Chapter Forty-Two: The Madwoman

The situation was growing more dire by the moment.

Watching Kazt and Elbe on the verge of clashing, the pirates in the tavern who had nothing to do with the matter were growing restless. They wanted to leave, but all they could do was stare longingly at the main entrance, blocked by members of the Spiked Snail Pirates.

With the door blocked, there was simply no way out. They couldn’t very well ask those already on the brink of an outburst—Kazt and the others—to kindly step aside, could they? Even if it were possible, who would speak up?

There was, of course, another exit: the passage to the kitchen beside the bar, which probably led to a back door. But to reach it, one would have to cross the very point where Kazt’s and Elbe’s paths and gazes intersected.

And so, the question arose again: who would make the first move?

No one volunteered, so the bystanders pressed themselves as close to the walls as possible, hoping to avoid being caught in the crossfire. If neither the main door nor the back door proved an option, breaking through the wall was all that remained.

The tavern’s walls, though sturdier than ordinary planks, were still wooden. Breaking through wouldn’t be too difficult.

Coincidentally, Mod’s thoughts ran parallel to those of the other pirates; he showed no awareness of being the one who had started it all. Breaking through the wall was one of his backup plans.

As for the kitchen passage, which was closer, he had no intention of using it. Not because he feared accidentally hurting the tavern’s staff, but because he didn’t want to invite trouble from those behind Mad Hatter Town.

“Are they really about to fight?” Mod kept one eye on Elbe, the other watching Kazt and his gang at the entrance, as well as the dozen or so brawny pirates who had come with Elbe.

Compared to the furious Kazt, Mod found Elbe even more dangerous. That sword thrust, so sudden and merciless, had given him a new understanding of her ruthlessness.

He had no choice but to use someone so unhinged as a shield.

Elbe smiled at Mod like a blooming flower, as if she could read his thoughts. Her lips curved, but her eyes held nothing but icy murderous intent.

With her back to Kazt and his men, she gripped her rapier in her right hand and raised her left. With a sudden snap of her fingers, a crisp sound rang out, sharp and clear in the tense air.

At her signal, her followers drew their blades, paying no heed to the skunk cowering under a table, and moved to form up around Elbe.

A mere pet was not worth their distraction at such a moment.

Kazt’s group, for their part, had already drawn their weapons when Kazt entered his beastly form. Led by Weirs, the Spiked Snail Pirates’ officer, several aimed their guns squarely at Elbe’s crew.

Every pirate crew kept skilled marksmen among their ranks, and the Spiked Snail Pirates were no exception. Elbe’s followers, in contrast, carried only cold steel.

In this close-quarters environment, Kazt’s crew had the clear advantage in both numbers and firepower.

The tension in the room was like a taut bowstring, stretched to its limit.

Battle was about to erupt.

Sewer Rat, sensing disaster, instantly stifled his emotions. In this calm before the storm, he had no wish to draw either group’s attention with his professional-level weeping.

He quietly edged closer to Mod, careful to remain just outside Elbe’s range, but not so far as to be unable to help Mod at a moment’s notice.

“Why do I have to do this?” Sewer Rat felt both aggrieved and helpless. After all that crying, if Mod didn’t get out alive, he’d have shed those tears for nothing and invited trouble besides.

So, uncomfortable as if he’d swallowed something vile, he forced himself to stick to Mod’s escape plan—for the sake of completing the mission as quickly as possible.

Or so he reminded himself.

Mod had no time to appreciate Sewer Rat’s “good intentions.” After Elbe snapped her fingers, he couldn’t even spare a glance for Kazt’s group.

Because, even with the pressure Kazt’s crew was putting on her, Elbe seemed utterly unconcerned; her eyes were fixed solely on Mod.

“Boss Elbe, focusing on me won’t help your men. If you don’t pay attention, they’ll die even faster,” Mod warned her, his words cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

“I think so too, Usopp,” Elbe replied, her smile growing all the more enchanting, her sword arm swelling with power.

“But you’re the one who provoked me, aren’t you?”

Before the words had even finished leaving her lips, Elbe lunged, her rapier flashing like a stream of light as she struck at Mod once more.

Resonant Echo: Triple Fold.

Her slender blade sliced the air, humming with a bee-like vibration. The sword’s light split into three, aimed at Mod’s throat, chest, and abdomen.

“This crazy woman…”

The pressure of her attack made Mod’s face pale. He twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the thrusts.

The three sword-lights passed in a blur, leaving only afterimages.

Rip—!

His shirt split open at the chest and navel, the cuts close enough to draw blood had they gone any deeper.

Maintaining his sidestep, Mod drew his flintlock and fired at Elbe’s face without hesitation.

Bang!

The lead bullet shot straight through a fading afterimage, striking a hapless pirate behind. Elbe’s speed astonished Mod—she truly lived up to the 38-million bounty on her head in the West Blue.

Realizing he couldn’t get the better of her with his current strength, Mod quickly changed tactics. As he retreated, he holstered the flintlock.

He wouldn’t use the other, already loaded pistol lightly.

Now he had no bandwidth to worry about any other threat; he would focus all his efforts on defense.

As long as he kept Elbe occupied, Kazt’s group would wipe out her followers in short order. The longer this dragged on, the worse things would be for Elbe.

At that point, even if Kazt realized Elbe was willing to sacrifice her men just to kill Mod, he’d likely decide to eliminate her as well.

He had to force Elbe to give up her attack.

In a flash, Mod’s thoughts crystallized, his focus on Elbe sharpening to its utmost.

Heart’s Drop: Listening Fist.

With that focus, he used a technique akin to the initial stage of Observation Haki. His gaze locked on Elbe.

The flow of killing intent, the tremor of her limbs, the trajectory of her sword—all of it fell into Mod’s awareness in an instant.

Just as Elbe saw only Mod, so now Mod saw only Elbe and her blade.

He had no other choice.

Because, to use Heart’s Drop: Listening Fist, all his attention had to be directed at a single target.

Elbe sensed something at once. For a fleeting moment, it felt as if Mod could see right through her.

But she didn’t dwell on it. She drove her rapier forward, unleashing a relentless triple thrust: Resonant Echo: Triple Fold.

The ability to unleash a seamless stream of rapid strikes was her true trump card.

Intent on finishing Mod quickly, she showed not the slightest hesitation.

A storm of furious sword blows enveloped Mod.

But he twisted and dodged within the storm, evading every thrust.

In just a few seconds, Elbe’s dozen attacks all missed their mark.

Her expression shifted.

Not far away, Sewer Rat looked on in shock.

He’d been bracing to step in and help Mod, but he hadn’t expected Elbe’s sword to be so fast and fierce. All he could do was watch as her attacks wove a net around Mod.

In that instant, Sewer Rat seemed to foresee Mod being riddled with wounds.

But what unfolded before his eyes was Mod moving with perfect composure, meeting every attack.

“Paper Art? No, that’s not it…”

“And this bastard was hiding his strength all along!”

The thought of having to cozy up to someone like that sent a chill down Sewer Rat’s spine, even as he hid in the shadows.

Why did it feel as though he was the one being hunted?