"Undying" Ryan Hunter

Roger's Bar, Sabaody Area 5

Named after the Pirate King, this bar was not only a gathering spot for pirates but also a hidden thread of Sabaody's underground world.

Each of the six kings of the underworld had planted informants here.

Assassination contracts were discussed in hushed tones within private rooms, arms trade lists were hidden beneath barrel bottoms, and smuggling deals for all kinds of contraband were quietly concluded in the shadows of the bar counter...

Here, as long as one had enough Beli, anything could be found.

Naturally, the pirates stationed here were no insignificant nobodies.

On the surface, the bar's owner was one of the pirate Supernovas who had dominated the edge of the New World two years ago—"Undying" Ryan Hunter, with a bounty as high as 250 million Beli.

He was the user of the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Honey Badger, and possessed an utterly terrifying life force.

Rumor had it that he had taken one of "Beasts" Kaido's Thunder Baguas head-on. Every bone in his body had shattered, yet he had still survived, relying on his Devil Fruit's regenerative powers to endure it by force.

Thus, the title "Undying" spread across the four seas.

After that battle, Ryan Hunter had completely submitted to Kaido's power and joined the Beasts Pirates, becoming one of Kaido's commanders.

Kaido had sent him to the Sabaody Archipelago with the task of guarding the underground businesses here while keeping watch on the movements of the Marines and other forces.

Yet Roger's Bar held secrets far beyond Ryan Hunter alone.

Several assassins with concealed presences also lurked in the bar's shadows. Their faces were hidden behind masks, with only the coldness in their eyes flickering.

These people were subordinates of the assassin king, the Big Hand Funeral Director. They specialized in dark dealings such as assassinations and human organ trafficking.

Rumor had it that, given enough Beli, they would dare attempt to kill even a target on the level of an Emperor of the Sea.

Besides them, several other kings of the underworld—the king of arms, the king of intelligence, the leader of the slave traders, and others—also maintained their own business outposts here.

This place could be considered their most crucial branch base in the first half of the Grand Line, as well as a stage where every faction secretly vied for power.

With Ryan Hunter's strength, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this "Undying" Supernova would inevitably grow into a top-tier pirate of the Beasts Pirates, on par with the Three Calamities or Flying Six.

Then one day, a crumpled intelligence report was respectfully delivered to Ryan Hunter by an intelligence agent.

"When did the Marines get so arrogant? Is he some hotheaded fool?"

After skimming the report, he frowned, his tone filled with impatience.

The report was simple: a Marine Commodore named Beiyuan Heng had led his soldiers in gradually clearing out pirate forces along the way, beginning from Sabaody Area 1 over the past few days.

Unlike the Marines' usual halfhearted efforts, this Commodore acted ruthlessly and decisively.

By now, Beiyuan Heng had approached the border of Area 5.

"Choosing a time like this to uphold justice? He really picked a fine moment."

Ryan Hunter drained his rum in one gulp, a cold sneer curling across his lips.

The slave liberation incident that had erupted not long ago had caused an enormous uproar. Even the underground world's businesses had been forced to halt for a time, leaving everything unusually quiet.

Kaido had specifically issued orders for all his subordinates to keep a low profile during this period, rein in their edge, and avoid provoking the Marines lest they bring disaster upon themselves.

Under normal circumstances, the moment Beiyuan Heng's Marine unit entered Area 1, Ryan Hunter would have led people out to crush those Marines who did not know their place. Why would he have waited until now, allowing them to push all the way to his doorstep before receiving word?

"Who exactly is this Beiyuan Heng?"

Ryan Hunter raised his eyes toward the intelligence agent before him, impatience in his voice.

"Since when did the Marines have someone like him? Why have I never heard of him?"

In his impression, most Marines were a pack of cowards afraid of death. There were few who acted with such disregard for consequences.

"This subordinate does not know. We have not yet uncovered his background."

The intelligence agent lowered his head respectfully. "However, according to the information we gathered, he seems to be a newly appointed Commodore. He had no reputation at Marine Headquarters before this, as though he appeared out of nowhere."

