The Terror of the Pirates

The alleyway was dimly lit, with only the flickering glow of a skull-shaped oil lamp by the entrance of Tatamu's bar providing any real illumination.

Half of the woman's figure was shrouded in shadow, but her posture and tone exuded an undeniable aura of authority. Her presence alone was enough to press down on those around her.

Wolf Rat stood frozen under her gaze, his lips twitching as if trying to form words. Eventually, he lowered his head, unable to meet her eyes.

"He's just a pirate," the woman said, her voice cold and measured. "Even in your current position, killing him wouldn't be a problem."

Her meaning was clear: Wolf Rat had been shot at, forced to grovel, and then let his target escape without even attempting to pursue him.

Wolf Rat glanced at Tatamu, who stood silently nearby. He had just explained the situation to Tatamu moments ago, but now he had to justify himself to this woman—his superior.

"That guy... he's from the weapon store," Wolf Rat said, his voice low.

The woman's eyes widened in surprise. Without a word, she vanished in a blur, using the Shave technique from the Six Styles to chase after Alex (formerly Mod).

A second later, she reappeared several dozen meters away, but she didn't continue her pursuit. Instead, she stood silently, staring into the darkness where Alex had disappeared.

Wolf Rat watched her back, a mix of frustration and relief on his face. He wanted to shout, "If you're going to chase him, then chase him!" But he knew better than to provoke her.

After a few seconds, the woman turned and walked back toward Wolf Rat.

As she approached, her gaze shifted to Tatamu, who stood at the entrance of the bar. This was the first time she had acknowledged his presence, despite his earlier defensive stance. Her confidence in her own strength was evident—she hadn't even considered him a threat.

"Don't kill him," Wolf Rat said firmly, stepping between the woman and Tatamu. "He has nothing to do with this. I can guarantee he won't cause any trouble."

The woman's thumb rested on the hilt of her blade, her expression unreadable.

"I trust you," she said slowly, "but not him."

Wolf Rat's face hardened. "If you harm him, I'll walk away from this job."

The woman's thumb twitched, but she didn't draw her blade. After a tense moment, she relented, releasing the hilt.

"Fine," she said, her tone clipped.

Wolf Rat exhaled in relief and turned to Tatamu. "Go inside."

Tatamu hesitated, his eyes flicking between Wolf Rat and the woman.

"Now," Wolf Rat said, his voice firm.

Reluctantly, Tatamu turned and entered the bar, closing the door behind him.

Once they were alone, Wolf Rat faced the woman again.

"A few days ago, I took a job from some pirates. They wanted me to find the person who killed their crew. Turns out, that person is connected to the weapon store."

The woman's eyes narrowed. "Were you exposed?"

Wolf Rat shook his head. "I'm not sure if the old man noticed me, but I doubt it. If he had, I'd probably be dead already."

He paused, then added, "Even if he did suspect me, he wouldn't know my true identity. At most, you'd just need to find a replacement."

The woman nodded, her expression softening slightly.

Wolf Rat continued, "Over the years, I've avoided getting too close to the weapon store. I've never dared to observe the old man directly. My instincts tell me that even a single glance could be enough to get me killed."

"Caution is wise," the woman said, her voice cold. "After all, he's the Trick Gun. His observation skills and instincts are unmatched."

Wolf Rat sighed. "Then why did you come here tonight? You're taking a risk."

"Nothing will happen tonight," the woman said confidently.

Wolf Rat didn't argue. He knew better than to question her judgment.

He glanced toward the auction house and asked, "How many of you are here?"

The woman held up three fingers.

"Three?" Wolf Rat frowned. "Well, I suppose it won't affect me."

He turned back to the direction where Alex had fled. "That guy earlier—he's the one the pirates are after. Running into him here was pure coincidence, but it might be the break I've been waiting for."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "You plan to use him?"

Wolf Rat nodded. "Yes. This time is different. The old man left the weapon store for him. That's not something he does lightly."

The woman's eyes gleamed with interest. "If you can pull this off, all the effort you've put in over the years will be worth it."

Wolf Rat hesitated, then asked, "There's something I've never understood. If you're so determined to deal with the old man, why not just bring in enough force from headquarters to crush him? Why all the secrecy?"

The woman's expression darkened. "Do you think we haven't tried? The problem is..."

She trailed off, her mind clearly weighing how much to reveal.

"The problem is," she said finally, "he's fast. Too fast."

Wolf Rat blinked, caught off guard. "That's it? He's fast?"

The woman's jaw tightened. "It's not just speed. He's elusive. Trying to trap him is like trying to catch smoke with your hands."

Wolf Rat shook his head, still processing the information.

The woman took a deep breath. "Regardless, your job is to keep an eye on him. If you can find a way to lure him into a trap, we'll handle the rest."

Meanwhile, Alex had put considerable distance between himself and the alleyway. He stopped running only after crossing several blocks, his breathing steady but his mind racing.

"That guy... was he insane?" Alex muttered to himself, shaking his head.

He took out the three guns he'd collected and began reloading them, his movements methodical. As he worked, he couldn't help but grumble about the inefficiency of flintlock pistols.

"The haul's not bad," he said, glancing at the weapons. "I might be able to find a few more targets before midnight. The auction should still be going on, right?"

As if in response to his thoughts, a series of explosions erupted in the distance, their echoes reverberating through the night.

Alex froze, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the source of the noise.