Abra slightly loosened the restraint on Pates' mouth.
"You..." Pates opened his mouth wide and roared.
However, before he could finish speaking, his heart raced, gripped by an instinctual intense threat and fear that choked his throat.
At some point, Beedrill appeared beside Natsuhiko and heavily tossed the Iron Armor Lobster, covered in thick, hard shells, in front of him, leaving an indentation in the sandy beach.
He felt the stranger standing before him was like a cold executioner, using icy eyes to scrutinize his soul and flesh.
In that instant, Pates understood that his previous judgment of Natsuhiko was too off; now, he seemed to lack even the ability to resist.
Natsuhiko took the blood-stained dagger from his hand and simultaneously removed and locked his Pokeball from his waist.
He finally smiled politely:
"Now, can we communicate calmly?"
Even though Natsuhiko smiled, the pressure on Pates increased, especially as he toyed with the dagger in his hand.
He ceased trying to resist, a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead, and said, "Who are you? What do you want?"
"A bounty hunter," Natsuhiko casually replied.
Bang!
The sharp, gleaming white blade of the dagger rested on Pates' shoulder, lightly wiping away the blood.
It seems these pirates prefer using daggers or swords, these cold weapons; not that guns are bad, but their bullets are limited, and once blocked by Pokémon, they become mere scrap metal.
Moreover, cold weapons are quieter in action.
Feeling the blade grazing his skin, Pates' expression stiffened.
"You seem to still not understand who questions and who answers," Natsuhiko's tone was indifferent.
"No, I..." Pates instinctively denied again.
But the next second, he could not speak.
For the skin on his neck clearly felt the sharpness of the dagger, causing goosebumps to rise.
He was well aware of the sharpness of his own dagger.
Natsuhiko chuckled softly.
"Kindly remind you, your chances are limited, you can answer yourself or I can make you answer, if you believe in your endurance, you may try."
Buzz!
Beedrill hummed softly, the dark purple ring on its abdomen flickered, and the stinger at its tail emitted a purple glow.
Poison...
Pates swallowed gently.
"Alright, the first question, who are you?"
Pates originally wanted to muddle through, but when he met Natsuhiko's gaze, his heart trembled.
He definitely heard it during his fight with Lai Le, this is a probing question.
"... 'Giant Clamp' Pates, the seventh Boatswain of the 'Star of Blood', the Captain is 'Bloody Henry'."
Pates attempted to use the Captain's name to deter Natsuhiko.
Unfortunately, Natsuhiko's expression did not change.
"Your bounty."
"... Eight hundred thousand Alliance currency."
Natsuhiko raised his eyebrows.
The seventh Boatswain of the 'Star of Blood', one of Five Stars, has a bounty of only eight hundred thousand Alliance currency?
Seemingly noticing Natsuhiko's disdain, Pates stiffened his neck and explained, "I just became a Boatswain!"
So that's the reason.
"Can your 'Star of Blood' summon Sharpedo and Carvanha schools? What's the method?"
"I don't know, only the Captain and First Mate know the method, I don't have the authority."
Natsuhiko nodded thoughtfully, not assuming he was lying.
"Your purpose for coming to the Orange Islands this time."
"I..."
"Don't tell me you went to such lengths to deal with Lai Le, who might have connections to the Alliance, just to come to Little Orange Island for leisure." Before Pates could speak, Natsuhiko blocked any possible deceitful reasons he might have.
Pates was stunned upon hearing this.
He looked at Natsuhiko with a complex gaze.
This young man, his thinking is far more meticulous than he imagined.
He silently took a breath and said awkwardly, "Our Captain told me to wait for someone on the island."
Natsuhiko's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
"Don't know." This time, Pates was quite straightforward.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Natsuhiko's disbelief, Pates became a bit anxious and quickly said, "I really don't know, the Captain didn't tell me, just instructed me to wait for him in the seventh private room at 'Black Shark Bar' in Big City and hand him a letter."
"Where's the letter?"
"In... In the secret pocket of my belt." Pates said with difficulty.
To escape at any time, he carried valuable items with him, as most pirates do.
"Abra—"
Abra called softly, using its psychic power to extract a folded letter from the secret pocket on Pates' waist.
"Are there any codes or items for contact?" asked Natsuhiko again.
This time Pates did not answer immediately, his eyes flickered, and he counter-questioned, "If I tell you, can you let me go?"
This is his most crucial bargaining chip right now.
His identity and bounty can be easily investigated by Natsuhiko, the fact that the 'Star of Blood' can summon Sharpedo schools is not a secret, the letter is on him, even if he doesn't speak, Natsuhiko can find it.
Only this is his chance to survive!
So he must seize it.
"Do you think this information is very important to me?" Natsuhiko raised his eyebrows and countered.
Natsuhiko was not actually very interested, and if Pates hadn't found him, he would still be hesitating whether to make a move.
But now that he has made a move, it must be to gain more benefits and information.
Pates' expression stiffened.
He thought Natsuhiko came for the letter.
Otherwise, who would come to such a remote and dark beach for nothing?
Knowing there was no chance to live, he showed the spirit of a pirate.
Living a lick-the-blood-off-the-blade life, if there is no chance to survive, he couldn't possibly disclose everything.
He raised his head, glaring at Natsuhiko.
But Natsuhiko smiled gracefully and said, "What? If I said I'd let you go, you would believe?"
Pates gritted his teeth.
Natsuhiko's words struck at the issue he was most worried about deep down.
To be honest, if he and Natsuhiko's identities were swapped, he would not let Natsuhiko leave alive.
Just like the Captain's repeated words.
It's okay to kill, as long as you cover your tracks.
There is no reason to allow a potential threat to leave.
Especially when there is a group like 'Star of Blood' behind this threat.
Revenge could come at any time.
Moreover, this was Natsuhiko's main concern at the beginning, hesitating whether to act.
If he couldn't successfully deal with Pates, the 'Star of Blood' group would continue to be a persistent trouble for Natsuhiko during his sea voyage.
But.
Now that he's captured Pates, there's no need to worry.
"Forget it, I'm not interested in your secrets."
Saying this, Natsuhiko turned around, holding Togepi, walking a few steps away from Pates with several Pokémon.
Throwing out a Pokeball.
"Roar—"
Sharpedo appeared accordingly.
It scanned fiercely, but when its gaze fell on Natsuhiko and Beedrill, its eyes contracted and immediately showed a fawning expression.
"He's yours, Sharpedo."
Natsuhiko gestured behind him to Pates, who was still bound.
Sharpedo's eyes widened, its gaze fixed on Pates.
After reconfirming, it leapt straight out.
"Great, I found another use for Sharpedo, not only as a sea transport, but also handling some bloody chores."
Sharpedo had borne too much grievance from Beedrill, which now erupted completely onto Pates, being vented.
Very soon.
Pates lost vitality.
And Natsuhiko gained a lot, not only acquiring Pates' Pokémon, but also the Pokémon from Lai Le, who Pates had killed, plus their money and Pates' eighty thousand Alliance currency bounty.
"Killing and arson bring gold, building bridges leaves no bodies, the ancients truly did not deceive me..."
After disposing of the two corpses, Natsuhiko had four more Pokeballs, along with miscellaneous valuables worth fifty thousand Alliance currency in cash and resources.
The money isn't much, because most of it is probably on a bank card, which Natsuhiko can't access.
But it's still quite much.
"How should I claim Pates' bounty?"
This is the biggest share.