Kuroda Hayate showed no fear even with Sloe's pistol aimed directly at him. Instead, he wore a look of utter disdain, shaking his head in disappointment. Tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table—clack, clack—he spoke with cold contempt:
"Ugh, I really hate pirates. Always backstabbing, always broke. What's the matter? Can't the so-called manager of a Kidd Pirates bar even scrape together three million Berries?"
"You think I don't have it? I'm the third most powerful fighter in the Kidd Pirates! I just don't want to give you that kind of money, trash!"
Sloe's face twitched in embarrassment. Truth was, he didn't have three million Berries—most of the crew's money was with Boss Kidd. But to cover it up, he snarled and tried to look fierce.
"Hmph! I don't care how strong you are. You can't dodge my shots. I'm the top sharpshooter of the Kidd Pirates!"
This time, Hayate looked genuinely curious. "Oh? The best sharpshooter? Then tell me—can you shoot me right between the eyebrows and knock me out?"
"Of course I can!" Sloe bluffed, though a trace of doubt crept into his voice. The man sitting in front of him was eerily calm, even with a gun pointed at him. Despite his confidence, Sloe wasn't sure he could land a perfect shot at that range.
He hesitated, then tried a different angle. "Look, I'll level with you. I don't want to kill someone as skilled as you. You assassinated Major General Karoya—that takes talent. Join us. Become my subordinate. If you pledge loyalty to the Kidd Pirates, I promise you wealth and status."
Hayate smirked and asked playfully, "Oh? And what's so great about joining the Kidd Pirates?"
Sloe, not realizing he was being played, replied seriously, "Tomorrow we set sail, chasing after the treasure left behind by Pirate King Gol D. Roger—he once ruled the entire world. And trust me, Boss Kidd is the next Pirate King. He's going to split that treasure with the crew. Even one tiny piece of it will make you a rich pirate for life."
"Hah," Hayate scoffed. "I'm not interested in being a pirate or chasing dreams of One Piece. But that treasure does sound valuable. And I'm short on cash."
Before Sloe could react, Hayate swiftly pulled a sleek, golden pistol from inside his coat. A single, muffled pop echoed. A bullet tore through Sloe's chest. The gun slipped from his hand. Blood gushed from the wound as he collapsed, his fingers clutching at the hole in his chest.
Sloe could only stare at him in shock. This man had drawn, aimed, and fired faster than he could even think to pull the trigger. The difference in speed was overwhelming.
Coughing blood, Sloe stammered, "I lost… completely. But… how did you shoot without making a sound? And… that weapon…"
Hayate casually unscrewed the silencer from his golden pistol and held it up. "Never seen a gold-plated Desert Eagle before? Oh, right. This is the world of One Piece. You guys don't have tech like this. Anyway, stop babbling. You made me waste a precious bullet. I don't have many, and I'd rather not spend them on trash like you. So—one last time. Can you pay me the three million Berries? I just got here. I'm broke."
Sloe blinked, confused. Desert Eagle? It sounded like something from another world. He realized Hayate had spared his life—just—and was still after his reward. "Y-Yes! Just don't kill me, I swear I'll get the money together tonight! Please, just—"
Before he could finish, Hayate slammed his boot down on Sloe's neck, crushing his Adam's apple with a sharp crack. He shook his head in irritation, opened the door to the dark back room, and stepped out, calm as ever, ignoring the shocked faces of the pirates in the bar as he casually walked toward the exit.
A muscular man—missing an arm—stepped in front of the bar's doorway and blocked his path. He raised his only arm in defiance.
Hayate's cold gaze landed on the man's remaining limb. "You want to lose that one too?"
Sweat poured down the man's face, but he tried to sound tough. "Why hasn't our boss come out yet? What did you do to him?!"
Hayate smiled, amused. "Your boss? He's a sharpshooter, remember? No way I could beat him. He said he was tired and wanted to sleep inside. Though… I'm not sure he'll ever wake up again."
The muscular man laughed awkwardly. "Haha! Yeah, Boss Sloe does love to nap. He's slept through entire days before."
But when he looked down, Hayate had already vanished.
A scream rang out from the back room. "AHH! Boss Sloe's been killed!"
"What?! That's impossible!" one pirate shouted. "Boss Sloe was the best sharpshooter! How could that guy kill him?! And we didn't even hear a gunshot!"
The muscular man rushed outside, but the bustling street was too crowded to trace anyone. Hayate had disappeared into the crowd. Enraged, the man shouted, "Damn it! Someone contact Boss Kidd! Now!"
Meanwhile, Kuroda Hayate walked calmly down the street, blending in with the crowd like any other passerby. Nothing about him stood out—just another face in the sea of people. But there was a flicker of disappointment on his face.
First mission in this world… and I didn't even get paid. That three million Berries—he would make the Kidd Pirates cough it up, one way or another.
For now, though, he was frustrated. Penniless in the world of One Piece, he was in real danger of starving. He needed to find that dumb girl again, complain a little, and ask her what the hell the Kidd Pirates even were.
Sure, he'd heard of One Piece. He hadn't watched much, but he knew the basics. At least he recognized Luffy—the rubber man who could stretch his limbs endlessly. Though… now that he thought about it, Hayate chuckled to himself, I wonder if other parts of his body can stretch too. That'd be wild.
As soon as he slipped out of "killer mode," his cold demeanor faded. A smirk played at his lips, and he looked around, amused—until he noticed something strange.
The passersby looked terrified. People stepped away from him as if he carried a deadly plague. The once-crowded street split in two, leaving a clear, empty path wherever he walked. Panic spread through the crowd.
Someone screamed, "The devil is coming!"