Hank's words made Su Xiao's eyes light up.
He had finally confirmed the current timeline—this was an event that had appeared in the original story, three days before the Terminal was set ablaze.
In other words, within the maximum duration of his mission, the Terminal would be burned to the ground.
This was undoubtedly good news for Su Xiao. The more chaotic things became, the more opportunities he would have. Only in troubled waters could he fish successfully.
As Hank walked toward the warehouse exit, he seemed to remember something and turned back.
"Our boss is named Brandon Oka. Since you're now part of the guard corps, you should at least know his name."
Su Xiao chuckled lightly and nodded in acknowledgment.
The two stepped out of the warehouse. The sky had darkened, and the streets were filled with weary pedestrians.
Through casual conversation, Su Xiao learned that the burly man he had seen earlier—his current "superior," Brandon Oka—had been the guard captain for nearly ten years. He had extensive connections, rubbing shoulders with officials both high and low in the palace, and had even been summoned by the king himself.
Su Xiao didn't fully believe Hank's words. The man had a tendency to exaggerate his boss's influence.
It might be true that Oka had held his position for a decade, but the claim about his wide-reaching connections was questionable.
After all, staying in the same position for ten years also implied that his "superior" wasn't exactly thriving in the capital.
Just as Hank was about to bid farewell, Su Xiao spoke up.
"How about a drink? I just arrived in the capital today—there's a lot I'd like to ask you."
Hank pretended to hesitate but eventually gave in to Su Xiao's "enthusiastic invitation." The two entered a tavern.
After a few cups of sake, Hank's face turned slightly red, his breath reeking of alcohol as his words grew noticeably looser.
"Let me tell you something. If the boss hadn't been unable to control his lower half back then, he'd be working in the palace by now."
"Honestly, of all the women he could've touched, why did he have to go for… hic—"
Hank abruptly cut himself off, as if realizing he had said too much.
Su Xiao raised his cup and clinked it against Hank's. By the time Hank tilted his head back to drink, the liquor in Su Xiao's hand had already vanished.
Drinking in a dangerous mission world was nothing short of suicidal. Not a single drop passed his lips.
"Ah, forget it. The boss lives a pretty comfortable life now—a regular at Pleasure Street. Must be nice."
Su Xiao humored him with a few responses and poured Hank another drink.
After several rounds, the time approached seven in the evening. Su Xiao and Hank parted ways at the tavern entrance, the streets now illuminated by lanterns.
Su Xiao lit a cigarette, exhaling a wisp of smoke as he watched Hank's retreating figure with a thoughtful gaze.
The man had provided him with plenty of useful information. And now that night had fallen, it was time for Su Xiao to act.
Resting a hand on the hilt of his blade, he stopped a passerby. The man initially looked annoyed, but upon seeing Su Xiao's guard uniform, his expression quickly turned fearful.
"Can you tell me where Pleasure Street is?"
The man flashed a grin that all men would recognize before pointing Su Xiao in the right direction.
That smile, combined with the name "Pleasure Street," made it clear exactly what kind of place it was.
His "superior" certainly had no shortage of energy.
——
As the lanterns glowed, a district bathed in hues of pink and red came into view.
The street was lined with two- and three-story pointed-roof buildings, their tops covered in glazed tiles, their entrances adorned with round or square lanterns.
The soft strains of musical instruments intertwined with the laughter and chatter of the street, where men and women clung to each other in intimate embraces.
On the balconies above, women in revealing attire leaned against railings, slender pipes in hand, casting alluring smiles at passersby in hopes of drawing customers.
This was Pleasure Street—the red-light district of the One Piece world.
Perched atop one of the buildings, clad in black, Su Xiao crouched low, [Dragon-Slaying Flash] gripped firmly in his hand.
Since arriving in this world, he had yet to truly act. But tonight, he would carry out his first assassination—laying the groundwork for his mission.
A loud burst of laughter suddenly echoed from the street below.
The familiar voice immediately drew Su Xiao's attention. The man laughing was none other than his "superior," whom he had met earlier that day.
Brandon Oka, flanked by two guards, swaggered down Pleasure Street with an air of arrogance.
Pedestrians who spotted him quickly scurried aside, their expressions tense with unease.
"Finally."
Concealed on the rooftop, Su Xiao shadowed Oka's movements.
Before long, Oka and his men entered one of the establishments. Su Xiao moved silently through the darkness, scaling the building until he reached its roof.
After a brief wait, he dropped down, landing without a sound, then pressed himself against the wall to avoid detection.
Under the cover of night and the dim glow of lanterns, Su Xiao began scouting the rooms one by one.
He didn't need to see inside—sound alone was enough.
This was a skill he had trained in extensively. He remembered Oka's voice.
After checking three rooms, he found his target. A man and woman were conversing inside.
"When are you finally going to 'save' me? Do you really enjoy watching me entertain other men?"
"Soon, soon. This place is under the Left Minister's control—money alone won't solve the problem. I'm working on it. The Left Minister is close to the king, after all…"
Su Xiao listened expressionlessly as the conversation inside grew increasingly… saccharine. His brow twitched in irritation.
But now wasn't the time. He needed to strike when Oka was at his most vulnerable.
Soon, the opportunity arrived. The guards outside began chatting among themselves, their attention distracted.
Su Xiao slowly unsheathed his blade, then carefully pushed open the window and slipped inside—utterly silent.
Inside, a man and woman were locked in an embrace.
Su Xiao had chosen this moment precisely because it was when Oka would be least alert.
Every step closer was taken with extreme caution, like a stalking panther—noiseless, unseen.
Five meters. Three meters. One meter.
Su Xiao stood directly behind Oka. He raised his blade, its tip aimed at the side of Oka's neck.
Oka's head was turned away, his gaze elsewhere.
At that moment, the woman beside Oka seemed to sense something.
But it was too late.
Gripping the hilt tightly, Su Xiao thrust forward with all his strength.
"Schlick."
The blade pierced clean through Oka's neck, its razor-sharp edge slicing through flesh as effortlessly as paper—before continuing onward and impaling the woman beside him.
If he had killed only Oka, the woman would have screamed immediately, bringing the guards rushing in. That would have been disastrous.
Even ordinary civilians in the One Piece world possessed superhuman physicality, let alone trained guards.
One strike. Two lives. No hesitation.
This was exactly why the Reincarnation Paradise had chosen him as a Hunter.
Being a Hunter wasn't just about having a unique talent—it required the nerve to kill and the ruthlessness to act.