"Alright, gentlemen…"
Kael's voice rang clearly across the silent restaurant.
"You have two options."
It sounded polite.
Calm.
Almost reasonable.
But the smile on his face—
It felt like disaster waiting to happen.
A man in the crowd gulped.
Another's hand trembled.
Kael continued, voice steady.
"None of you have committed crimes worthy of death."
A pause.
"Not yet."
Some of them frowned.
Confused.
"So here's your first option—"
He raised a finger slightly.
"Surrender quietly."
"I'll hand you over to the Marines."
"Alive. In good condition."
"Face trial. Serve your time."
"Walk out… and live a better life."
Silence.
No one moved.
Then—
"What is this kid talking about?"
"We're bounty hunters, damn it!"
"Yeah! If anyone should be in prison, it's you!"
Murmurs rose.
Confidence returning.
False courage.
Kael looked at them.
Flat.
Unimpressed.
"…Sigh."
"In that case…"
His grip tightened on his sword.
"We'll go with the second option."
A pause.
"I'll still hand you over alive."
"But your condition…"
A faint smile.
"…let's find out."
Shing.
His blade rose.
Several of them flinched instinctively.
"Why are you scared?!"
"We outnumber him!"
"He's just one man!"
"More than a hundred of us!!"
"Kill him!!"
"80 million—he's mine!!"
They charged.
All at once.
A wave of bodies rushing forward.
Kael exhaled.
The smile vanished.
Both hands wrapped around his sword.
His stance lowered.
Behind him—
Nami's expression changed instantly.
She grabbed Kaya's hand—
And a beer—
Then bolted sideways.
"Move!"
"W-Woah—!"
Kaya barely had time to react as she was pulled away.
Igaram reacted just as quickly.
He grabbed Vivi's wrist.
"Princess, come—!"
"No!"
Vivi resisted.
"I want to see—!"
Mr. 9 jumped in, helping drag her away.
"See after you're alive!"
"Watch your crush later, Princess Vivi!!"
Vivi froze.
Her face turned red.
"W-What are you even saying?!"
Back at the center—
Kael stood alone.
Facing the charge.
He muttered softly—
"Don't cry…"
"I didn't blame you."
Then—
Something changed.
The air shifted.
Around him—
A faint green aura began to form.
Light.
Almost invisible.
But suffocating.
The charging bounty hunters slowed.
Instinct screamed.
Danger.
"…What is this…?"
"…Something's wrong—"
One of them turned.
"RUN—!"
Too late.
"Wind Breathing: Third Form…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
"…Clean Storm."
He moved.
A single spin—
WHOOSH.
A vortex exploded outward.
A miniature tornado formed instantly—
Pulling everything in.
Screams erupted.
Bodies lifted.
Blades flashed—
From every angle.
Cuts.
Strikes.
Relentless.
Unavoidable.
From outside—
All they could hear—
Were screams.
Then—
Silence.
The storm faded.
And one by one—
Bodies dropped.
More than a hundred bounty hunters—
Scattered across the ground.
Bleeding.
Broken.
Unconscious.
Not one left standing.
Behind him—
Silence.
Kaya blinked.
"…No matter how many times I see it…"
"…it's always beautiful."
Vivi stared.
Eyes wide.
"A-Amazing…"
Igaram trembled.
"D-Did he just…?!"
Mr. 9 laughed weakly.
"…Yeah."
"He just defeated over a hundred Baroque Works agents…"
"…in one move."
Nami huffed.
Looking away.
"Show-off…"
Kaya tilted her head.
"Then why are you blushing?"
Nami snapped instantly—
"Kaya!!"
"Not in front of others!!"
Kaya only laughed.
Meanwhile—
On the other side of the restaurant—
The real fight was still ongoing.
Miss Monday stood breathing heavily.
Her body was covered in cuts.
Blood dripped steadily.
Across from her—
Tashigi stood firm.
Sleeve torn.
A bruise or two visible.
Slightly out of breath—
But steady.
Focused.
Miss Monday exhaled.
"You surprised me…"
"…little girl."
A grin.
