless; the meat was tough, still carrying a faint fishy odor, and barely salted.

Still, Luo En devoured it ravenously.

The man sat there, watching the children wolf down their food, drinking deeply and laughing heartily.

"Don't rush—eat slowly. There's more tomorrow."

…………

Nighttime.

When Luo En got up to urinate, he overheard the man and woman talking inside.

"Harris, did you go help those bandits again?"

A silence followed.

"Didn't you swear you'd never be a bandit again? Then why…?" The woman's voice trembled with a hint of tears.

"Don't cry—I'm not a bandit anymore. I just… helped a little. I swear I didn't kill anyone." He scratched his head. "What else could I do? Those pirates came not long ago. The tavern I worked at got robbed—no wages this month. I can't let these kids starve… so I… I swear this is the last time."

"Damn pirates. Didn't the navy say they'd come help us? When will they ever show up?"

"Hmph. Those navy fools won't come—they've already been bribed by the pirates. They're all in cahoots. They don't care if we live or die."

"Sigh… when will this hell ever end…?"

……

Luo En returned silently to the house, lay on his bed, and stared at the ceiling.

Old Man Harris had once been a bandit, but he quit that life; all these children were orphans he had taken in.

Mary was strict, yet she never uttered a single complaint about taking in child after child—she simply cared for them wholeheartedly.

They were both good people.

Luo En raised his hand, stared at his open palm, and his gaze gradually hardened.

I will help them!

Even without a system…

Even though I'm only eight years old…

Above all, I must shed this superiority complex of a transplant—I can't keep feeling like I don't belong in this world.

Since I've come to this world, I must truly integrate into it!

Luo En's eyes were resolute.

【Ding, detected strong willpower from host—Strongest Check-in System activated.】

Luo En froze in shock.

"…Huh?"

Only then did he realize—he bolted upright on the bed.

"Eh eh eh eh WHAT?!!?"

Ma Ersi, sleeping beside him, woke up, rubbed his eyes, and half-asleep, propped himself up: "Luo En, what's wrong? Had a nightmare?"

"N-nothing."

Luo En's voice trembled.

"Oh… goodnight then."

Ma Ersi collapsed back onto the bed.

Luo En pinched his own cheek—felt the pain.

Not a dream.

"System?"

【Here.】

It's real!

His heart surged with excitement.

He forced himself to calm down and asked inwardly:

"S-sys, what can you do?"

【Host may check in at locations meeting check-in conditions to receive corresponding rewards.】

"Can I check in… here?"

【Detecting… Host is located in the East Sea, Sidao Island—check-in available.】

Luo En was overjoyed at those words and immediately said:

"Then I want to sign in!"

【Sign-in complete. Reward received: Physique Enhancement, Qi and Blood +10.

Reward received: Sun Breathing Technique.】

The instant the system's voice rang out, a warm current instantly filled Luo En's entire body, and his originally thin and frail frame was suddenly brimming with strength.

At the same time, the full content of the Sun Breathing Technique began to emerge in his mind, and his breathing began to adjust on its own.

The Qi and Blood within Luo En's body began to boil and surge, and as the breathing continued, it became like fiery dragons, scouring Luo En's physique and the Root of his bones.

But when the breathing reached a certain point, it suddenly broke off.

Luo En's eyes snapped open, he opened his mouth and exhaled a turbid breath, his face pale as he gasped for air.

"It failed? What went wrong?"

【Reply to host: this is because your constitution is still too weak, and your Qi and Blood are not yet sufficient to sustain the operation of the Sun Breathing Technique.】

A flash of understanding passed through Luo En's eyes.

"So that's how it is."

"In that case, what I need to focus on most right now is strengthening my training and improving my physique."

【Correct.】

Luo En clenched his fist, his gaze utterly resolute.

He wanted to become strong.

Only by becoming strong could he escape hunger and starvation, and eat better food.

Only by becoming strong could he be of help to Harris and Mary.

And only by becoming strong could he survive properly in this dog-eat-dog world of pirates!

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2. Training and Growth — Luo En's Goal (2/10)

Early the next morning, when the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Luo En got out of bed; the children around him were still fast asleep.

Mary, who was busy making breakfast inside, heard the movement and turned her head. Seeing Luo En, she was a little surprised: "Little Luo En? Why are you up so early today?"

"I woke up and couldn't fall back asleep. Good morning, Aunt Mary. Is there anything I can help with?"

Luo En asked.

"Thank you for the kind offer... but there's really nothing that needs helping with."

"Alright, then I'll go out for a walk."