The deck of the enemy ship was a scene of pure, unadulterated chaos. While the [Soul Puppet] flickered through the air like a vengeful ghost, Kai stepped onto the enemy vessel with a calm that chilled the hearts of the remaining mercenaries. The wood creaked under his boots, and the smell of gunpowder and fear hung heavy in the mist.
"You... you aren't human," one of the pirates stammered, dropping his sword. His soul, visible only to Kai, was a sickly, trembling shade of gray.
Kai didn't answer. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, expanding his [Merchant's Domain] to cover the entire ship. The grid of his vision lit up with small, glowing orbs—not just the souls of the living, but the "value" of the cargo hidden in the hold.
[Ding! Domain Scan Complete.]
[Resources Detected: 400 kg of Iron, 20 Barrels of Rum, 3 Hidden Treasure Chests.]
[Unique Find: A Fragment of an Ancient Log.]
"This ship is no longer a predator," Kai said, his voice carrying across the deck. "It is now a branch of my shop. Silas, take the helm. Princess Vivi, gather whatever supplies you think Alabasta needs most. Everything here has a price, and I've already paid for it with their fear."
Vivi stepped onto the deck, her eyes scanning the fallen mercenaries. She felt a strange mix of relief and unease. "Kai, what will happen to these men? You've... you've emptied them."
"They will wake up in a few days," Kai replied, walking toward the captain's quarters. "But they will find their 'will' is much weaker than before. Consider it a tax for attacking a Trader. I've only taken the greed they used to fuel their violence."
[Ding! Soul Inventory Updated: +25 Soul Coins.]
[Notice: You are approaching the 11,000-word milestone!]
As Kai entered the captain's cabin, he found a map spread across a mahogany table. It wasn't a map of the Grand Line's islands, but a map of 'Soul Dens'—places where death was frequent and the spiritual energy was thick.
System,' Kai thought, his fingers tracing the jagged lines on the parchment. 'Can I use this ship to store harvested souls?'
[Answer: Yes. By spending 100 Soul Coins, you can upgrade this vessel into a 'Ghost Galleon'. It will hide in the mist and serve as your mobile inventory and Puppet Barracks.]
Kai smiled. The idea of having a hidden fleet of shadow-ships was exactly what he needed to challenge the giants like Crocodile and the Marines. He looked out the window at the endless horizon, where the sun was beginning to set, casting long, golden shadows over the sea.
"Alabasta is still far," Kai whispered to the empty room. "But by the time we arrive, I won't just be a boy on a boat. I'll be an Empire."
[Ding! Quest Update: The Foundation of the Soul Fleet.]
[Goal: Reclaim the Ancient Log Fragment from the hold.]