The Most Talented Pirate Hunter - Chapter 17
“Ah!!!”
“Spare me!”
“Damn it.”
“You wretched brat, fight me one-on-one if you dare.”
The night was thick with darkness.
Screams echoed continuously.
After clashing with the Twin Wheel Pirates, Hermes decisively retreated for the time being and began his hunt.
In terms of numbers.
The Twin Wheel Pirates had absorbed members from the Dog-Dog Pirates and the Chain Pirates, as well as some other dependent or annexed pirate groups, making their numbers substantial.
Fighting them head-on alone would be a losing battle.
Hermes wasn’t foolish, so he adapted his tactics, hunting down the lesser pirates of the Twin Wheel Pirates first, gradually isolating Kokos, the captain.
For three to four days straight.
Whenever Hermes had the chance, he targeted the Twin Wheel Pirates, causing panic within their ranks. Leaving the base meant almost certain death, driving many pirates to the brink of despair.
They had no effective countermeasures against Hermes. Their only hope was Kokos or moving in groups of thirty or forty. Even then, they still fell prey to Hermes.
And his attack method was particularly cruel, always going for the kidneys.
This quirk was infuriating.
Unconsciously, Hermes earned a new nickname: Kidney Stabber.
“Captain, the brothers who went out to get supplies were wiped out again.”
In the base, Kokos slammed his fist on the table, his face dark with anger. This was the umpteenth time.
Half of his subordinates had vanished without a trace.
Their strength had severely diminished.
And that brat was like a turtle, refusing to face them head-on, utterly without honor or basic decency.
Despicable.
“If this continues, we’ll be picked off one by one.”
“I think we should go on the offensive!”
“How? That brat never fights us directly.”
“This kind of scoundrel is a real problem.”
Many pirates were burning with rage and worry. A lone wolf like this, if not beaten to death in one go, would keep coming back for revenge, and they couldn’t do anything about it.
Like a slippery eel, always targeting the isolated ones, his tactics were disgracefully vile.
Compared to the Twin Wheel Pirates’ frustration, the oppressed townspeople were nearly celebrating. They were waiting for the hero, pirate hunter Hermes Jörmungandr, to completely eradicate the Twin Wheel Pirates.
“Have you heard? More of the Twin Wheel Pirates were taken down by Lord Jörmungandr.”
“I know. I saw the bodies; it was gruesome.”
“These pirates deserve it for their usual tyranny.”
Many citizens felt a sense of justice, and their spirits lifted. Even their nightly exercises lasted three seconds longer.
“I wonder if Lord Jörmungandr is handsome. I’d love to see him.”
Some young women had stars in their eyes, and Hermes has indirectly saved many.
“I heard he’s a very handsome guy.”
“Wow~”
Meanwhile.
In one of the Twin Wheel Pirates’ warehouses, filled with supplies and not far from the base, Hermes, in his five-millimeter form, stood atop sacks, contemplating whether to set it all on fire.
Food was crucial anywhere, especially in the world of pirates, where many people struggled to eat and stay warm.
It would be a waste to burn it all.
Besides food, there were many weapons and explosives. Hermes decided against burning it down. After taking down the Twin Wheel Pirates, this would be his spoils.
He could either sell it or share it with the people of Mayotte, earning both wealth and reputation.
Lately, he had scared the Twin Wheel Pirates so much that most pirates stayed within the base. Thus, Hermes had no choice but to infiltrate their headquarters, hunting under Kokos’s nose.
Unknowingly, he ended up in this warehouse.
Remaining in his five-millimeter form, Hermes exited the warehouse. Seeing two slightly drunk pirates outside, he swiftly killed them without any pain.
Then he proceeded further.
“Ahhhh!!!!”
“Not good, the pirate hunter is here.”
“Damn it, save him.”
Even though he killed silently, it was soon discovered.
Some pirates hadn’t seen Hermes but were sure it was him.
That penchant for kidney-stabbing was unique.
“He’s a devil, a demon.”
Some pirates lost their minds, running out wildly.
Kokos, already agitated, soon arrived with his top men. Seeing the scattered corpses, all with fatal wounds, mostly in the kidney area, he felt this opponent must have some psychological issue with kidneys.
This attacker was brutal and unscrupulous.
“Jörmungandr, if you have guts, come out and fight me one-on-one.”
Kokos’s face was grim as he scanned the surroundings, eyes burning with anger.
He knew the guy was nearby, maybe hiding under a leaf. That ability to shrink was just too unreasonable.
“Coward, come out and face our captain.”
“You’re no match for our captain.”
“Our captain has a 44-million bounty, he could crush you with one hand.”
“Coward.”
Some pirates shouted loudly, their faces red with rage. They praised Kokos’s strength, fearing he wouldn’t intimidate Hermes.
Hermes didn’t respond verbally but through actions.
He silently approached a pirate from behind, returned to normal size, delivered a Finger Pistol to the back of the head, and shrunk back to five millimeters, disappearing among the grass and leaves.
“Damn it, that guy is definitely nearby.”
The pirates, hearing the noise and seeing the corpse in the blood, were both angry and scared. Some even trembled in fear.
Especially those closest to the fallen pirate, hearts pounding.
They hadn’t seen how their comrade was killed. It was ghostly.
Kokos was fuming.
But Hermes wouldn’t give him the chance for a direct fight.
“Ahhh!”
“Shoot, shoot.”
“If you have guts, come out.”
In the distance, another pirate fell. Those around him screamed in rage.
Some pirates fired randomly but hit nothing.
“What do you want?”
“The previous incident might have been a misunderstanding.”
Kokos was frustrated and helpless. If this continued, he would have no men and be back at square one.
He wanted to negotiate.
To temporarily appease Hermes and then strike when he least expected it.
But Hermes continued on his path, killing pirates one by one, patiently waiting for opportunities.
Days passed.
The Twin Wheel Pirates’ numbers dwindled, and many were either killed by Hermes or deserting.
Some were killed in the bathroom, others in their sleep, or while drinking water. No one knew when the demon would strike next.
The oppressive and terrifying atmosphere was driving them mad.
First, there were deserters, and then more followed.
There was no stopping them.
“You take your men and leave. Once I’ve taken down that brat, you can come back.”
That night.
Kokos addressed his top aides. He wasn’t going to wait for death. His target had always been Hermes, who probably didn’t engage directly due to their numbers.
So, he decided to cut off Hermes’s escape routes.
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