The afternoon weather was clear and pleasant.
A gentle breeze brushed across the streets now and then.
On the second floor of a seaside tavern, Hermes lounged on the veranda, unhurried as if the world had nothing to do with him. Savoring his coffee. The bandages on his body had already been removed, and his injuries were mostly healed.
It had been a full month since he'd taken advantage of the chaos and finished off Chainman.
Compared to how powerless he'd been right after transmigrating, Hermes now looked like a proper figure. Those battles fought on the edge of death had been fully digested, turning into real combat experience. His basic training and Devil Fruit development had never been neglected either.
Leaving the beginner's village and stepping into a wider stage was only a matter of time.
With Plan A completed, it was finally time to head toward the royal capital and attempt Plan B. He needed to find ways to learn more techniques—relying solely on Finger Pistol to dominate the seas was still far too monotonous.
As for Devil Fruit development, it had proven even harder than expected.
No wonder some Devil Fruit users in the canon world looked so underwhelming. It wasn't a lack of imagination—it was that development itself required time. You couldn't just think of something today and master it tomorrow.
It was like conducting experiments: trial and error, constant adjustments, repeated failures.
Power was never that easy to obtain.
Otherwise, why were there so few true powerhouses in the world, and so many ordinary people?
Opportunity, talent, and willpower—none could be missing.
"These laid-back days are perfect for lying flat," Hermes muttered.
He genuinely enjoyed this kind of relaxed life. If he had no ambition, settling down in some remote town would've been more than comfortable.
Unfortunately, he wasn't that kind of person.
He was free.
Draining the last of his coffee, Hermes stood up and headed downstairs.
Besides coffee, this café also sold snacks—fried chicken combos and the like—which made it popular with nearby children. The first floor was lively.
Coincidentally—
Just as Hermes pushed open the door to leave, the entrance was violently shoved open from outside.
Seven or eight vicious-looking pirates stormed in, instantly silencing the previously noisy hall.
This development.
This pacing.
This routine.
Classic web-novel operation.
The protagonist really was a magnet for trouble—new instance unlocked just by walking out the door?
This script felt way too familiar.
"KID, MOVE."
A three-meter-tall brute at the front wielded a massive cleaver and reached out to shove Hermes aside, clearly not taking him seriously at all.
…Really?
Hermes' expression turned strange.
But his body didn't budge an inch, like a nail driven into the ground.
That startled the pirate slightly.
"Take your hand off me," Hermes said calmly.
Before the words had even finished leaving his mouth, a handgun was jammed against his temple. Another pirate had drawn his gun smoothly, clearly experienced.
PUFF—
Before the gunman could say anything, a bloody hole exploded open at his kidney.
Blood poured out as his eyes widened in terror.
"I hate having guns pointed at me," Hermes said coldly, casually flicking away the nonexistent blood from his fingers.
The pirates froze.
"Damn it!"
"How did Hal die?!"
"It was that kid!"
"Looking for death— we're from the Twin-Wheel Pirates!"
"Kill him!"
The pirates finally reacted, fury erupting.
They had come to collect protection fees.
After the Dog-Dog Pirates and Chain Pirates were wiped out, most of Mayute Town had fallen under the Twin-Wheel Pirates' control. Their power had expanded dramatically, and their arrogance along with it.
People were bullied, threatened, extorted—yet dared not resist.
Unfortunately for them, they'd run into the wrong person.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out as three pirates fired at Hermes at the same time, clearly intending to turn him into a sieve.
This alone showed just how ruthless the Twin-Wheel Pirates had become.
"—He disappeared!"
The moment Hermes shrank and vanished, the pirates' hearts skipped.
A name surfaced in their minds simultaneously.
"AAAAH!"
Screams followed.
The three gunmen collapsed almost instantly, blood gushing from their kidneys.
"DAMN IT—IT'S HIM!"
"It's Pirate Hunter Hermes Jormungandr!"
"The one who killed Captain Joya and Chainman!"
"The one who always stabs kidneys!"
"It matches perfectly!"
Panic set in immediately.
The shrinking ability.
Finger-based attacks.
White shirt.
Messy hair.
Black trousers.
Every detail lined up.
"Captain warned us not to provoke him!"
"Even Captain Joya and Chainman couldn't beat him—only Captain Kokos can handle this!"
"RUN!"
The remaining pirates were far more cunning. Once Hermes' identity was confirmed, they turned and fled without hesitation.
"AAAH—!"
"HELP ME!"
The leading pirates didn't even look back as screams echoed behind them.
The entire street fell silent.
Civilians stared in disbelief.
The Twin-Wheel Pirates… were being chased like dogs?
That feeling—
It was intoxicating.
"I think I just heard the name Hermes Jormungandr."
"That guy must be him."
"The Pirate Hunter who wiped out two pirate crews."
"I thought he already left town!"
"So young…"
"If even the Twin-Wheel Pirates get wiped out, that'd be great."
Hope quietly spread among the townspeople.
Meanwhile, some pirate gangs saw opportunity instead.
"This is our chance."
"Watch the Twin-Wheel Pirates closely."
"If they fall, we sweep in and take everything."
The small town was stirring.
—its underBeli waking up.
Hermes chased the fleeing pirates straight to the Twin-Wheel Pirates' base.
The last survivor barely escaped, drenched in sweat, breathing like his soul had almost left his body.
Eight went out.
One came back.
Terrifying.
At the base entrance, over thirty armed pirates stood ready. More were arriving from other areas—easily fifty or sixty in total.
The crowd parted.
Captain Twin-Wheel Gunner Kokos stepped forward.
Dressed like a western gunslinger, twin revolvers at his waist, his gaze fixed firmly on Hermes.
A month without news—he'd thought Hermes had left Mayute Town.
Yet here he was.
"What an unlucky coincidence," Kokos thought grimly.
"You're Hermes Jormungandr," Kokos said solemnly.
"You're the Twin-Wheel Pirates' captain—Kokos. Bounty: forty-four million?"
"This may be a misunderstanding."
Kokos chose restraint.
He truly didn't want conflict.
It was a respectable concession.
Unfortunately—
Hermes wasn't interested.
"Misunderstanding or not," Hermes said calmly,
"I've taken a liking to your head."
"I'll come collect it another day."
He didn't choose to fight now. The numbers were against him, and he wasn't arrogant enough to ignore that.
BANG!
Two bullets tore through the air.
Kokos fired without hesitation, eyes filled with killing intent.
That decisiveness surprised even Hermes.
He shrank instantly, dodging the bullets, and fled without looking back—equally decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
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