Hank showed a fawning smile as he pushed open the office door.
"Boss, it’s me, Hank."
Su Xiao followed closely behind and entered the office.
"Hank, is it? At least you had the sense not to interrupt my leisure time. Speak up, what’s the matter."
In the office sat a burly man with a bare chest. His shiny bald head and fierce demeanor made it clear he was no weakling.
"This is Bai Ye, the newcomer. He comes highly recommended by ’that person’. Here’s the letter."
The strong man glanced at Su Xiao, took the recommendation letter, briefly skimmed it, and then tore it to pieces.
"The initial price was two hundred thousand Belli, but with big events looming, the situation is tense. So, at the very least, it’s four hundred thousand Belli now."
Su Xiao maintained his smiling demeanor. Though weak for now, he had to hide his true feelings. Even though he was tempted to pull a gun on the strong man and ask him how much it really cost.
He directly handed over four hundred thousand Belli to the strong man without uttering a word.
Su Xiao’s straightforward approach made the strong man’s eyebrows twitch.
"No wonder you’re ’from that side’, you’re so generous. From now on, you’re one of the Guard Team. Remember to call me Boss, or Sir."
Su Xiao continued to smile, but there was something eerie about his smile.
Successfully joining the Guard Team meant he was one step closer to completing the task of assassinating the King.
Hank, standing to the side, kept his head down and his eyes fixed on the floor, as if there was something interesting there.
In truth, he was only conveying his stance, implying he didn’t see his superior accepting a bribe.
This incident highlighted the chaos in the Pirate World — as long as you have money, even higher positions can be bought. For Su Xiao, this was undoubtedly good news.
Belli didn’t mean much to him. What he lacked most now was time, and any problem that could be solved with Belli wasn’t a problem at all.
[TIP: The Hunter has joined the Guard Team, causing minor changes in the plot and gaining 2.1% of World Source.]
After leaving the office, Su Xiao received the standard Guard Team equipment: a uniform and a matchlock gun.
In the warehouse, Su Xiao looked somewhat speechlessly at the crude matchlock gun in his hand and glanced at Hank.
"Hank, could I switch to another weapon?"
Hank displayed a look of difficulty.
"Well~, these are designated supplies, I too...."
That stammering tone made Su Xiao realize that the guy in front of him was seeking a benefit.
Without much ado, he slipped thirty thousand Belli into Hank’s pocket, changing Hank’s expression into a broad smile.
"We’re all colleagues, we can discuss our difficulties. You can choose your own weapon, but only one. That’s a rule no one can change."
Su Xiao placed the matchlock gun down and searched through the warehouse. There were various weapons inside, and soon his gaze landed on a long knife.
The knife was over a meter long with a blade about three centimeters wide and a slight curve. Although not as good as Su Xiao’s usual blade, it was still a decent weapon.
Su Xiao picked up the knife and sheathed it. As soon as he touched it, Reincarnation Paradise displayed a prompt.
"Hey, hey, you can take any other weapon, but not that knife."
Hank’s expression turned cold, as if he hadn’t just received thirty thousand Belli.
Su Xiao held the knife and turned his head to look at Hank, icy glints flickering in his eyes. Constantly giving in only made others think he was weak and easy to bully.
Hank noticed Su Xiao’s gaze, and his expression turned to surprise as a chill surged through him.
This guy had killed before, and not just one person.
Hank’s mind was in turmoil. He wanted to confront Su Xiao on the spot, but the Su Xiao holding a sharp blade made Hank extremely apprehensive.
"Hank, let’s not worry about these things. We’re ’friends’, aren’t we?"
Su Xiao pointed the hilt of the knife towards Hank’s chest.
Either take the money and keep quiet, or Su Xiao would cut Hank down then and there. These were the only two choices because this long knife would be of great help in completing his mission.
Moreover, what was already in hand, Su Xiao wouldn’t abandon due to a mere threat.
Su Xiao believed that even if he killed Hank, as long as he bribed that strong man with enough money, the man would turn a blind eye.
"This matter is for you and me to know, and this knife is a token of friendship."
Hank patted Su Xiao’s shoulder cordially, signaling his surrender, and the tense atmosphere in the warehouse dissipated.
"I’ve just arrived in the Royal Capital today and need to get to know some things, so we’re friends now."
Su Xiao sighed inwardly. If even an ordinary guard was this hard to deal with, what kind of enemies would he face when he got close to the King?
This sense of challenge made Su Xiao’s heart beat faster, and his blood surged through his body. He began to relish this feeling.
The fighting instinct within him was gradually being awakened.
The reason Su Xiao was so determined also had a reason. Previously, when he touched the long knife, Reincarnation Paradise had given him a prompt.
[Acquired Dragon Slash]
Dragon Slash (White・Rare)
Origin: One Piece, Steel Melting Ironsmith Shop
Durability: 35/40-5 (This weapon has suffered serious damage, durability -5.)
Attack power: 5~16 (Calculated based on slicing power strength)
Equipment Requirements: Strength 2 points to use, more than 5 points of strength for flexible use.
Rating: 10 (Note: White equipment ratings range from 1 to 10. White equipment rated 10 is marked ’Rare’, and has additional special attributes.)
Additional attribute: Dragon’s Majesty, while holding this weapon, enemies will experience a fear effect. (Fear effect reduces enemy morale.)
Description: This was once the blade of Dragon Slaying Swordsman Longma in his youth, but it was significantly damaged, lowering its grade after restoration. Later, after Longma acquired the Black Blade・Autumn Water, this weapon remained in Longma’s room, and upon his death, it did not qualify to accompany him to the grave, eventually drifting into the world.
Master, I’m almost rusting, where are you? Please wield me to cut down the giant dragon!
Price: 1100 Paradise coins (This item is a rule item and can be taken out of the Pirate World).
Longma was indeed a significant figure, a formidable force in the Pirate World. Perhaps even Hawkeye・Mihawk, the current world’s greatest swordsman, might not surpass him.
A weapon of such a powerful man in his youth could not possibly be weak. Su Xiao even suspected that if this Dragon Slash hadn’t been damaged, it might have been a green, or even a blue weapon.
This was why Su Xiao was willing to risk turning against Hank just to get this knife.
Fortunately, neither of them turned hostile, and this fraudulent ’friendship’ could continue for a while.
"You’re lucky - this knife was seized from a pirate crew, and very few people besides me know it’s a treasure. If I weren’t bad with a sword and the warehouse didn’t have a strict rule against choosing a second weapon, I would have taken this knife long ago."
Su Xiao smiled without a word, simply tucking the Dragon Slash at his waist.
With the blade on him, his combat strength increased significantly, making him feel more at ease.
"Let’s go; something big is happening in two days, and we won’t be idle then."
Hank sighed, as if worried about something. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒·𝗇𝗲𝘁
"What is it? Give me a hint so I can prepare too."
"In half a month, the World Aristocrat Celestial Dragon People are coming to inspect Goa Kingdom, so the day after tomorrow, we have to ’clean up’ the Scrap End Station!"