Eustass Kid.
In the original story, he was one of the notorious supernovas alongside Luffy, Zoro, and others, heralding the Worst Generation. He was also a ruthless killer who didn’t blink an eye while taking lives.
Maude instinctively considered Kid a potential target, but thoughts aside, he wouldn’t act recklessly.
If conditions allowed, he would readily collect Kid’s experience points.
But if conditions didn’t permit, he wouldn’t easily take risks.
Especially since he was currently weak.
“The world of One Piece…”
Maude withdrew his gaze, lowering his head to hide the strangeness in his eyes.
Seeing a young Kid here was a huge surprise, acting as a catalyst that brought back memories of One Piece stored away in his mind.
These memories would become crucial information in the future, converting to experience points in his Hunter’s Notebook.
Maude and Sunny’s arrival brought a temporary halt to the tense standoff.
Kid glanced at the silent Maude, unaware that this seemingly fragile guy was considering him as a hunting target.
If he knew, he would probably just sneer.
Without paying much attention to Maude, Kid turned to Thor, speaking in an unfriendly tone.
“Tsk, where did you drag this free labor from this time? I wonder how he’ll die. I bet he’ll get chopped up and become worthless meat on the street.”
“Heh, Mad Hat Town doesn’t lack ‘Undertakers.’ Even if this little guy gets chopped into dozens of pieces, they can still extract some valuable stuff from him. So, as long as he dies for a reason, I don’t mind not getting any benefits.”
Thor, his face marked deeply by time, shook his gilded pipe, letting the ash fall to the ground casually.
“Speaking of labor, I’m quite optimistic about you, Kid. How about this: if you’re willing to work for me, I’ll not only get you Keenu’s gun but also Salaman’s short sword, and I’ll supply you with the finest West Blue wine.”
“Get lost!”
Kid said coldly, “I won’t work under anyone.”
“Pity, pity.”
Thor shook his head theatrically.
Their conversation, as if no one else was present, provided Maude with some useful information.
Mad Hat Town?
West Blue?
A place where people are killed on the streets, along with the gunshots from earlier.
This must be a lawless black zone where pirates gather.
Thinking this, Maude discreetly glanced at the shelves full of swords and guns in the shop.
This was a weapon shop.
Moreover, Thor, who appeared to be the owner, seemed to have a unique insistence on the value of things.
Maude silently pondered.
As a newcomer, he had to be cautious in his words and actions.
Noticing Maude’s calmness, a glint appeared in Thor’s eyes.
Then, he jumped off the stool and walked out from behind the counter.
Only then did Maude realize Thor was less than a meter tall.
He instinctively glanced at the counter, which was over one and a half meters high, guessing Thor must have been standing on a stool to see Kid at eye level.
After some verbal sparring with Thor, Kid’s patience was wearing thin.
Watching Thor step out from the counter, Kid asked coldly, “Are you going to sell me that gun or not?”
Thor glanced at the bag of Beri Kid was holding and asked, “Where did you get the money?”
Veins popped out on Kid’s forehead as he shouted, “None of your business! Are you selling it or not?”
Knowing Thor wasn’t simple, Kid wouldn’t waste time here otherwise.
Ignoring Kid’s rising anger, Thor leisurely took a puff from his pipe.
“Didn’t I already say? I’d rather dismantle Keenu’s gun and throw it in a dump than sell it to you.”
More veins popped on Kid’s forehead as he glared, “Then throw it!”
Tap, tap.
Thor knocked his pipe against the counter and said, “I’ll pick a good day to throw it away.”
“You old bastard!!!”
Kid struggled to contain his rage.
In stark contrast, Thor remained calm and collected.
Seeing this, Maude realized that Thor wasn’t as weak as he appeared.
After all, to make someone as hot-headed and violent as Kid suppress his emotions, Thor must be quite formidable.
Maude observed silently, also sensing the helplessness from Sunny beside him.
In Sunny’s view, although Thor was a money-grubber, he wasn’t the type to bow and scrape for it. Plus, he detested rude people.
So, if Kid had just been polite, the gun wouldn’t have been an issue; Thor would’ve sold it for the right price.
Kid knew this but never restrained himself, leading to this customer-owner standoff.
What puzzled Sunny the most was how Thor, with his unyielding nature, tolerated Kid’s attitude multiple times.
She couldn’t fathom what Thor saw in Kid.
