Central District of Jaya – Tropical Grand Hotel
This three-story building, constructed from white stone and tropical hardwood, usually carried the relaxed atmosphere of a vacation resort.
But today, the air inside was thick with tension, like a storm about to break.
Ripper Roz sat on a leather sofa, the cigar between his fingers already burned down to ash. The dim glow illuminated his sinister face.
Several trusted subordinates surrounded him anxiously.
"Captain Roz, we should leave now! That Predator Sami has really come to the island!"
"Yeah, Captain! That guy's bounty is 150 million! That's the kind of outlaw among outlaws!"
"He attacked two World Government member nations without blinking! He's completely lawless!"
Roz's expression darkened further.
Suddenly, he crushed the cigar into the expensive crystal ashtray with a sharp hiss.
"Enough! Shut up!"
He slammed his palm onto the mahogany coffee table, rattling the cups.
"He just arrived yesterday, and today you expect me to run away like a coward because of his name?"
He stood up and looked around at his men.
"You were in the tavern yesterday too. You saw him argue with that idiot Baggins. Did he kill him?"
His eyes flashed coldly.
"Bounties don't determine absolute strength."
"He probably got that bounty because he attacked World Government nations and crossed their red line."
Roz tore off his luxurious silk coat.
Beneath it was a body like forged steel, covered with crisscrossing scars.
"My 51 million bounty was earned the real way!"
"One blade, one gun—built on the corpses of pirates and Marines alike!"
Roz's eyes gleamed viciously.
"If he dares show up here… I'll show him what a real pirate looks like!"
Just then—
Creak—
The hotel's heavy teak doors slowly opened.
Morning sunlight poured in, outlining a tall silhouette.
"Heh, nice place you've got here."
Sami walked in casually, glancing around like a tourist admiring the decor.
"Yo~ Sorry to interrupt."
The entire lobby fell silent.
"Predator… Riberra Sami!"
Roz's pupils shrank violently.
"Pretty stylish interior," Sami continued casually.
"Enough with the act!"
Roz grabbed the two savage-looking curved blades beside the sofa.
"Let me see how much of that 150 million bounty is real!"
His men also drew their weapons.
Fear filled their hearts, but Roz's ferocity gave them the courage to fight.
"Attack!"
Roz roared and lunged forward first.
His twin blades crossed, carving a crimson X through the air.
Before the blades even reached Sami, the killing intent already struck like a gale.
"Ripper Cross Slash!"
Sami's smile faded.
He didn't block.
Instead, he lightly stepped aside, sliding backward like a ghost.
BOOM—!!
The slash struck the spot where Sami had been standing.
The marble floor split open, two deep grooves tearing across it and slamming into the wall in a massive X-shaped scar.
"Wow… that's pretty fierce."
Roz continued attacking.
His blades spun into a blood-red storm.
Every slash, thrust, and sweep targeted vital points.
Each strike carried the madness of someone trying to chop his enemy into pieces.
Curtains shredded.
Paintings ripped.
Decorations shattered.
"Hey now, try not to ruin the owner's place."
Sami moved through the blade storm.
His steps looked casual—even leisurely.
But each time a blade came close, he slipped away by a hair's breadth.
"You only know how to dodge?!"
Roz roared, veins bulging.
"A 150-million pirate and this is all you've got?!"
His frustration grew as none of his attacks even touched Sami's clothes.
"Dodge?"
After avoiding another diagonal slash, Sami suddenly stopped retreating.
Instead—
He surged forward.
His right hand opened.
A faint purple glow, almost invisible, coated his palm.
He thrust it toward Roz's chest.
Roz's eyes widened.
He tried to change moves but was too late.
He could only raise his left arm to block.
The moment the palm struck—
Roz felt a strange force surge into him.
Not just impact.
A cold numbness seeped through his skin and raced through his veins.
"Poison?! Coward!"
His face twisted in shock.
But Sami exploded with speed.
Sliding past the blade edge, he stepped directly into Roz's guard.
His left hand clamped onto Roz's wrist like iron.
