Chapter 33
"Sand Wolf Pirates Captain, Sharanzi. Heh heh! Today your ship just happened to block my path, and I was already heading to the Marine branch up ahead. Guess your luck ran out!"
Kai looked at the bald young man, Sharanzi, and spoke with a playful, mocking tone!
"Hmph! Then we'll see if you have the ability to do it!"
Sharanzi snorted coldly. But inside, his heart was far from calm. The name and shadow of a legend—when the infamous "Maple Leaf Hunter" appeared right in front of him, fear still gripped his heart! He just refused to show it on the surface!
"Everyone, attack together!"
Sharanzi then roared at his pirate grunts. He himself grabbed a spiked club and charged at Kai. He knew the only way to take down someone like this was through sheer numbers!
"Charge!" "Ah!"
Hearing Sharanzi's command, all the pirate grunts roared and rushed at Kai with their weapons raised!
Watching so many grunts charging at him, Kai did not use his sword techniques like usual. Instead, he slightly lowered his head. Then, under everyone's shocked gazes, he suddenly raised it again! Conqueror's Haki erupted outward!
In an instant, every single pirate grunt—including Sharanzi—had their pupils shrink violently!
All the grunts attacking Kai froze in place the moment the pressure hit them. Their weapons hung motionless in mid-air!
"W-what… what's happening…"
Feeling the sudden domineering aura pressing down on him, Sharanzi's body trembled. He stared blankly at his men, whose movements had all stopped. Having never heard of Haki before, he was instantly filled with terror!
Thud thud thud thud…
Then, in Sharanzi's horrified eyes, over a hundred of his men all collapsed unconscious—one after another. Their life or death was unknown.
"Ah… y-you… what did you do?!"
Sharanzi asked fearfully, no longer having any courage to charge at Kai!
"Too much talking!"
Seeing Sharanzi's stunned expression, Kai snorted coldly. His figure flashed and appeared right in front of Sharanzi. Wado Ichimonji was drawn—the flat of the blade instantly slammed into Sharanzi, sending the terrified man flying and crashing to the side, where he fell unconscious!
"Tsk tsk! Having Haki really does make a difference! At least I don't have to deal with ordinary pirate grunts one by one anymore!"
After knocking Sharanzi out, Kai looked at the pile of unconscious grunts around him and chuckled lightly. Conqueror's Haki was truly satisfying!
"Looks like I still need to use Haki more often and train it properly. Otherwise, I can't even knock out a small-time pirate captain. That's too embarrassing!"
Kai didn't get too cocky, though. He murmured to himself, knowing his Haki was still very weak. Since he didn't know any proper training methods yet, he could only keep releasing it repeatedly to strengthen it through practice!
After that, Kai grabbed a rope and tied up the unconscious Sharanzi. He then looted all the valuables from the pirate ship before carrying Sharanzi and jumping back onto the Phantom. He continued speeding toward the island where Axe-Hand Morgan's Marine branch was located! As for the pirate grunts left on the ship, Kai didn't care whether they lived or died. If they didn't wake up before their ship was destroyed or sank, that was just their bad luck!
"Look! Isn't that the Sand Wolf Pirates Captain, Sharanzi? How did he get tied up?!" "Yeah! Who is that kid? He actually captured Sharanzi alive! So strong!" "That kid must be a bounty hunter, right? He's taking Sharanzi to the Marines to collect the bounty…"
When the island villagers saw Kai carrying the unconscious Sharanzi, they all cried out in surprise!
They looked at Kai with shocked, admiring eyes—amazed that he could capture Sharanzi alive!
"Miss, excuse me! Could you tell me which direction the Marine branch is in?"
Kai ignored the surrounding stares and politely asked the girl selling fruit at a nearby stall!
"Ah! The Marine branch…"
Hearing Kai mention the Marine branch, the girl immediately gasped in surprise!
Looking at Kai's handsome and cute face, she lowered her voice and said, "Little brother! You're a bounty hunter, right? I advise you not to exchange the bounty here. Otherwise, all your hard work will be wasted!"
"Why?"
Kai asked with a light smile. He roughly understood what she meant. Although Morgan wasn't as tyrannical as he would become in a few years (when the islanders would tremble at his name), his nasty behavior was already well known.
"It's hard to explain in a short time, but anyway, little brother, it's better if you don't claim the bounty at this Marine branch!"
The girl glanced around nervously, then told Kai.
"Heh heh! Miss, just tell me where the Marine branch is!"
Kai smiled gently. He didn't ask further and continued speaking to the girl. At the same time, he used the Emotion Fruit to subtly dampen her worry for him!
"Alright… if you really want to know, go straight that way, then turn left, and keep going up toward the highest point. That's the Marine branch!"
Under the influence of Kai's Emotion Fruit, the girl stopped worrying about him and gave him the directions.
Only then, under the islanders' astonished, admiring, and respectful gazes, did Kai carry Sharanzi and head toward the Marine branch!
Soon, Kai found the Marine branch. Under the strange looks of the guarding Marines, he was led inside! Along the way, Kai carefully memorized the surrounding buildings. He planned to act tonight and clean the place out!
"Kid! You're the rumored 'Maple Leaf Hunter'?"
When Kai reached the interior, he immediately saw the tall, imposing Colonel Morgan—with an iron jaw and his right hand replaced by a massive axe! Morgan looked at Kai arrogantly and asked.
"Mm, that's me! Hurry up and give me Sharanzi's bounty money! The guy is right here!"
Kai looked at Morgan, gave a light grunt, and tossed the unconscious Sharanzi onto the ground!
Morgan looked at him with contempt, and Kai sensed Morgan's disdain. This immediately filled Kai with disgust toward Morgan and strengthened his decision to rob the branch!
"Hahaha! Kid! Do you know who I am?"
But after hearing Kai, Morgan didn't even glance at Sharanzi on the ground. He just laughed arrogantly at Kai!
"Oh? Who are you? Is there something special about you?"
Kai asked, pretending to be curious!
"Hahaha! Kid, you asked the right question! I am the greatest Colonel Morgan in the East Blue!"
Morgan laughed proudly and arrogantly!
"Heh! Then, 'greatest' Colonel Morgan, shouldn't you be handing over Sharanzi's bounty money to me now?"
Kai scoffed inwardly at the self-important Morgan and spoke with clear disdain!
"Hahaha! Kid! I already told you I'm the greatest Colonel Morgan! If I let you take the bounty money from me, how could I show my greatness?!"
Morgan laughed loudly and arrogantly!
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