Chapter Seventy-Five: The Ambush

The words that Mod spoke added a heavy weight to the atmosphere in the room. Sunny glanced at Mod, then at Saul, whose face betrayed no emotion. She wanted to say something, but sensed it wasn’t the right moment and fell silent.

Saul set aside his little yellow book and picked up his gilded pipe, taking a slow draw. The weapon shop, suddenly quiet, was filled only with the sound of Saul exhaling smoke.

Mod observed Saul’s reaction. He had been prepared for this. When he first entered the weapon shop, Saul had made him bid farewell to his past in a peculiar way—a gesture that unmistakably declared a certain attitude at the time. Still, Mod was not worried Saul would refuse him.

“I want revenge,” Mod said, summoning memories left behind by his predecessor, making the hatred and murderous intent on his face more vivid.

It was the first time Sunny saw Mod display such an expression. Her face paled slightly, her lips moved, yet she remained silent.

Saul, on the other hand, merely flicked his pipe, still withholding any response.

Mod, his eyes brimming with killing intent, spoke slowly and clearly: “Only in this way can I truly say goodbye to the past.”

Saul’s eyes narrowed as he heard this, and he casually set down his pipe. Truly say goodbye to the past…?

“So?”

“I need your help, Saul.”

Saul couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

Mod paid him no mind and continued, “The enemy is Capone Bege of the Gang. They have numbers and influence—on my own, I can’t even get close to Bege. That’s why I need your help, Saul… If it’s you, you can surely create an opportunity for me to approach him.”

“Oh? So it was the Gang behind that incident.”

Saul’s laughter faded as he listened, surprised. He’d thought it was just another pirate raid, but hadn’t expected it was the work of the underworld’s mafia—especially the dominant Gang. No wonder Mod sought his assistance.

“I’ll help you.”

The words came not from Saul, but from Sunny.

Mod glanced at the earnest expression on her face. Yet, in Mod’s view, Sunny, who rarely showed her true abilities, was unlikely to provide him any substantial help.

Saul looked at Sunny as well, his tone irritable: “I haven’t even agreed yet, and you’re already so eager.”

“You wouldn’t refuse anyway.”

“You little troublemaker…”

Saul shook his head helplessly. Indeed, he wouldn’t refuse. On one hand, just as Mod said, only by killing his enemies could he truly bid farewell to the past. On the other, he now considered Mod one of his own—what reason did he have to turn him down?

But he didn’t want Mod to develop a dependence.

After a moment’s consideration, Saul looked at Mod and said calmly, “I can help you, but how I help is for me to decide.”

“No problem!” Mod had no room to bargain; seeing Saul agree, he immediately accepted.

Saul took another draw from his pipe. Something amusing seemed to cross his mind, and a sly smile spread across his weathered face.

Mod and Sunny exchanged looks.

...........

Ten days later.

The Mad Hat Town auction house welcomed its end-of-month auction.

As the largest auction in Mad Hat Town, at least two auctions were held every month: one small-scale event in the middle of the month, and another large-scale event at the end.

Interestingly, most pirates preferred the smaller mid-month auctions. The larger end-of-month auctions were usually attended by people from the underworld.

This phenomenon had existed for a long time—not due to any deliberate guidance from the auction house, and the reasons remained unclear.

By noon, the number of ships at the dock had noticeably increased compared to the previous day. Most of the new arrivals belonged to the underworld.

Despite the growing number of anchored vessels, it still paled in comparison to previous spectacles.

By dusk, another batch of ships arrived at the docks. Since the auction was scheduled for eight in the evening, these ships likely carried the last wave of potential attendees.

Once the ships were securely moored, crowds disembarked and headed straight for the tavern district.

There was still time before the auction began; until then, taverns and restaurants were the only places to while away the hours.

The Tavern Street.

Influenced by the auction, the customer flow in the taverns had more than doubled. The street was ablaze with lights—pirates, reeking of alcohol and arm-in-arm, were everywhere, as lively as ever.

Suddenly, a commotion arose from the far end of the street.

Hearing the disturbance, the pirates turned to look, one after another showing surprise.

From the other side of the street, a procession of men in black advanced in grand formation.

Leading them was none other than Capone Bege of the Gang.

“It’s the Gang…”

The pirates eyed the imposing group and hurriedly retreated to either side of the street, hoping to avoid unnecessary conflict.

“Hmm, only this many people with the Gang this time?”

Some pirates, familiar with the Gang’s usual style, keenly noticed the difference.

In the past, whenever Bege came to Mad Hat Town, his entourage was formidable—never less than five or six hundred men, with three or four hundred as a minimum.

But this time, Bege brought fewer than a hundred followers.

Those accustomed to the Gang’s displays were taken aback.

They didn’t bother to ponder the reason, merely watched as the impressive-looking Bege led his men down the street.

Their swagger made it seem as if the street were their own private corridor.

Wherever they passed, pirates automatically yielded, making way for the Gang.

No fool dared to block their procession.

If anyone did, it would only be some drunken wretch, unable to control himself.

But the Gang didn’t care whether you were drunk or sober—if you blocked their path, leaving your corpse intact was already a mercy.

Among the crowd lining the street, Lafitte tapped his toes on the ground, pressed a finger to the brim of his hat, and silently observed the Gang’s procession.

His gaze at Bege harbored a hint of killing intent.

“Capone Bege of the Gang.”

Lafitte’s crimson lips pursed as his eyes swept over the gang members behind Bege, hesitating slightly.

Previously, when Bege went out, he was always accompanied by hundreds of followers.

Now, their numbers had dwindled to seventy or eighty.

This was undeniably a good opportunity for slaughter.

Yet, as Lafitte leaned towards action, a sudden sense of danger halted him.

His intuition made him restrain his impulse.

On the street, only the sound of the Gang’s footsteps remained.

Everyone stood still, patiently waiting for the Gang to pass.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, a young man with a black-and-red long sword at his waist stepped into the center of the street, facing the oncoming Gang.

His abrupt move drew many eyes.

In the crowd, Lafitte watched the youth, a sudden gleam flashing in his eyes.

A pirate recognized the youth and shouted, “That’s Usopp!”

After calling out, the pirate quickly covered his mouth, glancing nervously around—yet no one paid him any mind.

Everyone, including the Gang, was focused on the youth.

“Usopp?”

Bege stared coldly at the youth called Usopp—a name that had never left an impression in his mind.

Unremarkable, then.

But the newcomer’s intentions were hostile.

Bege sensed the undisguised killing intent radiating from Mod, but did not slow his pace.

Crash!

Without needing Bege’s orders, a gang member suddenly raised his pistol, aiming it at Mod.

That guy is done for…

Watching this, the pirates on either side of the street could already envision Mod’s fate.

But then, Mod’s face broke into a smile.

He’s smiling?

Many pirates were stunned.

Suddenly, a faint whistling sound came from above.

Before the gunshot was heard, a spray of blood burst from the gang member’s temple—he was killed instantly by a bullet.

“Huh?!?”

The sudden turn of events shocked everyone.

What just happened?

Meanwhile, Mod slowly drew his Raven blade.

He had spent considerable effort persuading Saul to let him bring his sword tonight.