Failing to gain an advantage over Thor and unwilling to stay and be humiliated, Kid turned and walked briskly towards the half-open door, bag of Beri in hand.
“No farewells.”
Thor said flatly, watching Kid’s retreating figure.
Kid didn’t look back.
Just as he reached the door, a burly man with a machete kicked it open from the other side.
The wooden door slammed into the wall with a heavy thud, almost falling apart.
The man, covered in blood and emanating a murderous aura, had clearly just killed many people.
He stepped into the shop, immediately spotting the bulging bag of Beri in Kid’s hand, and with icy malice, he snarled.
“Little brat, you made me search everywhere.”
“Who let this stray dog in?”
Kid coldly eyed the man, his thin lips curling.
Behind the counter, Thor squinted, first glancing at the right door. Kid had kicked against the wall earlier, then at the left door, which was now kicked open by the machete-wielding man.
Both doors had taken a beating.
Thor’s face turned icy.
The machete-wielding man only had eyes for Kid, ignoring everyone else, and glaring menacingly at him.
“I’m worth 1,100,000 Beri, known as the Executioner…”
“Smack!”
Before the man could finish his familiar introduction, Thor, having silently moved behind him, knocked him out with a single slap.
Kid’s pupils contracted. He was closest to the man but hadn’t seen Thor’s movements clearly.
This old guy… is no pushover.
Thor landed lightly.
Given his height, he had to jump to reach the man’s head.
After landing, Thor ignored the unconscious man and looked at Kid, saying flatly, “What? Still want to stay for dinner?”
Kid’s cheeks twitched as he turned and left without a word.
Watching Kid leave, Thor shut the battered door.
Sunny approached Thor and whispered, “I think you’re too ‘kind’ to Kid.”
“Kind?”
Thor turned to Sunny, smiling, “Maybe ‘biased’ is a better word.”
“Yeah.” Sunny nodded, rummaging through the unconscious man’s pockets for valuables, adding, “I think you’re too ‘biased’ towards Kid.”
“Hehe.”
Thor put away his gilded pipe, picked up the bloodied machete, and wiped it clean before placing it on a shelf, making it an item for sale.
Watching the two skillfully exchange and collect goods, Maude was quite impressed.
After placing the machete, Thor walked to the unconscious man, nudging his head with his foot.
“This guy’s head is worth some money. Too bad we can’t cash it in. What’s his name again?”
“He’s Evan Watt, captain of the Ghost Blade Pirates, known as the Executioner. A skilled swordsman with a bounty of 1,100,000 Beri.”
Sunny placed the valuables she found on the counter.
As a semi-official informant of Mad Hat Town, she kindly completed the man’s interrupted introduction.
“Oh.”
Thor stroked his chin and suddenly looked at the quiet Maude.
“You, come here.”
Seeing Thor point at him, Maude immediately stepped forward.
Thor tapped Maude’s knee and raised an eyebrow, “Respect your elders. Do I have to remind you to sit down?”
Maude’s mouth twitched, quickly understanding, and sat cross-legged on the floor, aligning his eye level with Thor’s.
Now at the same height, Thor nodded in satisfaction, scrutinizing Maude closely.
From the first impression, he appreciated Maude’s calmness, not typical of an ordinary person.
“What’s your name?”
“Bacardi Maude.”
It was the name on the photo, making things easier for Maude.
“That surname…”
Thor muttered, habitually glancing at Sunny.
“Liquor seller,” Sunny reminded.
“Oh! Got it. Their rum is pretty good. And they were in the news recently, right? Something about their armed merchant ship being raided by pirates, and no survivors.”
Sunny nodded, “Yes.”
“Hmm, interesting.”
Thor turned to Maude, squinting.
After a moment, without waiting for Maude’s reaction, Thor suddenly handed him a small knife, smiling.
“Consider this a farewell to your past. Kill this Evan Watt.”
“No problem!”
Maude’s eyes widened slightly, and without hesitation, he took the knife from Thor.
He showed no expression, but inside, he was delighted.
This was an unexpected benefit.
Maude looked at the unconscious Watt.
I’ll remember you, Executioner Evan Watt, with a bounty of 1,100,000 Beri.
Maude respectfully thought.
Seeing Maude’s compliance, Thor was increasingly satisfied.
Then, Maude said, “I need to use the bathroom first.”
“…” Thor.
“…” Sunny.
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