One Piece: Scourge of the Seas

The muzzle of the gun swiftly pointed toward the figure.

Before catching a clear view of the face, Maude decisively pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The lead bullet shot straight for the figure's forehead.

The figure hadn't expected Maude to be so ruthless, offering no room for dialogue before firing.

Despite the sudden situation, the figure relied on an extraordinary sense of danger and reaction speed, leaning back sharply to narrowly avoid the bullet aimed at their brow.

Even so, cold sweat drenched the figure's back from the close call.

"You son of a—!!!"

The figure turned out to be Wolfrat, who had stepped out of the bar upon hearing the commotion.

Initially just a bystander, Wolfrat had nearly been shot, and his anger erupted.

Bang!

Another lead bullet shot out, aimed straight for Wolfrat's torso.

This time, it came as Wolfrat was just steadying himself.

Luckily, as a Zoan Devil Fruit user, his robust physique allowed him to twist his body forcefully.

Still, it wasn't enough. After missing the first shot, Maude had adjusted his aim to target the larger area of Wolfrat's body with the second shot.

The second bullet struck Wolfrat's left abdomen, spraying a mist of blood.

"Damn you! I was just watching! Was that necessary?!"

Clutching his bleeding stomach, Wolfrat stared incredulously at the masked Maude.

If it weren't for recognizing Maude by scent, Wolfrat wouldn't have wasted words. He'd have attacked first and asked questions later.

Maude, his face impassive, looked at the completely unfamiliar Wolfrat.

Discarding the two flintlock pistols he had scavenged from a nearby target, Maude crouched down and pulled a dagger from the back of a fallen swordsman's waist.

"Misfire."

With a hoarse voice, Maude offered a perfunctory explanation, slowly retreating.

"Misfire?"

Wolfrat laughed angrily.

Had he not instinctively partially transformed his abdomen to increase its defense...

That shot, at such close range, would have caused serious damage.

"You're really something."

Wolfrat gave Maude a complicated look as he fully transformed into his hybrid human-beast form, using his clawed fingers to dig out the embedded bullet and hold it between his fingertips.

The transformation wasn't meant as a prelude to attack. It was to accelerate his body's natural recovery and suppress the pain.

"A Zoan Devil Fruit user…"

Watching Wolfrat's sudden transformation, Maude grew wary. Yet as he observed Wolfrat's visibly bulging physique, his eyes gleamed with a trace of longing.

However, all five guns on-site were empty, leaving no chance to reload.

Without his firearms, Maude didn't believe he could subdue a Zoan user with just a dagger.

In other words, it wasn't the right time—retreat was the best choice.

"What's with that look?!"

Wolfrat shivered under Maude's intense gaze.

Was it the beastly transformation affecting his mindset, or something else entirely? For a brief moment, he felt as if he were being regarded as prey.

Maude said nothing, continuing his slow retreat while keeping his eyes locked on Wolfrat.

Wolfrat took a deep breath, grimacing as the motion pulled at his wound.

Suppressing his fury, Wolfrat softened his expression as much as possible.

"It's my fault for speaking behind your back. I don't blame you—I bear no malice."

"..."

Maude paused mid-step, looking at Wolfrat in confusion.

Noticing Maude's hesitation, Wolfrat's spirits lifted.

He truly bore no ill intent. Speaking from behind Maude earlier had been an ingrained bad habit.

In any case, Maude's pause signaled a good start.

Now, Wolfrat had to seize the chance to form a connection. If they could become friends, so much the better!

"I really mean no harm. This form isn't for fighting, just for healing faster.

"Also, I'm not saying this to make you responsible or anything.

"After all, shooting was the right decision. Anyone would have done the same in that situation.

"So, I'm not mad—really. Actually, seeing your skills has me in awe. You know, the kind of admiration one feels for the strong.

"I think I'm already admiring you. So... how about we get to know each other…?"

Wolfrat raised his hands high, only to watch as Maude, not giving him a chance to finish, swiftly vanished into the alley's shadows.

The chilly night wind swept through, stirring scattered scraps of paper that swirled past Wolfrat's frozen face.

As it turned out, Maude hadn't paused to listen to Wolfrat's words. He had stopped only to retrieve the discarded flintlocks before leaving.

"You son of a—!!!"

Wolfrat was both furious and aggrieved.

Wasn't he the one injured?

Why was Maude the one running?

Was listening to him so hard?

Tatam, who had silently approached from the bar entrance, looked at the fuming Wolfrat.

"Not going after him?"

"Chase him? Are you kidding me?"

Wolfrat shot Tatam a disgruntled look.

"That's not like you."

Tatam's voice was tinged with curiosity.

Wolfrat sighed. "That guy is the very culprit the Redhorn Pirates are hunting. Do you think I'd dare pursue him? Even if he shot me again, I'd have to grin and bear it."

"..."

Tatam fell silent, contemplating his friend's uncharacteristic behavior.

Though he wanted to comment on Wolfrat's overly conciliatory demeanor, he ultimately decided against it.

Wolfrat glanced down at his wound, gritting his teeth.

"But damn, that guy's ruthless! Tatam, you know what he did? I just made a sound behind him, and he shot at my head without hesitation!"

"..."

Tatam nodded in agreement.

Such ruthlessness was rare.

But it was people like that who tended to survive the longest.

"Damn it. If I hadn't reacted fast enough, I'd be done for."

The more Wolfrat thought about it, the more rattled he felt.

"Forget it. Let's head back for another drink. Wait, hold on."

Wolfrat's eyes fell on the three lifeless pirates on the ground.

Moments later, he retrieved a coin pouch from one of the corpses.

"That's better."

Fiddling with the pouch, Wolfrat let out a long sigh of relief.

"You're regressing, Wolfrat."

A sudden female voice echoed down the alley.

It was not Tatam's youthful tone but a more mature and commanding one.

Startled, Wolfrat sprang up, eyes wide in shock as he turned toward the voice.

Tatam, still at the bar entrance, tensed and assumed a combat stance.

Neither had noticed the third person at the scene until now.

A woman in a hooded cloak stood in the shadows, her long blade strapped to her waist. Her tall, slender frame exuded an undeniable aura of strength.

Tatam, despite his years in Mad Hat Town, had never encountered such a presence before. He remained on high alert.

But Wolfrat seemed to recognize her.

"You… What are you doing here?!"

"When did you get to decide that?"

The woman tilted her head slightly, revealing a beauty mark beneath her chin.

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