Bab 44: Target Located
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Kai strolled through the bustling port, his keen gaze flickering over the rows of makeshift stalls and the ever-present crowd of rowdy pirates, travelers, and merchants. His steps were casual, but his eyes were sharp, catching every detail around him as he slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a worn paper. He glanced down at it, revealing a creased and slightly faded wanted poster.
The poster showed a crooked smile, wild hair, and beady eyes that seemed to stare back at him with a sinister glint. The name "Jacko the Mutt" was scrawled beneath the image in rough, dark letters. Below that, the reward: 40 million berries.
Kai's lips curled in a smirk, muttering to himself, "Forty million berries for this freak. What a face." He shook his head, pocketing the poster again, his expression shifting to one of mild amusement. "Buggy sure was willing to part with the bounty information quick. Paid me in advance, too. Eighty million berries from another pirate who's apparently had it with this Jacko character. Good business, but a foolish move."
He looked around, the corners of his mouth quirking up as he considered Buggy's antics. "All I gotta do now is find him somewhere here in this port. Take care of this Jacko," Kai said to himself, his tone casual as if discussing the weather. "Then, well… I've got no reason to stick around with that clown anymore."
Kai chuckled under his breath, shaking his head at the thought of Buggy. He could almost hear Buggy's shrill voice bragging about some grand scheme or other. "Clown's probably counting on me to stick around for more dirty work. But once I've dealt with Jacko and his crew, that'll be my exit. I'm not playing errand boy."
He paused, glancing around the lively, gritty scene of the port town of Jaya. The faintest grin spread across his lips as he leaned against a post, taking in the clamor and chaos. "Well," he murmured to himself, "I might as well enjoy Jaya a bit while I'm here. I remember this is where Luffy first crossed paths with Blackbeard... who knows, maybe I'll find a worthy nemesis of my own." He shrugged and adjusted his collar, setting off toward the nearest tavern.
Inside, the bar was dimly lit and filled with the smell of old rum, salt, and faint whiffs of smoke. Seated here and there were rough-looking patrons, most with a drink in hand and a wary eye on anyone new who entered. Kai sauntered up to the bar, glancing sideways at a scruffy pirate passed out face-first on the counter beside him. With a wry grin, he tapped on the bar.
"Hey, barkeep! Pour me some rum," Kai ordered, sliding a few coins across the counter. As the bartender moved to fill his glass, Kai leaned back, casting a bemused look around the room. "This place is… lively," he said dryly, taking note of the unremarkable faces around him. "And by lively, I mean full of nobodies."
He sighed, bringing the rum to his lips. "So much for finding anyone worth my time." His eyes scanned the bar one more time, almost hoping he'd spot Jacko's face lurking in a dark corner. He took a long, thoughtful sip and leaned back. "Seems there's not a soul here besides drunks and nobodies! Not even that Jacko the Muppet."
The bartender's hand froze, eyes flickering with confusion. "Jacko the… Muppet?"
Kai let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "That's right, Jacko the Mutt or whatever he's calling himself these days. He's worth 40 million berries, but," he gestured around the room with a lazy wave of his hand, "I don't see him here either. Nothing but nobodies."
Just then, a lanky man at the far end of the bar—a bony, disheveled character with a feathered hat—shifted uneasily, nearly spilling his drink. Kai's eyes flicked over, meeting the man's for a brief moment. With a smirk, Kai raised his glass, offering a lazy salute.
"Here's to Jacko the Muppet, wherever he's hiding. If he's lucky, maybe he's run far enough to avoid me." The man in the feathered hat seemed to shrink down in his seat, visibly sweating. Kai's gaze lingered on him for a beat before he turned back, taking another swig and laughing softly to himself.
"Just nobodies…" he muttered with a smirk, almost daring the bar to prove him wrong.
As Kai took another long sip of his rum, he noticed the lanky man with the feathered hat shifting nervously, casting furtive glances around the room as though he wanted to disappear. Kai smirked to himself, making a mental note of the man's jittery behavior. The guy practically screamed "guilty," but Kai wasn't in the mood to stir up trouble just yet.
