Chapter 575: A Chance Encounter with Intelligence!
Several pirates sprang forward with savage grins, about to land on the small boat.
At that moment, the woman on the boat raised her long blade.
There was no fear in her eyes, only a cold, steady resolve.
Bang!
A single gunshot cracked across the sea.
The three pirates mid leap were instantly pierced through.
They did not even have time to react before their bodies splashed into the water.
One shot.
One bullet.
Three seasoned pirates dropped.
"What absurdly clean marksmanship…"
"Whose sniper is that?"
The woman's eyes widened as she turned toward the pirate ship in the distance.
"It was that girl's shot," an old man's voice came from inside the boat.
"They're here."
"Tashigi, you don't need to do anything."
"No matter who's leading them, this kind of trash can't withstand their crew."
The old man never stepped out of the cabin, yet he grasped everything happening outside.
His Observation Haki was clearly terrifying.
The girl on deck was none other than Marine Captain Tashigi.
The reason she was on this boat was simple.
Garp had given her a mission.
And the old man traveling with her treated her well, so she adapted quickly.
During this period, under his guidance, Tashigi's swordsmanship and physical conditioning had improved by leaps and bounds.
That was why she could face pirates like this without flinching.
"Uncle Erwin, it's you!"
Just then, a girl carrying a sniper rifle landed lightly on the small boat.
Her voice held genuine delight.
"Hey, girls. What are you doing out here?"
"And what's this, did he change his pirate flag?"
"Did he leave the Dragon Hunter Pirates?"
The old man stepped out at last, smiling warmly as he spoke.
It was Erwin.
And the expression on Shinon's face was equally gentle.
They had not spent much time together back in Loguetown, but Erwin had always liked this girl.
He once had a daughter like her too, but she cut ties with him because he was a pirate.
"We have business on Alcatraz," Shinon said with a grin.
"Uncle Erwin, are you going to Alcatraz Island too?"
Shinon knew Erwin's strength.
If Erwin traveled with them, then if anything went wrong, they would have someone to lean on.
"Yes. I'm going to Alcatraz," Erwin replied.
"I've got some old matters to settle there."
"If you're headed that way too, then we'll go together."
"It'll save us some trouble."
He looked past her.
"Who's leading the Dragon Hunter Pirates this time?"
While they spoke, Kirito and his people had already wiped out the Hudlow Pirates completely.
From crew to captain, not a single one escaped.
"Mr. Erwin!"
Kirito heard the conversation and landed directly on the small boat, greeting him.
"Kazuto Kirigaya?" Erwin said, smiling.
"You pretended to join the Celestial Dragon Guard, then betrayed them during the battle."
"For a while, you were famous everywhere."
He studied Kirito with mild surprise.
"You're younger than I imagined when we first met."
Erwin had assumed someone so decisive and steady would be older.
But he was wrong.
Kirito looked like he was only around eighteen.
It had to be said, the Dragon Hunter Pirates were truly young monsters.
"Mr. Erwin, you're too kind," Kirito said, scratching his head, a little embarrassed.
"I'm just a nobody on the crew."
"I came out this time because I have something I need to deal with."
It was a strange contrast.
When Kirito fought, he was ruthless and unshakable.
Yet right now, he looked completely harmless.
"It's fine," Erwin said.
"I'm also dealing with my own old business."
"By the way, the Dragon Hunter Pirates are searching for Laugh Tale, right?"
"Anything interesting you can tell me?"
Just like before, Erwin still wanted to hear their adventures.
His curiosity was genuinely impressive.
"Honestly, there hasn't been anything especially new…" Kirito said, sitting down.
And just like that, he started chatting with Erwin.
Meanwhile, the crew secured ropes between Kirito's ship and the small boat, linking them together.
Then they continued toward Devil's Island.
…
"Team leader!"
A crewman rushed over with a report.
"One pirate is still alive."
"He says he'll trade information for his life."
"Information?" Kirito asked, raising a brow.
"What kind of information is worth a life?"
"He says he'll only talk if the person in charge comes over, someone who can make decisions," the crewman said quickly.
"Captain, do you want to come over for a moment?"
Kirito nodded.
"Mr. Erwin, I'll go check it out."
"Why don't you come aboard our ship too?"
"It'll be more comfortable, and it's faster."
"Alright," Erwin agreed easily.
"I also want to hear what kind of information he thinks can buy his life."
With that, Erwin leaped up and landed on Kirito's ship.
Hudlow was brought over quickly.
A massive slash wound carved across his body, still bleeding heavily.
It had to be said, his physique was tough.
Most people would have died from blood loss long ago.
Kirito looked down at him.
"What information?"
"Can you really trade it for your life?"
Hudlow forced himself to stay conscious and spoke hoarsely.
"I know something about a mysterious existence."
"And I know you people are looking for someone."
"The one called the greatest scientist…"
"Vegapunk!"
"Vegapunk?" Kirito's eyes sharpened instantly.
Their primary target this time was Vegapunk.
And they were hearing his name before even setting foot on Alcatraz.
"Yes!" Hudlow said, breathing hard.
"If I…"
He did not even finish before Kirito's entire attitude flipped.
"Mr. Hudlow, right?"
"I apologize, we were abrupt earlier."
"Your underlings were killed by us, so for now, don't take it personally."
Kirito pulled out a small bottle and shoved it toward him.
"This is the essence of life. A super effective healing medicine."
"Drink it quickly, or you'll bleed out."
Hudlow stared, stunned.
This was not the same man who had cut his crew down without hesitation.
Was this… possession?
"Uh… I'm kind of scared now," Hudlow said after a long pause.
"You don't have… feelings for me, do you?"
Bang!
Shinon kicked him in the head before Kirito could answer.
Then she gave him a perfectly direct reply.
"Impossible."
Kirito coughed lightly and continued at once.
"Didn't you say you'd trade information for your life? I agree."
"That medicine is to treat your wounds, that's my sincerity."
"I see…" Hudlow muttered, still suspicious.
"You're all that interested in Vegapunk news?"
He frowned, genuinely confused.
Vegapunk was important, sure.
But Kirito did not need to act like he had just found a treasure chest.
So why did it feel like there was something else hiding under the surface?
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