Chapter 39

"So what, Kuzan-san, do you think the World Government is not aware of such actions? Or do you think the Marines are so noble that they don't involve themselves in shady deals? No, Kuzan-san, according to me, the biggest profiteers out of the Underworld dealings would be the World Government itself. Otherwise, why do you think they allow such a huge network to flourish? And like I said earlier, my family are just businessmen; we deal with all parties; we don't discriminate." I simply stated the truth of the matter, as I knew much more about the underworld than Kuzan did. Even if the world knew that my family was involved in shady deals, no one could do anything about it. As long as our actions do not directly affect the interests of the World Government, we can grow unimpeded. Currently, we only lack strength, which is why I have been honing myself so that I can return to my family once I am confident enough to clash against any kind of adversary.

I saw Kuzan's face turn ugly when I exposed the sick truth about the World Government and the Marines, and he did not like it one bit, but he simply gritted his teeth because he knew what I said to be true.

"Kuzan-san, I am going to the lawless area to hunt some criminals. See you later," I said, picking up my things and quickly moving towards the lawless area.

I made my way towards the selected destination, Grove 12. This area was infested with pirates and slavers, and there was even a huge warning sign against Marines here. Despite the sign, I simply strode into the lawless area, still garbed in my Marine officer's uniform, with just Sandai Kitetsu and the case holding the new rifle. As I entered the grove, many of the pirates eyed me dangerously, and some had already started moving to intercept me, thinking that the young Marine was an easy pick.

Just as I continued probing my surroundings with Observation Haki, suddenly a group of over a dozen pirates blocked my way while brandishing weapons. "Hehe, look what we have here, boys. A lost lamb. It seems like the kid must have stolen the Marine officer's uniform," the man in the lead chuckled, reaching out to grab my Marine coat as he spoke. "Say, little bastard, did you take this from your father? Would he pay to retrieve you back, or do you think it's better to sell you to the slaves?" The man asked menacingly.

However, my next action left the group bewildered. Instead of panicking or showing any sort of reaction, I simply pulled out a thick stack of bounties and started flipping through them. The man in the lead's face turned ugly as I casually went through the bounty posters. Suddenly, with anger brimming, he reached forward and grabbed at me.

However, the next instant, what they expected did not happen. An arm flew into the air under everyone's astonished gazes. The pirates, who were experienced veterans of the New World, quickly moved away, realizing the situation after seeing how easily I cut off the pirate's arm. They chose caution because such a young elite wouldn't be without backup.

"Ahhhhhhh!" The man whose arm I had just chopped off was now rolling on the ground in front of me in pain, while his companions stood frozen in fear. I continued to casually flip through the bounty posters, none of them having any idea of what exactly transpired. One moment their leader tried to threaten a young teen, and the next moment he was rolling on the ground with one arm less.

"Ah, there you are. Tsk, tsk, a mere thirty million bounty on your head, and you still have the audacity to venture into the New World." I finally found the bounty poster that I was looking for. The man, now crying and crippled in front of me, was just a small-time pirate who thought he could survive the seas of the New World just because he made it through the first half of the Grand Line safely. How naive of him! People like these were a dime a dozen, and they wouldn't even last a week within the New World.

While the situation unfolded, the surrounding pirates had varied reactions. Many of the veterans chose caution. Although they believed in their strength, they were not foolish enough to target a Marine who might be specially groomed to become an elite. Targeting someone like that without proper backing and strength was like a one-way ticket to hell.

"Sigh, I simply got excited thinking that you were some kind of big shot after looking at your entry." I unsheathed Kitetsu again; this time I directly went for the kill. With a few clean strokes, my blade danced like silver lightning, and before they could react, the dozen pirates that had blocked my way now lay dead in front of me. After flicking my blade, I sheathed it while observing my surroundings again.

I could detect varied emotions from the surrounding pirates, but there was one emotion and youth that caught my attention. A teen who appeared to be around 15 or 16 stood among them.

As I observed the teen among the surrounding pirates, it became clear that he was no ordinary youth. His presence exuded an aura of confidence and skill beyond his years. Tall and lean, he stood with a graceful posture that hinted at years of disciplined training.

Despite his youthful appearance, there was a maturity in his gaze that belied his age. His eyes, a piercing shade of amber, held a calm intensity that seemed to pierce through the chaos around him. Every movement he made was calculated and precise, displaying a level of control and mastery that was rare to see in someone so young.

He was dressed in simple yet elegant attire, with a long black coat that billowed slightly in the breeze. At his side hung a formidable-looking sword. The infamous Yoru, which had yet to blacken, had a gleaming blade as a testament to the skill of its wielder. I could feel Kitetsu slightly tremble in my arms, as if having met a worthy challenger. Even among the seasoned pirates surrounding him, he stood out as a force to be reckoned with.

