Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 249

Chapter 249: Apostle of Joy!
Ryan stared at the glowing prompt on the panel before him, feeling a wave of surprise wash over him.

It wasn’t the improvement in his compatibility with the [Apostle of Joy] that caught him off guard, he had anticipated that. The intense rush of “joy after pain” had been undeniable, a surge of euphoria so overwhelming that he’d felt it the moment he completed his task. What really surprised Ryan was the simplicity of it all—how something as straightforward as battle had been enough to satisfy the conditions for that euphoric state.

He furrowed his brow, considering this unexpected realization.

“The joy after pain,” he mused aloud. It had never explicitly required him to defeat a powerful enemy. The key, after all, wasn’t in the complexity or difficulty of the fight—it was in the personal “joy” he derived from it. He had always assumed that vanquishing a mighty foe would be the only path to that sense of fulfillment, simply because it was the most obvious and dramatic way to experience joy after hardship. But the rules had never been so rigid.

Ryan smirked. It didn’t matter how he got there, only that he did.

Regardless, his progression in [Apostle of Joy] had reached a full 100% compatibility ahead of schedule, and that was all that mattered right now. Excitement buzzed through him.

“Time to check out the details of my next profession!” he thought, eyes bright with anticipation.

The hidden path of the [Original Sin] had already proven to be a significant source of power. His previous promotions, from [Gluttony Hunter] to [Apostle of Joy], had each brought him remarkable growth. Now, the prospect of advancing to the third tier filled him with eager anticipation. What kind of strength would this next stage unlock?

The panel shimmered, updating with new information:

—

**[Apostle of Joy] (Level 2) compatibility has reached 100%. Judgement in progress. After fulfilling the following conditions, promotion to third-level hidden profession [Greedy Monarch] will be unlocked:**

1. **Basic attributes:** [Spirituality] ≥ 15.0, [Physical Fitness] ≥ 15.0 (completed)

2. **Greedy Ritual:** Take possession of a “rare treasure” that does not belong to you. The greedy desire more than what is necessary. (Unfinished)

—

“[Greedy Monarch]…,” Ryan murmured under his breath, his eyes narrowing in thought as he read the conditions again.

The first requirement—basic attributes—was standard for every profession advancement. There wasn’t much to be concerned about there; he had already met the criteria. But it was the second condition that troubled him. The ritual of Greed.

He frowned.

Unlike the elaborate ceremony that had been required to unlock [Apostle of Joy]—an act of joy that needed to be witnessed by over a hundred people—the Greedy Ritual seemed deceptively simple. It didn’t need any witnesses or validation. All that was required was to seize a “rare treasure,” whether it was snatched from another’s hands or drawn from nature itself.

But what exactly defined a “rare treasure”?

Ryan glanced down at the massive sword in his hand, the [Crown Dragon Slayer Greatsword]. It was one of the finest weapons in his possession, forged from the tail blade of a fearsome [Crown Dragon]. In terms of rarity, it certainly felt like it should qualify. Even his [Reverse Blade Armor], despite its high craftsmanship, paled in comparison to the Greatsword’s raw materials.

Yet the panel’s judgement was clear: even this formidable blade didn’t meet the standard of a “rare treasure.”

Ryan sighed, rubbing his chin.

Every high-level rare object he knew of could be called a treasure, and that included artifacts made from rare materials, whether found in nature or forged by expert hands. At the very least, such items required materials from legendary creatures, monsters of immense power and renown.

But the word “legend” hung heavily in his mind. In this world, the strongest being Ryan had ever encountered was Selina, a fourth-level blood witch. She had power, yes, but even she paled in comparison to the truly legendary figures of lore. The closest thing he had seen to a fifth-level professional was the master of the Tianqing Sword Dojo, and even that was speculation.

As for legendary monsters? Hunting one down would be a feat beyond even the greatest of warriors. To single-handedly defeat a creature of such renown seemed an insurmountable challenge, even for someone as driven as Ryan.

He clenched his fist around the hilt of his sword, feeling the weight of the task before him. The Greedy Ritual might seem simple in its phrasing, but finding a true “rare treasure” was going to be anything but easy. Would he have to confront a legendary monster? Or perhaps there was another way, one that didn’t involve a direct battle but still required cunning, strategy, and—above all—greed.

