Chương 45: Hunting The Hunter
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"Joker?" Kai asked, though the gleam in his eyes suggested he already knew who Jacko was referring to.
Jacko nodded, trembling. "Yeah…. I was supposed to deliver a Devil Fruit for him, but I… I sold it. Needed the cash, you know? But now he wants me dead."
Kai's eyes widened in surprise, and he let out a low chuckle. "Doflamingo, huh?" He muttered to himself, a mix of amusement and intrigue. 'Honestly, I didn't expect that. But it makes sense. That bastard's influence runs deep in this world. Still… to think he'd be using Buggy's little mercenary service.' He shook his head, a grin creeping onto his face.
Turning his gaze back to Jacko, Kai let his smile grow a little wider. "You've got guts, Jacko. Trying to double-cross someone like Doflamingo? That takes a special kind of a muppet. I have half a mind to keep you alive just to piss off both the clown and the joker."
Jacko's face, already ghostly pale, lit up with a glimmer of hope. "Y-you'll let me go?"
Kai shrugged, casting a nonchalant glance his way. "Sure… though I doubt I'll be getting any runes from a wimp like you," he added, almost as if talking to himself.
"R-runes?" Jacko stammered, his relief quickly replaced by confusion.
Kai rolled his eyes, giving Jacko a look that seemed to say, You wouldn't understand. "Never mind, Jacko. Just know that crossing the wrong people usually comes back to bite you." Kai paused before adding "hold on a minute, what kind of devil fruit was it ?"
Jacko's face went blank, a mix of fear and embarrassment twisting his expression. "I… I don't know," he admitted, his voice small, like a child caught lying.
Kai let out a long, exaggerated sigh, rubbing his temples. "Seriously? You stole it, sold it, and you didn't even bother figuring out what it was?"
Jacko squirmed under Kai's unimpressed stare. "Look, I don't know much about Devil Fruits, alright?" he muttered. "I sold it to a pirate in Sabaody,it was red that's all i know."
At that, Kai's eyes narrowed, a spark of curiosity flickering across his face. "Red, huh?" He mulled over the thought, tapping a finger against his chin. 'A red Devil Fruit… doesn't exactly narrow it down, but at least it's not Ace's.'
After a moment, Kai shrugged dismissively. "So, just a random Zoan or something, I guess," he muttered more to himself than to Jacko, his interest quickly fading. "Nothing world-shattering, then. Figures that you'd try to pawn off something without knowing if it was worth the trouble."
Jacko relaxed slightly, the tension easing from his face as he processed that Kai's interest seemed to be fading. He didn't dare speak, though, not wanting to attract any more of Kai's scrutiny than he already had.
Kai turned to leave, the shadows casting a long silhouette across the narrow alley. "Do me a favor," he said over his shoulder. "Try not to get yourself killed by someone else before Buggy finds out you're still breathing. Wouldn't want the clown feeling shortchanged."
Jacko gulped, nodding hastily as Kai's figure disappeared into the night.
As Kai strolled along the quiet, dimly lit streets, he lifted a hand and cast Starlight, a faint, ethereal glow spilling out around him. The cool shimmer illuminated the darkness, casting soft shadows that danced along the ground as he walked. He watched the stars glimmer in his spell, muttering to himself with a wry smile, "Well, that was quite the bit of information. Good to know even a lowlife like Jacko has crossed paths with the Joker."
Kai paused, tilting his head up to take in the vast sky above Jaya. "But staying here any longer's pointless. The island's losing its charm… and I'm definitely not dragging along those Buggy-worshiping misfits either." He chuckled, shaking his head at the thought of Buggy's new 'crew' and their blind loyalty. "The real problem," he muttered, "is that I can't navigate a ship for–"
Before he could finish, the ground vibrated slightly beneath his feet, a subtle rumble that warned of something, or someone, fast approaching. Kai grinned as he noticed the figure descending from above, moving at a breakneck speed, their silhouette briefly outlined against the moonlit sky. With a deft step to the side, Kai dodged the impact, his smirk widening as he felt the rush of air pass him.
"You finally decided to make a move, huh?" he called out, a touch of laughter in his voice. "Took you long enough. Spent the entire day watching me, didn't you, woman?"
The attacker straightened, revealing herself in the dim glow of Kai's Starlight. She was lithe and quick, her stance steady and poised, eyes sharp and focused, yet Kai's amused tone only seemed to deepen her scowl.
