Eustass Kid.
In the original story, he was part of the Worst Generation alongside Luffy, Zoro, and other Supernova pirates. He was also a ruthless killer who wouldn't blink before taking a life.
Zephyr habitually considered Kid a potential target, but thoughts were just thoughts—he wouldn't risk death so carelessly.
If conditions permitted, he'd naturally harvest Kid's experience points without hesitation.
But if conditions didn't permit, he wouldn't take unnecessary risks.
Moreover, right now he was just a weakling.
"The world of One Piece..."
Zephyr averted his gaze, lowering his head to conceal the peculiar light in his eyes.
Encountering the young Kid here was truly unexpected. Like a spark, it reignited memories of One Piece that had been buried in the corners of his mind.
These memories would later become crucial intelligence in his Hunter's Notebook, capable of converting into experience points.
Zephyr and Sunny's arrival brought the tense standoff to its first pause.
Kid glanced sideways at Zephyr, who stood with his head bowed. How could he possibly know that this frail-looking man before him had already marked him as a potential hunting target?
If he knew, he'd probably just scoff in disdain.
Not giving Zephyr much attention, Kid turned his gaze to Sol, his tone brimming with impatience.
"Tsk, another free laborer you've dragged in. Wonder what kind of death awaits this time? My guess is some random blade work followed by a pile of worthless street meat."
"Heh, Mad Hatter Town's not short on 'undertakers'. Even if this kid gets chopped into dozens of pieces, they'd still manage to squeeze out some residual value. So as long as he dies in the right place, I don't care if I get nothing in return."
Sol, his face etched with deep lines of age, flicked his gilded pipe, letting ash scatter across the ground.
"Speaking of labor, I've got high expectations for you. Here's the deal, Kid: if you work for me, I'll get you Keanu's sidearm or even Salamander's dagger. Plus, I'll keep you supplied with West Blue's finest liquor."
"Get lost!"
Kid said coldly, "I won't be outdone by anyone."
"What a pity, what a pity."
Sol nodded sagely, putting on a serious act.
Their conversation, oblivious to others around them, was overheard by Zephyr, who picked up some useful information.
Mad Hatter Town?
West Blue?
A place where people could be killed in the streets, and that burst of gunfire earlier.
This was likely a lawless black zone where pirates congregated.
With this thought, Zephyr discreetly glanced at the shelves filled with weapons inside the store.
This was a weapons shop.
Moreover, Sol - who appeared to be the boss - seemed to have a peculiar adherence to the Value Theory, Zephyr observed silently.
As a newcomer, he could only be cautious in his words and actions.
Noticing Zephyr's composure, a glint flashed in Sol's eyes.
Then he jumped down from his stool and walked out from behind the counter.
It was only then that Zephyr realized Sol's height was less than one meter.
He unconsciously looked at the counter, which stood at least one and a half meters tall, and guessed that Sol must have been standing on the stool to look Kid in the eye.
After bickering with Sol for a while, Kid's patience had been worn thin.
He glared at the out-of-closet Sol and demanded coldly, "Are you selling that gun or not?"
Sol glanced at the jar of Bailey coins in Kid's hand and retorted, "Where'd you get the money?"
A vein pulsed on Kid's forehead as he roared, "I don't care where I got it! Will you sell or not?"
He wouldn't be wasting his time here if he didn't know Sol was no pushover.
Sol seemed oblivious to Kid's impending explosion, leisurely taking a puff from his pipe.
"Didn't I say it already? I'd rather dismantle Keanu's issued weapon and toss it in the landfill than sell it to you."
More veins appeared on Kid's face as he snarled, "Then toss it already!"
Tap tap.
Sol rapped his pipe against the counter and drawled, "I'll choose a proper day for the tossing."
"You old bastard!" Kid growled, barely restraining his fury.
In stark contrast stood Sol, his face as calm as still water.
Zephyr observed this scene and immediately realized that Sol was not as weak as he appeared.
After all, anyone who could suppress the temper of Kid—a man known for his explosive outbursts and quick fists—must be quite formidable himself.
Zephyr continued to observe discreetly, sensing the exasperation radiating from Sunny beside him.
From Sunny's perspective, while Sol was a money-obsessed man, he wasn't the type to bow and scrape for cash. He detested impolite behavior more than anything.
Therefore, if Kid had simply maintained basic courtesy, Keanu's gun—no matter how valuable—would have been sold without hesitation once the price was right.
Kid clearly knew this, yet refused to restrain himself, leading to this absurd spectacle of a customer demanding goods while the boss refused to sell.
What baffled Sunny most was how Sol, with his complete lack of business sense, could tolerate Kid's behavior repeatedly.
It was unclear what exactly Sol saw in the man.
Having failed to secure a deal and unwilling to endure further humiliation, Kid grabbed his money-filled sack and strode toward the open wooden door.
"Don't trouble yourself."
Sol watched Kid's retreating figure, his voice flat and indifferent.