There was an air of mystery about him, as if he held secrets and untold stories beneath the surface. Despite his stoic demeanor, there was a fire burning within him, a determination to carve out his own path in the world of pirates and warriors.

In that moment, as our eyes met briefly before I turned away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of recognition. There was something about him that seemed familiar, as if I had crossed paths with him before in another life. But for now, he remained an enigmatic figure amidst the chaos of Sabaody Island, a teenage Dracule Mihawk in the making. I did not probe further and severed the head of the pirate with the bounty before leaving to find a good spot to test my new weapon.

"Bang." Another pirate's head popped as I crossed out yet another pirate's bounty poster. With the superior range of my rifle, unless one had Observation Haki, there was no way a pirate could detect the incoming deadly projectile. Currently perched atop a tower in Grove 13, I picked out pirates who had left too much bloodshed in their wake. Such scum were too extreme even for my standards, so why not earn some good karma while I was at it?

"Well, let's see, that's the easiest 100 million I've ever made," I thought to myself. The lawless area was a haven for pirates, so it did not have a shortage of targets for me to hunt. Even within the Marines, if we could eliminate a pirate, the bounty could be reclaimed. Unlike others who could claim the total bounty amount, Marines could only receive 30% of the listed bounty.

I had already been out on the hunt for more than four hours now, and with my extreme Observation Haki, it was easy to pick out targets who could be easily killed. I even carried seastone bullets to eliminate pirates known to possess devil fruits. These kinds were rare, and I was only able to encounter one devil fruit user, a Zoan type. However, the bullet I fired was coated with Haki and made of seastone. The pirate, overly reliant on his devil fruit, fell with a single shot through the skull, instantly killing him.

As I was scouting for my next target, I felt a very discreet sweep of Observation Haki pass through my location. If not for my high sensitivity, I would have easily missed it. Curious about the source of the probe, I searched for a few moments until I pinpointed its location. Instantly, I recognized the building from which the observation Haki had originated. A smile unknowingly formed on my face; the haki user was quite skilled, as their ability to mask their presence after a quick probe was exceptional.

I quickly packed my things and descended the tower. After a few minutes, I was standing in front of the infamous Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.

I casually entered the bar, noting its posh atmosphere contrasting with the rowdy area outside. Despite its upscale appearance, there weren't many customers, just two who were already sloshed enough. I was sure these two guys were going to suffer once they saw the bill. Using a light probe, I understood that they were planning to leave without paying because they only saw a single bartender lady behind the counter. I couldn't help but inwardly sigh and chuckle at their fate. Finally, I laid my eyes upon the former Empress of Amazon Lily and also the ex-captain of the Kuja pirates, a pirate who was personally chased by the Marine Hero until she quit piracy and started this bar. Not everyone can boast such an achievement; she was also known for being the hub of information exchange.

"Boy, haven't your elders taught you that staring at a lady for so long is considered rude?" Shakuyaku, who was wearing a pink sleeveless top and a black jean while smoking a thin cigarette, casually questioned me, but I could detect a hint of curiosity hidden within her eyes.

"Miss, it is considered rude to probe someone using your Observation Haki, especially while masking your own presence. Some might think that you're planning something nefarious against a child like me," I taunted back. Maybe she already knows about me and was just wanting to know more. Her brows raised in surprise when she realized that her discreet probe had been detected, and her curiosity only deepened.

"Haha, I like you already, kid. Garp sure did find a little monster. I am not sure how far you will grow in the future; quite a few parties are interested in you." She exhaled the smoke away from me and snubbed the cigarette while pouring a glass of what seemed like orange juice and pushed it over to me while pouring a glass of scotch for herself and directed me to take a seat.

It was my turn to be surprised by the news Shakky shared. I did not realize that there were parties interested in me. This was as good a time and place as any to collect information, so I casually sat at the offered place.

"Do I need to pay? I am not sure I can afford a drink at your place otherwise," I jested, knowing well that even if she wanted me to pay, I could afford it.

"Haha, child, I am sure you can afford it, but no, not this time. This one's on me as a token of apology for rudely probing you earlier. I was just curious about who would be so bold as to hunt pirates so openly in a lawless zone. At first, I thought it was some famous bounty hunter, but then I saw a little Marine officer carrying a high-tech rifle and making almost impossible feats that even veteran Marine snipers could fail to accomplish. I think the weapon you hold must be partially responsible for your inhuman marksmanship. May I?" Shakky was not someone who stood on ceremony; knowing that she had been found out, she did not hesitate to apologize, even if the person sitting in front of her was merely a child.

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Currently updated until Chapter 50.