Chapter Ten: Proof

The arrival of Red-Haired Shanks was something Maud had never anticipated. Although the man had appeared quite amiable from the moment he entered, Maud had only intended to silently observe from the sidelines until Shanks took his leave.

But after hearing the conversation between Yasopp and Sunny, Maud could no longer remain indifferent. Firearms were, at present, the tools for advancement he most desperately lacked. Originally, he had planned to ask Saul for one, but as a newcomer, how could he possibly hope to get a gun in the short term?

Then Yasopp arrived and dangled an opportunity before him.

In such a moment, how could Maud simply stand by? Seizing the chance, he directly spoke up and asked Yasopp for that aging flintlock musket.

If he was refused, he lost nothing.

If he succeeded, he would have gained handsomely.

That was the thought in his mind before he decided to make his presence known.

“Who is he?” Shanks glanced at Sunny, who stood behind the counter with a slight frown, and asked with interest.

Earlier, when their eyes had met, the boy’s reaction made Shanks realize that he was recognized. But such things hardly mattered.

However, who would have expected that the boy, who so consciously diminished his own presence, would suddenly take the initiative to ask Yasopp for a gun? The contrast was stark and intriguing.

“He’s Maud, Saul’s newly hired... employee,” Sunny replied to Shanks’ question.

Shanks nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Yasopp, who was now scrutinizing Maud.

“Do you know how to use a gun?” Yasopp’s first question came without preamble.

“Yes!” Maud answered without the slightest hesitation.

Yasopp’s expression sharpened instantly. He wasn’t some second-rate pirate crew’s marksman; with his experience, how could he not see that Maud was a frail youth who had never even touched a gun before?

“But I don’t believe you,” Yasopp said with a half-smile, though his eyes were as cold and loaded as a cocked pistol.

Bullying children had always been one of his minor amusements, and since Maud was Mr. Saul’s employee, he didn’t mind spending a little time on him.

Yet Maud met Yasopp’s gaze head on—a look that seemed to burn away all lies—and replied earnestly, “What would it take for you to believe me?”

Yasopp was taken aback, because Maud’s expression and tone didn’t give the impression that he was lying.

Still, Yasopp was not about to doubt his own judgment.

He regarded Maud’s eyes calmly, then suddenly reached out and picked up a flintlock pistol worth three-point-eight million Berries from the counter. In a single breath, he loaded the powder with practiced ease—a process that would seem cumbersome to most.

“Show me,” Yasopp said, chambering the pistol and holding it out to Maud.

Maud didn’t take the gun right away. Instead, he pointed to the old flintlock musket on the counter and asked, “If I prove it, will you give me that gun?”

“No problem,” Yasopp replied with a laugh.

Maud nodded, strode forward, and accepted the expensive pistol from Yasopp’s hand.

He knew that his success or failure now hinged on a single shot.

But how best to prove himself?

While considering, Maud’s eyes fell upon the shop door, which he had left slightly ajar, leaving a narrow gap.

A plan took shape. Maud quickly walked to the wall farthest from the door, then turned to face it.

Without a word of explanation, he swiftly raised the pistol toward the door and, without the slightest pause, pulled the trigger.

Bang—

A burst of flame and gunpowder smoke erupted from the barrel. A searing lead bullet shot out, slicing cleanly through the narrow crack in the door at a speed nearly invisible to the naked eye.

The scent of powder hung in the air, while Maud maintained his textbook shooting stance.

At a moment like this, he had no time to worry about the risk of hitting a passerby.

Shanks and Yasopp glanced at the gap in the door. With their keen sight, they could see the wooden door was unscathed. Besides, the gap was small—barely wide enough for two lead bullets to pass side by side.

Leaving aside Maud’s perfect shooting posture, his action from raising the gun to firing was seamless, giving the impression he hadn’t even aimed.

Though it was only a dozen meters away, there was no doubt Maud knew how to handle a gun.

Behind the counter, Sunny stared at Maud in astonishment. She hadn’t expected him to possess such marksmanship.

“Not bad at all,” Shanks offered in praise.

Of course, such marksmanship was nothing to boast of in the Grand Line, but for this time and place, it was worthy of a compliment.

Yasopp, ever the man of action, said nothing. Instead, he picked up the flintlock musket he called his “old partner” and walked over to Maud.

“It’s yours now.”

“Thank you,” Maud said, handing the pistol back to Yasopp before accepting the musket.

Finally, he had a gun...

“Yasopp, seems even you can misjudge someone,” Shanks said, patting Yasopp on the shoulder with a consoling smile.

Yasopp curled his lip, unwilling to respond to his captain’s barbed remark.

Had he really misjudged the boy?

He glanced at Maud, who was turning the musket over and over in his hands, and couldn’t shake a lingering sense of contradiction.

The boy was clearly inexperienced, yet his stance was impeccable, and—most of all—he possessed a marksman’s instinct.

Forget it.

Yasopp shook his head and let the matter drop.

“Boss, the booze is all loaded up,” came Lucky Roux’s voice from the back room.

“Good,” Shanks replied, then turned to Sunny with a grin. “Little miss, be sure to give my regards to Saul.”

“No need!” Sunny didn’t have a chance to answer before Saul’s voice came from outside.

Judging by the sound, he was still some distance from the shop, yet he’d somehow overheard Shanks’ words.

Hearing Saul’s distant call, Shanks sighed, “Now this is trouble.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the sound of hurried footsteps approached from outside.

Moments later, the wooden door was flung open.

Saul burst in, just in time to see Lucky Roux carrying out a barrel of fine liquor. Instantly, his anger flared.

“Shanks, you rascal, stealing my wine again!”

“Stealing? We paid for it—ask the little miss if you don’t believe me.”

“Don’t put this on the youngster! I’m not selling you that wine!”

“Haha, the deal’s already done—too late to back out now!”

“Get out, get out! Don’t let me see you again!”

“No can do—unless you tell me where you hide your best stash.”

Shanks wore a look that said, “What can you do to me?” while Saul’s face flushed with rage, nearly ready to throw himself on the floor and make a scene.

Yasopp and Lucky Roux stayed out of it, while Sunny simply covered her forehead, exasperated.

As for Maud, the moment Saul had shouted his first word, he had already retreated to the back room.

He didn’t go upstairs, though; instead, he lingered by the foot of the stairs, quietly watching the commotion in the shop.

Unbelievable as it seemed, Saul and Shanks apparently knew each other well.