Chapter Sixty-Three: Rising Fame

Perhaps it was out of gratitude for being fed so well by Maud. Last night, those ravenous pirates, now indulging themselves at the tavern, nearly exalted the name Usopp to the heavens.

Rumor had it that Usopp single-handedly wiped out the gunner squad of the Sharp Bull Pirates with a single shot, and that he boarded their ship alone, slaying Kazte with just one stroke of his blade. These embellished tales, after all, originated from their lips.

They reasoned that Maud had dared to go alone to the ship and eliminate Kazte and the others, yet cared nothing for the Sharp Bull Pirates' wealth. There could only be one reason for such boldness—fame.

Thus, after they had eaten and drunk their fill, these wolfish pirates took it upon themselves to spread word of Maud, claiming it was for mutual benefit. They even convinced themselves: the money is ours, the deed is done, so let him not trouble us again.

Thanks to their efforts, the name Usopp, which Maud had casually given, became a hot topic within just half a day. Even the recently quietened incident at the Battleaxe Tavern was revived in conversation. In this remote corner of the world, the name Usopp soon overshadowed even the rising star Ace.

All of this was completely unknown to Maud, who had been officially confined.

“Usopp? Never heard of him. Just an obscure fellow, and he killed Kazte with a single stroke?” In the tavern, a burly, bearded man looked astounded, unaware of the Battleaxe Tavern affair.

A pirate at the next table overheard and interjected, “Even if Kazte was wounded, he shouldn’t have been finished off so easily. Still, the Sharp Bull Pirates did fall to this Usopp fellow.”

“Who is this Usopp, really?” The bearded man’s shock deepened at the neighbor's words. Once suppressed by the Sharp Bull Pirates himself, he knew their strength well.

Though their ordinary crew was unimpressive, those like Raglan and Gabton, with bounties near twenty million, were formidable. Not to mention Captain Kazte, whom even renowned West Sea Navy captains could not handle.

Yet such a pirate crew was destroyed by a previously unknown young man.

The pirate at the next table drained his drink, then said in a low voice, “Every year, a few notable figures suddenly emerge. Before they become famous, no one knows their origins; after, it hardly matters. Take Portgas Ace, who’s been making waves lately—wasn’t it the same for him?”

The bearded man fell silent. Indeed, it was much the same every year. Some harnessed their rising fame, while others were drowned by the tidal wave it brought.

...

Mad Hat Town dock, aboard a certain pirate ship.

Within the captain’s quarters, a greasy-haired, narrow-eyed man reclined in a plush chair, his legs propped atop a table piled high with jewels and gold.

“I only heard a few days ago that Kazte was wounded, and now he’s dead,” the man suddenly leaned forward, his cold gaze reflected in the wealth before him. “Kazte, oh Kazte, I was hoping for another chance to work with you.”

“But who would have thought you’d fall to a newcomer?”

“Usopp, huh… Looks like I need to pay attention.”

He slowly closed his eyes, savoring the lingering pleasure from a recent raid on the Bolkin armed merchant ship. If another opportunity arose, he would seize such a prized quarry again, no matter what.

“Captain Dennis, something’s wrong!”

Suddenly, the door was slammed open and a subordinate rushed in, flustered.

Dennis snapped open his narrow eyes, his expression cold as he wordlessly drew his pistol and pulled the trigger.

Bang—

The lead bullet flew past his subordinate, punching a hole in the wall.

Dennis growled, “If you do that again, I’ll shoot you.”

“Yes, yes…!” The subordinate, drenched in sweat, steadied himself and stammered, “C-captain Dennis, La… Lafitte… Lafitte is aboard!”

“You can’t even speak properly—what use are you?” Dennis scowled, restraining his urge to shoot the man.

“It's… it's just that…” The subordinate tried to explain, but was interrupted by rhythmic tapping from behind.

He realized instantly that Lafitte had arrived, terror spreading across his face.

"So soon..."

A thin red line appeared on his neck, his thoughts ending abruptly.

Hiss…

His head, full of fear and confusion, dropped to the floor.

With a dull thud, it rolled forward, trailing a vivid, glaring streak of blood.

Lafitte lifted his cane and gently nudged the headless corpse aside, which toppled to the floor.

Then Lafitte’s blood-red lips curved into a slight smile as he regarded Captain Dennis, who sprang to his feet.

“I’ve heard your name often—Dennis the Greasy, with a bounty of thirty-six million.”

With that, Lafitte bowed slightly to the dumbfounded Dennis.

Dennis reached behind him, gripping his sword’s hilt, eyeing Lafitte coldly.

“So it’s you.”

Glancing at the corpse of his decapitated subordinate, Dennis’s face grew grim. “There’s no grudge between us.”

“Indeed,” Lafitte nodded.

Dennis’s expression darkened further. “Then what… are you after?”

Lafitte smiled, “Mindless slaughter is the very essence of violence. Isn’t that what people like us have always done?”

“You…!” Dennis abruptly drew his blade.

He suddenly realized Lafitte possessed a truly terrifying quality.

Seeing Dennis draw his sword, Lafitte calmly raised his cane before him. “That’s more like it.”

Five minutes later.

Lafitte sat atop Dennis’s blood-drenched corpse. Blood flowed beneath Dennis, pooling around Lafitte’s black leather shoes.

“You agree, don’t you? Usopp…”

A hopeful look flickered in Lafitte’s eyes.

After muttering to himself, he rose, stepping over the blood-soaked floor toward the door, leaving a trail of bloody footprints.

Throughout, Lafitte never spared a glance at the treasures scattered across the table.

As he departed Dennis's pirate ship, time resumed on the deck.

Dennis’s bewildered subordinates finally snapped back to reality.

Upon discovering Dennis dead in the captain’s quarters, a new round of power struggle erupted aboard.

...

Three days later.

On a calm sea, two warships lay anchored.

Atop the mast in the lookout post, several marines peered through telescopes, scanning the distant waters.

Suddenly, one marine spotted their target—the Sharp Bull Pirates.

“Colonel Robbie, target spotted at nine o’clock!”