The faint purple glow appeared again.
"AAAH—!"
Pain and numbness shot through Roz's arm.
His blade dropped from his hand.
At the same moment—
Sami drove a brutal knee straight into Roz's unguarded stomach.
"URGH!"
Roz's eyes bulged.
Blood and bile sprayed from his mouth.
His body folded like a shrimp.
Sami followed with a sharp hand chop to the side of Roz's neck.
Roz's eyes rolled back.
His massive body collapsed to the ground with a heavy crash.
The fight—
From start to finish—
Lasted less than three minutes.
Sami flicked the poison residue from his fingers.
He looked toward Roz's stunned subordinates.
Their faces were pale.
Weapons lay scattered on the floor.
None of them could speak.
Sami ignored them and looked around the wrecked lobby.
Two oil paintings were slashed apart.
A porcelain vase shattered.
The leather sofa was ripped open.
He sighed.
Then walked over to the unconscious Roz.
And sat directly on top of him.
Looking at the terrified men, he smiled kindly.
"Tell me something."
"Does the treasure on your captain's ship…"
"…cover the renovation costs for this place?"
He tilted his head.
"If not…"
"I'll just sell you all—including your captain—to slave traders."
At the Same Time – Baggins' Ship
"Bad news! Captain! Bad news!!"
A pirate burst into the cabin, nearly tripping.
Baggins, still suffering from a hangover, nearly drew his blade in irritation.
"What are you screaming for?! I'm not dead yet!"
"T-The Jellyfish Pirates! They attacked at the docks!!"
"Who? What?"
Baggins blinked in confusion.
"The Jellyfish Pirates! At the harbor! Captain, we need to run before it's too late!"
The pirate was crying and shaking.
Baggins kicked him aside angrily.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I'll see it myself!"
He grabbed his coat and staggered onto the deck.
The cold morning sea breeze cleared his head slightly.
He squinted toward Berth Three.
And saw a sight he would never forget.
Ardo jumped down from Hawk's ship—
Holding someone in one hand.
The man he carried was covered in blood.
His nose bent sideways.
His lips swollen like sausages.
One arm twisted unnaturally.
He barely resembled a human anymore.
Only his clothes made him recognizable.
"W-Who is that…?" Baggins asked hoarsely.
"C-Captain… that's Hawk. Iron Anchor Hawk."
"Hawk?!"
Baggins' voice shot up in shock.
"That 42 million Hawk?! Good god—why does he look like a pig now?!"
Three months ago, Baggins had fought Hawk over a docking spot.
Hawk had beaten five of his men by himself.
Then forced Baggins to apologize publicly.
One of Baggins' greatest humiliations.
And now—
That same Hawk hung like a dead dog in someone's hand.
"Who are those people…? Even Hawk…" Baggins swallowed hard.
Another subordinate nervously produced a wrinkled bounty poster.
It showed Ardo's fierce face.
"C-Captain… that's Bone Crusher Ardo, officer of the Jellyfish Pirates."
"Bounty… 55 million Berries…"
"Just one officer… is this strong?"
At that moment, the pirate who first brought the news leaned closer.
"Captain… didn't you make a bet yesterday with their captain…?"
"If even their officer is this terrifying… imagine the captain!"
"We should run! Before they come looking for us! Before they remember the bet!"
Baggins' legs nearly gave out.
I… made a bet with the captain of these monsters?
His face drained of color.
He clutched the railing and gasped for breath.
"Run…?"
The word echoed in his mind.
Honestly—
He wanted to.
Very badly.
Facing monsters who treated Hawk like a punching bag…
Honor, pride, bets—
All of it meant nothing.
Staying alive was what mattered.
But…
Was it already too late?
Would that young captain…
Really let him go?
---------------------------------◇ Bonus Chapter
Rewards ◇--------------------------------------
◇ Every 10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
◇ Every 100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◇ You can read 60 chapters ahead on Patreon if you're interested:
patreon.com/Luna023
Your support helps the story grow and motivates faster updates.