Chapter 3

Eustass Kidd.

In the original work, he is known as one of the Worst Generation alongside Luffy, Zoro, and other Supernova pirates, and is also a ruthless killer who doesn't blink at taking lives.

Mord habitually considers Kidd as a potential target, but he wouldn't recklessly court death just because of it.

If the conditions allow, he would certainly collect Kidd's experience points neatly.

However, if the conditions do not permit, he wouldn't easily take risks.

Not to mention, he is currently just a weakling.

"The world of the Pirate King..."

Mord retracted his gaze, lowering his head to hide the unusual look in his eyes.

Seeing the young Kidd here was truly unexpected, like a trigger that brought forth the buried memories of the Pirate King.

These memories would become important intelligence in the Hunter's Notebook, capable of being converted into experience points in the future.

Mord and Sunny's arrival brought a temporary respite to the tense standoff.

Kidd glanced at Mord, who was looking down silently, not knowing that this seemingly frail person had already marked him as a potential hunting target.

If he knew, he would probably just sneer.

Without paying much attention to Mord, Kidd turned to Sol and cursed rudely, "Tsk, where did you find another free laborer? I wonder how he'll die this time? I bet he'll be hacked to death and end up as a worthless lump of meat on the street."

"Ha, Mad Hat Town isn't short of 'undertakers.' With them around, even if this kid is chopped into dozens of pieces, they can still extract something of value from it. So, as long as he dies meaningfully, it doesn't matter if I don't get any benefit from it."

Sol, whose face was etched with the marks of time, shook his gilded pipe, letting the ashes fall to the ground casually.

"Speaking of laborers, I have high hopes for you. How about this, Kidd? If you're willing to work for me, I'll not only get you Kenu's sidearm, but even Salaman's dagger. I can also supply you with the finest wine from the West Sea on a long-term basis."

"Get lost!"

Kidd coldly said, "I won't be anyone's subordinate."

"Pity, pity."

Sol shook his head, feigning regret.

Their conversation, which seemed to ignore everyone else, provided Mord with some useful information.

Mad Hat Town?

West Sea?

A place where people can kill on the streets, and the gunshots just now.

This place is likely a lawless black zone where pirates gather.

Thinking of this, Mord subtly glanced at the shelves inside the store, which were filled with weapons.

This is a weapon shop.

And Sol, who looks like the owner, seems to have a unique insistence on the "value theory."

Mord thought silently to himself.

As a newcomer, he could only be cautious in his words and actions.

Noticing Mord's calmness, a glint appeared in Sol's eyes.

Then, he jumped off the stool and walked out from behind the counter.

It was only then that Mord realized Sol's height was less than a meter.

Glancing at the counter, which was over 1.5 meters high, Mord could guess that Sol had been standing on a stool to be at eye level with Kidd.

After a verbal sparring match with Sol, Kidd's patience was almost worn out.

He looked at Sol, who had stepped out from behind the counter, and asked coldly, "Are you selling that gun or not?"

Sol glanced at the bag of Beli in Kidd's hand and asked, "Where did you get the money?"

Kidd's forehead veins bulged as he angrily said, "It's none of your business where I got the money. Are you selling it or not?"

If he didn't know that Sol wasn't an ordinary person, he wouldn't be wasting his time here.

Sol, seemingly oblivious to Kidd's impending rage, took a leisurely puff of his pipe and said calmly, "Didn't I just say that I would rather dismantle Kenu's sidearm and throw it into the landfill than sell it to you?"

Kidd's veins bulged even more as he glared and said, "Then throw it!"

Knock, knock.

Sol tapped his pipe against the counter and said, "I'll do it on a good day."

"Old man!!!"

Kidd struggled to suppress his anger.

In stark contrast, Sol looked as calm as a breeze.

Seeing this, Mord immediately realized that Sol was not as weak as he appeared.

After all, to make the hot-tempered Kidd, who would attack at the slightest provocation, suppress his emotions, Sol must be a formidable person.

Mord observed quietly and could faintly sense the helplessness coming from Sunny beside him.

In Sunny's view, although Sol was a money lover, he wasn't the type to bow and scrape for money. He also hated people who lacked manners.

Therefore, as long as one was polite, Kenu's sidearm, which wasn't an unsellable item, would be sold if the price was right.

Kidd, who clearly understood this, didn't show any restraint, leading to this farce where the customer wants to buy but the owner refuses to sell.

What Sunny found most incomprehensible was that Sol, who didn't believe in the principle of "harmony brings wealth," could tolerate Kidd's attitude multiple times.

It was unclear what Sol saw in Kidd.

Unable to gain any advantage from Sol, Kidd, unwilling to stay and suffer, picked up the bag of money and turned to leave through the open wooden door.

"Goodbye."

