Chapter 472: I Can Only Count to Three
Chapter 472: I Can Only Count to Three
"Free ride, huh?"
Kuro glanced over with a frown. "New World people—are you all this cowardly?"
"Hehehe."
Angus cocked his pistol and pressed the barrel against Kuro's temple. "I run an honest business. Your life for your pelt, your clothes, and that knife at your waist. A fair deal."
"Wanting so many of my things, huh?"
Kuro nodded toward the others. "But even if you take them, can you keep them from these guys?"
"Hah! You think this is where?"
Angus grinned. "This is the lawless Kingdom of Krayne. Pirates, us—here, we do as we please. But there are rules. I struck first. That makes you mine."
"Give it up."
Dick Boss rumbled, "Last advice—don’t die. Hand it over."
"Right. Give it to me, and keep your life."
Angus chuckled, nudging the pistol harder against Kuro’s head.
At the same time, he pulled a cigar box from his coat, signaling a subordinate to light one. As a henchman reached out with a lit match…
Hiss!
A wisp of Black Radiance flared around them, illuminating the dim tavern.
As the dark light flickered, Angus and his men split cleanly from chest to spine. Blood sprayed backward, painting the floor crimson.
Plop.
Kuro caught the falling cigar box mid-air, then casually plopped onto a barstool.
"So, by reverse logic, if I kill you first, then your stuff becomes mine, right?"
He plucked a cigar from the box, clamped it between his teeth, and ignored the corpses. "Well, you won’t hear me anyway. Guess I’ll take that as a yes."
"Hey, boss. Take this pelt as payment. Cleaning fee included. Usual deal—food, drinks, and a light." Kuro said, floating lazily.
"Understood."
Dick Boss eyed Kuro, pocketing the pelt. After a pause, he added, "Earlier, I misquoted the price. It’s worth five million, but I’ll only offer one million Beri here. Acceptable?"
"Whatever."
Kuro shrugged. As the crowd murmured, he scanned the room. The men, momentarily stunned by his blade, had already resumed whispering.
"Idiot!"
A pirate scoffed. "Someone alone here, charging in blindly? Good. They tested the waters for us."
"Did you see that attack?"
"No. Too fast. Definitely a swordsman, though."
They chattered, shocked but unafraid.
"Your light."
Dick handed him a matchbox.
Kuro struck it, lit his cigar, and exhaled a plume of smoke. "Tsk. Cheap stuff. Better than nothing, I guess."
Biting the cigar, he tapped the table and gestured to the chaos behind him. "This place always like this? Tell me."
"First time here?"
Dick poured a glass of whiskey over ice. "Krayne’s like this. New World’s infamous lawless Kingdom. Here, might makes right."
"Oh? The Kingdom doesn’t intervene?"
"Intervene?" Dick snorted. "They encourage it. But only for pirates and illicit merchants. Citizens? They’re forbidden."
"You saw the closed doors on your way in. Not just the storm. Even on clear days, people stay indoors. Otherwise, they get taken. Slavers, the state—they need labor for the mines."
"The Kingdom’s King sees this as his Amusement Park. The citizens? Just prey."
Dick’s voice darkened, his face shadowed with bitterness.
"Oh? You’re a citizen?"
"No." Dick shook his head. "I’m a retired pirate. Settled here long ago. Lost my leg in a storm. Now I run this bar. They tolerate me—without me, this place would have no tavern for them to drink in."
"Ah, a retired pirate."
Kuro nodded, but a sudden laugh cut in.
"Hah! Spare us the respect, Dick. Who’d fear you?"
A burly man plopped down. "Your temper’s the only reason you’re alive. You saved the King’s life, didn’t you? Kill you, and he’d throw a fit. We’re here hunting, after all."
"I never saved him!"
Dick’s pupils constricted, his eyes bloodshot. "Never!!"
"Easy, old friend." The man waved, ordering drinks. "This one’s on me."
He turned to Kuro. "Brother, strong, huh? Angus was a big name here. You took him down. Join my pirate crew."
Kuro swirled his drink. "Pirate crew?"
"Double Axe Pirates!" The man thumped the axes at his waist. "Join us, and you’ll have everything."
"Our captain? ‘Double Axe’ Lumba. Bounty: 63 million. You won’t regret it."
"Lumba’s strong. You’re unknown, Brother. Join us, and you’ll earn a bounty fast. Fame, too."
A table erupted with cheers.
"Oh, terrifying."
Kuro sipped his drink. "So ‘hunting’ means preying on the citizens?"
"Of course!"
Lumba grinned maliciously. "Except the Palace, we hunt wherever. Wealth, women—we take what we want!"
"Sounds convenient. Take what you want by strength, huh?" Kuro murmured, staring into his glass.
"Exactly! Join us!" Lumba slapped Kuro’s shoulder.
"Lumba! We want this man too!"
Another pirate captain stood. "Brother, strong! Join my crew. Take the late first mate’s spot. I’ll find who killed him—won’t forgive them!"
"Join us, Brother! You’d fit right in!"
Voices erupted from every pirate.
"We’re not pirates, but join us as a merchant! High pay!"
Illicit merchants chimed in.
The tavern roared.
"See how popular you are, Brother! But join us—we’re the strongest here!"
Lumba thumped his chest, confident.
"Then duel for it. Whoever’s left standing, I’ll consider. How’s that?"
Kuro’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and clear.
Silence.
Everyone froze.
"You joking, Brother?!" Lumba’s face darkened. "Make us duel?!"
"Oh? Don’t want to?"
Kuro stood, towering over Lumba. "You said it yourself—take what you want by strength. Makes sense. So—"
He raised three fingers. "Three seconds. Whoever escapes this tavern, I’ll spare them."
"Brother, you’re signing your death warrant!"
Lumba rose, his three-meter frame looming. Axes in hand, he licked his lips. "Pity. You die here."
"Three."
Kuro counted.
"Die!"
Lumba swung his axes like thunder. None survived his strikes.
Whoosh.
A breeze stirred.
Kuro’s form blurred, then solidified.
In that instant, the tavern froze—everyone, even Lumba mid-swing.
Only Dick moved, eyes wide, staring at the stillness.
Click.
The pelt-hatted man’s waist knife seemed to sheathe itself. But no one saw him draw it.
"Dharmata."
The man whispered.
Schlick!!!
Inside the tavern, every head flew off, spurting blood like crimson fountains. Heads slammed into the ceiling, expressions frozen in horror, disdain, or laughter.
Bodies collapsed, thunderous booms echoing.
A hell of severed heads.
"This…" Dick trembled, mouth agape.
"Sorry. I can only count to three."
Kuro said, softly.
(End of Chapter)
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