CHAPTER 187 MYSTERY

CHAPTER 187 MYSTERY

The red room appeared around me. Only 2 doors cleared. I pulled up my status screen.

Name

Weston Watanabe

Current Quest:

World 1:

Naruto

World 1 Quest:

Save the Girls

World 2:

One Piece

World 2 Quest:

World 3:

My Hero Academia*

World 3 Quest:

Passive Skills:

Memory Meld

World Lasting Physique +

Protagonist Path

Usable Abilities:

Status Screen

3 Challenger Slots

World Escape

Chakra

Chikyugi

World Store

Shop

Give and Take Quirk

Conqueror's Haki

Cross World Summoning

Chakra Sense

Bonuses

Increased Intellect

1 Challenger Slot

Tough Organs

Increased Vision

Items

Chikyugi Necklace

Stored

2 Challenger Slot

Seastone Jitte

Stored

Chakra Absorption Scroll

Stored

Arm and Leg Weights

Stored (3)

Hero Costume

Reject Dial

Stored (2)

Gantz ArmorUppTodated from nô/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m

Stored (10)

Gantz Sword

Stored

Baria Reef Map

Condom

Stored (435)

World ID

Stored

Anti-Hero Costume

Stored

“Listen here-“ I pointed and the man died. A thin bullet of ice slamming into his head it pierced through and also hit the man behind him in the shoulder. Causing him to cry out. Men stepped back in fear. But no one stepped up, claiming to be the leader.

Normally I would pull my Jitte out at this point. But I had seen the error of my fighting style when up against All-For-One. I no longer needed the Jitte in worlds other than One Piece. My control of water was now at a level where a sword was unneeded.

I gathered water chakra in my hand. Making it expand out the men in front of me prayed as it twisted around me. Controlling every movement I sent it in a wide slash cutting through 10 men at once. As people reacted I cut through another 10. Then more and more.

Slicing my blade-thin water through the air in a smooth stream. Blood and guts poured out. Men ran as I made 4 clones. All 4 running in different directions they did much the same. Using water chakra to kill men.

Some fired arrows or slashed at us. But with Observation Haki it was easy to dodge. In less than 10 minutes we had killed every man in the camp. Collecting women some were badly beaten. Others tried to run. But we gathered them up and my clones ended themselves.

“I’m sorry for what you went through,” I told the first woman staked to the ground. I broke the iron around her neck. “You are free to go,” I said as I moved to the next one. “Take a horse, food, whatever you think you deserve. Whatever you need to get back home.” Again and again I broke the restraints with my bare hands.

“Liza!” The old man yelled running up to the small girl that shivered at the end of the line. She was no older than 13. A very sickening display of their lack of standards.

“Gramps!” She cried out as I broke her shackle and she ran to him. I stood in front of the girls.

“Or,” I said. “You can join me.”

“Join you?” An older woman said. I guessed she was in her late 20s or early 30s. Long auburn hair she had a strong appearance. She had seen such atrocities. Not near as shaken up as the others.

“Yes, I’m thinking of making my own Band,” I said. “Nothing but women and me.” I cracked a smile. “The Band of the Heart.”

After that I left. Finding the biggest tent there was a girl shackled to a tent post that I had missed. I broke her shackles and sent her outside. Finding a huge chest at the foot of the bed I opened it with a tug. Finding a nice trove of coins I began throwing it in my status screen.

I had expected gold, silver, and copper represented like in Wow. But it converted it all to gold. I ended up with 567.32 gold. It didn’t sound like a whole lot to me. I needed to search the dead men for more.

For now I let the women have the run of the camp. I was sure some would flee. I couldn’t blame them. They didn’t look very strong. But I had no plans in this world currently. Also I didn’t know when the hell I was.

I guessed I was at the start of the story. The Band of the Hawk wasn’t ringing any bells of this world's Weston’s memories. They were pretty famous later on. I guessed they were just starting out.

One of the best arcs in the story was Gutz fighting 100 men and coming out alive. I had done that in 10 minutes without a scratch. I decided making my own band was the best option to join the world stage. I could spend a few months recruiting and strengthening the girls. Casca was the only female in the Band of the Hawk. Women were pretty discriminated against. I didn’t see why I couldn’t give them a nice home. Whether some wanted to join my harem, that was up to them. But for now I was happy with surrounding myself with women.

Planning my next step the smell hit me. Cursing I had forgotten about the dead bodies. Making some clones we moved through the camp. Disposing of bodies we searched them one at a time. Finding more and more gold hidden all over. Too excited to sleep we started searching tents for valuables. The women had found a few tents to occupy together so we left them to it.

By the time dawn came around I had a fairly good inventory already sorted and ready to go. There was a trove of weapons. Most junk there were enough swords, bows, crossbows, arrows, knives, maces, and spears to arm 50 people. Food stuffs well preserved I got upset at myself for killing the cook.

If I wanted to make a band I had to do a lot of recruiting. A secretary to keep track of everything. I had checked and everything was written in English so I could read and write at least. I needed a quartermaster. A Nami for sure. And a Brook. I didn’t want to be walking around without some minstrels to liven up the place a little. There was so much to do.

“Excuse me,” a voice said. I turned to see the auburn haired girl. Taking charge there were a few women behind her.

“Yep?” I asked.

“Were you serious about letting us take horses and whatever we want?”

“Of course,” I said. “I took most of the gold. Let me know how much you think you will need to get back home.” Slowly turning to them they were wearing better clothes now. Some shied away from my gaze. Others stared at me.

“What were you talking about when you said you were making a band?” She said.

“I’m sorry, what’s your name? I’m Weston.” I extended my hand out. She slowly took it.

“Mary,” she said.

“Finally,” I said, happy to meet someone with a name I could remember. “You see, Mary. I’m quite strong. Having trained in the far East for many years I’ve mastered many martial arts. As you saw last night. I’ve decided to sell my services on the battlefield. I hope to make the strongest and most well known band in existence. Able to challenge the gods themselves. Would you care to join?”

“Join how?” She asked, skeptical.

“I don’t know. Can you read or write?” She shook her head. “Know how to cook?” She nodded. “Perfect. You can be our cook.”

“I don’t want to cook,” she said.

“Then what do you want to do?” I asked.

“I want to learn how to fight,” she blurted. “I’ve been here for fucking weeks. I’m sick of you men-“

“Fine,” I said, cutting her off.

“What?” She asked, angry I cut her off.

“Fine. I can teach you to fight,” I said. “Doesn’t bother me any. It will be tough of course. But there’s no reason you can’t learn to be one of my many merry mercenaries.”

“Okay,” she mumbled. Her anger dissipating as she stared at me.

“Anyone else want to learn how to fight?” I asked. Another woman raised her hand slightly. “Perfect. Any takers on the cook? I’m starving. Oh and a minstrel. Can anyone play the flute? I found one among all this junk.” I dug around. Pulling it out I was surprised that one of the younger girls raised her hand. I tossed it to her. She smiled widely, caressing the long shaft. I guessed that was actually her flute.

“Who's hungry?” I asked. Getting up, the girls jumped as if I would attack them but I walked on past to the food tent. There was bread made already. Plenty of fruits and veggies.

“Can someone go check the chickens for eggs?” I asked. One of the smaller girls nodded. Grabbing a basket she ran off, following the sound of chickens. “Why don’t you chop up some potatoes,” I said pointing at Mary. “Can someone gather firewood? I’ll be out in a minute to start it.”

Soon they were all running around. Taking up chores they were used to. When the fire was built I waved my hand pushing energy into the wood. It caught fire easily. The girls whispered but didn’t ask me about it.

Setting a pan down over the fire I began cracking eggs. Then in another pan I was cooking potatoes. Then another was carrots, onions, and other potatoes. The smell brought Liza and her grandpa over. They joined in passing out plates as I spooned food out. After the eggs I sliced some bacon and began cooking it as well.

It was an ugly breakfast. Most everything burned on one side or another but no one complained. Smiles on lips as their bellies were filled I guessed these people were made of stronger stuff. Used to life shitting on them they were bouncing back. Not fixed by any means. But a full belly could do wonders. Especially meat.

I continued to cook and they continued to eat. I doubted they had eaten much over the last few days.

When everyone was slowing down on consuming food I asked, “so what are your plans?”

“We will head back to the caravan,” the old man said.

“What was your job there?” I asked.

“I’m a merchant.”

“Maybe you could use some guards?” I mused. “That might be a good first job for the band.”

“You can’t be serious,” the old guy said.

“What? You saw what I can do. Most anything wouldn’t be a problem.”

“I mean your band,” he said. “You can’t be serious about forming one.”

“Oh I am,” I said. “It will be glorious. Nothing but women. We will become the most feared band out there. I will become the mercenary king,” I said with a laugh. Stealing Luffy’s line. And well every manga protagonist’s line. There was the Wizard King, Hokage, who was a Ninja King, Number 1 Hero, honestly too many to count.

“You are strong, yes, but you need more than that for a Band. You need fighters. Tactics. Supplies. Backing.”

“Plenty of supplies here,” I said. “Take it or leave it, dude. Doesn’t matter to me. Are there any other bandit groups around here? We could kill them. Free more people. Grow our coffers.”

I looked around. The women stared at me. The younger girls didn’t know what to think. Suddenly Mary barked a laugh. “God dang you are weird,” she said. “But I’m in.”

“Perfect. The first of many I hope,” I said. “Eat up. Your training starts after breakfast.”

“What?” She asked in surprise.

“You want to learn to fight, right? Gotta start now.” She grumbled but accepted. Another girl joined as I had them pick a weapon and start swinging it around. Simple stuff to build strength. Other girls were lost so I had them start looking for the best tents.

They got to dismantling them. Grabbing bedrolls and other useful items we had huge piles set out of every little tool. From sewing kits to an anvil and hammer. My collection was starting to grow. As the 24 hours wrapped up I thought about staying but instead said, “World Escape.”