Chapter 14: The Pirate Hunter
The leader of the group chasing the fleeing pirate instinctively lashed out, intending to kick Ryu aside.
Nearby, Tashigi—recently transferred to Loguetown—gasped in alarm.
"Danger! Get out of the way, kid!"
But it was too late. The pirate had already swung his leg, aiming straight for Ryu. In the next instant, Ryu unsheathed BloodThirst. With a single fluid motion, the pirate collapsed, dead before he hit the ground.
The pursuing Marines froze in shock. A bounty hunter worth six million Beri… defeated by a child with one clean strike?
Ryu tilted his head innocently. "Hey, can I claim this pirate's bounty?"
.....
"Is that true, Tashigi?" Smoker's gravelly voice cut through the stunned silence.
"Yes, Captain Smoker."
"How should we handle this?"
"Give him the bounty—it's rightfully his. And while we're at it, ask if he'd like to join the Marines."
"Yes, Captain Smoker."
Tashigi approached Ryu, handing over six million Beri. She smiled warmly. "You're incredible, kid. Have you ever considered joining the Marines?"
Ryu shook his head firmly. "No thanks. The Marines don't pay when they catch pirates, so I'm not interested."
"Think about it! Don't you want to fight evil and bring peace to the world? With your skills, you'd rise through the ranks quickly!"
"Do Marines get paid for catching pirates?"
"You'll learn powerful techniques!"
"Do Marines get paid for catching pirates?"
"People will admire and respect you!"
"Do Marines get paid for catching pirates?"
"Never mind. You're clearly not Marine material."
With that, Ryu left the Marine branch office, satisfied with his earnings. His focus remained sharp—he needed to collect 1,000 units of blood as soon as possible to trigger his evolution. The anticipation was gnawing at him.
As for Tashigi's offer? There was no chance he'd accept. Joining the Marines?
Impossible. Not in this lifetime.
Who would willingly subject themselves to such restrictions? He hadn't come to this world to live under someone else's rules. Freedom was everything.
Loguetown proved to be a treasure trove for opportunists like Ryu. Barely halfway through his stroll, he noticed several pairs of eyes tracking his movements.
Feigning nonchalance, he wandered into an isolated alleyway. Moments later, two towering men followed him inside, blocking the exit.
"Little boy, do you need help?" One of them moved closer while the other stood guard at the entrance. Their practiced demeanor screamed professional criminals.
"No thanks. I can find my way home," Ryu replied calmly.
"Nonsense! It's dangerous for a kid like you to carry such a big sword. Let Uncle hold it for you—it looks heavy."
"Really? Thanks, Uncle. But be careful—it's one of the Great Swords, worth millions on the black market. Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself."
At the mention of its value, greed flashed across the man's face. A legendary blade like that could fetch tens of millions on the black market. Glancing at his accomplice keeping watch, his expression darkened. If he sold the sword alone, he wouldn't have to split the profits.
Deciding swiftly, he reached for BloodThirst, feigning concern. "Don't worry, I'll be gentle."
Ryu handed over the hilt. As the scabbard slipped off accidentally—or perhaps deliberately—a flash of white light followed.
The man fell in two halves. Before the lookout could react, Ryu's blade pierced his chest.
Efficiently, Ryu dragged both bodies deeper into the alley. After draining their blood (15 units), he disposed of the remains in a concealed location, burning them to ashes. Though neither man carried a bounty, their blood still contributed to his goal.
In theory, Ryu could've hunted beasts instead of humans. However, unless they were exceptionally strong creatures, animal blood paled in comparison to human blood in terms of potency.
Three days later, Tashigi watched numbly as Ryu walked into the Marine base once again, carrying two bloody heads. This marked his seventh visit in just three days.
Seventeen bounty hunters—all decapitated.
While she understood Ryu's hatred for pirates, given his parents' brutal murder months ago, she couldn't fathom how deeply that hatred ran.
Yesterday, her investigation revealed Ryu's identity: the son of the late Count Ikano, saved by Vice Admiral Garp after losing his family to pirates.
Such trauma explained his actions, but his ruthlessness at such a young age worried her. What kind of man would he become?
Meanwhile, Ryu's exploits hadn't gone unnoticed. A journalist hiding in the bushes had been tailing him since the previous day.
Ryu, aware of the man's presence, deliberately allowed him to witness the gruesome aftermath of his battles—but ensured the disposal process remained unseen.
The journalist's eyes gleamed with excitement. This was the scoop of a lifetime! A child barely ten years old, effortlessly slaughtering seasoned pirates? Sensational headlines practically wrote themselves.
By now, Ryu's reputation in Loguetown had grown significantly. Few dared to cross him anymore. Knowing this, Ryu discarded his blindfold altogether, strutting confidently through the streets in search of more prey.
In just three days, his portable blood pouch held 700 units of blood. Through experimentation, he discovered that the quality of blood varied greatly. Stronger individuals yielded far superior blood—each sip sustained him longer and amplified his training results.
He wondered what drinking the blood of giants or fishmen might achieve. Those races were known for their immense strength; surely their blood would be even more potent.
The next morning, newspapers spread across East Blue featured Ryu's face prominently on the front page.
Headline: "Son of the Demon: The Pirate Hunter, Ikano D. Ryu."
The article detailed how Ryu had slain seventeen pirates with bounties exceeding one million Beri within three days. Each victim met the same fate: decapitation.
Almost overnight, Ryu became infamous throughout the East Blue.
Back in Boro Village, Gray and Mia read the headline with growing concern. Meanwhile, in Windmill Village, Garp—who had returned briefly—noticed the news. Upon seeing Ryu's face, memories of the boy flooded back.
"This brat… he's improved so much," Garp muttered thoughtfully.
Onboard the Red Force, Shanks chuckled as he read the article aloud.
"Hey, hey, Captain! Look at this kid, Ryu. Hahaha, he's incredible! At this rate, he might end up cutting us all down someday."
"...Indeed." Shanks smirked, intrigued by the boy's potential.