"Observing… or waiting for the right moment," she replied coolly, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "I knew you were dangerous, but arrogant too?"
Kai's grin didn't falter. He placed a hand casually on his hip, regarding her with a raised brow. "No, i've learned my lesson so i'd say im far less arrogant, but im confident that im at least 100 times stronger than you." He gave her a once-over, his tone still casual, but there was a glint of challenge in his eyes. "So, who sent you? Or are you just another opportunist looking to make a name?"
She didn't answer immediately, her eyes narrowing as she assessed him. For a brief moment, the only sound between them was the gentle hum of Starlight, casting shadows that danced like phantoms on the walls around them.
Kai let out a small, impatient sigh. "Don't get shy on me now. You came all this way, after all." He paused, a playful edge returning to his smile. "I hope you brought something interesting with you. Because, let me warn you, I don't handle boredom well."
Without hesitation, she lunged at him, fists blazing with a relentless barrage of punches that Kai deflected with ease. Each of her heavy kicks was aimed to crush, carrying enough force to knock down anyone who wasn't prepared, but Kai merely sidestepped or blocked with a flick of his wrist. His grin only widened, his reflexes sharp, making her ferocious attacks look effortless to evade.
"Not bad," he remarked, easily weaving past another wild swing. The intensity in her movements didn't faze him; in fact, it seemed to energize him even more. With a wave of his hand, Kai summoned his meteorite staff, catching it mid-air with a smooth spin before resting it across his shoulders. "Don't worry. I won't even need my spells."
The woman's eyes narrowed, and her scowl deepened as she launched herself forward again, her strikes even faster, her kicks coming in from unexpected angles. But Kai's staff whirled and spun, blocking her attacks with precise timing, almost as if he were toying with her. He used the staff like a stick, twisting it around her fists, knocking her off balance, and lightly tapping her shoulder in what could almost be seen as a mock strike.
Each time she tried to adjust her stance, Kai anticipated her movements, his staff darting in to deflect her arms or legs with pinpoint accuracy. It was clear he was holding back, using only enough strength to keep her at bay without causing her serious harm. The woman's breathing grew heavier, beads of sweat forming on her forehead as her stamina began to wear down. Kai remained composed, his breathing calm and steady.
"Are you out of breath already?" he teased, spinning the staff once more as if it weighed nothing. "I've gotta say, your attacks pack quite a punch, though. Heavy, even." He tilted his head, an amused glint sparking in his eyes. "Now that I'm taking a closer look at you… you're Miss Valentine, aren't you?"
The woman's eyes widened, just for a fraction of a second, betraying her surprise. But she quickly masked it, her lips twisting into a defiant sneer. "How did you know my old Code Name !?"
Kai laughed, taking a small, casual step back. His eyes sparkled with an unbothered confidence as he looked at her. "You know, just so happens your old boss and I… we're kind of war buddies." He tilted his head, pretending to muse on it, his tone almost playful. "Actually, it's much more than that. But, that doesn't really matter now, does it?" He gave her a sharp look. "You're clearly just another bounty hunter."
Miss Valentine narrowed her eyes, her stance still tense, though a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face. She clenched her fists, refusing to back down, but Kai's smile faded as his expression turned dark, his easy demeanor replaced with something colder.
"But you…" he said, his voice low and steely, "are completely out of your league."
Without another word, Kai raised his staff and murmured under his breath, casting Cannon of Haima. Energy built around him in an instant, forming a large, shimmering sigil that pulsed with raw power. He pointed his staff, unleashing the spell with pinpoint precision. A massive blast of energy shot out, tearing through the air with an explosive force. He purposefully directed it just past her cheek, missing her by a hair's breadth as it careened forward.
The spell thundered past her, and for a split second, Miss Valentine froze, her wide eyes tracking the blast as it barreled toward a building in the distance. The energy struck, shattering stone and wood, sending debris flying in every direction as the structure crumbled under the blast's impact. Dust filled the air, and a deep rumble echoed down the street.
She stood there, stunned, her mouth slightly open, watching the aftermath. Bits of debris rained down, the destroyed building now reduced to rubble. Kai lowered his staff, his gaze fixed on her, a dangerous smirk tugging at his lips. "You sure you want to keep this up?"
Miss Valentine's bravado faltered, and she took a shaky step back, struggling to steady her breathing. Kai's eyes remained locked on hers, a cold, almost amused glint in them as he waited for her response.
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