The Hunter of Pirates

"Chidori..."

Mobin studied the long blade lying on the table.

The hilt bore a row of diamond-shaped patterns, while the scabbard was a deep, ghostly blue, sleek and textured. White, irregular markings were scattered across its length, creating an intricate interplay of blue and white that exuded a mysterious aura at first glance.

After observing it for a while, Mobin couldn't help but grow curious about the blade inside the scabbard.

In contrast, Sunny showed no interest in the weapon. She was focused entirely on finishing her meal, not letting even a stray green onion escape her bowl.

Sol, slurping up a mouthful of noodles, glanced at Morin.

"What? Want to test the feel of it?"

Mobin instinctively nodded. "Yeah, it looks impressive. I wonder how it feels to hold."

"Haha, you can find out by trying it."

Sol, with one hand free, picked up the Chidori and handed it over.

Delighted, Mobin reached out eagerly to take it.

But just as his hand was about to grasp the sword, Sol's expression suddenly turned serious. He flipped the blade and used the scabbard like a stick to rap Morin's forehead.

"Focus, boy! You haven't even mastered guns yet, and now you're itching to handle swords?"

"..."

Rubbing his forehead, Mobin stared speechlessly at Sol, whose expression had shifted from jovial to stern in an instant.

It's just a sword—was that necessary?

Knowing how particular Sol was about these things, Mobin didn't bother arguing.

He'd been thinking about writing his second request to the notebook that night, and Sol's return with the auctioned sword, Chidori, had fueled his curiosity even more.

He had really wanted to experience firsthand what made a famous sword in this world so special.

But Sol wouldn't even let him touch it.

For someone who claimed to loathe all things sword-related, Sol sure was passionate about collecting famous blades.

What's even going on in that old man's head?

Mobin glanced at the Chidori on the table, feeling regretful.

But then it struck him that Sol would place the sword on display in the shop, and he usually left early every morning for training.

Pulling his gaze away, Mobin began plotting in silence.

Meanwhile, Sol gave him a meaningful look as if to say: Don't even think about it, kid.

The next morning.

A light mist lingered, and the air was thick with salty moisture.

Mobin woke up, strapped on his weighted gear, and immediately headed to the shop.

"It's not here?"

"What do you mean it's not here?!"

Seeing the same unchanged shelves as the day before, Morin's expectations came crashing down.

Hearing his voice, Sunny came out from the hallway, looking puzzled.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

Mobin brushed her off.

Sunny, however, took one look at the shelves and immediately guessed what he was after.

"Don't bother. If Sol wants to keep a sword, there's no way he'd put it up for sale. He doesn't need those famous swords for show."

"Really now?"

Morin's disappointment deepened.

He had hoped Sol might play around with the sword for a few days before putting it on the shelves. Sunny's words crushed that hope entirely.

"Every expensive blade he's ever bought is in his room. Don't even think about sneaking in. Sol would notice even if an ant entered."

Sunny glanced at Morin's crestfallen expression before turning toward the kitchen.

"Breakfast is going to take a while. Clean the shop before you come eat."

"Got it."

Mobin responded weakly and glanced again at the shelves.

Although the weapons displayed there weren't bad, they lacked the charm and presence of the Chidori.

The gap between them felt like night and day.

Of course, this impression was mainly influenced by reputation.

Having read the original story, Mobin naturally regarded the blades in the Ranked Blades system as the only true top-tier swords.

But the world is vast—there's no way only a hundred or so great swords exist.

Even a mid-quality blade, when wielded by a master skilled in Armament Haki, could gradually evolve into a swift and deadly weapon, nurtured by their will.

While he couldn't touch Chidori, Mobin suddenly felt an urge to acquire a sword of his own.

He figured he could secretly buy one and stash it in his room.

When he had free time, he could practice holding it and get a feel for it.

With that thought, Mobin felt less frustrated.

For now, copying the notes was more important—he needed to finish before dinner so he could return the notebook to Sunny.

Letting go of his longing for Chidori, Mobin quickly cleaned the shop. Then, he borrowed a fresh notebook from Sunny.

It took him over two hours to copy all the information.

He already had some familiarity with the intel in the notes, but going through it again helped solidify certain details in his memory.

By now, he figured he could identify most of the bounty targets at a glance without needing their photos for reference.

The shop remained as desolate as ever throughout the day.

Not a single customer showed up.

Around lunchtime, Sol returned, reeking of alcohol and carrying a jug of liquor.

As soon as he entered, his eyes flicked toward Morin's weighted leg straps.

"Skip lunch."

With that, he disappeared upstairs, likely to nap off his indulgence.

Watching Sol retreat, Mobin stared at the slightly ajar shop door.

Knowing Sol would likely sleep for hours, Mobin decided this was a rare chance to skip training.

Instead, he could head into town and scout for targets.

Excited, Mobin didn't even bother with lunch.

He returned to his room, removed the weights, and securely strapped two flintlock pistols to his body. He left Usopp behind, as its wear and tear was too noticeable.

"About 500,000 Beli..."

Counting his stash of pocket money—loot scavenged from previous prey—Mobin carefully tucked it into his pocket.

Fully prepared, he hurried downstairs to the shop.

"Sunny, I'm heading out!"

He called out quickly and shut the door behind him before she could respond, vanishing in an instant.

Behind the counter, Sunny stared at the door in stunned silence.

After a long pause, she gritted her teeth.

"Mo—bin!"

Then she thought back to the speed at which he had dashed out.

"No way... Has he already improved that much in just a few days of training?"

Sunny was baffled.

Walking down a narrow alley, Mobin recalled a few "neighbors" he hadn't yet visited.

He figured he could always drop by another time since he was in a hurry today.

"This is my first time out during the day," he mused, marveling at the vibrant atmosphere.

His first stop was the tavern.

Despite its shady clientele, the likelihood of finding suitable targets there was high.

Still, Mobin wanted to explore Corner Street during the day, check out other weapons shops, and maybe swing by where Sol usually trained… Ahem.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, quickening his pace.

Unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes had been following his every move.