Fuck. I am not talented. I didn't mean things like Haki or Swordsmanship, because with the help of my AI, I am becoming incredibly skilled in them both. Enough to warrant an 'Ok' from Garp. Sure, I might not reach Zoro or Hawkeye's level in the future, but I don't intend to be a pure swordsman. To follow their path, it needs both talent [or AI to improve with every slash] and hard work [the kind in which it is the only thing you are focusing on 24/7.] Unfortunately, I am not ready or brave enough enough to pursue such a difficult like them. Rather, I pursue power in its simplest form.

The reason I am sure that I am not talented is because my power level, or as the marine like to call it, Doriki increase, has slowed down considerably.

For the last one week, it didn't even rise one point.

"WHOOH, HAH!"

With a deep breath taken in, I rapidly swung my sword in a combo. First, I stabbed the carotid on the neck. As my sword sliced deep enough to draw blood but superficial enough to not go deep into the neck.

Using the momentum, I jumped to the side and struck at the kidney and then continued towards the two slash both backs of the ankles.

THUCK THUCK

The sword of the wooden log falling down made me snap out of my training haze. In this very second, I am reminded of the distant times. The times of my past life, looking at movies or tv series in which the hero slashed the log with ease.

Unfortunately, I couldn't feel happy.

WHY?

BOOOM

Looking at the big log falling from the sky, replacing the downed log, I felt like crying.

Looking at Luffy and Ace using the logs they made to play catch made me cuss my past life and praise him.

Cuss him because he felt he was incredibly talented with awakening Haki [despite it being because of the incident] and praise him because he was reasonable enough to search for proper background and training.

Otherwise, my story would have ended in the vast oceans without a person even remembering my name.

"You know, you are being far too tough on yourself. I don't think many adults can even swing a sword as beautifully and deadly as you."

Looking at him shattering a log with a swing of his metal pipe, "Hmm, Swinging the sword towards the right place is the only thing I can do. Compared to you guys, I am far too weak. Besides, none of the adults you speak didn't work as hard as I do or they didn't have the constant supply of Sea King meat, medicine care and supervision of Monkey D Garp."

Sabo scoffed and said, "The fact remains that you are stronger than them. So, stop being so negative. Besides, brute strength is not everything. Otherwise, you would have never won a fight."

I saw him palming the bandage on his neck while screaming at me, "I almost died sparring with you. You freak. AHHHH"

Not minding his shouts and screams, I nodded at Sabo's compliment, because that was the essence of my swordmanship. No extra movement, no extra energy. Only going for the kill. The ultimate aim of any weapon. Of course, my medical knowledge has turned useful in building this deadly swordmanship. Oh right! I forgot to tell you, I finally choose a name for my swordmanship.

[Death swordsmanship : A sword style solely focused on killing or maiming the opponent by striking the vital areas exposed in human anatomy.]

Ironically, my marksmanship with the gun is so easy that I can even control the trajectory as if I am drawing the bullet's path with a pencil and a ruler.

[ Mind's path Marksmanship: Only straight trajectory, but the bullet can go be aimed such that the host can give his enemy wounds as per his wishes. Ranging from mere scratches to instant death.]

So much for naming them as such, but they are simply at a level that will impress ordinary folks and a few low level east blue grunts.

Even Sabo, for all his compliments, just shrugged off the wound, and it closed up in a few minutes of applying pressure. It was at that point I realised the meaning of talent. It was not just about an increase in strength or proper combat instincts. I can train them.

No, it is the very essence of the body in which these three are far too ahead. Luffy and Ace can sleep off my sword slashes and recover without a scratch in a couple of weeks. Sabo is similar too.

It made me wonder if Sabo is related to Celestial dragons. As far as I know, his adopted brother is related to them and even went to their home in canon. In fact, one of them will soon come this way.

Anyway, Sabo is incredibly talented too.

Meanwhile, I hit a bottleneck.

"King, Sabo. Let's go rob the people."

I nodded as if it was normal for kids to rob. Sabo was excited beyond words that his pipe broke 6 stakes in a single swing.

SIGH

Monsters.

"Oh, no! Am I dreaming or did the number of these menaces increase?"

"Oh right! You have been away enjoying that girl you brought back. So you didn't know, the new one's name is King, I think. He is even crueller than the other three, to boot."

Looking at the downed bodies of their mates bleeding all over their bodies, both idiots swallowed their own saliva back and came at me with shouts, "AHHHH!"

I pointed my pistol and shot twice.

BANG BANG

The bullet hit true and both of their knee caps exploded. Now they started shouted again but with a vastly different tone, "MOMMYY! My KNEEEES"

I ignored them and thrust my cursed sword in front of the dick of the guy who was apparently fucking like a pig. "So, did you at least pay the girl?"

If he didn't, then he was a rapist. I can give some superb punishment for him. Something that had my goof trio serious about. Ironically, murder and rape are the two things that can make them go serious. Other than that, even beating an enemy to the inch won't bother them.

"Yes, yes. I paid he. In fact, I paid extra so that she can visit me once more."

