The silence in the banquet hall was heavy, broken only by the sound of 38 bounty hunters snoring in a deep, soul-drained slumber. Kai stood in the center, his golden eyes fixed on the woman known as Miss Wednesday.
"You... you aren't a normal pirate," she whispered, her hands trembling as she held her peacock-slashers. "What did you do to them?"
"I simply took what they were going to use against me," Kai said, walking toward her. Every step he took felt like a hammer blow to her spirit. "Their greed was quite tasty, actually."
[Notice: Soul Coins Balance - 124.]
[System Suggestion: A Royal Soul is detected. Special 'Contract' option available.]
Kai stopped a few feet away from her. He didn't see a bounty hunter. He saw a soul that was burning with a desperate, self-sacrificing light. "Why is a princess of Alabasta working for a den of thieves like Baroque Works, Vivi?"
Vivi froze. The color drained from her face. "How... how do you know that name?"
"I see the weight of people's secrets," Kai replied. "And yours is very heavy. You're trying to save your kingdom, but you're doing it alone. In the Grand Line, loneliness is a death sentence."
Before she could answer, the doors to the hall burst open. Two figures stepped in—one a man with a number 5 shaved into his hair, and the other a woman holding a yellow umbrella.
[Warning: High-Level Combatants Detected!]
[Target: Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine.]
[Soul Grade: Corrupted Silver.]
"Well, well," Mr. 5 said, picking his nose with a bored expression. "It seems the trainees couldn't even handle one old man and a boy. Miss Wednesday, you've been compromised. Orders from the Boss: No witnesses."
Vivi stepped back, her face pale. She knew she couldn't win against Officer Agents.
"Silas," Kai said, not even looking back. "Take care of the girl. I want to see how much a 'Number' soul is worth in my shop."
Kai drew his violet dagger, but this time, the blade didn't just glow—it began to hum a low, predatory song.
[Skill Activated: Soul Devourer Mode (Temporary).]
[Cost: 20 Soul Coins.]
"You want a witness?" Kai's voice dropped to a terrifying whisper as he vanished into a [Shadow Step]. "I'll be the one who witnesses your end."