Chapter Forty-One: Boss Abbey (Extra Chapter)

With Mod’s two calls, the hall once again fell into absolute silence.

Around them, pirates who had no stake in the matter sensed danger in the air. If not for the Snail Pirates blocking the main entrance, most would have slipped away already. The manager of the Battleaxe Tavern, seasoned and prudent, signaled his staff to retreat to the relative safety of the bar counter.

Kazte was the first to regain his composure. His gaze, still brimming with murderous intent, shifted from Mod, swept past Ratwolf, and finally settled on Ibe’s face.

With Mod’s manner of addressing Ibe and Ratwolf, coupled with their positions in the room, the tangled questions in Kazte’s mind suddenly unraveled, becoming a straight line of clarity.

Why would Mod, who had no grievance against the navigator, take his life?

Why did the cautious Lagron, after confronting Ratwolf, end up shot dead that very night?

And why did Ibe, Mod, and Ratwolf know each other?

Before this assassination began, Kazte was certain that the Snail Pirates had never crossed paths with Mod and Ratwolf—let alone had any feud.

So what motive could Mod have, someone with no connection or animosity, to murder the navigator? It made no sense.

But if Ibe, as a competitor, had interfered…

Then motive and reason, however tenuous, began to take shape.

Kazte’s gaze toward Ibe was now filled with hostility.

Little did he know, Mod possessed an ability called Hunter’s Notebook.

He knew even less that Mod’s real target was Red, and that the navigator so important to the Snail Pirates merely ended up an unlucky casualty.

Seeing Kazte’s attention shift to Ibe, Mod calmly pondered his next move.

When Kazte’s murderous intent focused on him, Mod responded almost instantly, putting Ibe—who happened to be at hand—in harm’s way as a shield.

As for Ratwolf, he was merely caught up in the momentum.

If only Mod knew the names of the pirate brothers seated nearby, he’d have no qualms about dragging them into the fray with another shout.

This act of pulling others down with him subtly linked disparate threads, resulting in such a dramatic scene.

He had no idea what role Ratwolf played in this affair, yet that impulsive address—“Brother Ratwolf”—was the final straw that broke Kazte’s line of reasoning.

No wonder Ratwolf, who knew the truth, cursed Mod inwardly.

Truly ruthless.

Still, Mod didn’t believe that just two well-timed calls would be enough to create an escape opportunity.

He needed to see how Ibe would react before making his move.

Ideally, Ibe and Kazte would fight, giving Mod a chance to slip away.

If not, he’d have to fight desperately.

The intense sense of danger only made Mod more composed.

Ibe met Kazte’s hostile, murderous gaze.

She didn’t know what had happened, but she wasn’t foolish.

She instantly understood the sinister intent of the stranger behind her: he was using her as a shield.

What astonished her, however, was how Kazte, that bull-headed brute, fell into the trap without a second thought.

As a rival, she liked to call Kazte a dumb ox, but she knew he was far from stupid.

She had no interest in probing the reason further.

She was simply displeased with Mod’s act of using her as a shield.

But in truth, if she hadn’t tried to approach Mod herself, he’d never have had the chance to use her so.

Swish—

Without a word, Ibe drew her rapier.

She spun, thrusting straight.

Her movement was precise, cold, and brimming with murderous intent.

The needle-thin blade flashed like a stream of light toward Mod’s heart.

She cared nothing for the enmity between Kazte and Mod.

Nor did she bother to explain herself to Kazte.

Killing Mod with a single thrust was all she wanted.

“Ruthless.”

Faced with this sudden attack, Mod pushed off the ground with his right foot, using the explosive force to spring backward, barely evading the strike.

Ibe’s thrust was swift, savage, and utterly without warning.

Had Mod not hunted Fishman Sam last night,

Had he not constantly watched Ibe’s movements,

He would surely have fallen.

Ibe’s attack caught Kazte, Ratwolf, and the others completely off guard.

It was too sudden.

But what stunned them even more was Mod’s ability to dodge such a swift, unexpected thrust.

After all, Ibe’s 38 million bounty was largely due to her lightning-fast attacks.

“He actually dodged it?”

Ibe stared in astonishment as Mod retreated.

Was it because her turn slowed the thrust, giving Mod a chance to evade?

Mod cared little for such details; as he widened the gap, his face grew mournful.

“Sister Ibe, you promised that if Ratwolf and I each took down a Snail Pirate, you’d allow us to join your crew. We did it! But instead of accepting us, you try to kill me now that the Snail Pirates have come knocking!”

His tone brimmed with despair, like a general whose feats went unrecognized.

Hearing Mod drag him into it again, Ratwolf’s lips twitched violently.

He finally understood.

This fellow was pure trouble—a curse to anyone who crossed him!

Yet he had no choice but to get involved.

Dragged down already… For the sake of finishing the mission quickly!

Ratwolf steeled himself, and, as if recalling a painful memory, burst into tears.

With streaming tears and snot, he wailed, “That’s right, Sister Ibe! We admire you so much, even willing to risk our lives for you, but you… why treat us this way?!”

His heartbroken display made the surrounding pirates look at Ibe with a hint of suspicion.

Betrayal and abandonment were common in pirate circles, but to use someone and discard them so quickly was still despicable.

Seeing Ratwolf’s wholehearted cooperation, Mod was secretly impressed.

Feeling the strange looks from the crowd, Ibe’s eyes twitched incessantly.

At the doorway, Kazte had already activated his ability, transforming into his beast form.

He stared furiously at Ibe, enunciating each word.

“Very good! Newtman Ibe!”

With Kazte’s gritted declaration, the tavern was instantly tense—violence poised to erupt.

Unrelated to the matter, Ibe took a deep breath.

Dragged into this mess, she felt neither innocent nor aggrieved.

Ignoring Kazte’s furious glare, she focused on Mod, lips curling into a dangerous smile.

“Little brother, you’ve piqued my interest. Isn’t it only fair you tell me your name?”

“Sister Ibe, please, give Ratwolf and me another chance!”

“….”

“Sister Ibe, please, give Usopp and me another chance!”

Having been named several times, Ratwolf seized the opportunity for payback and threw Mod’s name into the plea.

“Hm?”

Ibe smiled.

“Usopp, is it? Little brother…”

She looked at Mod, her tongue tracing her lips.