15 Killing...

Chapter 15

Title: Killing...

….

-Ace POV-

I frown slightly and contemplate this. Obviously, bounty hunting is a way to make money fast and I plan to do it… but at the same time, I don't want my identity to be known as some bounty hunter or something like that. Still, that is an easily solvable problem.

In the end, I nod at the person in front of me. "Okay then, can you get me his bounty poster, and I will decide what I will do."

As I say that, it isn't a request, even though I made it seem like one. Jason nods and walks away quickly to get me a bounty poster of the man.

Hmmm… I guess I should start getting used to killing someone. I don't think I will have an irregular reaction, when a person kills someone the reaction is different. Most people are indifferent, especially in the army, after all, he shot and I shot back.

Some soldiers might even feel joy at killing the enemy, after all, he survived and he is happy. Again, another natural reaction.

There could be a depression stage, thinking about the life where one took away. But that mostly happens when an accidental kill happens. 

But if a mind is organized and knows what he will do. Then he won't have any reaction to it, that is why most people in the military or police aren't broken down by the killing. But also there are those who are thanked for their service, so it makes them feel like they weren't doing something bad.

To me, killing is something I wouldn't do normally. But my situation is no longer normal, it's an inevitable action. That is that there is to it, it's just an action, like walking, breathing, cooking, and… killing. 

Anyway, my mind has wandered enough. I close the door and notify Sabo. "I am going to do something. Don't skip training…"

I hear Sabo answer with an. "Okay~" 

I go to my room and put my short sword on my belt. Then walk back outside, I just walk along the town and say good morning to everyone I see. I have already memorized most of their names, though I keep calling them with easy to remember nicknames.

I am like a friendly guy to them, and they are extremely beneficial to me. Also, I collect funds from them to help build the city.

….

-General POV-

As Ace goes towards Jason's house he contemplates many things. He is also playing a little mind game with the town, he was

collecting taxes, but he knows that the word 'taxes' is interpreted by people as 'bad'. So he changed the name and called it 'funds to help build the town'. At its base, he is collecting taxes and is even doing the politician's unofficial job by embezzling money from the taxes. 

He could go and hunt down pirates for bounties, that would be a good source of income. But not as good as having 400 people paying him taxes. The income differential is completely on a whole level.

'Out of 400 people, the average that I get in taxes is 10,000 ß per person. Each month I get around 4,000,000 ß.' Calculates Ace in his head. 'The average bounty in East Blue is 3,000,000 ß and then I would have to track them down, traveling expenses, then maybe he runs away and much more. Taxes are a more stable way of earning money.'

Ace contemplates things like this, he will obviously do some Bounty Hunting on the side if the opportunity presents himself. 

….

Spenser "The Slasher" at the same time was on the outskirts of Goa City in a bar drinking and eating. He has short black hair, average build, but his most distinctive feature was the scar along his nose. He is wearing a biker outfit with a giant saber by his side.

The bar was completely empty, except for him and the five corpses lying on the ground bleeding out. Their bodies were brutally cut and their faces had terrified looks on them, though it is hard to even recognize that.

*creak*

That is when the front door of the bar opens. Spenser looks towards the person who came in and he sees a kid. He narrows his eyes and goes back to eating, he will admit it… he likes killing, but he doesn't kill children.

But suddenly Spenser feels chills run down his spine. Immediately he collects himself and pulls out his sword to defend his back without even looking.

Clang!

Spenser heaviness from the hit that he just received. He frowns and looks back, he sees the kid using a short sword, clashing it with his own big saber.

"What do you want?" Asks Spenser, a little annoyed at the interference. "Who are you kid?"

Ace looks at the man with a serious look on his face and says. "Isn't it a polite courtesy to introduce yourself first?"

Spenser smiles at this. "My name-"

"My name is Portgas D. Ace, blood type S, Age 6, 110 cm tall." Interrupts Ace, annoying the man to no end as veins pop on his face.

"Die!!!" Yells the man in anger as he brings his giant saber back and slashes down towards Ace.

But Ace just dodges sideways.

Baam!

The sword hits the floor, Ace puts his foot on the sword. Spenser tries to pull it out but he sees that his sword isn't even budging.

'What the hell!!!' Exclaims Spenser, unsure how a kid with a small body like Ace has such strength. He looks at Ace's face and sees a look on the kid's face that brings chills down his spine.

Swish!

Before he can react once again he feels something pierce his neck and something spew out. 

Ace jumps back, as he sees blood coming out of the man's neck. He didn't want to get blood on himself. 'Hmmm… I was aiming to hit his spinal cord and paralyze him. Guess I will get 30% less on the bounty due to him not being alive. Damn, the marines and their love of public executions.'

He doesn't care about the guy's life, what he cares more is the money he will lose just because he thought hitting the man's neck was more effective.

'I should have gone for the spine close to the hip, would have paralyzed his legs. Then I can just do the arms and that would be it. Rookie mistake, I just lost 1,500,000 ß when there was no need to do so.' Calculates Ace, the frown on his face calms down as he sees the man fall on the ground and bleed to death. 'The neck has a lot of veins, I guess he was trying to kill me so I instinctively went for a lethal hit.'

….

Ace waits ten minutes and as he was waiting suddenly marines enter the bar and see Ace sitting on a chair, coldly looking at Spenser's dead body.

Immediately they are creeped out by it and one of the marines asks him. "Kid? Can you tell me what happened here?"

Ace looks at the dozen marines with guns and swords in their hands. He smirks slightly and says. "I killed him."

As he says that, he knows that he is just a kid so they are unlikely to believe him. So he jumps down from his chair and kicks the ground.

BOOOM!!!

It caves in the floor, creating a crater. This terrifies the marines, Ace on the other hand looks at them and puts his hands on his pockets. "Can I get this guy's bounty?"

"Y -Yeah." Stutters one of the marines. 

"Okay, that is good enough." Confirms Ace. "By the way, can one of you bring me the money at a small town out of Gray Terminal, just ask about Ace and they will point you to me." 

The marines are speechless and don't know what to do or say. They have never seen anything like this, they are simple marines at the Goa Kingdom, East Blue. The worst they have had to deal with was with a bandit group.

….

AUTHOR NOTE:

This is a realistic explanation of how someone feels when they kill someone. Not some overdramatic whining out of nowhere. 

P.S: Time Skips coming soon.