Chapter 18
"I can't play around anymore—if this keeps up, I'll die!"
Feeling the sharp pain radiating from his shoulder, Kai's heart surged with shock and anger. He immediately leaped backward repeatedly, ripping off all the lead weights strapped to his arms and legs!
From the moment he left Shimotsuki Island until now, Kai had always fought while wearing his heavy training weights. He hadn't wanted to remove them—but Harley Shu had forced his hand. Without taking them off, capturing the pirate captain wasn't just impossible; he might actually lose his life here!
Harley Shu, seeing Kai finally injured by his attack, didn't rush to pursue. Instead, a playful, mocking glint appeared in his eyes as he watched Kai remove the weights from his wrists and ankles.
"Hahaha! Kid! You're not planning to smash me to death with those little blocks, are you?!"
Harley Shu taunted while advancing, laughing mockingly.
"Huh? Why aren't you running anymore, brat?"
Seeing Kai stop and stand firm, Harley Shu narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He swung his greatsword—sharp sword energy instantly condensing along the blade. This time, he intended to finish Kai in one decisive strike!
"Hmph! The one who should be running is you!"
Kai sneered coldly at Harley Shu's words. Then, with a casual flick, he dropped all four lead blocks to the deck.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Four thunderous crashes rang out. The expressions of Harley Shu and the watching pirates froze in disbelief as they stared at the massive craters the "tiny" blocks had smashed into the wooden deck—splintering planks and leaving deep depressions!
"W-what… what is that…?"
Harley Shu's eyes twitched violently.
"How is this possible? How could that kid have been wearing such heavy things the whole time…?" "Those blocks together must weigh at least 200 jin (≈220 lbs)…" "Is that kid Popeye the Sailor or something…?"
The remaining pirates who witnessed the weights crash down gasped in unison. They couldn't imagine how Kai had moved so agilely while carrying that kind of burden!
"You bastard! Don't think removing a few blocks makes you cocky!"
Hearing his crew's stunned exclamations and seeing Kai's arrogant, dismissive posture, Harley Shu roared in fury. He swung his greatsword viciously toward Kai!
"Great Fangs!"
"Hmph! The same move won't work on me twice!"
Kai sneered coldly. After several exchanges, he had already seen through Harley Shu's technique completely. With a powerful leap, he dodged the attack!
BOOM!
Kai's figure flashed aside. Harley Shu's strike smashed into the deck—blasting a huge crater!
"Where'd he go?!"
Harley Shu's heart jolted in shock. Kai's speed had increased so dramatically that even with a lapse in attention, he hadn't seen where the boy went!
"Captain… above you…!" "Captain, watch out…!"
But before Harley Shu could locate him, several panicked shouts came from behind. He looked up in alarm—and his pupils shrank to pinpricks in sheer terror!
"You were so proud of this move, right? Then I'll use it to defeat you!"
Kai was already airborne. Seeing Harley Shu look up, he snorted coldly. With Wado Ichimonji in hand, he descended like a meteor—slashing downward!
"Fangs!"
Screech!
Under Kai's control, Wado Ichimonji instantly transformed into the signature fang-like strike—slashing toward Harley Shu with ferocious speed! Combined with Kai's full weight and momentum, the blade tore through the air with an ear-piercing whistle!
"No…!"
Feeling the overwhelming force descending from above, Harley Shu had no time to be shocked that Kai had instantly copied his technique. Panic surged. He desperately raised his greatsword to block!
Ding!
A crisp, ringing clash. In an instant, Harley Shu's greatsword shattered under the razor-sharp edge of Wado Ichimonji! Kai's blade continued downward—slicing clean through Harley Shu's body!
Splat!
A violent spray of blood erupted. One of Harley Shu's arms was severed in the attack—falling to the deck with a wet thud!
"AHHH—!"
Harley Shu screamed in agony. His remaining hand clutched the severed shoulder as he collapsed onto the deck, writhing and shrieking. Blood vessels burst in his eyes from the excruciating pain!
"Captain…!" "Captain…!"
The remaining pirates cried out in terror at the sight of their captain being cut down. But not a single one dared step forward to help. If even the captain couldn't win, what chance did they have? They weren't suicidal!
"All of you—get down here! Bring rope and tie up your captain. And hand over every single Berry on this ship. Otherwise, I'll kill you all!"
Seeing Harley Shu completely incapacitated, Kai let out a breath of relief. He turned coldly toward the terrified pirates.
After capturing Harley Shu, Kai made his first visit to a Marine branch office and collected the 8 million Berry bounty. As for what happened to Harley Shu afterward? That was no longer his concern!
One year passed quickly amid Kai's relentless bounty hunting. In that time, he captured dozens—nearly a hundred—pirates of all sizes. The bounties alone added up to nearly 100 million Berries! Kai's name became famous across the East Blue. Almost every pirate knew of the bounty hunter called "Maple Leaf Hunter"—a nickname earned because he always arrived in his signature red hypercar, combined with his name "Kai" (which sounds like "maple" in some pronunciations). Low-level pirates wet themselves at the mere mention of "Maple Leaf Hunter"!
"So strong…"
An orange-haired girl stared at a newspaper featuring Kai's portrait and the report of him capturing another 12-million-Berry pirate. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she muttered to herself.
"He's still just a kid… If I can find him, I'll definitely steal all his money. Then I can finally gather the 100 million Berries I need…"
The girl continued whispering, her eyes gleaming with the light of Berries! If Kai were here, he would immediately recognize her—one of the most popular characters in One Piece: the pirate cat burglar, Nami!
"Little Nami! Let's go! We're setting sail!"
Just as Nami was lost in thought, a rough shout came from behind her.
"Yes! Coming right away!"
Nami turned and saw the crew of the Gatt Pirates she had infiltrated preparing to depart. She quickly responded.
"Hmph! You damn pirates—once I've stolen everything valuable from you, this lady is done with you!"
Nami sneered inwardly. She despised pirates above all else—they were the reason her hometown was in danger, forcing her village to pay protection money just to survive!
...
...
"Gatt Pirates! Captain Gatt! Bounty: 5 million Berries! Devil Fruit user…"
"A Devil Fruit user with only a 5 million Berry bounty… Fine. You'll do!"
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