“Really lively.”
The blond boy who entered the tavern was none other than the guy called Steel Pipe, who had arrived in Mad Hatter Town earlier that day.
He lightly pressed the brim of his hat, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
The tavern was almost full, and the table where Maude sat had two empty seats, making it stand out.
Without hesitation, Steel Pipe headed straight for Maude’s table.
Unfamiliar with the undertaker profession, he had no concerns about superstition or aversion.
Reaching the table, Steel Pipe glanced at the silent, masked Maude and sat down without a word.
In this free-spirited tavern, you could sit if there was a seat and stand if there wasn’t. It didn’t matter where you chose to be, and no one’s permission was required.
After sitting down, Steel Pipe monitored Maude’s reaction while signaling the busy waitresses for service.
Maude observed the boy who had just sat down. His dark sunglasses seemed quite out of place.
Maude began eating the food he’d ordered a while ago for the first time to conceal his interest.
A few seconds later, a waitress carrying a tray hurried over and softly asked Steel Pipe what he wanted.
He smiled and ordered a draft beer and some snacks.
“Please wait a moment.”
After taking the order, the waitress quickly left.
The bars, restaurants, and casinos near Mad Hatter Auction House became overcrowded as time passed.
Most potential auction buyers brought along a large entourage, and since the auction house allowed only one guest to bring two attendants, the rest had to wait outside, flocking to nearby taverns for rest.
Had Steel Pipe not sat down, someone else would have surely taken the seat, and if they were a rude pirate, they might have threatened Maude to give up the table.
In a way, having a relatively friendly guy like Steel Pipe occupy one of the seats unintentionally reduced some risks for Maude.
After ordering, Steel Pipe leaned back, only to be hindered by the pipe on his back, so he took it off and placed it on the table.
Maude glanced at the plain-looking pipe, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
Using a pipe as a weapon… that’s quite unconventional.
“Mind if I sit here?”
Noticing Maude’s interest in the pipe, Steel Pipe smiled slightly.
Maude remained silent.
Act first and ask for permission later.
This guy was clearly used to having his way.
Seeing Maude’s silence, Steel Pipe continued the conversation, “I saw several people wearing masks like yours on the streets today. I heard it’s a profession called an undertaker. Are you one?”
While engaging Maude, Steel Pipe was also eavesdropping on the pirates around them, hoping to pick up valuable information.
Before the auction officially began, he and Clara had split up to gather as much intel as possible.
Maude didn’t speak but nodded in response.
His focus was still on listening for information.
Thus, Steel Pipe kept chatting intermittently, while Maude sometimes nodded, sometimes shook his head, but never spoke.
On the surface, it seemed like a casual conversation, but both were secretly doing the same thing.
Fate seemed to have placed them at the same table.
After several exchanges, both Maude and Steel Pipe sensed something was off.
Perhaps by coincidence, they exchanged a knowing glance before looking away.
“This guy…” x2.
Maude’s eyes narrowed.
Steel Pipe raised an eyebrow.
“What’s his story?” x2.
Each wondered about the other.
The atmosphere at the table cooled to zero degrees.
Creak—
The tavern door opened.
A man with ghostly pale skin and a cane walked in.
It was none other than the infamous demon sheriff, Lafitte.
He had once been a sheriff in the West Blue, but his excessive use of violence tarnished his reputation, leading to his exile.
Naturally, he turned to piracy, retaining his notorious nickname, indicating how infamous he had been.
Lafitte scanned the tavern and immediately noticed the only empty seat.
He walked towards it without hesitation.
It was at Maude and Steel Pipe’s table.
Many chatting and drinking pirates in the tavern looked at Lafitte, instinctively wary due to his recent killing spree.
Lafitte’s mere presence, with his reputation and violent deeds, dampened the lively atmosphere.
Maude also noticed Lafitte. His distinctive appearance made him instantly recognizable.
Isn’t this Blackbeard’s crewmate?
What is he doing here?
Maude’s expression changed slightly.
Even though Blackbeard’s crew didn’t appear much in the original story, each member had a strikingly unique style.
So, while Maude didn’t know much about Lafitte, he could remember him and immediately recognize his identity from his attire.
Seeing Lafitte approaching, Maude glanced at the empty seat next to him, feeling a headache coming on.
Should I leave?
Maude thought, glancing at a table five or six meters away.
He had chosen his target after sitting here for a while.
The target had boasted about his bounty poster at the table, making him an ideal prey.
Letting such an easy target go would be a waste.
Originally planning to wait until the target left to follow and ambush him, Maude changed his mind with Lafitte’s arrival.
Staking out didn’t have to be done inside; he could wait outside as well.
Just as Maude was about to leave, Lafitte sat down gracefully.
Maude prepared to retreat.
Steel Pipe, however, remained unfazed, contrasting sharply with the wary pirates around them.
Ignoring the surrounding gazes, Lafitte, ready to call a waitress, was interrupted by the door being violently kicked open.
The loud noise drew everyone’s attention, and they looked towards the entrance.
Two ferocious-looking pirates stormed in.
They didn’t shout threats or opening lines but raised their pistols under the astonished gazes of the onlookers.
The guns were aimed directly at Lafitte’s position.
Bang! Bang!
In the blink of an eye, two gunshots echoed in the tavern.
As the gunshots faded, the tavern fell silent.
The two revenge-seeking pirates at the door stood frozen, their expressions stiff.
Each had a smoking bullet hole in their forehead.
The sudden turn of events left the pirates staring in shock.
All they saw was a masked undertaker putting away two pistols.
“Such fast shooting…!”
Someone exclaimed in disbelief.
Steel Pipe, his right hand gripping the pipe, looked at Maude in slight surprise.
Beside him, Lafitte, who had his hand on his cane, was equally surprised.
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