"Look at that guy! He's about to die, and he doesn't even know it!"
"Heh heh, he's probably too scared to move. Three thousand against one-even if he dies, that's enough to make him happy for a while."
"Quit the chatter! His head is mine!"
"Heh heh, I'd love to get my hands on that ten billion too!"
Barn remained unmoved by the noise filling his ears. His eyes, previously closed behind his sunglasses, suddenly snapped open, and an overwhelming aura erupted in an instant.
"Huh? What's this?"
The Pirates who had already raised their swords high seemed to suddenly lose consciousness. Their once-alert eyes went as blank as Barn's. A few of the stronger ones noticed what was happening and stared in shock at the man who still hadn't moved an inch.
Whoosh!
The aura suddenly expanded, surging outward before vanishing in an instant. Time and space around them seemed to freeze. The Pirates who had been brandishing their weapons so fiercely stood rooted to the spot, their legs seemingly filled with a thousand pounds of mercury, unable to take another step.
Thud...
That was the sound of someone hitting the ground. After the first came the second, then the third. In an instant, the once-massive force collapsed. Of the full three thousand, only a handful dressed as captains remained standing, but even they had lost the will to fight. Their sword hands trembled constantly, and beads of cold sweat streamed down their foreheads...
"What... what did he do...?"
"He's... he's terrifying!"
"So this is the strength of a wanted man worth ten billion..."
The Pirates still standing had pale lips. Whether from shock or terror, their lips kept trembling against one another as they uttered those words.
Barn stood up and slowly picked up the sword beside him.