The Hunter of Pirates

I have exams I forgot to upload :p

As Mobin's two sudden declarations resounded, the room fell into dead silence once again.

Around them, the uninvolved pirates instinctively sensed trouble brewing. If the Sharp Bull Pirate crew hadn't been blocking the doorway, they would have slipped out long ago.

The Battle Axe Tavern manager, experienced in such matters, signaled his staff with hand gestures to retreat to the relative safety of the bar.

Kazt was the first to recover from the shock, his gaze still brimming with killing intent. His eyes shifted from Mobin to Ratsnout before finally settling on Elbay.

Mobin's choice of words, combined with his and Elbay's positioning, caused the tangled web of doubts in Kazt's mind to unravel into a straight line of clarity.

Why would Mobin, with no enmity or reason, aim to kill the navigator?

Why had the ever-cautious Lagren been shot dead the very same night he sought out Ratsnout?

And why did Elbay, Mobin, and Ratsnout seem to know one another?

Before the attacks began, Kazt had been sure there was no connection, let alone grudges, between Mobin, Ratsnout, and the Sharp Bull Pirates.

So why would Mobin, without any apparent motive, kill their navigator?

The reasoning made no sense—unless Elbay, as a rival, had been involved.

If Elbay had intervened, the motives and causes started to make some sense.

Kazt's gaze at Elbay darkened, filled with hostility.

What he didn't know was that the mastermind, Mobin, possessed a unique ability called Hunter's Notebook.

And even less did he know that Mobin's actual target was Red, with the navigator being an unlucky casualty caught in the crossfire.

Watching Kazt shift his attention to Elbay, Mobin calmly contemplated his next move.

When Kazt had concentrated all his murderous intent on him earlier, Mobin had instinctively reacted by using Elbay, who had conveniently been standing nearby, as a shield.

As for dragging Ratsnout into this mess, that was merely collateral damage.

If he'd known the names of the pirate crew sitting at the nearby table, Mobin wouldn't have hesitated to shout their names too.

This act of pulling others into the fray had subtly connected seemingly unrelated pieces, creating the dramatic scene before them.

Mobin hadn't even known what role Ratsnout played in this matter, but his impulsive decision to call him "Brother Ratsnout" had been the final straw that broke Kazt's reasoning.

No wonder Ratsnout silently cursed Mobin to the heavens.

What an absolute menace.

Mobin, however, didn't believe that a couple of emotionally charged calls would be enough to get him out of this predicament.

He focused on Elbay's next reaction, planning to respond accordingly.

Ideally, Elbay and Kazt would fight each other, allowing him to slip away.

If that didn't work, he'd have to fight his way out.

The intense sense of danger only made Mobin calmer.

Elbay faced Kazt's menacing glare, filled with killing intent.

Although she had no idea what had just transpired, she wasn't an idiot.

She immediately grasped that this unfamiliar young man behind her had sinister motives—using her as a shield.

What baffled her, however, was how this bullheaded Kazt had fallen for it without a second thought.

As a rival, she was happy to call Kazt a fool. But she knew he wasn't truly foolish.

She didn't bother digging deeper into the reasons.

Instead, what truly annoyed her was being used as a shield by Mobin.

Then again, if she hadn't actively approached him with the intent to strike, Mobin wouldn't have had the chance to use her.

Shhff—

Without a word, Elbay drew her rapier.

She turned, stabbing directly.

Her movement was swift and precise, radiating icy killing intent.

The thin blade, sharp as a needle, gleamed as it shot toward Mobin's heart like a streak of light.

She didn't care about whatever grudge existed between Kazt and Mobin.

Nor did she feel the need to explain herself to Kazt.

All she wanted right now was to kill Mobin with one strike.

"Ruthless."

Facing the sudden attack, Mobin stomped his right foot hard on the ground, propelling himself backward with explosive force. He narrowly avoided the blade.

Elbay's strike was fast, vicious, and without warning.

Had it not been for last night's hunt of the Fishman Sam...

Had he not been keeping an eye on Elbay's movements...

Mobin might have been done for.

Elbay's attack stunned Kazt, Ratsnout, and the others.

It had been so sudden.

Even more unexpected was how Mobin managed to dodge such a quick and abrupt strike.

After all, Elbay's 38-million bounty wasn't just for show—her lightning-fast thrusts were a key part of her infamy.

"You dodged it?"

Elbay stared at Mobin in surprise as he retreated.

Was it because turning mid-strike slowed her attack, giving Mobin a chance to evade?

Mobin didn't care to analyze further. As he widened the gap between them, his face turned sorrowful.

"Big Sister Elbay, you clearly said that if Ratsnout and I each took out a member of the Sharp Bull Pirates, you'd let us join your crew. We did it, but instead of taking us in, you want to kill me to tie up loose ends!"

His tone was filled with despair, like a general who had accomplished great deeds only to be left unrewarded.

Hearing himself being dragged into the mess again, Ratsnout's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Now he understood.

This guy is pure trouble. Whoever deals with him is doomed.

But he had no choice but to involve himself.

Having been dragged in this far, Ratsnout resolved to make the best of it.

Feigning deep emotion, he burst into tears.

"That's right, Big Sister Elbay! We admired you so much, willing to risk our lives for you, but why—why are you treating us like this?!"

His tearful outburst made the surrounding pirates glance at Elbay with faint disdain.

While betrayal and abandonment were commonplace in the pirate world, using and discarding someone so quickly was still contemptible.

Seeing Ratsnout not only cooperate but throw himself into the role so wholeheartedly, Mobin felt a twinge of alarm.

Feeling the peculiar stares of those around her, Elbay's eye twitched continuously.

At the door, Kazt had already transformed into his beast-man form.

He glared at Elbay, growling through gritted teeth, "Fine, very fine! Nutman Elbay!"

As his menacing words fell, the tavern bristled with tension.

Though unrelated to the matter, Elbay took a deep breath.

Being dragged into this didn't make her feel innocent or wronged.

Ignoring the enraged Kazt, she turned her focus to Mobin, her lips curling into a dangerous smile.

"Kid, you've caught my attention. So... isn't it only fair to tell me your name?"

"Big Sister Elbay, please, give Ratsnout and me another chance!"

"..."

"Big Sister Elbay, please, give Usopp and me another chance!"

Having been dragged in several times already, Ratsnout seized the opportunity for revenge, deliberately shouting Mobin's name.

"Hmm?"

Elbay smirked.

"Usopp, is it? Kid..."

She eyed Mobin, her tongue brushing her lips.

Read 45+ Chapters at:

[email protected]/Haki_Master