He took his time, savoring the drink as he glanced around the bar. A handful of pirates eyed him with a mix of suspicion and curiosity, clearly sizing up the unfamiliar newcomer. Kai simply raised his glass, nodding in their direction with a sarcastic grin. "Cheers, gents. May your crimes be petty and your lives short," he said with a mock toast. A few of them scowled and muttered under their breaths, but none dared to challenge him.
After a while, Kai noticed the feathered-hat man had practically melted into the wall. It was almost comical—this guy was doing everything short of wearing a sign that said "I'm hiding something." Amused, Kai leaned over to the bartender and whispered, loud enough for the nervous man to overhear, "Tell me, do you ever get any high-paying bounties in here? Or just riffraff?"
The bartender, not exactly keen on getting involved, just shrugged. "Jaya's full of riffraff," he muttered, wiping down the counter with a filthy rag.
Kai smirked and took another sip, keeping his eyes on the feathered-hat man. "Figures. Not a sign of Jacko the Muppet either. Guess the guy's too chicken to show his face here." He paused dramatically, then added, "But, of course, if he's hiding in plain sight, he's only making my job easier."
The lanky man stiffened and hurriedly shoved a few coins onto the bar, mumbling something about needing to "be somewhere" as he backed away, eyes darting nervously between Kai and the exit.
Kai let out a slow, exaggerated sigh, watching the man's feeble attempt at an escape. "And here I thought tonight would be boring," he murmured, barely containing his grin. With one swift motion, he downed the last of his rum, slapped the empty glass onto the counter, and pushed himself to his feet.
"Hey, friend!" Kai called out, his voice laced with mock friendliness as he strolled over. "In a rush, are we? You wouldn't be Jacko, would you?"
The man turned around, eyes wide as saucers. "W-Who's asking?" he stammered, clutching his feathered hat as if it might shield him from Kai's gaze.
"Oh, no one important," Kai said with a lazy shrug, but his eyes held a predatory gleam. "Just a concerned citizen, looking out for folks with big bounties on their heads. And wouldn't you know it, yours is a pretty decent number."
Realizing he was cornered, the man glanced around for an escape route but found none. The other patrons in the bar shifted uncomfortably, trying not to attract Kai's attention as they watched the scene unfold.
"Alright, alright!" the man finally blurted out, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. "I'm Jacko, alright? But, look, I don't want any trouble! I'll give you half the bounty to just… forget you saw me!"
Kai raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "Tempting offer, Jacko. But I've already been paid," he said with a wicked grin. "And besides, I think I owe Buggy a parting gift."
Jacko gulped, clearly realizing he was out of options. Before he could make another move, Kai had his hand on the man's shoulder, holding him in place with a grip that felt like iron.
"Come on, Jacko," he said smoothly. "Let's go for a walk."
Kai strolled out of the bar, dragging Jacko along as if he were nothing more than a stray mutt. Jacko's eyes darted around, searching for any possible escape, but Kai's grip on his shoulder was unrelenting. They walked through the winding streets of Jaya until they reached a secluded alleyway, away from prying eyes and listening ears.
Kai leaned against the wall casually, crossing his arms as he sized Jacko up. "Alright, Jacko, here's the thing," Kai started, his tone deceptively light. "What kind of a person puts out a bounty that's double your government-issued price? I'm curious. That's all I need to know."
Jacko tensed, his face turning ghostly pale as he tried to avoid Kai's piercing gaze. "I… I can't," he stammered, glancing at the shadows as if they might somehow protect him.
Kai's expression hardened, and his voice dropped a notch. "You're not really in a position to choose here, are you?" he said smoothly, his eyes gleaming with a quiet menace. "The weak don't get to decide how they die, Jacko."
Jacko swallowed hard, sweat trickling down his brow. His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air before he finally blurted, "Okay! Okay… It's Joker! Joker put the bounty on my head! "
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Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone