Chapter 142: Men Would Be Speechless, Women Would Weep [Tips Appreciated]

Exclamations of shock rose from the villagers behind him. Tang Shen narrowed his eyes slightly just as Buchi and Sham’s attacks were about to land.

Swish!

With a sudden push off the ground, his figure leapt sharply into the air, and both cats pounced on empty space.

Before they had time to flip over and counterattack, a dull crashing sound echoed, causing the expressions of the two cats to change drastically in an instant.

Boom—

With a deafening crash, accompanied by a spine-chilling sound of breaking bones, the onlookers felt a blur before their eyes. Buchi and Sham were struck as if hit by something plunging from the heavens; the two of them were skewered together and slammed fiercely into the ground, violently gouging out a deep crater in the hard earth.

Blood splashed everywhere, and dust filled the air.

When they clearly saw the figure that had landed squarely on the backs of the two, everyone present could not help but constrict their pupils and gasp sharply.

"This... how is this possible?!"

"Lord Buchi!"

"Lord Sham!! Oh no!"

...

The pirates cried out in alarm. Within their field of vision, these so-called Lords Buchi and Sham had actually been pierced straight through their entire bodies. And what had pierced them was none other than... the longsword in Tang Shen’s hand—a longsword that remained still in its scabbard.

"Killing you would soil my blade."

Slowly pulling the sheathed longsword out from their bodies, blood flowing in a crimson stream, Tang Shen still wore a faint smile on his face. Throughout the entire process, he didn't even blink an eyelid. His movements were as casual and routine as eating a meal or drinking water.

[...]

The entire scene fell into a dead silence.

The two most powerful top commanders of the Black Cat Pirates... were just gone like that?

Looking at the two who were now completely dead on the ground, the pirates present were collectively left in utter disarray in the wind...

As for the villagers who had rushed over, they swallowed hard, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"Too strong!"

"Is... is this his true strength?"

"The super pirate hunter Monkey D. Roger, who is capable of defeating bountied pirates!"

...

The villagers of Syrup Village muttered in a trance, while Usopp stared with wide eyes, utterly unable to believe what he was seeing.

"So... the rest of you."

Smiling, Tang Shen turned his gaze toward the bewildered crew members around him. His eyes were as pure and harmless as ever.

[...]

No one dared to speak. Just being looked at by Tang Shen felt as though a bucket of ice water had been poured straight over their heads, sending a chill rushing directly from the crown of their heads down to the soles of their feet. Every crew member present felt an icy emptiness in their chests, and some even turned ashen-faced, trembling all over.

"Gulp..."

Swallowing hard, a pirate glanced at Tang Shen and then looked down at the weapon in his own hand before roaring with forced ferocity, "Damn it! There's only one of him! What are we afraid of?! Let's all rush him together and kill him!!"

"That's right! Just a single kid, do you really think he can beat the hundred-plus of us?!"

"Charge together! Kill him and avenge Lords Buchi and Sham!!"

"Charge! Roar, roar, roar, roar..."

...

Realizing the fact that Tang Shen was entirely alone, a surge of vicious courage welled up in their hearts. All the pirates roared in fury, raising their weapons and charging forward with reckless abandon.

"Stay safely behind and watch."

Giving instructions to the villagers behind him whose legs had turned to jelly—after all, these were all experience points and system points, so how could he possibly miss such a great opportunity?—Tang Shen met them head-on, alone with his sword.

"Sometimes, sheer numbers cannot solve problems."

Amid a light chuckle, his figure had already transformed into a phantom and darted forward.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!!

A continuous, spine-chilling sound of shattering echoed endlessly. Wherever Tang Shen passed, the pirates collapsed limply to the ground as if swept down by a gust of wind. What made it even more terrifying was that they had all instantly lost their lives, their vertebrae shattered, turning them into corpses.

A mere ten seconds.

Yet it was undoubtedly the most unforgettable ten seconds in the lives of everyone in Syrup Village, as well as the most terrifying ten seconds in the memories of Nami and Koby, who had just disembarked and rushed over.

The pirates who had previously been boisterously shouting and brimming with fierce momentum were now all sprawled lifelessly across the ground.

Looking across the vast, empty expanse of the beach, only Tang Shen remained standing quietly, alone with his sword. The blade still remained within its scabbard, yet the scabbard itself was dyed a glaring, blood-red crimson. The smell of blood permeating the air completely overpowered the scent of the sea.

As the sea breeze blew past, the stench of blood hit them head-on.

Yet Tang Shen, the one who had caused all of this, bore no blood on his hands or clothes. He looked as elegant and gentlemanly as... a devil!

Nami widened her beautiful eyes, her pale face tightly muffled by her small hand as if her heart had stopped beating.

Nothing possessed more visual impact than watching a hundred people being slaughtered into extinction before one's very eyes. Even when Alvida was killed previously, it hadn't been this terrifying!

Koby had already dropped directly to his knees with a thud.

As for the bewildered villagers, they stood frozen in place, utterly numb. If killing the two cats earlier had sparked admiration, respect, or envy toward Tang Shen’s strength, then right now... there was only the deepest, most intense form of awe welling up from the bottom of their hearts!

A true awe of the strong!

Especially upon seeing Tang Shen's familiar, gentle smile, the villagers of Syrup Village felt their legs grow weak and their heads light, one by one collapsing limply to the ground.

Too strong!

This guy... was strong to a degree that defied description!

At least, that was how Usopp and the many villagers saw it. After a moment of daze, the villagers who finally snapped back to their senses erupted into hysterical, excited cheers and applause!!

"Roger!"

"Roger! Roger! Hero!"

"You are the hero of our Syrup Village!"

...

The villagers cheered excitedly. To them, these pirates were villains who committed every evil deed imaginable—burning, killing, looting, and mercilessly slaughtering women, children, and the elderly. Their cruel methods were simply too numerous to record, and seeing them meet such an end was profoundly gratifying!

Listening to the roaring cheers that sounded like a tsunami, Tang Shen let out a soft sigh. "It really isn't easy being a pirate in this world!"

These pirates couldn't even be considered small fry; after all, they were just the Black Cat Pirates of the East Blue. At best, they were mere shrimp, each yielding only a handful of experience points. Even counting them all together, Tang Shen had barely managed to level up once.

Even a mosquito's leg is meat, though. It would be great if a few more showed up next time.

Tang Shen curled his lip in resignation. He harbored no leniency toward his enemies, and this only made him look forward all the more to entering the New World in the future. He believed that the pirates there must exist in substantial numbers.

If anyone knew what Tang Shen was thinking at this moment, the men would likely fall silent, and the women would weep.

"Mas... Master..."

Nami walked over, her voice trembling. For the first time, she took the initiative to address Tang Shen as Master. Everything that happened today had deeply imprinted itself upon her heart, making her understand a great deal in an instant.

Tang Shen smiled faintly, though his gaze immediately shifted toward a spot not far away.

From that direction, a tall man dressed in a neat suit was walking over slowly, his expression cold to the extreme.