The Most Talented Pirate Hunter - Chapter 20
“Still no sign of him?”
Twenty days had passed since the last battle.
In the headquarters of the Twin Wheel Pirates, Kokos looked at his subordinates. He knew they had missed the best chance to catch Hermes, and now things would repeat themselves.
Damn it.
They were so close.
“No, we’ve searched all over Mayut Town, but there’s no trace of that bastard.”
“What about the clinics?”
“We’ve checked every clinic and pharmacy.”
“What’s the plan now? That scum will definitely pick us off one by one.”
Many pirates felt a chill down their spines.
Maybe it’s better to leave the pirate crew for now, like last time, and let the captain handle that bastard one-on-one. After all, the captain is stronger.
“Keep searching. That kid hasn’t left Mayut.”
Kokos’s face was grim.
Given that kid’s nature, he wouldn’t let this go. In the last fight, Hermes was clearly off his game, starting strong but then only defending.
It was strange.
“Yes, sir!”
The pirates left the hall with various thoughts, forming small groups to continue the search.
“Where do you think that kid could be?”
Outside town.
Five pirates heading eastward wore worried expressions, knowing the pirate hunter could attack at any time, just like many of their fallen comrades who never knew what hit them.
“The captain said that guy was seriously injured. It’s been twenty days; he must be hiding somewhere, or maybe he’s already dead in some corner.”
“Could be.”
“Let’s just pretend to look, then go have a drink. We became pirates to enjoy life, not to be so miserable.”
“Right, drink first, then grab some women to blow off steam.”
“Hahaha!”
The five pirates laughed lecherously, thinking that’s how life should be.
“You guys are truly the worst of the worst.”
“Almost as bad as me.”
A sudden voice from a tree stopped their laughter abruptly.
“Who’s there?”
Looking towards the voice, they saw a young man in a white shirt, black pants, and messy hair, crouching on a sturdy branch, looking down at them.
“Damn it.”
“Hermes Jormungandr.”
“Run!”
The pirates’ faces changed dramatically, and they immediately recognized Hermes. Without thinking, they turned to flee, knowing they were no match.
“Damn, why are we so unlucky?”
A tall, skinny pirate cursed, wondering why they had to run into this bastard.
“Run faster!”
A pirate glanced back and saw that Hermes was no longer on the branch, quickly picking up speed, fearing being the first target.
“Ah!”
A scream rang out as the last pirate, the fattest of the group, fell.
“Damn.”
The second-to-last pirate felt the danger behind him, his face twisted as he drew his gun, stopped, and fired.
He was going to fight to the death.
That’s how pirates were: sometimes cowardly, but other times willing to fight.
Unfortunately, he missed it. A flash later, Hermes had already passed by, leaving a finger-sized hole in his chest.
His heart was pierced. Death was just a matter of time.
“Spare me.”
Another pirate begged, but he too fell.
As they neared the headquarters, all five were dead, alarming the remaining pirates. Hermes didn’t immediately flee but waited outside the camp.
When more than ten armed pirates came out, Hermes finally turned and left, silently telling the Twin Wheel Pirates that he, Hermes Jormungandr, had returned.
“That kid’s back.”
“Hermes Jormungandr.”
“Damn it, report to the captain.”
“This is bad news!”
The pirates were in a panic, unsure what to do.
Ten minutes later, the key members of the Twin Wheel Pirates gathered, Kokos sitting at the head, his face dark, making the atmosphere oppressive.
“Captain, what should we do now?”
“Maybe we should do the same as before, leave, and let the captain fight him one-on-one?”
“The captain beat that bastard once, he can do it again.”
Some pirates spoke up, their faces showing trust in Kokos, though their true thoughts were unknown.
That night, none of the Twin Wheel Pirates got any sleep. After several discussions, they decided to let Kokos fight alone again.
Sometimes Kokos wondered if he was really the captain since he always had to fight first.
But this time, the Twin Wheel Pirates miscalculated.
Hermes didn’t play by their rules. Instead, he systematically picked them off, targeting every member of the Twin Wheel Pirates.
One day.
Two days.
Hermes’s attacks continued, rapidly reducing their numbers, and terrifying the pirates.
“That bastard won’t let us go.”
“In two days, we’ve lost half our crew.”
“Damn it.”
Many pirates fled back to the headquarters, too scared to go out, nearly driven mad.
But even when they thought they were safe, the attacks didn’t stop.
In the middle of the night.
At the Twin Wheel Pirates’ headquarters, many pirates were asleep, with only a small patrol on duty. Hermes walked into a room unchallenged.
“Ugh!”
A muffled sound and the bedsheets were stained with blood.
Like a silent assassin.
Hermes killed a pirate with ease and continued his hunt.
By dawn.
In silence, one pirate after another was killed in their sleep. Those targeted by Hermes, whether sleeping, using the bathroom, or eating, met the same fate.
“Intruder!”
After killing the sleeping pirates, Hermes began hunting the patrolling ones, finally getting noticed.
But it was too late.
The Twin Wheel Pirates were nearly wiped out, leaving only a few, too weak to change the outcome.
Still, Hermes didn’t let them go until Kokos arrived.
“We meet again.”
Hermes stepped on a dying pirate, eyes filled with expectation. Kokos might be the one to help him fully awaken his Observation Haki.
Kokos, however, had no such hopes, only anger and killing intent.
There was no room for words. Kokos drew his guns and charged, firing wildly, trying to overwhelm Hermes.
Taking a deep breath, Hermes prepared to defend.
Luck seemed against him; the Observation Haki didn’t activate, and a bullet grazed his arm, the burning pain spreading instantly.
Bang!
Kokos kept firing, closing in on Hermes, aiming to crush him completely.
“Activate, damn it!”
Hermes was frustrated, still trying, while his wounds multiplied.
Finally.
The world slowed down.
Even in the dark, the bullet paths were clear. Hermes was ecstatic, easily dodging attacks that were previously difficult.
Gradually.
Hermes got into the groove, his Observation Haki activating more frequently, though at a great cost. His body was covered in wounds, though none were fatal.
But he couldn’t keep bleeding.
Time to retreat.
Without a word, Hermes shrank and vanished. Kokos’s eyes bulged, chasing by instinct, but to no avail.
“Hermes Jormungandr!”
A heart-wrenching roar echoed, Kokos’s face twisted in fury, coughing up blood.
That bastard had escaped again.
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