"Your skills are impressive."
"Reminds me of someone."
Tashigi adjusted her stance.
"Your endurance and strength aren't bad either."
She glanced back briefly—
Kael sheathing his sword.
Their eyes met.
He smiled.
She returned it.
Then faced forward again.
"Looks like Kael-san is done."
A breath.
"Let's finish this in one attack."
"Shall we?"
Miss Monday smiled.
Genuinely this time.
"…I like that."
She tightened the metal knuckles on her fist.
Lowered her stance.
"Time to end this."
She charged.
"IRON—!!"
Tashigi exhaled slowly.
Her grip steadied.
"Water Breathing: First Form…"
Miss Monday roared—
"—FIST!!"
Tashigi moved.
"…Water Surface Slash."
A single strike.
Fast.
Clean.
Horizontal.
Steel cut through air—
And flesh.
Slash.
Blood scattered.
Miss Monday's body froze—
Then collapsed.
Hitting the ground heavily.
Her voice was faint.
"…Amazing…"
A weak chuckle.
"I'd pay… to see you fight Mr. 1…"
Her eyes closed.
And she went still.
Tashigi straightened.
She flicked the blood off her blade.
Then sheathed it.
"Mr. 1… huh."
A small smile formed.
Then—
She turned.
And walked toward Kael.
Light.
Satisfied.
Victorious.
Tashigi slowed her steps as she approached.
She stopped in front of Kael.
"…Umm, Kael-san…"
A rare hesitation.
Kael looked at her for a second—
Then smiled widely.
"I saw that."
"You were amazing, Tashigi."
Her eyes lifted.
The hesitation disappeared.
Replaced by a soft, genuine smile.
"Thank you."
Kael nodded once.
Then his gaze shifted.
Toward the fallen figure of Miss Monday.
His expression changed.
A slight frown forming.
(She's… stronger than she should be.)
(A breathing form would've been overkill for her original version…)
(And yet she's only unconscious.)
(No fatal damage… all vital points intact.)
A quiet exhale.
(My presence… is affecting the flow more than I thought.)
His eyes moved back.
To his crew.
Nami was arguing about something trivial.
Kaya was already checking Tashigi's arm.
And Tashigi—despite the fight—was smiling lightly.
Relaxed.
At ease.
A faint smile appeared on Kael's face.
(Well… that applies to them too.)
(So no problems…)
A brief pause.
(…for now.)
His gaze shifted again.
Toward the stunned figures of Igaram and Mr. 9.
Mr. 9 still looked shaken.
Eyes lingering on Miss Monday.
Kael noticed.
Shook his head slightly.
Then called out—
"Kaya."
She turned instantly.
"Hm? What happened, Kael-san?"
He pointed toward Miss Monday.
"Can you heal her?"
Silence.
A brief one.
Then—
"Kael-san… what are you saying?"
Tashigi frowned.
"She's—"
Kael interrupted calmly.
"Well, technically… not really."
A pause.
"She didn't know the truth about Baroque Works."
Blink.
Another blink.
Tashigi froze.
"…I… forgot about that."
A beat.
"…Sorry."
Kael scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah… me too."
A small shrug.
"Guess that makes two of us."
Then he looked back at Kaya.
She smiled.
Nodded.
And began walking toward Miss Monday.
Behind them—
Mr. 9's shoulders visibly relaxed.
But—
"Wait."
Nami stepped in.
Arms crossed.
Looking straight at Kael.
"But why heal her?"
"She's not dying."
Kael's lips curved slightly.
Amused.
"Well…"
"…apparently someone here likes her."
His gaze shifted.
Directly at Mr. 9.
Everyone followed.
"Huh?"
Mr. 9 flinched.
"W-What?!"
"Kael, don't just say random things!!"
Kael shrugged casually.
"Alright."
Then he looked back at Kaya.
"Never mind."
"No need to heal her."
"Let her bleed—"
"NO!!"
The reaction was instant.
Loud.
Everyone paused.
Then—
Slowly—
All eyes turned toward Mr. 9.
Brows raised.
Expressions… amused.
