He Wasn't a Pirate

That inexplicable rhetorical question made Maud look at Tatam strangely.

Pirate?

Maud did not consider himself a pirate.

Nor did he have any interest in being labeled as one in the future.

"No."

Without thinking much, Maud answered Tatam's question.

Upon hearing this, Tatam instinctively glanced at the stairs leading to the second floor, then lowered his head and silently picked up the glass, wiping it again.

Maud looked at Tatam and said, "You haven't answered my question yet."

"Selling."

Only after Maud pressed him did Tatam belatedly answer.

His bar could indeed be considered a place for trading information.

That was also why Wolf Rat had stayed here all this time and become acquainted with him.

Maud wore an expression that said he had expected as much.

In his opinion, bars opened in places like this generally did more than sell alcohol. They mainly served as venues for trading information.

That was rather similar to Hunter's World.

Maud turned his head once more to glance at the deserted guest seats and smiled. "This is a nice place. I'll come often from now on."

Tatam was slightly stunned. After a moment, he nodded. "Welcome."

After only a few minutes of contact, he had developed a hint of fondness for Maud.

But when he thought of how Wolf Rat and that dangerous woman seemed to be targeting Maud, he could not help glancing again at the entrance to the stairs leading upstairs.

From Wolf Rat's interaction with that woman last night, Tatam could easily guess Wolf Rat's true identity.

At the same time, he clearly understood Wolf Rat's motive for bringing Maud here.

A newly made friend...?

Tatam silently wiped the wineglass, never considering intervening.

Although his first impression of Maud was good, Wolf Rat was his close friend and more important than Maud.

After exchanging a few words, Maud discovered that Tatam never said more than five words whenever he spoke.

Still, he could understand Tatam's feelings.

As a grown man, anyone with a voice like that probably would not speak easily.

Maud turned his head toward the stairs and suddenly asked, "Does Wolf Rat live here?"

Tatam nodded.

Maud understood. He lowered his head to look at the wineglass and began pondering Wolf Rat's motives.

What concerned him more was that Wolf Rat had actually been able to find him earlier.

Like a dog.

That meant disguises were utterly meaningless before Wolf Rat.

Yet Wolf Rat had pretended to be a stranger and approached him today.

Was it revenge for the shot Maud had fired at him yesterday?

If so, why had he blocked Kazt's attack?

The more Maud thought about it, the more contradictions he found. It was difficult to analyze Wolf Rat's general motive.

"Tatam, Wolf Rat probably isn't his real name, right? It sounds more like a nickname."

"..."

Tatam glanced at Maud and chose to remain silent.

"Fine, that was presumptuous of me."

Seeing Tatam's reaction, Maud smiled indifferently. He then took a banknote from his pocket and placed it on the table, weighing it down with the wineglass.

"Leaving?"

Tatam glanced at the banknote beneath the wineglass.

Normally, he basically never took the initiative to ask.

"Yeah. I'll come again next time."

Maud stood up and, taking advantage of the moment, lifted the ferret, which had somehow escaped beneath the chair.

It was clear that the ferret had a strong will to survive.

Unfortunately, the person it had encountered was Maud.

"I'm leaving. Tell Wolf Rat for me."

Maud carried the ferret toward the bar's entrance.

Tatam silently watched Maud leave.

Ten minutes later, Wolf Rat came downstairs to the bar after treating his injuries.

When he saw that there was no one in front of the counter, he was stunned.

As for the ferret, he had long since ignored it.

"Where did Usopp go?"

"He left."

Tatam glanced at Wolf Rat's bandaged hands.

"Damn it, he just left like that?!"

Wolf Rat dropped heavily into the seat before the counter and angrily tugged at his hair.

"It wasn't easy becoming friends, and I was planning to strike while the iron was hot and deepen our relationship."

"Tatam, you know what? Usopp really screwed me over today."

"Look at my hands, then my back, and my butt. All these injuries are thanks to him!!"

"If I weren't so thick-skinned, forget drinking right now—I'd be lucky just to still be standing."

While complaining, Wolf Rat slipped Maud's banknote from beneath the wineglass into his pocket.

One glass of wine did not cost ten thousand Beli.

Tatam helplessly watched Wolf Rat's little maneuver. He had long grown accustomed to Wolf Rat's monologues and basically never responded.

After putting away the banknote and finishing his usual complaints, Wolf Rat conveniently downed the untouched glass of wine in one gulp.

"Another glass."

Tatam nodded. Before long, he mixed another drink for Wolf Rat, then asked, "Is he the target?"

"Who?"

Wolf Rat reflexively asked.

"Usopp."

"What's with you, Tatam? This isn't like you."

"..."

"I'm telling you, don't be fooled by how Usopp doesn't care about your voice at all. Believe me, that guy is trouble. Stay as far away from him as you can!"

"..."

"Also, you'd better not get involved in these matters. Even if you already know something, pretend you don't. If I hadn't stopped that woman last night, given her temperament, the mere fact that you're a pirate would have given her ten thousand reasons to cut you down. Of course, I know you aren't a pirate."

"Neither is he."

Tatam looked at the spot where Maud had been sitting.

Wolf Rat immediately stared at Tatam in astonishment.

"Tatam, I don't care whether he's a pirate right now. I only know that he'll definitely become a pirate in the future—and not just any pirate. He'll be a great pirate capable of giving the Marines a headache."

"What do you mean?"

A trace of confusion appeared on Tatam's face.

Wolf Rat slowly lowered his glass and ran his thumb around its rim. "The reasons are complicated. I don't want to talk about them, so don't ask."

Tatam nodded and said no more.

"Actually, if circumstances allowed, perhaps..."

Wolf Rat's flirtatious expression gradually turned solemn, and a cold killing intent inadvertently surfaced in his eyes.

Crack.

Wolf Rat accidentally crushed the glass, using the hand that had been badly injured.

"This..."

Wolf Rat looked at the shards in his hand and cried out in anguish, "Tatam, where did you buy this glass? It's obviously defective. Hurry up and take these shards back and demand compensation."

"Ten thousand."

Tatam spoke without expression.

"Really ten thousand?"

Wolf Rat's lips twitched.

"Ten thousand."

Tatam repeated himself.

On the verge of tears, Wolf Rat reluctantly took out the Beli he had not even had time to warm in his hand.

Maud returned to the weapon shop without a hitch.

The instant he stepped through the door, he felt a sharp gaze.

Facing Sunny's cutting glare, Maud pretended not to notice.

"Sunny, Saul still hasn't woken up, has he?"

"I don't know."

Sunny answered irritably.

"All right."

Maud walked to the counter and lifted the ferret in front of Sunny.

"Look, I brought back something good."

"An extra meal?"

Looking at the ferret, Sunny asked in confusion.

The ferret suddenly shuddered.

What kind of people are these???

Thanks to Yuan Yi, Crazy丶Novel, Heaven's Blessing, Qian Qi, and Justice Zombie Loli for the rewards!