Chapter 10 – First Flames

Chapter 10 – First Flames

Kenji walked its narrow, sun-baked streets with a new aura—restrained confidence in each step, the sun's heat seeming to follow him like a loyal shadow. Beside him, Author walked with significantly more bounce in his step, carrying himself like a man who'd found purpose, though he still wore that boyish smile.

The tavern they stepped into was smoky, dark, and full of murmurs. The sort of establishment where informants, ex-pirates, and bounty hunters went not for drink, but for rumors.

Kenji scanned the room. Men huddled over tables, dice clicked across wood, and a woman behind the bar wiped glasses with one eye always on the crowd.

He approached and dropped some berries on the bar. "Searching for information."

The barkeep glanced at the coin, then at Kenji. His eyes lingered a moment longer than most would on Kenji's faintly sun-touched aura.

"What kind?" the man muttered.

"Bounties. Three names." Kenji placed three worn posters down: Red Jack, Walker Ralf, Ellion Sparrow.

The barkeep snorted. "Ain't exactly going after small fish, are ya?"

Author leaned in. "We're not exactly small-time."

That earned a scoff from a nearby table, but the barkeep didn't laugh.

He jerked his head at Red Jack's poster. "Hot-headed. Quick-tempered always. Roped with a pirate crew back in the day—what's left of it still dogs his heels like stray dogs. Heard he's lying low around the north docks. Drinking, gambling, breaking things.".

His finger moved to Walker Ralf. "Him? Dumber than a post. Thinks intimidation is a business tactic. He shakes down half the traders on this side of town. Easy enough to see, but nobody has the courage to speak up."

Then he tapped Ellion's poster, a bit more carefully. "Now he's trouble. Real smart. No Devil Fruit, but don't let that fool you—sharp, precise, cruel. People say he's ex-Marine, turned rogue. Never the same route twice. Rumor is, he watches before he strikes."

Kenji nodded, absorbing every word. His eyes lingered on Ellion's cold, narrow gaze in the sketch. "We'll start with Red Jack."

Author raised an eyebrow. "Easing into it?"

Kenji scorned. "Testing the waters."

The north docks were noisy—ships vomiting cargo, fishermen yelling, gulls screaming. But darker alleys off the main path were another world. Quiet, filthy, and heavy with shadow.

Kenji and Author descended a gnarled alley, guided by rumor and instinct.

They found Red Jack bellowing laughter at a card game amidst four hulking men. His red hair was mussed, his shirt halfway undone, and a jagged scar ran down his cheek. One hand clutched a bottle, the other a dagger.

"You got a death wish, kid?" Red Jack sneered as Kenji approached, not even standing.

Kenji didn't flinch. "Red Jack. You're worth 4 million. I'm here to collect."

The men around him froze, then burst into laughter.

"Who sent you? The bakery down the street?" one of them jeered.

Red Jack stood, cracking his neck. "You got guts. I'll enjoy snapping them."

Kenji's hand rose slowly.

A flicker of golden flame ignited in his palm.

The laughter died instantly.

Red Jack took a half-step back. "A Devil Fruit user?"

The alley dimmed for a moment as Kenji's flames grew brighter.

"Let's make this quick," he said, his voice calm but final.

Red Jack lunged forward, fast—but not fast enough.

Kenji didn't move. Red Jack's fist passed through him, phasing harmlessly through solar fire.

"What the—!?"

Kenji's form blazed, light radiating from him in controlled bursts. He swept his leg across the ground, igniting the cobblestones beneath the gang's feet. The heat caused them to stumble, yelping, trying to keep their footing.

Then came the strikes—fast, clean, efficient. A flaming uppercut sent one goon flying. A spinning kick knocked another into a wall. Heat coiled around Kenji's fists as he delivered precise blows that burned, stunned, and dropped them like flies.

Red Jack swung wildly with his dagger, screaming—but it sliced through nothing but air. A solar-boosted punch hit him in the gut, folding him over.

Within seconds, it was over.

Kenji loomed in the flickering light of his own flame, untouched, calm.

Author blinked. "Okay. That… was terrifying."

They tied up Red Jack and dragged him to the street. No one stopped them.

The Marine checkpoint was low-key—more a guarded gate than a fortress. But the officer at the desk looked incredulously as Kenji dropped Red Jack's unconscious form at his feet.

"You—captured him?"

Kenji handed over the bounty poster, clean and without boasting. "All yours."

The officer whistled low and nodded. "That's four million. You new to this?"

"Something like that."

As Author counted the neatly piled reward, Kenji felt the system ping again.

[Enemy Defeated – Red Jack]

Bounty Claimed: 4,000,000 Berries

Devil Fruit Proficiency: +1%

Current Proficiency: 4%

Outside the outpost, a cloaked figure stood silently, watching.

Their eyes followed Kenji and Author as they walked away—intent, inscrutable.

Back on the street, Author tossed Kenji a pouch.

"Not bad for your first crewmate, huh?"

Kenji caught it with one hand, smiling a little. "You're learning."

"I'm just glad you didn't melt the guy. I thought you were gonna turn the alley into lava or something."

Kenji didn't laugh. His eyes moved to the other posters—Walker Ralf and Ellion Sparrow.

"Jack was easy. The others won't be.".

Author pointed to Ellion's sketch. "That one gives me the creeps."

"He's the real test," Kenji said. "We'll need a plan."

As they walked off into the fading light, the wind rustled the remaining posters on the board.

Ellion's eyes, sketched in ink and shadow, seemed to watch them go.