Mr. 9 stiffened.
Then sighed.
Defeated.
He stepped forward.
Bowed his head toward Kaya.
"I'm sorry… on her behalf."
"She's rough… but she's not a bad person."
A pause.
Then, more sincerely—
"Please… can you heal her?"
Kaya looked at Kael.
He gave a small nod.
She smiled gently.
"Of course."
"That's what I do."
She knelt beside Miss Monday and began treating her.
A soft glow of care and focus replacing the earlier tension.
Nami glanced sideways at Kael.
Scoffed.
"You should learn something from him."
Kael blinked.
"…What's that supposed to mean?"
"Idiot."
"Bu—"
"Shut up."
Kael exhaled.
Defeated.
"…Right."
A few chuckles spread across the room.
The tension eased.
Just slightly.
But then—
Creak…
The restaurant door opened again.
Slowly.
Every sound faded.
Two figures stepped inside.
A man.
And a woman.
The man glanced around.
Taking in the destruction.
The fallen bodies.
The silence.
Then he smiled.
"Well… well… well…"
"What's going on here?"
All attention shifted.
Kael looked at them.
And grinned.
A sharp, knowing grin.
"Well…"
"Why don't you find out yourselves?"
The man paused after Kael's words, then turned slightly toward the woman beside him.
"Hey, look—there's a guy who thinks he's funny."
He chuckled, mocking.
But then he stopped.
His eyes shifted.
And froze.
Because the woman wasn't laughing.
She wasn't even reacting.
She was… staring.
Locked onto Kael.
Unblinking.
A faint blush creeping onto her face.
His brow twitched.
"Hey."
No response.
He grabbed her shoulder and shook her.
"HEY!!"
She snapped out of it.
"Huh? Did you say something, Mr. 5?"
Mr. 5 clicked his tongue, annoyed.
"Snap out of it, Valentine! Where the hell is your focus?"
Miss Valentine paused, then flipped her hair slightly.
"Oh? That…"
A quick glance at the unconscious bodies around.
"I was just shocked by how pathetic these people look."
"Kyahahaha!!"
She laughed.
A bit forced.
Then—
Her eyes drifted back to Kael.
And dropped again.
A faint blush returning.
Meanwhile—
Nami was glaring.
Hard.
"Damn womaniser…"
Nami muttered under her breath.
Kael flinched.
"Hey! I didn't even do anything!"
Back near the entrance—
Mr. 5 shot Valentine a sharp look.
"Stay focused."
She nodded.
More serious now.
He stepped forward.
Gaze locking onto Kael.
"Look, funny guy…"
"I don't know what trick you used on these losers…"
"But your life ends here."
Kael blinked.
Then—
He looked past them.
Behind them.
Everyone noticed.
Turned.
Nothing.
Confusion spread.
Mr. 5 frowned.
"…What are you doing?"
Kael spoke casually.
"I'm looking for someone."
"…Huh?"
"Looking for who?"
A slow smile spread across Kael's face.
"Someone capable enough to end my life."
His finger lifted.
Pointing directly at them.
"Because you two…"
A pause.
"…aren't."
Silence.
Heavy.
Absolute.
Behind him—
A soft sound escaped.
"Pfft—"
Vivi quickly covered her mouth.
Then—
A voice echoed faintly in Kael's mind.
[Host, stop aura farming…]
Kael's eye twitched slightly.
(Shut up.)
(Don't ruin the moment.)
In front—
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine stood frozen.
Processing.
Then—
Mr. 5 glanced sideways.
"…Kid says we aren't capable."
They looked at each other.
A beat.
Then both burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha!!"
"Kyahahaha!!"
The laughter echoed.
Sharp.
Mocking.
Then—
It stopped.
Abruptly.
Kael was gone.
Both their eyes widened.
And suddenly—
He was there.
Between them.
A hand resting casually on each of their shoulders.
Miss Valentine's breath hitched.
"WHAT—?!"
Mr. 5's pupils shrank.
"When did he—"
Kael's grip tightened slightly.
His voice calm.
Dead calm.
"Did I say something funny?"