Kid didn't look back.
He strode to the doorway, then suddenly halted.
Bang!
The single wooden door on the other side of the entrance burst open as a man wielding an axe kicked it in.
The door crashed against the wall with a dull thud, nearly splintering into retirement.
The bloodstained man reeked of lingering murderous intent - clearly he'd just slaughtered a number of people.
He stepped into the shop and immediately locked onto the bulging sack in Kid's hand, his icy killing intent transforming into a snarled threat.
"You little brat! You've been hiding like a coward!"
"Where'd this stray dog come from?"
Kid regarded the man with cold eyes, his thin lips curling into a smirk.
Behind the counter, Sol narrowed his eyes. He first glanced at the right-hand door Kid had kicked into the wall earlier, then looked at the left-hand door now swung open by the axe-wielding man.
Seems they've both developed a penchant for door-kicking.
Sol's weathered face froze over with frost.
The axe-wielding man's eyes remained fixed on Kid, completely disregarding the others. He glared at Kid with the axe raised.
"I'm the one with an eleven million Bailey bounty! They call me the..."
Crack!
Before the knife-wielding man could finish his practiced opening line, Sol appeared behind him and knocked him unconscious with a single strike.
Kid's pupils contracted. Though standing closest to the attacker, he hadn't fully witnessed Sol's movement.
This old bastard... he's truly not to be trifled with.
Sol landed lightly. Given his height, he'd only reach the man's knees without jumping.
He spared no glance for the unconscious attacker, instead turning to Kid who stood frozen in place. "What's this?" he asked mildly. "Are you planning to stay for dinner?"
Kid's cheek twitched. Without looking back, he strode away.
Watching Kid depart, Sol shut the door of the shop nearing retirement.
Sunny approached from behind. "I think you're being too... friendly with Kid," she murmured.
"Friendly?"
Sol turned to look at Sunny, smiling. "Perhaps 'favoritism' would be more accurate."
"Mm." Sunny nodded, rummaging through the unconscious man's pockets. "I still think you're being too... favoritism with Kid."
"Heh."
Sol put away his gilded pipe and picked up the bloodstained machete that had fallen to the ground.
"This world is black or white. What fairness? I'm 'biased' toward him because he has value worth being 'biased' about."
By the time Sol finished speaking, he had wiped the machete clean and placed it on one of the shelves, turning it into merchandise for sale.
Watching the two of them exchange words while skillfully accumulating wealth, Zephyr felt deeply ashamed.
After putting away the machete, Sol walked up to the man and kicked his forehead.
"This guy's head is worth some money, too bad we can't sell it. Oh, what's his name?"
"He's the captain of the Ghost Blade Pirates, Evan Watt. They call him the Executioner. He's a decent swordsman in West Blue with an 11 million Bailey bounty."
Sunny placed the valuable items she'd found on the counter.
As Mad Hatter Town's half-competent intelligence source, she kindly filled in the backstory for the pirate that Sol had interrupted earlier.
"Oh."
Sol stroked his chin, then suddenly turned to Zephyr, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines.
"You. Come here."
When Sol pointed at him, Zephyr moved without hesitation to stand before the man.
Sol patted Zephyr's knee and raised an eyebrow. "Can't you show some respect for your elders? Do I need to remind you to sit down?"
The corner of Zephyr's mouth twitched as he instantly understood. He immediately crossed his legs, successfully leveling himself with Sol.
With their eyes now at the same height, Sol nodded in satisfaction and studied Zephyr closely.
From first impressions, he was more pleased with Zephyr's composure throughout the encounter - such mental fortitude was not common among ordinary people.
"What's your name?"
"Zephyr Bajad."
This matched the signature on the photograph, sparing Zephyr the trouble of explaining.
"That surname..."
Sol muttered, habitually turning to Sunny, his local intelligence source.
Sunny reminded him, "Rum merchant."
"Oh!" Sol exclaimed, realization dawning. "Right! Their rum is decent. And I think there was a newspaper report a couple days ago about their armed merchant ship being plundered by some pirate crew. No survivors - not even the captain."
Sunny nodded. "Yes."
"Hmm, that makes things interesting."
Sol turned his gaze to Zephyr, his eyes gradually narrowing.
After a long moment, before Zephyr could react, Sol suddenly produced a small knife indistinguishable from a fruit knife. With a smile, he offered it to Zephyr.
"Let's just say goodbye to the past. Kill this Watt guy."
"No problem!"
Zephyr's pupils constricted and dilated, but he accepted the knife without hesitation. His face remained impassive, but inwardly, he was elated.
This was practically a gift delivered to his doorstep.
Zephyr looked at the unconscious Watt.
I'll remember you, Executioner Evan Watt, with the 11 million Bailey bounty on your head.
Zephyr mentally saluted the man.
Seeing Zephyr's obedient and decisive response, Sol grew even more satisfied.
Then Zephyr said, "I need to use the restroom first."
"..." Sol.
"..." Sunny.