Ironically, priests are well respected in the grey terminal.

Though I still wonder, "Hey! Luffy, do you even understand what's going on here?"

Luffy titled his head and thought for a while and said, "No!"

I couldn't help but ask him, "Then why were you so intent on beating up these guys like us?"

For this incredible question, even Sabo and Ace agreed and turned to Luffy for the answer.

Luffy gave his ideal answer, "I felt you were asking if he hurt her. Since he said no, then it's fine."

I am wondering if Luffy is really Roger's son. Hearing or feeling the truth of everything in the world is Roger's talent.

Maybe Ace and Luffy were swapped in their cribs.

Shaking away these weird thoughts, I asked my doubt, "Then, Aren't I hurting them too? Even the downed ones. I am sure castrating the rapists even exceeds the definitions of hurt."

For that moment, I saw Shank's influence on Luffy. "Since they dared to pick up the weapon, then they must be ready for the consequences."

It was scary and all the way more impactful when the goofy Luffy went serious and uttered that sentence.

For a moment, I felt goosebumps raise on my skin.

"Wow."

I nodded to agree with the exclamation of my prisoners.

Ace looked bored and said, "So, what to do with these guys?"

Sabo shrugged. "Same as the rest. Tie them up and take their belongings away. One of them will manage to escape their ropes or someone will come for them. It's not like they are needed elsewhere."

One idiot exclaimed, "I am needed at my grandma's place. She is sick."

He was treated as if he is air.

Luffy opened his arms and shouted, "Let's party and meat."

"HAHAHA!" I laughed at that and rubbed Luffy's head. "No worries, I will cook you the best food I can. Which is a lot, considering our haul this time."

Looking at the chest filled with gold and berries, I realised that strength is the only currency in this world. Still, such a haul is rare for us. In fact, it is surprising they are carrying such large amounts.

Ace came beside me and checked his height, which came to my shoulder, and asked, "How come you are good at everything except throwing a good punch?"

My guilt made me through back, "What is 243 times 343?"

I literally saw him sweating and try to count that.

There was no need to wait hours for this and I answered, "83349."

Ace hunched down at that and trudged forward, "Stupid king and Stupid King's brain."

I looked at the sun and wearily said, "The God given me incredible gift but cursed me with talentless body as if to balance things."

Looking at the dumb face of Luffy, my exact opposite. I felt irritated all the more. Especially when the stupid excuses from my prisoners grew even more stupid.

"Please, I need to leave now. Otherwise, I cannot confess my love in time."

"Young sirs, my wife is about to give birth."

"I am critically ill and will die if I don't visit the hospital soon."

I had enough and finished the casts of the two idiots whose knees I shot and gave them my advice, "It will heal in a month or two. You guys are lucky I used the low-powered bullets with little gunpowder. It didn't shatter your bones, it was just a crack."

Then, I kicked the idiot who might have been the most healthy guy I met till now, "You idiot! You are perfectly fine. Perhaps I should make your words come true."

I pointed at Kitetsu, my cursed sword eager for blood at his dick. Looking at him, unable to utter a word, I snorted, "Hmm!"

Before I could leave, I heard an excuse which actually silenced the tied-up thugs.

"Please, if we stay here, we will die."

Looking at the fear filled faces of everyone, I realised that they really believe in those words.

I took out my pistol and fired one at the guy who told me that. Low powered or not, a bullet is a bullet. It can easily tear through flesh. Feeling the bullet leaving a thin graze that oozed blood on his neck, my prisoner spilled the beans. "The crazy folks from the castle want to burn down the grey terminal."

My eyebrows rose in surprise. It seems it was time for the canon. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the so-called chase of Sabo and him returning to his house. Guess it had to do with me paying for the food everywhere we went.

At least, this is better than being blown up by a cannon ball.

Sabo looked completely shaken and suddenly started running.

Ace and Luffy had already run after him, leaving me with the tied up prisoners.

"Oh Well!"

I slashed my sword happily, cutting down the ropes and said to the idiots, "You idiots owe me. So, you better remember that."

I was expecting them to attack seeing that they outnumbered me, but it seems once was enough for these guys.

As they were about to leave, I couldn't help but ask, "So, how do you guys even plan to leave the grey terminal?"

The guy who spilled the beans said, "I have a cousin who sells all the good we steal. We planned to hitchhike on his ship for a few days and return to Goa kingdom after this craziness ended."

So, an underground merchant.

"Say, your cousin has some connections in the underworld, right?"

He patted his chest and said, "Yes, He is connected to a lot of nobles and across Goa kingdom. In fact, he was the one who told us about the noble's crazy plan."

"Hmm!"

After thinking for a while, I threw a paper to his face and told him, "Tell him if he can get these for me. It would be an extensive business for him."

Looking at the long list filled with harmless things like a variety of fruits to expensive equipment like microscopes and even a variety of poisons, my new contact simply nodded. Well, my list is quite mild compared to weird and extensive shopping lists of nobles.

Now, I need to find my idiots.