Vendetta

Tonight's gains left Maud thoroughly satisfied.

A physique roughly fifteen times that of an ordinary person, the physical techniques he had previously practiced, and a smoothbore flintlock with high lethality within fifty meters.

With this kind of capital, he should have no trouble going out in public.

But if he got into a conflict with someone, this level of self-protection was still far from enough.

Still, compared to his previous life, when he had holed up in a penal institution waiting for opportunities to execute prisoners...

If he wanted to quickly build up enough strength to protect himself, taking the initiative was obviously faster.

The only problem was that the potential risks were greater...

Amid these considerations, Maud fell into a deep sleep.

The next day.

At daybreak, the two corpses in the alley had already been removed, leaving behind only a patch of dried blood.

Nearby residents came and went through the alley, yet they acted as though the bloodstain by the wall did not exist.

Although this was a residential district, most of its residents were pirates and people from the underworld. They were already accustomed to incidents like this.

So even if the two corpses had still been there, they would at most have glanced at them while passing by before thinking nothing more of it.

After the weapons shop opened, Maud deliberately walked a short distance away to observe the "murder" scene from afar.

Although he did not know exactly who had removed the corpses, Maud did not pay it much mind.

He was confident that no one would discover what he had done the previous night.

Moreover, the pirate crew Red belonged to would set sail after noon.

Red was merely one of the crew's fighters. If he died, then he died. As long as the crew had enough money, they could recruit a group of replacements in Mad Hatter Town at any time.

Thus, Maud did not think the pirate crew would change its schedule because of Red's death.

Unless the other unidentified person was more important than Red—important enough for the pirate captain to take notice.

That possibility should be very low.

Maud thought to himself.

He glanced at the passersby in the alley, his gaze seeming to fix on chunks of walking pork.

He discreetly withdrew his aggressive gaze, returned to the weapons shop, and began his routine training.

He had noticed that something was off with Sunny. She looked as though she were in a very gloomy mood.

Considering that women had those few days every month...

Maud did not want to court trouble. He squatted in the corner of the shop and performed one set of exercises after another.

"There are still seven days before the auction begins..."

Before long, Maud's thoughts drifted toward his next prey.

According to the information Sunny had provided, there were quite a few suitable targets.

However, he would have to wait two days before making his move.

After all, he needed to lower the frequency of his hunts and thereby reduce the risk of being discovered.

Mad Hatter Town's port.

One pirate ship after another, each with a different appearance and size, lay anchored in the enormous open "U"-shaped bay.

The Sharp Horn Pirate Ship, where Red served, was among them. It was a two-masted sailing ship of considerable size.

It was time to set sail. The members of the Sharp Bull Pirates had assembled early and made all the necessary preparations.

Several pirates paced slowly across the deck, seemingly responsible for keeping watch.

Inside the cabin, the rest of the crew, including the captain, were gathered.

They stood in a circle around a table. Two cold, stiff corpses lay atop it.

Captain Kazt stood beside the table, wearing a horned battle helmet and sporting a thick beard.

He lowered his head and stared at the corpses, his expression like a volcano on the verge of erupting.

His widened eyes were bloodshot, and even the breath exhaled from his nose and mouth seemed tinged with murderous intent.

Under Kazt's influence, a chilling atmosphere permeated the cabin.

Affected by that atmosphere, most of the crew wore solemn expressions, while some merely put on an act to play along.

After a while, the cabin door was pushed open, and the atmosphere inside suddenly grew taut.

Kazt looked toward the door, and the crowd automatically opened a gap.

An officer with a long saber at his waist pushed through the door. He strode through the opening in the crowd and came before Kazt.

Kazt stared fixedly at him and asked coldly, "Well?"

The officer named Lagron shook his head. "I didn't find anything."

"Hm? Not even a single clue?"

"No."

Lagron's expression remained calm.

A gloomy look flashed through Kazt's eyes.

Something happening at such a critical moment had left him extremely displeased.

Seeing his captain brimming with anger, Lagron reminded him at the appropriate moment, "Captain, we have to return before the auction. There isn't much time left to waste."

"I don't need you to remind me."

Kazt's eyes held anger as he said coldly, "Lagron, I want you to stay behind and resolve this matter."

"Understood."

Lagron accepted the order.

Several minutes later, the Sharp Horn Pirate Ship slowly departed the port.

With the auction drawing near, most of the pirate ships entering the port were from out of town, and few chose to set sail at a time like this.

Many pirates at the port could not help taking another look at the Sharp Horn Pirate Ship.

Lagron, ordered to stay behind, watched the ship sail away. Only after it had become a tiny black dot did he turn toward the town, a bag of money now hanging at his waist.

Of the two crew members attacked and killed the previous night, one was a navigator the crew had spent two years training.

If only a fighter had been killed, it would not have been worth exhausting himself over at such a critical moment.

But a navigator was different. A navigator was one of the important assets needed to enter the Grand Line.

Therefore, even though there was another navigator aboard with more experience, Kazt still could not swallow this grievance.

Lagron understood his captain's feelings. That was one of the reasons he was willing to stay and handle the matter.

Of course, he actually leaned more toward setting sail. After all, the goal of this voyage was a great prize that would not come again if they missed this opportunity.

A great prize like that would surely provide an incomparably wonderful plundering experience.

"What a shame."

Lagron felt regretful.

Half an hour later, he arrived at Bar Street.

His gaze did not linger on the large bars lining both sides of the street. Instead, he looked toward the alleys.

He passed through the crowds and entered an alley between two buildings.

After walking through the alley for more than ten minutes, Lagron stopped outside a bar.

He glanced at the oil lamp made from a skull hanging on the wall, then pushed open the bar's door and strode inside.

Behind the counter, a bartender wiping a glass glanced at Lagron as he entered but did not call out to him.

Lagron swept his gaze across the dimly lit bar. There was not a single customer.

He withdrew his gaze and turned to the bartender behind the counter. "Is Wolf Rat not here?"

"..."

The bartender silently glanced at Lagron, then placed the polished glass on the hanging rack.

Lagron frowned. Just as he was about to speak, a cold voice suddenly came from behind him.

"I've been here all along."

Hearing the voice appear out of nowhere, Lagron's expression changed dramatically.

When did he...?

His emotions shaken, Lagron abruptly strode forward several steps, then quickly turned toward the source of the voice.

At the same time, his right hand had already climbed onto the hilt of his saber, his body poised to attack at any moment.

When he saw that the speaker was a man as thin as a bamboo stalk, with sharp brows and a pointed mouth, he could not help freezing for a moment.

"You're... Wolf Rat?"