"Why aren't you joining in? Are your standards too high, or do you just not like them?"
Buck and the others were completely drunk, each with a woman in their arms, grinning lecherously.
But Jay didn't join them.
Instead, he sat alone, sipping his drink, a cigar between his fingers, the smoke partially veiling his face.
It made him look completely out of place.
"If I said yes, what would you do, Miss Tessa? Pour me a drink yourself?"
"Dream on. I'm tired. I'm heading to bed."
Miss Tessa covered a small yawn with her delicate hand. She hadn't had a good night's sleep in days and was utterly exhausted.
But just as she was walking away and her two female bodyguards were about to open the door
Jay's head snapped around.
"Don't go over there! Get back!"
If someone had looked closely at his skin at that moment, they would have seen the hair on his arms standing on end.
He had just caught the fresh scent of blood, and more importantly, he could feel the thick killing intent seeping from outside the door.
Enemy attack!
But his warning came half a second too late.
Shing!
A blade sliced through the door like paper, slitting both bodyguards' throats in a single fluid motion.
Hot blood splattered onto Miss Tessa's face, and she let out a horrified scream!
"Enemy attack! Protect the young lady!"
The butler immediately shouted.
The remaining two bodyguards rushed forward, shielding Tessa while cautiously backing away.
Charging forward without knowing how many enemies were outside was reckless, Tessa's safety came first.
BANG!
The entire door was sliced open and kicked apart from the outside.
A tall figure strode into the room.
Instead of arms, he had two gleaming blades, still dripping with blood!
BANG!
A bullet shot straight at his head.
But
CLANG!
It bounced off.
The drunken men sobered instantly, their faces frozen in disbelief.
"He... he blocked a bullet with his head?!"
Even Jay, the one who had fired, narrowed his eyes.
There was no doubt, this guy had to be a Devil Fruit user.
"It's him! The assassin, Daz Bonez!"
The butler's face turned pale as he finally recognized the intruder.
An assassin. That wasn't just Daz Bonez's profession, it was also his title.
To have a name so infamous that it became synonymous with an entire profession, that meant he was one of the deadliest men in the West Blue.
It was no surprise that the butler recognized him immediately.
"Daz Bonez?"
A flicker of realization flashed in Jay's eyes.
Now he remembered, this guy was Mr. 1!
Except this version of him didn't yet have that iconic "壱" tattoo.
Daz Bonez, in the original story, he was so popular that Crocodile recruited him into Baroque Works, making him the organization's top agent under the codename "Mr. 1".
He had the Supra-Slice Slice Fruit, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that let him turn any part of his body into a blade.
That meant even his internal organs were like solid steel, immune to swords, bullets, and most physical attacks.
Even cannon fire would be useless against him.
"So at this point, he hasn't joined Crocodile yet. He's still working as a contract killer."
"Who hired him? And who's the target?"
"Well, looks like the Mafia aren't the only ones after Miss Tessa's head."
As Daz Bonez wordlessly lunged toward Tessa, Jay's reaction was instantaneous.
He squeezed the trigger repeatedly.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Bullets whizzed toward Bonez, aiming to stop him from reaching his target.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Daz Bonez swung his blade-arms, deflecting every shot with ease.
The two female bodyguards immediately pulled out their guns and fired as well.
But when their bullets struck his body, all they did was spark against his steel skin.
Completely useless!
Seeing this, the bodyguards dropped their guns and drew their swords, charging forward with a war cry.
Jay took one look at the scene, and he already knew they were dead.
CLANG!
CLANG!
The blades struck Bonez's head and neck, without leaving so much as a scratch.
His expression didn't change as he sliced through both women in an instant, cutting them in half.
"AAAAAHHHH!!"
Tessa was paralyzed with fear, forgetting even to run.
She could only scream in terror as Bonez's blade swung toward her heart, ready to end her life.
But
BANG!
A steel nunchaku slammed into Bonez's face, sending him flying and saving Tessa just in time.
"Stop screaming. You hear me?"
SLAP!
Jay smacked Tessa across the face, cutting off her shrieks.
"Can you hear me now?"
Tessa, stunned, could only nod.
"Good. Looks like a lot of people want you dead. The Mafia failed, so now someone's hired a world-class assassin instead."
"I don't know! Please, just save me! I don't want to die!"
Finally, she seemed to snap out of it.
Even though her cheek was burning, she desperately clung to Jay.
Jay sighed, frowning.
"That guy's one of the West Blue's most feared assassins. He's insanely strong… And besides, my job here is already done."
Tessa's face turned pale. She grabbed his hand tightly, looking utterly helpless.
"No, please don't leave me!"
Jay hesitated for a moment, then smirked.
"Well… I could protect you again… but it'll cost extra."
"I'll pay! Five million, no, ten million Berries!"
"Deal."
Jay nodded in satisfaction.
"Stay back. Don't get in my way."
"I-I'm scared…"
"Buck! You idiot, are you sober yet?"
"Y-Yeah… kinda!"
"Take your men and get Miss Tessa somewhere safe. Move carefully."
"Yes, sir!"
Buck and the others quickly escorted Tessa away.
But before they could get far, Daz Bonez, now recovered, charged at them again!
His target was still Tessa!
"I told you, your opponent is ME!"
Jay's nunchaku met Bonez's blade in a violent clash, stopping him in his tracks once more.
A cold glint flashed in Bonez's eyes as he finally acknowledged Jay as a threat.
"You want to die?"
He raised his razor-sharp fingers, aiming to shred Jay apart.
If even one strike landed, it would be fatal.
T/N: Apologies for not being able to release, edit, or translate any work over the past few weeks. I'll try to make up for it by mass releasing over 10 chapters today. I hope you continue to enjoy the read! :)