Ryan smiled to himself, his mind already turning with possibilities. The path ahead was unclear, but one thing was certain: he would stop at nothing to become the [Greedy Monarch].

The hunt for the rare treasure had begun.

Compared to humans, legendary monsters are colossal in size, with vitality and defenses that seem almost insurmountable. Their sheer presence on the battlefield is overwhelming, and while it’s possible for a legendary professional to bring one down, the task is far from easy. To actually *kill* such a beast requires power two tiers higher—a nearly impossible feat unless you’re exceptionally prepared.

Ryan pondered this bitter truth, a frown deepening on his face. Even the finest high-level rare objects couldn’t be called “rare treasures” in this context. That meant only artifacts of a quality far surpassing high-level items could qualify. The question gnawed at him: do such objects even exist in this region? And even if they did, could he defeat the powerful individuals who guarded these “rare treasures”?

He sighed deeply, frustration settling over him like a heavy cloak. The path forward seemed obscured by uncertainty. Completing the “Ritual of Greed” in the short term was looking less and less likely.

“Unless there are higher-tier rare objects hidden somewhere in the Tianqing Sea…” he muttered to himself, recalling the “Holy Artifact – Tianqing Sword,” renowned throughout the land. Even that famed weapon, revered by so many, was only considered a high-level masterpiece, nothing beyond that category. If even the Tianqing Sword didn’t qualify, what hope did he have of finding something more?

Ryan chuckled darkly. “How should I describe this feeling? Happy, but not fully satisfied.”

The rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed nearby, snapping Ryan from his thoughts. He turned, his eyes narrowing as Durand approached, his sword stained with fresh blood. Not far behind him, another black knight lay crumpled in a pool of crimson.

“Mr. Zifeng,” Durand said with a faint smile, his voice tired yet filled with admiration. “Your one-handed swordsmanship… it’s truly remarkable. It’s rare to see such mastery.”

Ryan nodded in acknowledgment, though his mind was still partly distracted by the ritual dilemma.

“It’s a shame the Black Knights interrupted us tonight,” Durand continued with a sigh. “We aren’t at our best, and this encounter was far from the sparring match I had hoped for. But, well, I suppose we’ll have to wait for another opportunity.”

Durand’s breath steadied as his complexion returned to normal. The effects of the secret technique he had used earlier to temporarily boost his power had worn off, leaving him looking composed once more.

Ryan studied Durand out of the corner of his eye. His recovery was unusually fast, almost unnatural. “Could he possess some ability akin to the [Heart of Gluttony]?” Ryan wondered silently. But he kept his thoughts to himself, offering only a polite nod in response.

“In that case, until next time,” Ryan said simply, turning on his heel to leave. This time, Durand did not attempt to stop him.

As Ryan’s figure faded into the night, Durand stood silently, watching him go. The pretext of being interrupted by the Black Knights was just a convenient excuse. The real reason Durand no longer pressed for a sparring session was simple: he couldn’t keep up with Zifeng anymore.

Even with his secret technique, which had elevated his spiritual power to a formidable fourth-tier, Durand had struggled against the Black Knights. And yet, those same knights had crumbled under Zifeng’s blade in less than a minute. The truth was undeniable—Durand would barely last a few seconds if he were to go head-to-head with Zifeng now.

There was no point in fighting when the disparity in their abilities was so vast. A true “exchange of ideas” could only happen between equals, and they were far from being equals at this point.

Just as these thoughts swirled in Durand’s mind, he sensed something—several spiritual fluctuations closing in on them. Law enforcement from the City of Azure. No doubt they had been drawn by the violent clash that had taken place just moments ago.

“I’ll have to wait… and be patient for now,” Durand murmured to himself, his lips curling into a determined smile. “Mr. Purple wind, once I’ve completed my task, we’ll have a real fight, one worthy of our skills.”

With a swift movement, Durand melted into the shadows, vanishing just as the law enforcement officers arrived. They rushed onto the scene, but all that greeted them were bloodstains and the broken remnants of battle. The ruins told a silent, haunting story, yet there were no bodies left to explain it.

The officers exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what exactly had transpired, only that whatever it was, they had arrived far too late to make sense of it.