**Chapter 8: The Basic Mi Brothers**
Below the cliff, the rocky shore was piled with numerous boulders. Waves washed over the stones, leaving marks worn by time and splashing up cool spray.
A dark red pirate ship rocked gently on the waves.
Several heads peered over the edge of the cliff above. Allen glanced down.
The ship itself seemed mostly empty. Dozens of pirates were on the shore, among the massive rocks, setting up pots and stoves, apparently preparing to cook.
"Perfect timing. We can have a celebration feast after we're done."
Allen grinned, cracking his knuckles with a series of pops.
"A celebration? For what?" a large, burly pirate asked dumbly.
*Smack!*
The white-headband man slapped the back of the big guy's head, scolding him with an exasperated look.
"You idiot! To celebrate everyone becoming Captain Allen's subordinates, of course!"
"Oh, oh, I see."
The big guy scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly.
While they were talking, Allen beside them had already started moving.
"Time to get to work."
He leaped up, flipped over the edge, and jumped down from the over 70-meter-high cliff.
This action shocked the nearby pirates, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
"Hey!!"
...
Below, on a large rock, several pirates wearing aprons had just worked together to carry over a large pot and placed it on a crude wooden frame they had set up. They turned, ready to go fetch water.
Suddenly.
*Thud!*
A black shadow fell rapidly from the sky, its feet landing violently on the rock. The entire boulder shook, causing the unstable wooden frame to topple over.
The large iron pot fell with a deafening *Clang! Clang! Clang!* The apron-wearing pirates ducked their necks, badly startled.
At the same time, the sudden, enormous commotion alerted the surrounding pirates, who immediately turned to look.
"Who's there?!"
"A Marine?!"
"It's a Marine!!"
Seeing an unfamiliar face appear out of nowhere, the pirates' expressions changed. They quickly grabbed their weapons, becoming alert.
Allen turned around unhurriedly, his gaze sweeping over all the pirates present, then revealing a hint of a playful smile.
"No need to be nervous, everyone. Even though I haven't changed out of this uniform yet, I'm not a Marine anymore."
"Just who are you! What are you doing here!"
A pirate stepped forward and shouted loudly. The others also gripped their weapons tighter, taking a step forward, their eyes showing a trace of wariness.
Forget about whether he was a Marine or not. Just the way this guy had made his entrance was frightening enough. By the sound of it, he had jumped down from the cliff.
But...
One pirate looked up at the top of the cliff and couldn't help but gulp.
Jumping from over 70 meters up... a normal person would have turned into mush by now!
Seeing that the surrounding pirates showed no intention of lowering their weapons, Allen raised his hands, then continued mockingly:
"I said, no need to be nervous. Actually, I'm here to join your pirate crew. Who's in charge here?"
"Join us?"
Hearing this, the pirates present looked around at each other. Finally, all their gazes turned towards the pirate ship moored at the shore.
Two figures, one fat and one thin, emerged from the deck. The thin, hunched-over man with green hair jumped onto the railing, crouching down like a cat.
Sham looked at Allen with a mocking expression:
"A Marine wants to join us? Only an idiot would believe such nonsense. You're here to be a spy in our crew, aren't you?"
"What a moron. He didn't even bother to change out of his uniform. Hahaha!"
The fat Butchi crossed his arms, laughing heartily in ridicule.
Seeing these two appear, a glimmer of interest finally appeared in Allen's eyes.
"The Cat Brothers, Butchi and Sham, with bounties of 7,000,000 Berries each."
"Oh? After lying low for three years, I didn't think anyone would still remember our names."
Sham's eyes narrowed slightly, but he became even more convinced that this person meant trouble.
"Preparing your intelligence so thoroughly... and you still say you're not here to spy?"
Allen: "..."
If you're going to think that way, there's nothing I can do.
"Alright then. Since that's the case, I'll be honest."
Allen paused. Under the stunned gazes of all the pirates, he spoke astonishingly:
"I'm here to become the captain of your pirate crew. Anyone who has objections can come up and try. Of course, I mean all of you together."
Allen kept one hand in his pocket, the corner of his mouth slightly upturned. He gestured with a finger towards the Cat Brothers with his other hand.
"That includes you two... little kittens..."
Seeing his arrogant demeanor, Sham and Butchi gritted their teeth, their faces instantly darkening.
"You bastard...!"
"You better beg for mercy loudly later, or I'll make your death very painful...!"
Sham raised his hand, revealing his sharp cat-claw gloves, gleaming coldly.
The fat cat Butchi let out a furious roar, leaped high into the air, and charged fiercely towards Allen.
"I'll crush your bones! You bastard!"
"Cat Kill Leap!!"
Butchi raised his knee, ready to stomp down viciously on Allen's position.
Relying on his own heavy bulk, combined with the momentum of free fall from the air, he unleashed a force like a cannonball smashing down!
Allen didn't even take his hand out of his pocket. He suddenly lifted his leg in an upward kick, meeting the stomping attack head-on!
*Boom!!*
A blast of wind erupted from the point of impact between the two. The rock under Allen's feet actually exploded into a small crater, then the entire boulder began to tilt. Several cracks spread outwards with a *Crack! Crack!* sound!
"He... he blocked it!!"
"He actually received Butchi's special move head-on...!!"
Seeing Allen receive the blow steadily without budging an inch, everyone present was utterly shocked, their eyes wide and mouths agape.
*Crash!!*
The tilting giant rock finally tipped over. Butchi gritted his teeth and jumped backward, tumbling through the air several times with his knees tucked.
Landing back on the ground, he staggered, almost losing his balance.
Allen also leaped back, did a flip, and landed lightly on another giant rock, still wearing a calm smile on his face.
"Still got some strength. Not bad, little fat cat."
"Just who is this guy? His legs are as hard as steel. He's a monster."
Looking at his opponent again, Butchi's expression was extremely grave, a drop of cold sweat rolling down his forehead.
A burning, searing pain kept coming from the sole of his foot, as if he had kicked a steel pillar. It felt jarred, almost like the bone was about to crack.
Just then, a green figure flashed rapidly to Allen's side.
Butchi hurriedly warned: "Be careful, Sham! There's something off about this guy!"
"Off or not, watch me take him down right now!"
Sham's grin was ferocious. A glint flashed in his eyes. He curved his fingers, and the sharp tips of his cat-claw gloves thrust lightning-fast towards Allen, who seemed completely unprepared!
However, the next second, a white blur flashed past his eyes. Sham's pupils contracted in shock.
Allen's eyes revealed a fierce light. A violent whip kick lashed out at the other's face!
*Thump!!*
Sham felt his cheek go suddenly numb. The scene in his vision spun wildly backwards.
He was sent flying, finally slamming into a rock like a sandbag!
*Thud—Crack! Crack!*
"Pwah—!"
Cracks like a spider's web spread out, quickly covering the entire boulder.
Sham's eyes rolled back, his face contorted in pain as he spat out a mouthful of blood. His whole body slid down like mud, falling unconscious on the spot!