After a pause, the intelligence agent added:

"Also, this subordinate has confirmed that he is not a Devil Fruit user. The techniques he commonly uses are mostly the Marine Six Powers, and his physical attributes are exceptionally powerful."

Ryan Hunter nodded slightly at that, the confusion in his eyes fading somewhat.

To him, Beiyuan Heng's origins did not matter. What mattered was how strong he was.

Still, even if this Marine had some ability, openly provoking the Beasts Pirates like this was far too arrogant.

He picked up the intelligence report on the table and carefully read it again. Attached to it was information on Beiyuan Heng's warship, the number of soldiers under his command, and detailed records of the pirates he had cleared out and the trade sites he had destroyed over the past few days.

"What a green Marine,"

he said slowly, his tone full of disdain.

"He only wants to uphold his so-called justice, yet he does not understand the rules of this sea. The strong devour the weak; strength is the only law. So-called justice is merely an excuse weaklings use to deceive themselves."

"We let him strut around for a few days because no one bothered to deal with him. Now, it is time to show him what reality is!"

Ryan Hunter's gaze instantly turned vicious, silver-gray fur growing across his body.

"Lord Hunter,"

the intelligence agent hesitated, but still gathered his courage to remind him.

"Lord Kaido specifically instructed us to keep a low profile during this period and not provoke the Marines. If things get out of hand and draw the attention of an admiral from Marine Headquarters, it will be difficult to settle..."

"Shut up!"

Ryan Hunter slammed his palm against the table. The wooden tabletop of the booth instantly shattered, liquor splashing across the floor.

"How much commotion can teaching a mere Marine Commodore a lesson cause? And if we do not act now, he will be shitting all over the heads of our Beasts Pirates!"

Every word he spoke dripped with contempt for the Marines, as though Beiyuan Heng were nothing more than an ant he could crush at will.

As he spoke, Ryan Hunter bent down and picked up the weapon leaning beside the booth.

It was a pitch-black spiked club covered in sharp spikes.

That had not originally been his weapon, but ever since Kaido defeated him and he submitted to Kaido, he had deliberately begun imitating Kaido's style. He had specially commissioned this spiked club, and even copied Kaido's techniques, making them rough and tyrannical.

Though he had failed to learn much of Kaido's true strength, he had at least gained a bit of resemblance in appearance and bearing.

A few days later, outside Sabaody Area 5.

Beiyuan Heng wore a white Marine coat, the two characters for "Justice" on its back especially conspicuous among the crowd.

There were many pirates on the Sabaody Archipelago, but there were also quite a few civilians.

Every area contained civilians running all kinds of shops: food stalls, general stores, tailor shops, and taverns.

They seemed ordinary, but in truth, anyone able to operate a business peacefully in a place where pirates gathered had some connection to pirates or underground forces. Either they paid exorbitant protection fees, or they themselves took part in certain gray-market dealings.

Of course, Beiyuan Heng did not concern himself with these people, nor could he possibly manage them all.

Just as Beiyuan Heng was preparing to end this probing patrol and return to the warship to discuss the day's action plan with his soldiers,

a group of figures suddenly surged out from the surrounding alleys and shops, instantly encircling him.

These people carried a strong pirate aura. Their eyes were vicious as they stared greedily at Beiyuan Heng, sealing off every avenue of retreat.

One pirate with a scar across his face stepped forward, his tone arrogant.

"You're Beiyuan Heng, the one who's been clearing out pirates everywhere, right? Your arrogant days end today! My lord will show you what a real pirate is!"

Beiyuan Heng raised an eyebrow. His calm gaze swept over the pirates before him as he asked indifferently, "Who is your lord? Tell him to come out and speak for himself. Do not send little lackeys like you to waste my time."

The scar-faced pirate immediately glared in rage. Pointing toward Roger's Bar, he raised his voice several notches.

"My lord is the owner of Roger's Bar, a member of the Beasts Pirates, a pirate Supernova from two years ago, a Devil Fruit user, the man with a 250 million Beli bounty—Lord 'Undying' Ryan Hunter!"