Sol watched Kidd's back, his tone indifferent.

Kidd didn't look back.

He took a few steps to the door and suddenly stopped.

Bang—

The single wooden door on the other side of the door was suddenly kicked open by a man with a machete.

The wooden door slammed heavily against the wall, almost falling apart.

The man was covered in blood, exuding a lingering aura of killing, clearly having just killed many people.

He stepped into the store and immediately saw the bulging bag in Kidd's hand, his cold killing intent turning into a gnashing of teeth.

"Brat, I had a hard time finding you."

"Who are you, a stray dog?"

Kidd looked at the man coldly, his thin lips curling slightly.

At the counter, Sol squinted his eyes, first looking at the right wooden door that Kidd had kicked earlier, then at the left wooden door that the man with the machete had just kicked.

Seems he's addicted to kicking doors.

Sol's old face was full of frost.

The man with the machete had only eyes for Kidd, completely ignoring the others, and glared at Kidd with his machete, "I'm worth 11 million Beli, known as the Executioner—"

"Smack!"

Before the man with the machete could finish his well-rehearsed introduction, he was slapped unconscious by Sol, who had appeared behind him.

Kidd's pupils instantly constricted. He was the closest to the man with the machete but couldn't clearly see Sol's movements.

This old man... is indeed not to be trifled with.

Sol landed lightly.

Given his height, he would have only hit the man's knees if he hadn't jumped.

After landing, Sol didn't look at the unconscious man but turned to Kidd, who was standing still, and said calmly, "What? Want to stay for dinner?"

Kidd's cheeks twitched, and he left without looking back.

Watching Kidd leave, Sol directly closed the store door, which was not far from retirement.

Sunny came to Sol's back and said softly, "I think you're being a bit too 'friendly' to Kidd."

"Friendly?"

Sol turned to look at Sunny and smiled, "How about using 'favoritism' instead? It might be more fitting."

"Um." Sunny nodded, picking up valuables from the unconscious man and said again, "I think you're being a bit too 'favorable' to Kidd."

"Ha ha."

Sol put away his gilded pipe, picked up the bloody machete that had fallen to the ground, and said, "This world is black and white, there's no such thing as fairness. I favor him because he has the value that makes me favor him."

By the time he finished speaking, Sol had already cleaned the machete and placed it on one of the shelves, turning it into a product for sale.

Watching the two of them skillfully communicate and collect valuables, Mord was speechless.

After placing the machete, Sol walked to the man and kicked his forehead, saying regretfully, "This guy's head is worth some money, but it can't be used to exchange for money. By the way, what's his name?"

"He is Evan Vater, the captain of the Ghost Blade Pirate Group, known as the Executioner. He is a well-known knife expert in the West Sea with a bounty of 11 million Beli."

Sunny placed the valuables she had collected on the counter. As a somewhat incompetent information provider in Mad Hat Town, she kindly completed the introduction that the pirate had been interrupted by Sol.

"Oh."

Sol rubbed his chin and suddenly looked at the low-key and silent Mord.

"You, come here."

Mord, seeing Sol point at him, walked to Sol without a word.

Sol patted Mord's knee and raised an eyebrow, "Can't you show some respect to an old man? Do I have to remind you to sit down?"

Mord's lips twitched, instantly understanding, and immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, successfully sitting at the same level as Sol.

With their eye levels finally equal, Sol nodded in satisfaction and closely examined Mord.

From the first impression, he was more satisfied with Mord's calmness, which was not a common trait.

"What's your name?"

"Bacardi Mord."

This was the signature on the photo, and since the name matched, it saved Mord the trouble of thinking.

"This surname..."

Sol muttered, habitually looking at the small information provider, Sunny.

Sunny reminded him, "Sells alcohol."

Sol suddenly recalled, "Oh! I remember now. His rum is quite good, and it seems they were recently reported in the newspaper. Their armed merchant ship was plundered by a pirate group, and not a single person, including the head of the family, survived."

Sunny nodded, "Yes."

"Hmm, that's interesting."

Sol turned to Mord, his eyes slowly narrowing.

After a moment, without waiting for Mord to react, Sol suddenly took out a small, fruit knife-like short knife and smiled, handing it to Mord.

"Consider it a farewell to the past. Kill this guy named Vater."

"No problem!"

Mord's eyes narrowed and widened, almost without hesitation, and took the short knife from Sol.

His face remained calm, but he was inwardly delighted.

This is a great opportunity.

Mord looked at the unconscious Vater.

I will remember you, the Executioner with a bounty of 11 million Beli, Evan Vater.

Mord paid his respects in his heart.

Seeing Mord's obedient and straightforward response, Sol was even more satisfied.

Then, Mord said, "I want to go to the bathroom first."

"..." Sol.

"..." Sunny.